The Sea of Galilee

Jesus calms the storm

When I arrived at the Sea of Galilee, the winds were strong and the sea was turbulent.  As night came on, the waves roared as there rose up a violent storm.  I could easily imagine the fear of the disciples as they were on that boat in a storm such as that.  Just as Jesus calmed the waters for them, the next morning the sea was calm and peaceful.  I am at a beautiful site right on the shore of the Sea of Galilee at the Pilgerhaus, a pilgrimage house run by the German Church.  As I was arriving, a family group of German pilgrims asked me if I had celebrated Mass that day.  I already had, at Mount Tabor, but I said I'd be happy to celebrate Mass for them.  We had Mass together yesterday and will again today, before I depart for Bethlehem.  Yesterday I prayed at the site of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, and Peter's Primacy.

The Ascent

Today I "ascended" Mount Tabor.  I drove part of the way up, and walked part of the way.  The trek was more difficult than I anticipated - Jesus, Peter, John and James must have been in good shape! Pilgrims were scarce at the shrine, so I had the shrine and the outdoors area around it to myself for several hours; it was a powerful prayer time.  The view from the top is magnificent.  I was able to celebrate Mass in the Chapel of the Prophet Elijah.  The goal of my sabbatical has been reached, at least the apparent goal - Ascent to Mount Tabor.  I have now descended the mountain, and am on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.  But for the next two weeks I hope to stay on the mountain with Jesus, figuratively speaking, as I pray at the places where he lived, walked, suffered, died and rose from the dead.  "Lord, it is good to be here." (Mt 17:4)

The Word was made flesh - here

At the grotto in Nazareth where the Archangel Gabriel asked Mary if she would be the Mother of God, the words are inscribed, "Verbum Caro Hic Factum Est" - Here, the Word was made flesh.  I spent several hours at the sight of the Annunciation praying and contemplating this mystery.  Here are some photos of the Basilica of the Annunciation (as seen from my hotel room), and beautiful artworks of the Annunciation, St. Joseph, the Holy Family, the Betrothal of Mary & Joseph, and Mary appearing to St. James the Apostle in Spain (a mural donated by the Church in Spain) - a link to my El Camino experience.  

Arrivederci Roma

I have left Rome and arrived in the Holy Land yesterday.  I am in Nazareth and will be praying at the Shrine of the Annunciation today.  My days in Rome were filled with abundant graces, praying at famous as well as unknown shrines and churches.  The wonderful thing about Rome is that one can wander about, and find hidden treasures everywhere.  In visitng the Church of St. John the Baptist, we discovered the relic of the foot of St. Mary  Magdalene.  Here are some photos of places I prayed at in Rome: the apse mosaics of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the tomb of St. Monica, paintings, mosaics and sculptures of St. John the Baptist and the Blessed Virgin Mary, mosaics from the Church of Santa Prassede, paintings by Caravaggio of the Conversion of St. Paul and the Crucifixion of St. Peter, the Moses by Michelangelo, and the chains that bound St. Peter before his martyrdom.

St. Peter and St. Paul

Today, on the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul, I visited both basilicas.  In the morning, we went to the papal audience and said hello to the successor of St. Peter, Pope Francis.  (actually, we just waved as he drove by in the p

opemobile).  Then, this afternoon, we prayed at the tomb of St. Paul at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.  I prayed especially for our archdiocese, under the patronage of St. Paul, and for the selection of a holy and faithful new archbishop.  

Orvieto and Roma

Saints Charles, Francis & Claire, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, and more

Every day brings me in contact with more saints.  In Turin I venerated Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. John Bosco and St. Dominic Savio, and the Shroud of Turin.  In Milan I was able to celebrate Mass near the tomb of St. Charles Borromeo and venerated St. Ambrose.  Visited the baptistery where St. Ambrose baptized St. Augustine.  Also saw da Vinci's Last Supper.  Am now in Assis - had Mass at the shrines of St. Claire and St. Francis.  Today on to Orvieto to venerate the Eucharistic Miracle there.  Then on to Roma.  One thing that strikes me is how relevant the saints are for today - whether they lived in the 20th century or the 13th, they have so much to teach us today.  I ran into three parishioners from St. John's here in Assisi - on pilgrimage with Matthew Kelly and Dynamic Catholic.  

All the Saints in Italy

I have begun my pilgrimage in Italy, praying at the shrines of many saints.  It seems like every time one turns a corner in this country, he bumps into another saint!  In Venice, I was surprised to "stumble" upon the tomb of St. Zechariah, the father of St. John the Baptist.  He is buried in a church just below St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church.  We venerated St. Mark the Evangelist, the great patron saint of Venice.  In Padua, we venerated its favorite son, St. Anthony.  But much less known is that St. Luke the Evangelist is also buried in Padua, in the Church of St. Justinia.  We are now in Schio, where I offered Mass right over the altar where St. Bakhita is buried.  St. Bakhita, who was a slave in Sudan, is now venerated as the patron saint of those in the grips of human traffiking.  The kind Canossian Sisters gave me a second class relic of St. Bakhita, and a first class relic of their Mother Foundress, St. Magdalene of Canossa.  Yesterday, the Vigil of All Souls Day, Italians are out in huge numbers visisting their cemeteries and praying for their beloved dead.  We visited this cemetery in Schio.  Today we are on our way to Turin, where we will venerate St. John Bosco, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, and the Shround of Turin.