THE FRANCISCAN PRESENCE IN THE HOLY LAND

The Franciscan presence in the Holy Land

Custody of the Holy Land

Custody of the Holy Land Saint Saviour’s Monastery St Francis Street N 1 POB 186 91001 Jerusalem Israel Tel: 0972/ 2/ 6 266 563 (Secretary) Fax: 0972/ 2/ 628 47 17 email : custodia@custodia.org website : www.custodia.org

Fr. Fr ancesco Patton Custos of the Holy Land

THE FR A NCISC A N PR E SE NCE

IN THE HOLY LAND

Franciscan Printing Press - Jerusalem 2018

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Geographical Scope The Custody of the Holy Land exercises its apostolate in those countries that form an arc opening to the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. Due to the difficulties inherent to the situation in the Middle East, the information that follows may at times be approximate or provisional.

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The pages that follow are both a response and an invitation to everyone who is interested in the current situation of the Holy Places in the Land of Jesus.

Served in the name of the Church by the sons of Saint Francis for the past seven centuries, this mission was long ago named the “Custody of the Holy Land�; today, as in the past, the Franciscans continue their work as faithful missionaries and prophets of reconciliation and peace.

The Fr anciscan Presence in the Holy Land

This brochure is designed for everyone who wishes to learn more about the reality of this presence: its history, its present and the prospects for its future.

These few pages may also be useful to those who, loving the Lord, believe in the importance of the sites of His Revelation and His redemptive Incarnation.

This brochure contains brief historical and statistical data. It presents the various religious and social aspects of the ecclesiastical work, the message of the Holy Places, the ministry of hospitality to pilgrims, as well as the ecumenical and academic activity of the Custody. It is a summary of information and offers suggestions for further study; it is up to the reader to complete the process through direct, nonmediated contact with the reality of the Holy Land.

Antique seal of the Father Custos, "Guardian of Mount Zion and Apostolic Commissioner for the Holy Land and the East"

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The Bull of Clement VI

Juridical Constitution of the Custody of the Holy Land Clement, bishop, servant of the servants of God, To his well-loved sons the Minister General and the Minister of the Land where the Order of Friars Minor labour, salutations and Apostolic Blessing.

1. We give thanks to the Dispenser of all good, offering Him worthy praise, for having awakened such zeal and fervour of devotion and faith in our most dear children in Christ, King Robert and Sanche, Queen of Sicily, illustrious in honouring our Redeemer and our Lord Jesus Christ, not ceasing to work with indefatigable love for the praise and glory of God, as well as for the veneration and honour of the Holy Sepulchre of the Lord and of the other Holy Places beyond the sea.

2. A short time ago good news from the king and queen reached our Apostolic See relating that, at great cost and following difficult negotiations, they had obtained a concession from the Sultan of Babylon (that is, Cairo), who to the intense shame of Christians occupies the Holy Sepulchre of the Lord and the other Holy Places beyond the sea that were sanctified by the blood of this same Redeemer, to wit that friars of your Order may reside continuously in the church known as the Sepulchre and celebrate there Solemn Sung Masses and the Divine Office in the manner of the several friars of this Order who are already present in this place; moreover, this same Sultan has also conceded to the King and Queen the Cenacle of the Lord, the chapel where the Holy Spirit was manifested to the Apostles and the other chapel in which Christ appeared to the Apostles after his resurrection, in the presence of Blessed Thomas; and also the news of how the Queen built a convent on Mount Zion where, as is known, the Cenacle and the said chapels are located; where for some time she has had the intention of supporting twelve friars of your Order to assure the divine Liturgy in the church of the Holy Sepulchre, along with three laymen charged with serving the friars and seeing to their needs.

3. To this end, the abovementioned Queen, in fulfilment of her pious devotion and that of the King, humbly asked us to intervene with our Apostolic Authority towards providing for the needs of these same Holy Places by sending devoted friars and qualified servants to the abovementioned number.

