Sunday, January 9, 2011

Holy Ground

Ah.. the joys of travel!! It’s taken a while to get the internet situation sorted out since there is wireless access in a very limted area of the building in which we are staying that, inconveniently, has no electrical outlets. This means that I need to use battery power when I am online. Not ususally a problem since the computer can easily be recharged. Unfortunately, my computer battery kept losing power even though I was leaving it plugged in while away from my room. It turns out that, when I leave my room and take the key card (which also opens the door) with me, all the electricity in the room goes off until I return to my room with the key card. (who knew?) I finally figured out that I need to charge the computer at night while I am actually in the room. There is also an issue with the puny wireless connection, which doesn't seem to be able to upload pictures before timing out. We'll be in Jerusalem in a couple of days and I am hoping that the internet access there will allow for photos, of which I have many. So... here's how the past few days have been....

January 7 Friday
Despite the major jetlag for almost all of the 32 participants in this pilgrimage, we went directly from baggage claims and customs in Tel Aviv to a bus which drove us to Galilee in Northern Israel. We passed the archeological dig of Migda (Magdala) a small fishing village on the shores of the Sea (Lake) of Galilee. The dig is currently closed to the public, so we didn’t stop. The first place we did stop was the uninhabited ancient town of Kafer Nahum (Capernaum) another village on the Sea of Galilee. This is where Jesus lived in the house of Peter and where many miracles were performed, i.e. the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law and the healing of the paralytic who was lowered by his friends through the roof of Peter’s house. There is a small church built over what is traditionally considered to be the ruins of Peter’s home. While it is far from certain that the place is the actual location of Peter’s house, archeological digs have uncovered evidence of churches being built on this spot as early as the 4th century. The ruins are clearly visible as the new church has been built in a way to allow access underneath. For those of us interested in symbolism, I find it quite interesting that the 4th and 5th century buildings were constructed in an octagonal shape, the same shape as early baptismal fonts, with the eight sides symbolizing the 8 days of creation. (The first seven recorded in Genesis and the 8th day of creation being when Jesus rose and made all things new.) The current church, constructed in the 1980’s, is circular with several ceiling to floor windows of clear glass. A few hundred feet from the church are the reconstructed ruins of the synagogue at Kafer Nahum. There was a bit of time to pray and meditate, but, since it was pouring, our activity was mostly indoors.

Very weary and soaking wet from the long walk back to the bus, we then rode to the Inn of the Beatitudes, the place where we will stay for our 4 days in Galilee. The Inn is at the top of the mountain (really more like a hill) traditionally considered as the place described in Matthew where Jesus gave the sermon on the mount. It overlooks the Sea of Galilee and one can see nearby the evidence of a naturally formed ampitheator which would have made it a likely place for the gathering of over 5,000 people that is mentioned in the scriptures. We settled in, had an orientation to our surroundings, ate an excellent meal, and retired early since breakfast is at 7 AM and our daily activities began at 8 AM.

January 8 - Saturday
We began outdoors in the rain, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, with a reflection on the Beatitudes. I always thought there were eight beatitudes and was surprised to learn that some consider there to be nine in Matthew’s account. There are also other places in Scripture where beatitudes are found, but more about that later.

We then piled in the Bus and took a short drive to Tabgah, which is the traditional place where Jesus had breakfast on the beach with the disciples after the resurrection. There are actually two places within a few yards of each other that claim to be THE spot. Churches are built in both places and both have a large rock similar to that described by Egeria, a 3rd century Christian pilgrim who travelled the Holy Land and wrote very detailed letters to her family and friends at home. At the first spot we were able to actually go down to the shore. Most of us took off our shoes and socks to see if we could walk on water.

