There’s no way to capsulate all that we did today. And, we did it at a time when Israel is more crowded than we’ve ever seen it in 20 years. Buses everywhere people, people everywhere, not one room is available in any hotel in Jerusalem.
But we did what we came to do. We had Mass at Gethsemane (short homily here) and went to the top of the Mount of Olives and then to meet the Bishop of Jerusalem. All of the knights and ladies of the Holy Sepulcher received their caps on pilgrimage Shells!
We then had lunch and a Jewish kibbutz before visiting the sites on Mount Zion including my talk “The Story of Salvation from Adam and Eve until Today“, the Upper Room and Abby of the Dormitionon where Mary fell asleep.
Then the crown jewel of the day… We had the Solemn Entry into the Tomb of Christ. We did not have to wait in line but were escorted in by the Franciscans directly to the tomb where all of us were able to enter and pray. Then jubilant we all went back for dinner. Enjoy!