4. We, therefore, approving the pious and praiseworthy proposal of the said King and Queen, and their devout intention worthy of divine blessing, and wanting to favour

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and encourage their wishes and desires, by this present [bull] do concede to all and to each of you full and free power to summon, now and in the future, in your presence and by apostolic authority and at the request of the abovementioned King and Queen and their successors, after having heard the advice of the counsellors of your Order, capable and devout friars from among the entire Order to the number indicated.

5. Furthermore, considering the importance of this matter, due consideration is to be given to those friars who are destined to the service of God at the Holy Sepulchre, as well as at the Holy Cenacle and in the above-mentioned chapels; this, after duly inquiring of their Provincial Minister of your Order regarding the aptitudes of those friars designated and temporarily destined for these regions beyond the sea and, in the case of one of them being absent, that on each occasion required, the friars sent to replace those absent be given license to reside in these regions.

6. We further grant you, in case of refusal on the friars' part, the power to oblige them to obey, following an admonition, through the use of ecclesiastical censures.

Nothing is to contradict these provisions, The 1342 Bull of Clement VI, not any apostolic prohibition or contradictory statutes which constituted the Custody of of the Order, even if supported by solemn attestation the Holy Land a legal entity. or apostolic ratification or any other convention, nor yet if some have received from the Apostolic See, in general or in particular, exemption from interdiction, suspension or excommunication, unless the apostolic letter makes full, express and literal mention of this indult.

7. We desire that, when those friars so designated are present in the regions beyond the sea, they be under obedience to and subject to the governance of the Guardian of the friars of your Order, as well as the Minister Provincial of the Holy Land, with all that falls within his competence.

Given at Avignon the 21st of November, 1342, in the first year of Our Pontificate.

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The Custody of the Holy Land: Brief Historical Notes

The presence of the Franciscans in the Holy Land goes back to the very origins of the Order of Friars Minor which, founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209, has been open to missionary evangelisation since its origins. The Province of the Holy Land was born at the General Chapter of 1217 that divided the Order into provinces; it grew to include all the lands around the southeast Mediterranean basin, from Egypt to Greece and beyond.

The Province of the Holy Land naturally included the land of Christ's birth, together with the places where the mystery of our redemption was realised.

For this reason the Province of the Holy Land was considered to be the jewel among the other provinces and, as a mission field, the jewel of all the missions founded by the Order around the world. It was visited by St. Francis himself who, during his voyages among Egypt, Syria and Palestine, stayed here for several months during 1219-1220. This was the period that saw the famous encounter between the Little Poor Man and the Sultan Melek-el-Kamel.

Arial view of the Saint Saviour's complex, the Custody's principal monastery.

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In a time of war, at the height of the Crusades, Francis of Assisi leapt over the trenches to meet and dialog with the sultan, who was commonly seen as the enemy par excellence, the infidel. This act was a prophetic example of dialogue and a testimony to respect for different cultures, an example that today has so much to say to people of our times.

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It is this same spirit that continues to inspire the spiritual and human adventure of the Franciscans in the Middle East in serving the local population, whether they are Christians or not.

In 1263, in a move to facilitate Franciscan activity, the Province of the Holy Land was reorganised into a number of smaller entities, called Custodies. Thus, the Custodies of Cyprus, of Syria, and that of the Holy Land proper were created. The Custody of the Holy Land included the monasteries of Saint-Jeand'Acre, Antioch, Sidon, Tyre, Jerusalem and Jaffa.

During this period the Friars Minor in the Holy Land exercised their apostolate primarily among the Crusaders.

Saint Francis Meeting the Sultan. Painting by Gaidano (1898), Saint Saviour's Monastery.

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Franciscans supporting the Aedicule of the Holy Sepulchre during its restoration in 1555.

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n 1291, the city of Saint-Jean-d'Acre, the last remaining Crusader stronghold, fell into Muslim hands. The Franciscans found refuge on Cyprus, where the Province of the Orient had its seat, and continued to assure a presence in Jerusalem and the other Palestinian sanctuaries.

