Today is Pentecost, and we are on Mount Sion in Jerusalem. The Guardian of Mount Sion is the Custos of the Holy Land, whose exact title is “Guardian of Mount Sion and of the Holy Sepulchre”. Today, Sunday 23rd May 2010, at the second vespers of Pentecost celebrated at the Cenacle, the Custos of the Holy Land, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, in this place of which he is the Guardian in the name of all the Catholic and Universal Church, not only presided solemn vespers but was also reconfirmed – succeeding himself – as 162nd Custos of the Holy Land. The first Custos of the Holy Land was appointed in 1219.
Today, and in compliance with the statutes of the Custody, the Custos is chosen by the Definitor General of the Franciscan Order and then confirmed by the Holy See, after an electoral process in which the friars of all the Province of the Holy Land give three names to the Definitor.
Each Custos is appointed for a period of six years and may be reconfirmed for another three years. This had not been the case for several decades.
The official announcement of this appointment came yesterday, on Saturday 21st May. The Canonical Visitor, the Very Reverend Father Francesco Bravi, announced it in the refectory of the Convent of St. Saviour – the headquarters of the Custody, whilst the Holy See officially published the decree. According to the General Visitor, the position was to be taken up during the celebration of Vespers at the Cenacle.
The day before, at the end of the first Vespers of the feast-day celebrated by the friars of St. Saviour, the Custos of the Holy Land had pronounced his profession of faith and oath of fidelity to the Church in the exercise of his functions.
On this Sunday of Pentecost, the news of his reconfirmation had already gone the rounds of the Old City of Jerusalem and so many faithful and some Knights of the Holy Sepulchre had gone to the Pontifical Mass, delighted that it was celebrated by the same yet renewed Custos.
Although the election of a new Custos is to be celebrated with solemnity - such as making a solemn entry into the city of Jerusalem, the Holy Sepulchre, the Cenacle and Bethlehem -, the Custos wanted these celebrations to take place in simplicity. They came to an end on Sunday evening at St. Saviour with a brotherly banquet in the courtyard of the Custody’s Curia.
The Custody’s Chapter, which will start on 5th July, is the next stage in this new term of office. During the Chapter, the Discretorium – a sort of Board of Directors of the Custody – will be elected and will choose the Custodial Vicar.
In the interview that the Custos gave to the Franciscan Media Center, he said that he wanted to continue his activity along the lines traced out six years ago, correcting them where necessary, insisting in particular on the formation of the young religious of the seminary and of the young Christians in the Custody’s schools, on the spiritual animation of the Holy Places and on the attention paid in the administration of the Custody.
He hoped that the Custody continues to entrust itself in the first place on Divine Providence, in the service of the Holy Land and the local community, which it does not own, nor does it own the land itself. He also hoped that the Custody can grow in unity, which does not mean uniformity.
We also hope that, accompanied by prayers and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit at the Cenacle, the Custos of the Holy Land can continue his term of office in the best way possible, and that the entire Church of the Holy Land can benefit from the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Mab
Today, and in compliance with the statutes of the Custody, the Custos is chosen by the Definitor General of the Franciscan Order and then confirmed by the Holy See, after an electoral process in which the friars of all the Province of the Holy Land give three names to the Definitor.
Each Custos is appointed for a period of six years and may be reconfirmed for another three years. This had not been the case for several decades.
The official announcement of this appointment came yesterday, on Saturday 21st May. The Canonical Visitor, the Very Reverend Father Francesco Bravi, announced it in the refectory of the Convent of St. Saviour – the headquarters of the Custody, whilst the Holy See officially published the decree. According to the General Visitor, the position was to be taken up during the celebration of Vespers at the Cenacle.
The day before, at the end of the first Vespers of the feast-day celebrated by the friars of St. Saviour, the Custos of the Holy Land had pronounced his profession of faith and oath of fidelity to the Church in the exercise of his functions.
On this Sunday of Pentecost, the news of his reconfirmation had already gone the rounds of the Old City of Jerusalem and so many faithful and some Knights of the Holy Sepulchre had gone to the Pontifical Mass, delighted that it was celebrated by the same yet renewed Custos.
Although the election of a new Custos is to be celebrated with solemnity - such as making a solemn entry into the city of Jerusalem, the Holy Sepulchre, the Cenacle and Bethlehem -, the Custos wanted these celebrations to take place in simplicity. They came to an end on Sunday evening at St. Saviour with a brotherly banquet in the courtyard of the Custody’s Curia.
The Custody’s Chapter, which will start on 5th July, is the next stage in this new term of office. During the Chapter, the Discretorium – a sort of Board of Directors of the Custody – will be elected and will choose the Custodial Vicar.
In the interview that the Custos gave to the Franciscan Media Center, he said that he wanted to continue his activity along the lines traced out six years ago, correcting them where necessary, insisting in particular on the formation of the young religious of the seminary and of the young Christians in the Custody’s schools, on the spiritual animation of the Holy Places and on the attention paid in the administration of the Custody.
He hoped that the Custody continues to entrust itself in the first place on Divine Providence, in the service of the Holy Land and the local community, which it does not own, nor does it own the land itself. He also hoped that the Custody can grow in unity, which does not mean uniformity.
We also hope that, accompanied by prayers and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit at the Cenacle, the Custos of the Holy Land can continue his term of office in the best way possible, and that the entire Church of the Holy Land can benefit from the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Mab