Following the bustle of preparations over the last few days, the Franciscan seminary friars were recollected and joyful as they welcomed the other seminarians present in Jerusalem: the Salesian seminarians from Ratisbonne Center, the seminarians of the Society of Missionaries of Africa (better known as the White Fathers) from Saint Anne’s, the seminarians of the Betharram Fathers who are studying in Bethlehem and, although the seminarians of the Latin Patriarchate had sent their regrets, the presence of the Armenian Orthodox seminarians, who live in Jerusalem not far from the Zion Gate, was an event.
Everyone assembled for the First Vespers of the Solemnity of Saint Francis. Although the feast belongs to the entire Franciscan family, it takes on a special character for the young religious of the Order of Friars Minor because, during the Office they renewed their temporary vows in a church filled with the faithful, as they do every year until their solemn profession.
So it is they, the youngest friars, who were the hosts for First Vespers and the festive meal that followed in one of the courtyards of Saint Saviour’s Monastery. The meal was prolonged by a demonstration of joy by all these young people who are following their Lord, each according to his charism. Songs and dances followed to the delight of all.
The daytime celebrations had a more solemn character and the joy was more interior. Following tradition [1], a Domincan father, Father Guy Tardivy, superior of the community living at the Saint Stephen’s convent known as the École Biblique, was primary concelebrant and preacher at the Mass.
A very large crowd added their joy to that of the Franciscans: members of the parish community, religious brothers and sisters from the city and its environs, but also, at the invitation of the Custody of the Holy Land, representatives of the Catholic Churches of the Holy Land (the Apostolic Nunciature, the Latin Patriarcate, the Greek Catholics, the Armenian Catholics, the Syrian Catholics, the Maronites) who were able to make themselves free to attend. Also invited were the Consuls General present in Jerusalem (America, Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom).
After refreshments offered to all present, the Franciscan friars and their invited guests breakfasted together in the Saint Saviour’s refectory.
The Little Poor Man of Assis, the great Peace maker, must have rejoiced in heaven to see his sons following the tradition he held so dear.
MAB
[1] Tradition holds that a Dominican be primary concelebrant for the feast of St. Francis, and a Franciscan for St. Dominic.
Everyone assembled for the First Vespers of the Solemnity of Saint Francis. Although the feast belongs to the entire Franciscan family, it takes on a special character for the young religious of the Order of Friars Minor because, during the Office they renewed their temporary vows in a church filled with the faithful, as they do every year until their solemn profession.
So it is they, the youngest friars, who were the hosts for First Vespers and the festive meal that followed in one of the courtyards of Saint Saviour’s Monastery. The meal was prolonged by a demonstration of joy by all these young people who are following their Lord, each according to his charism. Songs and dances followed to the delight of all.
The daytime celebrations had a more solemn character and the joy was more interior. Following tradition [1], a Domincan father, Father Guy Tardivy, superior of the community living at the Saint Stephen’s convent known as the École Biblique, was primary concelebrant and preacher at the Mass.
A very large crowd added their joy to that of the Franciscans: members of the parish community, religious brothers and sisters from the city and its environs, but also, at the invitation of the Custody of the Holy Land, representatives of the Catholic Churches of the Holy Land (the Apostolic Nunciature, the Latin Patriarcate, the Greek Catholics, the Armenian Catholics, the Syrian Catholics, the Maronites) who were able to make themselves free to attend. Also invited were the Consuls General present in Jerusalem (America, Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom).
After refreshments offered to all present, the Franciscan friars and their invited guests breakfasted together in the Saint Saviour’s refectory.
The Little Poor Man of Assis, the great Peace maker, must have rejoiced in heaven to see his sons following the tradition he held so dear.
MAB
[1] Tradition holds that a Dominican be primary concelebrant for the feast of St. Francis, and a Franciscan for St. Dominic.