At that time, Pope John XXII permitted the Provincial Minister of the Holy Land to send two friars to the Holy Places every year. In spite of the difficulties, the Friars Minor continued to exercise all possible forms of apostolate. Their presence in the service of the Holy Sepulchre is attested for the period of 1322 to 1327.

The Fr anciscan Presence in the Holy Places

The definitive return of the Friars Minor to the Holy Land, with legal possession of certain Holy Places and right of use for others, can be attributed to the generosity of the King of Naples, Robert d'Anjou, and of Queen Sanche of Majorca. In 1333, through the mediation of the Franciscan Roger Guérin, they obtained from the sultan of Egypt the site of the Cenacle and the right to officiate at liturgies in the Holy Sepulchre. Among other provisions, it was established that the Friars Minor would exercise these rights on behalf of the Christian world. In 1342, Pope Clement VI approved this project of the Neapolitan royalty, and with the bulls Gratias Agimus and Nuper Carissimæ he determined the details of the new entity. The friars assigned to the Holy Land could come from any province of the Order and once in service of the Holy Land, they would be under the jurisdiction of the Father Custos, the “Guardian of Mount Zion in Jerusalem".

Jerusalem.

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the

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Franciscan monastery on Mount Zion.

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The Minister General of the Friars Minor, successor of Saint Francis

The continuous Franciscan presence in the Holy Land and their commitment to evangelisation and to the promotion of Christian values was a determining factor in the development of the local church, even to the point of making possible the restoration of the Latin Patriarchate in 1847. Since then, the Custody and the Patriarchate work together in a spirit of fraternal collaboration in accomplishing their respective mandates.

Today, the Custody of the Holy Land is the only province of the Order with an international character, composed as it is of friars from all around the world. Some choose to enter the Custody at the beginning of their religious life and formation, while others choose to come and serve here for varying periods of time.

Franciscans in procession to the Holy Cenacle, led by the traditional Kawas escorts.

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Marking the occasion of the 650th anniversary of the bull of Clement VI, Pope John Paul II sent a personally signed letter to the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor. The Holy Father recalled the bull that entrusted the Holy Places to the Order, and he encouraged the sons of Saint Francis to persevere in carrying out the mandate consigned to them at that time by the Vatican.

The Friars Minor, then, are the official guardians of the Holy Places by the desire and at the request of the Universal Church. Pope Paul VI, the first pope since Saint Peter to visit the Holy Land, recalled this fact and it was confirmed by John Paul II during his pilgrimage during the Great Jubilee Year, 2000 AD.

Jerusalem, March 2000. John Paul II meeting representatives of the Jewish and Muslim religions.

January 1964. Pope Paul VI meeting the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Athenagoras at Jerusalem.

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Today, the Custody's apostolate is carried out in the following countries: Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and the islands of Cyprus and Rhodes. Some 300 friars are present in these countries, working in collaboration with about 100 sisters from various congregations. The Franciscans serve the principal shrines of the Redemption, among which the Holy Sepulchre, the Nativity at Bethlehem and the Annunciation at Nazareth hold pride of place.

Lent in Jerusalem. A Franciscan praying inside the aedicule in the Holy Sepulchre.

A friar praying at the site of Jesus' birth.

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View of the Old City of Jerusalem from the terrace of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum.

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The Holy Places

In Galilee CAPERNAUM CANA

Memorial of Saint Peter Place of the first Miracle of Jesus

Chapel of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle HATTIN Site of the second multiplication of loaves JAFFA OF NAZARETH Chapel of Saint James the Apostle MAGDALA Site of the birth of Saint Mary Magdalene MOUNT TABOR Basilica of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ Descendentibus Chapel Site of the healing of the demon-possessed man at Daburiyeh NAÏM Site of the resurrection of the widow’s son NAZARETH Grotto of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Church of Saint Joseph (Church of the Nutrition) Mensa Christi