Alas! As you may have guessed no one managed. I did manage to fill a small travel bottle of with water from the lake and found some freshwater shells on its shore, a few of which, will hopefully make it back to California intact. At the second site, the famous byzantine mosaic of the loaves and fishes is in a much larger church. After some time to meditate, take photos, and visit the very excellent gift shop we celebrated a blessing of loaves and “fish” – real bread--prayer card fish, in a quiet, covered (yes, it is still raining) spot overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

Our next stop was the Genneset museum which has an ancient 1st- 2nd century C.E. fishing boat on display. We viewed a short film on the history of the boat and then got to see the preserved boat itself. The boat was found in the Lake (Sea of Galilee) in 1985. The story of its excavation and preservation is a testament to creativity and determination. There is lively debate about whether it could actually be one of the boats that Jesus rode in during his many trips back and forth across the lake, whether it was one of the boats sunk in the Roman massacre that took place about 70 C.E., or if it is simply the remains of the boat of a simple fisherman. We then visited the museum and a few of us were fortunate enough to stumble upon a demonstration of how a Jewish prayer shawl is used and to have the symbolism of the shawl explained. I now have a very concrete image of how the scene between the woman with hemorrhage and Jesus might have unfolded. We had a late lunch at the museum, followed by a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where the Jewish captain invited us to try to walk on water (we all declined) and then wearily rolled back to the Inn of the Beatitudes.

I downloaded my pictures, and, despite my intention to check email, etc., had a 2 hour nap. We gathered that evening for about an hour to recall the insights and surprises of the day, had dinner (most of the women at my table had never tasted tabouli or persimmons) and called it a night.

Sunday, we travel to Nazareth, where we will celebrate Eucharist with the Arab Christian Catholic community, then visit Mt. Tabor and Mt. Arbel.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

The Spirituality of Presence


Show up
Pay Attention
Participate
Embody Grace

Over 80 people gathered on August 9th at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Sacramento to take part in a morning of prayer focused on Franciscan Presence. It was an amazing gathering of people who are committed to deepening in the practice of Presence as a way of life.

Ongoing sessions to explore the Patterns of Presence are regularly scheduled through the end of August at the Franciscan Living Urban Center for Spirituality. See our webpage www.FranciscanLiving.org for dates and times.

Grace and Blessings,

Saturday, January 24, 2009

An Urban Center for Spirituality

Pinch Me! the Urban Center for Spirituality has really happened! Last Monday evening a small group of supporters from Franciscan Living and Sunlight of the Spirit gathered for an interfaith ceremony of blessing for our joint venture at 2314 J Street.

Rabbi Shula Stevens began the ceremony with a berakah, the blessing of challah and grape juice. in preparation for the installation of mezuzahs on each of the entrances to the building. Sister Claire Graham, a Sister of Social Service, and mentor to both "Sunlight" and Franciscan Living, blessed the retail space for Sunlight and the spiritual direction office for Franciscan Living. The Reverend Michael Moran, from the Spiritual Life Center, blessed the business office for "Sunlight" and I led all gathered in a blessing for the Magdalen room, a space where people associated with both of our groups will gather for SoulCollage, meditation, body prayer, small faith sharing groups, 12 step meetings, and other activities that support the growth of spirituality and wholeness.

Blessings,

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The Womb of Franciscanism

Time seems to fly while we are here in Assisi. Rain and wind prompted an alternate plan to visiting the carceri, the caves that Francis and the early brothers used for prayer, so we went down into the town of Santa Maria delli Angeli (about 1 .5 miles downhill for Assisi to spend some time at the Porziuncola, one of the small chapels rebuilt by Francis when he was new to his life of conversion. The small chapel still stands, surrounded by an immense basilica that was built to protect the chapel and to accomodate the thousands of pilgrims who visit weekly. It was in this small chapel (about the size of our own Clare Chapel at St. Francis) that Francis heart was moved by the Gospel at daily Mass and that Clare was received as the first woman to follow the franciscan way. Francis was also brought to this place as he was dying and died a few yards outside the chapel. It is regarded by many as the birthplace of the Franciscan movement.

I will say more about this tomorrow, but right now I need to sign off since I am supposed to meet some other pilgrims at 15.30 (3:30) so we can visit the tomb of Francis. It is a 15 minute walk and it is aleady 15ç20, so I will be late. hopefully, they will wait for me.

Pace e Bene

Sunday, October 21, 2007

ASSISI !!

The days have been full since my arrival on Friday, Oct. 19. Our group is staying in the old city of Assisi at Casa Papa Giovanni, named afer Pope John the 23rd. It is run by the local diocese and is simple but clean and comfortable. I have finally located the bar (internet café) in Assisi. I looked yesterday, but missed the location amidst the downpour and the wind!

