We arrived at the last day of the Intermediate Chapter and this morning the Eucharistic celebration took place in the central sanctuary of the whole Holy Land and of Christianity: the Holy Sepulcher. The Holy Mass commemorated precisely the Dedication of this Basilica which was presided by the Father Custos: in front of the empty tomb he recalled that since 1333 the Friars Minor have been here to guard, dwell and celebrate. These actions describe precisely the vocation and mission of the "friars of the rope", just as the friars were formerly called by the locals. He added that preserving means announcing the paschal mystery in its entirety, that is, abiding and living in God in order to be able to give it to the brothers and sisters in need of receiving words of hope. Finally, the celebration must represent the incessant way of praising God for having started a new world, a new creation.
The friars then moved to the chapter hall to finish the work; in the first session the decisions were voted and approved. Later the text of the concluding message of the Chapter was proposed and corrected. In the afternoon the concluding session began with the signing by all the Capitulars of the documents followed by an intense moment of thanksgiving prayer. The Father Custos, before declaring the Chapter officially concluded, invited the friars to make a gesture of devotion to the Word, which was in the middle of the Chapter hall for the entire duration of the works, while they received the final document they will bring in their fraternities. For all it was a day full of emotions; now the Discretorium has the task of implementing what was said, heard and understood!