Chapel of the Virgin Mary’s Fright The precipice SEPHORIS Home of Saints Joachim and Anne TABGHA Chapel of the Primacy of Saint Peter Site of the Beatitudes TIBERIAS Church of Saint Peter at the Lake of Genesaret TOTAL 19 In Jude a AIN KAREM

Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist

Church of the Visitation

The Desert of Saint John the Baptist BETHANY Lazarus’ Tomb

Sanctuary of Saint Lazarus (site of Martha’s home) BETHLEHEM Grotto of the Nativity of Jesus The Manger of Christ

Grotto and Tomb of Saint Jerome Milk Grotto Saint Joseph’s House Shepherds’ Field (Beit Sahour) David’s Reservoir BETHPAGE Convent of the Palms EMMAUS-KUBEIBEH Sanctuary of the Apparition of Jesus to the Two Disciples

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JERUSALEM Holy Cenacle (Mount Zion) Holy Sepulchre and Calvary Church of the Flagellation

Lithostrotos Chapel (II Station of the Cross)

Chapel of the Meeting with the Cyrene (V Station of the Cross) Column of Sentencing of the VII Station of the Cross

Gethsemane: Basilica of the Agony

Gethsemane: Grotto of the Betrayal

Gethsemane: Tomb of the Blessed Virgin Mary Dominus Flevit

Site of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Tomb of the Prophet Isaiah JAFFA Sanctuary of St. Peter JORDAN RIVER

Site of Jesus’ Baptism RAMLE Church of Saint Joseph of Arimathea TOTAL In Syr ia DAMASCUS

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Home of Saint Ananias Site of the Conversion of Saint Paul

TOTAL 2 In Jor da n MOUNT NEBO

Memorial of the Prophet Moses

TOTAL 1

TOTAL NUMBER OF SANCTUARIES

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Pastor al Ministry

Scouts

from Saint Saviour’s Parish, Jerusalem.

The Franciscans exercise their pastoral ministry in 29 parishes, as well as in numerous other churches, chapels and chapels of ease. It should be noted in this regard that the Custody is responsible for the three largest parishes in the Holy Land: Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth. The friars also have strong roots in both big-city and village parishes of the region, including in Syria and Lebanon.

Arab parishes, then, are one of the Custody's major commitments in the Holy Land. Parish activities run along the same lines as those of parishes elsewhere in the world, with catechism, administration of the sacraments, youth work, the Franciscan Secular Order, prayer groups and lay associations, spiritual direction, social activities and social welfare activities. The Franciscan parishes in the Holy Land were created to serve the Catholics of the Latin Rite (as Roman Catholics are locally known); for centuries the friars were their only priests. Today, however, the friars share the responsibility with the parish priests of the Latin Patriarchate, reinstituted

by Pope Pius IX in 1847. One of the special occasions that demonstrate this spirit of unity is the Palm Sunday procession from Bethpage, on the Mount of Olives, to the Church of Saint Anne, in the Old City of Jerusalem, in which all the Latin-rite parishes, not only the Franciscan ones, take part.

In the Middle East, the Latin Catholics have always been a small minority. The majority of local Christians are Greek Orthodox, and the Catholic minority includes many faithful of the Oriental rites. Furthermore, in virtually all the

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Middle Eastern countries where the Custody is present, the Christian communities are a statistical minority among Muslim or Jewish majorities. This creates unique problems to which the Franciscans try to respond in the best possible manner, always aiming at developing well-formed, vibrant Christian communities.

Alongside the unflagging, centuries-long pastoral care of Arab Christians, two new challenges have appeared in recent years: the existence of Hebrew-speaking Catholics and of Catholic immigrants from a number of different countries.

The Custody has responded to these new challenges by investing new energies.

The members of the Kehila, the Hebrew-speaking Catholic community, are primarily Jews who have converted to the Catholic faith. While retaining their Jewish roots, they find the fulfilment of their spiritual journey in the Catholic Church. They are joined by non-Jews who live in an Israeli milieu and therefore speak Hebrew. The Custody's involvement with this community began with the opening of Saints Simeon and Anne House in the new city of Jerusalem. Here the liturgy is celebrated in Hebrew, and prayer meetings, catechetical groups, youth activities and family encounters are held in that language. The community's activities are characterized by encounter and dialogue.

