“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27)
Since the very first Pentecost—when the Holy Spirit manifested as tongues of fire and mighty wind, descended upon the disciples empowering them to lead thousands to conversion on that “birthday” of the Church—Christians continue to live in Jerusalem and surrounding areas that were visited by Jesus Christ.
They are parishioners in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee area, and Jerusalem. They are the “living stones” of the Holy Land, our brothers and sisters in Christ who keep the various holy sites alive with their involvement; providing hope through Catholic schools, hospitals, and educational institutions. Their faith and hope have sustained them through 2,000 years including wars, turmoil, and assaults on their dignity as Catholic Christians.
The Mission of the Equestrian Order
Today, there is a lay institution of the Vatican State with members around the world—including in the Archdiocese of San Antonio—charged with the task of providing for the needs of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and of all initiatives to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land. The institution is called the Equestrian Order (Knights and Dames) of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. It originated with Godfrey de Bouillon of the first Crusade 900 years ago, who gathered around himself a group of knights entrusted with the protection of Christians and the holy sites in the Holy Land.
A Special Invitation to Pray for Peace
These Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem are hosting a special event for the public to pray for the Church in the Holy Land, for peace and for persecuted Christians; Monday, July 14 at the National Shrine of the Little Flower in San Antonio. The Holy Hour will begin at 7:00pm including Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Rosary.
From 6:00pm to 7:00pm, there will be veneration of a First Class Relic of St. Mary of Jesus Crucified, known as “the Little Arab,” who lived in the Holy Land. Visitors may also tour the Basilica and have an opportunity to purchase Carmelite religious items.
As we see turmoil in the Holy Land and everywhere in the world, we cannot allow ourselves to be overwhelmed. We must focus on what we can do; join others in prayer and trust this prayer will bear fruit!
Meet St. Mary of Jesus Crucified, The “Little Arab”
Through the centuries, the influence of the saints has been a source of hope as they cooperated with the grace of God to bring change to their environment. A woman who has inspired many by believing in the power of prayer is St. Mary of Jesus Crucified, an Arab Catholic born in a small village of the Galilee region in 1846. She became a Carmelite nun and, for much of her life, lived in a Carmelite convent in Bethlehem until her death in 1878. She was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015. Thanks to the Carmelite Friars of the National Shrine of the Little Flower, you will have the opportunity to learn more about this saint also named “the little Arab” and venerate a First Class Relic of this saint.
Friends, let us be united in prayer, for with God, all things are possible (cf. Matthew19:26)! Let us heed Pope Leo XIV’s words:
“In the joy of faith and communion, we cannot forget our brothers and sisters who are suffering because of war.”
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Mary Jane Fox, D.C.H.S. is Co-Founder & Co-Director of Pilgrim Center of Hope with her husband, Deacon Tom Fox. The two left their careers after a profound conversion experience and began working full-time in ministry at their parish in 1986. After several years and having impacted tens of thousands of families, the Foxes founded Pilgrim Center of Hope in 1993 as a response to the Church’s call for a New Evangelization. Mary Jane is an invested member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Dame of the Holy Sepulchre.
Pilgrim Center of Hope provides events, experiences, and media; initiating a desire in people to encounter Jesus Christ in their daily journey of life. See what’s happening & let us journey with you! Visit PilgrimCenterOfHope.org.
