A few days before the celebrations of Holy Week, where the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus are remembered, on this Tuesday of the third week of Easter, Brother Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, presided at Mass in the holiest place in all of Christianity, the Holy Sepulchre. It's the place where Jesus conquered sin and death with his Death and Resurrection.
The Holy Mass was celebrated inside the Wayside Shrine of the Holy Sepulchre, in the Chapel of the Angel, in the place where, according to the narration of the Evangelist St Matthew, "the angel sat on the stone that closed the tomb and appeared to the women to announce the Resurrection".
The Custos recalled how: "in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, the Franciscans guard the physical place of reconciliation between God and mankind". He then went on to comment on the two fundamental teachings of the day's readings: "the Gospel of John reminds us that Jesus is the Bread of Life and gives life to the world; St Luke in the Acts of the Apostles tells us of the martyrdom of Stephen and helps us to understand that in the witness of the disciple, the witness of Jesus, the Master, is made present".
The consecration takes place right above the Tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
A special celebration for all the benefactors of the Holy Land.
Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm
Custos of the Holy Land
"The meaning of this celebration is to pray for the benefactors of the Holy Land. We know that without their support it would be impossible to carry out this mission, which benefits the local community and also the pilgrims when they will be able to return. We feel a debt of gratitude to all the benefactors.
We feel a duty of gratitude to celebrate here, in the holiest place in all of Christianity, those who help us, who support us financially. So they allow us to carry out the mission that the Church has entrusted to us."
The prayer of the Custos of the Holy Land and all the Franciscan friars is addressed to those countries still suffering from the pandemic.
Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm
Custos of the Holy Land
"We certainly feel the duty to pray for those who suffer. In a way, here in Jerusalem we are in a phase of recovery, of resurrection, of coming out of this pandemic. But we know that there are countries that are still suffering greatly. Countries such as Brazil, India, are suffering terribly, and so are many others all over the world. Praying for the sick here in the place of the Resurrection has a special value because it sheds light, with the strength of faith and the virtue of hope, on the path that some countries are still taking to emerge from the pandemic."
The Custos also prayed for the return of the pilgrims and for Christians all over the world.
Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm
Custos of the Holy Land
"This experience of celebrating inside Jesus' tomb helps Christians all over the world to understand the value not only of Easter but also of the Eucharistic celebration, which is always a memorial of Easter."