The Custody has taken the same pastoral direction in the town of Jaffa.

Liturgy at Saint Saviour's Parish, Jerusalem.

The Church of Sts Simeon and Anne, the Jerusalem parish of the Hebrew-speaking faithful.

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Another new pastoral mission to which the Franciscans are open is the apostolate among foreign workers, particularly Catholics from the Philippines, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa. These Catholics, mainly women, come to Israel to work, their respective countries being, for the most part, in financial crisis.

The Friars celebrate Mass in several languages in their churches in Jaffa in order to respond to the needs of these communities. In addition to the liturgical celebrations, the Franciscan parishes are put at their disposal for different kinds of religious or other activities.

Members of the Filipino community served by the friars in Jaffa.

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The social apostolates of the Custody are part of its pastoral ministry: schools, colleges, student residences, skilled craftsmen’s workshops, parish associations, homes for the aged, after-school programmes, summer camps and outpatient clinics.

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Pilgrims to the Holy Land meet the friars almost exclusively in the sanctuaries. They are not always aware of the Franciscans' pastoral ministry and they are perhaps even less aware of their involvement in helping the most disadvantaged members of society, Christian and non-Christian alike. In fact, beyond their responsibility for the protection of the Holy Places and for the activities that take place there, the C h o o s i n g Franciscans have a wide-ranging, highly significant pastoral ministry. We will take a look at just one of the most important examples.

for the

Poor

Several centuries ago, the Custody instituted and supported the Housing and Lodging Ministry as a means of providing aid and relief to the poorest of the poor, thus doing its utmost to contribute to a solution of the thorny problem of living space. Given the special conditions of the Holy Land, this ministry seeks to consolidate the Christian presence around the Holy Places.

The unique situation created by the Arab-Israeli conflict has given rise to a constant and continuous exodus of the local Arab Christian population. In Jerusalem alone, the Custody offers some 350 housing units, for which the tenants are charged rent based on their ability to pay, in all cases below market prices. Other units are rented by the Custody and put at the disposition of the poor. In addition, the Franciscans have had apartments built in Beit Hanina (a northern suburb of Jerusalem) and offered them to Christian families for one-third the market rent. The friars undertake similar initiatives, not without difficulties, in Bethlehem and in Bethpage on the Mount of Olives. In this way, the Custody not only protects the Sanctuaries in the literal sense, but also preserves the living stones of the Holy Land; that is, the local Christian communities.

Apartments for Christians on the Mount of Olives near the Bethpage sanctuary.

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You th Wor k

Holy Land School for Girls in Jerusalem.

The Custody extends its "choice for the poor" to the cultural formation of young Christians. Custody scholarships are awarded to young men and women who demonstrate the ability and the desire to pursue a university education. True to its history of activity in the field of education, the Custody today also maintains successful primary and secondary schools of high repute open to children of all religions, nationalities and races. The varying socio-political conditions across the Custody's vast territory lead to a great diversity of programs from one country to another.

This enterprise implies, of course, a huge administrative and financial commitment. The students' financial resources are always quite reduced; many come from indigent families and so tuition fees are waived. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties, the Custody remains faithful to its choice for the poor in continuing its long tradition.

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The schools are located in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Cyprus, and Lebanon, and serve more than 10,000 students: Catholics (of the Latin, Greek, Armenian, Syrian, Coptic, Maronite and Chaldean rites), non-Catholic Christians and non-Christians. Christians comprise about 60% of all the students. The presence of different Christian denominations and of non-Christians helps to explain the complexity of the Custody's work of evangelisation and commitment to the "new evangelisation".

Pupils of the Magnificat Institute at practice.

Also worthy of attention is the Magnificat Institute.

