The Passion of Christ

We got up at 4 today so that we could do the Via Dolorosa before Mass at 7:30.  If you saw the pictures of the shops, the Via Dolorosa is on those same streets so it was more meaningful doing it before the stores opened.

Entering through the
Lion's Gate\

Garden

Chapel of the Flagelation

Ecce Homo arch

Ist Station

2nd Station

Walking

III Station

IV Station

V Station

Where Jesus touched the wall

VI Station

VII Station

Holy Sepulchre

VIII Station

IX Station

 The remaining stations are in the church, but we did them outside.

XI Station Jesus is  nailed to the cross

XII Station  Jesus is Crucified

Stone of Calvary

Underneath the altar you are able to reach down and touch the stone where the cross stood.

The Stone of Annointing has an aromatic smell since annointing oil is poured on it each day.  Pilgrims not only touch it but place objects on it to be blessed.  Anything we are bringing back for people has been placed on this stone as well as the tomb.

Stone of Annointing

Stone of Annointing

This photo is of the Chapel of Adam.  Its directly below the site of the Crucifixion on Calvary.. The stone is cracked from the earthquake which happened on Good Friday and blood poured down the crack to Adam's tomb.














These crosses were carved into the walls by
 pilgrims years ago.  Some of these markings helped St. Helena locate the cross.

St. Helena Chapel

A piece of the pillar where Jesus
was scoured

The Edicule which holds the tomb

They set up for Mass in front of the Edicule and Father King was the celebrant.  Mass was in English and Latin.  The Franciscans provided the music

Tombs of Joseph of Aramathia and Nicodemus

Ancient Altar

We then headed back to the hotel for breakfast.  Omlettes today.


Back on the road, we went to St. Ann's church, the birthplace of the Blessed Mother.

Zion Gate

St. Ann's Church

Mother and Child

The church has wonderful acoustics, so we put them to the test.

Mural in lower level

Birth place

Crown

 The next series of pictures are the ruins of Bethesda pools and the Crusader era church built over them.

We went back along the Via Dolorosa through the Muslim Quarter headed toward the Western Wall.  We stopped back at Ecce Homo to see the archeological find underneath the streets of modern day Jerusalem.

Roman soldiers carved games into the stone

The street is more than 2,000 years old

We enjoyed our experience at the Western wall and we are so grateful that the Jewish people allowed us to visit their holiest of sites.  It was both prayerful and festive with many Bar Mitzvah celebrations.  I was happy for the young men and their families.

My prayers

Holy cards for my parents

I placed this note and the holy cards for my parents into the wall.





Ida was in the women's section
















She placed a prayer from her friend Barbara and a holy card for Sister Kathleen who is following the blog in heaven.  On the front her petition was for the Sisters of Mercy community and on the back was our family members.
'

Dear Sister Fatima, Sister Marianne and the other sisters of Mercy, we're praying for you.  We're also praying for my friends who are Sisters of Mercy, especially Sister Esther and Sister Maureen.

The video below was a celebration we were able to watch outside of the Western Wall area.  This should give you an idea of what the atmosphere was like.

We had lunch at the Wine & Cheese restaurant on the roof of the hotel. Great views.

What do you think of my kippah!









Tonight we traveled back to the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gathsemane for a Holy Hour.  We were there with two other groups and it was a special grace to return.  The evening ended with a Eucharistic procession around the garden.

Our hotel

Tomorrow is our last day here because we will be leaving very early on Saturday.  If you've read this blog, thanks for being part of our pilgrimage.  Will you please say a prayer for our safe return home.