Sevenoaks, St John the Baptist: Advent Sunday in Bethlehem

Sunday 29 November 2009

Advent Sunday in Bethlehem

In the Holy Land Advent Sunday is celebrated with great solemnity in Bethlehem. Before first Vespers the Custos, Fr Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM is solemnly received in Manger Square after crossing the wall recently built which divides Bethlehem from Jerusalem.

In his introit for I Vespers the Custos venerates the place of the Nativity of Our Lord and the Holy Manger.

This morning during the solemn Mass the commemoration of St Catherine of Alexandria V&M (feast day November 25) was made. The Latin church over the Stable of Bethlehem is dedicated to her. These are some pictures taken by the Custody of the Holy Land.

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O Jesus, who in Thy bitter Passion didst become "the most abject of men, a man of sorrows", I venerate Thy Sacred Face whereon there once did shine the beauty and sweetness of the Godhead; but now it has become for me as if it were the face of a leper! Nevertheless, under those disfigured features, I recognize Thy infinite Love and I am consumed with the desire to love Thee and make Thee loved by all men. O Jesus, I implore Thee to fix deep within me Thy divine image and to set me on fire with Thy Love, that I may be found worthy to come to the contemplation of Thy glorious Face in Heaven. Amen.