Founded in 1995 to train experienced musicians and singers for the sanctuaries and churches of the Holy Land, it very quickly proved itself a school that produces graduates at a very high level. It has also become a place of encounter for people from different ethnic and religious communities: Among the pupils and teachers are Jews, Moslems and Christians of all denominations, united by a common passion for music and singing.

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For centuries the Custody of the Holy Land could only express itself in the language of prayer and liturgical celebrations. There was not much space for evangelisation or pastoral ministry. In recent times, thanks be to God, we have more room to reflect the multiform nature of our mission. Nevertheless, the liturgy remains a fundamental dimension of the Custody's service.

Liturgy

We are referring particularly to the pilgrimages and liturgical celebrations at the Holy Sepulchre and at the Basilica of the Annunciation.

Pilgrimages are perhaps the most typical aspect of the liturgical life of the Custody.

These "peregrinations" to Jordan, Emmaus, Bethpage, Bethany, the site of the Ascension, the Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit, Ein Karem and the Cenacle have for centuries breathed new life into old stones.

Every day at the Holy Sepulchre the Franciscans retrace in procession moments from Christ's paschal journey.

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The Holy Sepulchre: Every day of the year, even when their numbers are reduced, the friars move in procession from station to station, following the steps of Christ's last paschal journey.

To experience this slow, prayerful movement once in your life is easy, but every day! The same can be said for the daily liturgies at the Bethlehem Basilica.

We leave it to you to imagine the spiritual riches, but also the burden, of this liturgical activity during the special times of the liturgical year, especially Holy Week and Easter.

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Pope Paul VI described the Holy Land as the Fifth Gospel. Being familiar with this Land, its history and its human and geographical environment is an excellent way to attain a fuller, living understanding of the message of Holy Scripture. This is why the Franciscans promote love for the gospel by extending the message of the Holy Places.

The message of the Holy Places is transmitted throughout the world in different ways: first of all, through the Franciscan Printing Press, the publishing arm of the Custody. The publishing house includes a scientific section that publicizes the research of Studium Biblicum Franciscanum scholars, which will be discussed below, as well as a section for more popular publications, in particular Holy Land, a magazine founded in 1930 that appears in five languages: French, Italian, Spanish, English and Arabic. Holy Land seeks to make known the history, the Biblical and archaeological riches, the spirituality and the activities of the Holy Places.

Spr e a ding the Me s s age o f t h e H o ly P l a c e s

Friars during the daily procession at the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

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The magazine's popular nature does not detract from its high standard of material, and it is a very useful tool for becoming familiar with the Holy Places. The Custody also periodically re-edits its Guide to the Holy Land, keeping it up to date.

Transmitting the message of the Holy Places is also the task of the Holy Land Commissioners.

These are friars stationed all over the world, who are specially assigned to publicize the activities and the problems of the Custody, and to fan the flame of interest in the Holy Places that is characteristic of the Christian faith and that is expressed above all through pilgrimage.

To more efficiently meet the need for accessible information regarding the activities of the custody, an Internet site in Italian, English, Spanish, and French has been opened (www. custodia.org). The friars themselves manage the web site and keep it up to date.

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One apostolic activity in which the Custody has always invested resources is the spiritual accompaniment of pilgrims from all over the world.

Many friars are devoted to meeting pilgrims and serving as guides for their groups. Moreover, to better assist the pilgrims, the Custody continues its traditional activity of Casa Nova centres, visitors' centres and hostels in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth, and on Mount Tabor. These Franciscan guesthouses have all been refurbished to offer a good, basic level of comfort.

Serv ing Pilgr ims

The Custody also organizes its own pilgrimages from all over the world, assisted by the best professional organizations and offering abundant, qualified spiritual assistance.

For those pilgrims particularly interested in an intense time of prayer and reflection, the sanctuary of Gethsemane, near the Olive Garden, offers the possibility of spending time in a Gethsemane hermitage. The same service is offered at the Sanctuary of Saint John in the Desert, near Ein Kerem, recently restored. Here, not only Catholic pilgrims, but also Orthodox pilgrims from different rites, can meet.