In California it is 5:17 AM and I am mindful that some of you who are early risers are just finishing your 1st cup of coffee or tea. Here in Assisi it is 14:17 (2:17 PM) and we have already visited the basilica of Santa Chiara, celebrated Sunday Eucharist at San Damiano, (the church where Francis heard the command, "go rebuild my church," and where Clare and the first group of the poor ladies lived), and enjoyed "pranza" (the main meal of the day). I am wandering around Assisi during "ripozo" the afternon rest time. Because Assisi is filled with many tourists, a lot of businesses like this café are open. Later this afternoon, we will visit the cathedral of San Rufino, the place where both Francis and Clare were baptized. The font is still there and is over 1,000 years old. I am slowly learning to use the digital camera and will do my best to bring back some photographs of all the shrines since uploading from the café is just too much of a technical stretch for me at this time. . .

Today is the third day of our pilgrimage. The highlight for me today has been the visit to the dormitory. The place where Clare slept is marked with a rough wooden cross and an oil lamp. Our group, led by Sr. Bobbie, celebrated a ritual of anointing for healing. I remembered many of you who asked for prayers at this holy shrine. Later this afternoon I will go back to the basilica of Santa Chiara to pray in front of the original San Damiano crucifix (it was moved to the basilica when the Poor Ladies moved from San Damiano after the death of Clare) with the names of all who made this pilgrimage possible. It may be of interest to some that the original crucifix is about 10.5 feet high. Its size is dwarfed by the immensity of the chapel in which it hangs, but the icon is truly compelling. If one listens closely, she can almost hear the Christ speaking the same words spoken 800 years ago -- "Go, repair my church!!"

Yesterday (day 2) we visited Chiesa Nova (New Church) which is built over the place where tradition says Francis and his family lived. Our group celebrated Eucharist in the area that was the cloth shop owned by the father of Francis, Pietro Bernadone, and visited the shrine of San Francesco Piccolino, the stable that legend says is the place where Francis was born. Santa Maria Maggiore, the place where Francis gave back everything he owned (including his clothing) was our last stop of the day.

The first day was filled with lots of waiting. Despite my nightmares about missing the plane or missing my connection in Zurich, the flight from New York went perfectly. By the time the NY to Zurich flight landed, several of us had identified each other as pilgrims and we were a solid group by the time we reached Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome. Fortunately, everyone who originated in NY go their luggage. The 15 people who came from Chicago were not so lucky. We waited for several hours while they filled out the endless paperwork for missing baggage. 10 of them still have no luggage - and it will probably not arrive until we are in Rome 6 days from now! I think that I would be absolutely hysterical if I were one of the ten, but most people seem to be taking it in stride. Those with luggage are sharing insofar as possible and there are plans to make a short run down to the modern city for those essentials that cannot be shared.

That is all for today. Many of the punctuation symbols on this keyboard are in different places than the keyboard we use in the States ( I still have not located the apostrophe) and the mouse keeps sticking so I am blaming any mistakes on the hardware!!

I will try to log in tomorrow after we visit the Carceri, the caves where Francis and his early followers prayed. Hopefully, the rain will have stopped by then and it will be bit warmer.
Until then....

Pace e Bene

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Good Intentions

Ah! I realize that I have spent the past few days wandering down the road of good intentions. It seems like there is so much that needs to be done before I am ready for the pilgrimage to Italy. The days seem to fly past and in the evenings I can identify little that was accomplished. I often find myself wondering how I got anything done when I was working at St. Francis Parish! Perhaps this distorted time sense is simply a consequence of entering into sabbatical? I wonder...

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Remembering



Wow, this is kind of like public confession!! I couldn't remember my password or the e-mail account that I needed to access so I could get a password reminder. Very frustrating!

Fortunately, good ol' Saint Anthony came to the rescue once again as my, oh so very clever (and deceptively simple) password, floated to the top of the debris
in my cluttered mind. Whew!

I have decided that it will be helpful if I post each day before I leave for Italy in mid-October.
That way, the process will be etched in my very bones and I can bypass my unpredictable brain entirely!

Pace e Bene