Jerusalem faithful of the Latin rite during the Way of the Cross.

Also worth noting is the not insignificant stream of Israeli visitors to the sanctuaries, particularly those at Ein Kerem and Mount Tabor.

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English Speaking Commissariats Australia

Commissary of the Holy Land Maryfields Friary P.O. Box 77, Campbelltown NSW, 2560 Australia Telephone: +61. 2 46262400 Fax: +61. 2 46289940 Web: www.franciscans.org.au/sfo E-mail: cschafer@franciscans.org.au Canada

Commissariat de Terre Sainte 1247, Place Kilborn Ottawa, ONT. K1H 6K9 - Canada Telephone: +1. 613 737.69.72 Fax: +1. 613 737.69.72 E-mail: terresainte@bellnet.ca Web: www.commissariat.ca Great Britain

Commissariat of the Holy Land Franciscan Friary 557-559 High Road Woodford Green IG8 ORB - England Telephone: +44. 20 85041688 Fax: +44. 20 84989994 E-mail: michaelokaneofm@aol.com Ireland

Commissariat of the Holy Land Liberty Street Cork - Ireland Telephone: +353. 021 4270302 E-mail: bernardofm@eircom.net

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Malta

Kummissarjat tรก l-Art Imqaddasa 8, Triq Santa Lucija Valletta - VLT 07 - Malta Telephone: +356. 21 24.22.54 Cellulare: +356. 99 88.80.68 E-mail: comalt@maltanet.net New Zeeland

Commissariat of the Holy Land San Damiano Friary 8, Taylor Rd. - Mangere Bridge Manukau 2022 - New Zealand Telephone: +64. 9 6369976 Fax: +64. 9 6369976 E-mail: a.malone@xtra.co.nz Papua-New Guinea

Commissariat of the Holy Land St. Anna Friary P.O.B. 133 Aitape 553 - Papua New Guinea Telephone: +675. 719 70402 E-mail: gatteigianni@gmail.com Philippines

Commissariat of the Holy Land Our Lady of the Angels Seminary Seminary Road, Bagbag, Novaliches 1116 Quezรณn City - Philippines Telephone: +63. 2 9364083 Fax: +63. 2 9364086 E-mail: commissaryholyland@yahoo.com

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Porto Rico

ComisarĂ­a de Tierra Santa P.O.B. 10202 San Juan - Puerto Rico Telephone: +1. 787 5383805 E-mail: tierrasantapr@gmail.com Singapore

Vice-Commissariat of the Holy Land St. Anthony Friary 5 Bukit Batok East Avenue 2 Singapore 659918 Telephone: +65. 68 961050 Fax: +65. 68 963590 Email: mlow@franciscans.org.au South Africa

Commissariat of the Holy Land Commissary of the Holy Land St. Dominic’s Church 40, Montagu Street - P.O.B. 84 Boksburg, Gauteng 1460 - South Africa Telephone: +27. 11 9175160 Fax: +27. 11 9175416 E-mail: stdominicschurch@gmail.com South Korea

Commissary of the Holy Land 17, Jeongdong-kil, Joong-gu Seoul 100-120- South Korea Telephone: +82. 2 63645500 Fax: +82. 2 63645645 E-mail: commissariatkorea@gmail.com

Taiwan

Commissariat of the Holy Land Franciscan Friary 26 Mingchih Road, Section 3 Taishan Shiang Taipei Hsien [243] - Taiwan Telephone: +886. 2 23708790 Fax: +886. 2 23754439 E-mail: bonaventuralin@gmail.com Web: www.ccreadbible.org USA

Commissariat of the Holy Land Franciscan Monastery 1400 Quincy St., N.E. Washington D.C. 20017-3087 - U.S.A. Telephone: +1 202 526 68 00 Fax: +1 202 526 98 89 E-mail: secretariatusa@myfranciscan.org Web: www.myfranciscan.org Commissariat of the Holy Land Saint Anthony Friary 3140 Meramec Street St. Louis, MO 63118 - U.S.A. Telephone: +1. 314 655 0547 Fax: +1. 314 655 0563 E-mail: fmushp@aol.com Web: www.thefriars.org Commissariat of the Holy Land Old Mission San Luis Rey 4050 Mission Ave Oceanside, Ca 92057 - USA Telephone: +1 650 580-9524 E-mail: rfoddamain@gmail.com

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Ecum e n ic a l Ac t i v i t y a nd Inter-r eligious Di a logue

The Custody exercises its ecumenical activity principally in the cultural field.

The most meaningful examples are the Christian Information Centre and the Saint Paul Memorial in Damascus.

The Father Custos meeting representatives of Jerusalem's non-Catholic communities.

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The goals of the Christian Information Centre are several: providing scientific news bulletins regarding Christian life in the Holy Land to media professionals, writers, other specialists, and religious communities; putting its facilities at the disposal of various Churches of the country for ecumenical meetings, conferences, and prayer groups for Christians of all rites; and providing a venue for press conferences and other religious or cultural activities.

The Centre publishes a periodical newsletter.

Through one of its activities, the Franciscan Pilgrims Office, the Centre has rendered valuable service to thousands of pilgrims and priests since 1965; for example, through offering a reservations service for those wishing to celebrate Holy Mass in the different sanctuaries.

Custody of the Holy Land

The Saint Paul Memorial was built in 1964 on Custody land on the outskirts of Damascus, on the site where the conversion of Saint Paul is commemorated.

Pope Paul VI requested the Memorial and bore all expenses. The purpose of the Memorial is to provide a venue for spiritual exercises and theological, pastoral, ecumenical, historical or archaeological meetings. The house and chapel are at the disposal of Catholics of all rites and also of other Christians, if necessary, for their spiritual needs. Pilgrims who wish to meet Paul on the site of his conversion are welcome. In addition, the Memorial is open for various activities of the local pastoral apostolate.

Alongside the more formal ecumenical activities, we cannot omit mention of the daily, informal contact with Christians of different rites and denominations. This contact increases familiarity and mutual respect and allows us to regard with a renewed vision our brethren who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church.

Damascus. The Memorial of Saint Paul.

It is a commonplace that in certain Franciscan parishes the major holidays, like Christmas or Easter, see faithful of different confessions celebrating the liturgy together.

The Custody's commitment to inter-religious dialogue is facilitated, and even made obligatory, by the religious situation of the region: Christians account for barely 2% of the population, whereas the majority of the population are Muslims and Jews.

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Throughout their 800-year presence in the Holy Land, the friars have always sought to be true to the exhortation of their father Saint Francis to comport themselves in one of two manners when living among people of a different religious faith: The first is not to ask questions or seek out debate, but to meet every human being from within God's love, testifying in this way to their Christian faith. The other manner is, when they see that this would be pleasing to God, to proclaim the Word openly. The Franciscans have always favoured silent testimony to their faith, living in solidarity with the people in the places they serve, seeking a deeper understanding of their religious and cultural traditions to benefit from their spiritual treasures. In these regions, it is frequently impossible to carry out an apostolate directly, but we always try to live our faith with integrity, so as perhaps to cause others to ask questions and start a sincere dialogue.

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Custody of the Holy Land

The scientific activity of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum (SBF) is recognized throughout the biblical studies and archaeology world. Instruction began at the Flagellation Monastery during the 19231924 university year. In 1982, it was recognized as an associated faculty of the Faculty of Theology of the Pontificium AthenĂŚum Antonianum of Rome. Its first course of studies was the Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum, which was carried out in close collaboration with the International Seminary at Saint Saviour's Monastery, where not only young friars of the Custody, but also selected friars from other provinces of the Franciscan Order, prepare for the priesthood.

The completion of the SBF 's new home (inaugurated on November 17, 1991, by the prefect for the Congregation of Catholic Education and the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor) is the final step in a series of renovations throughout the Flagellation complex, in view

Scientific Activity

Jordan. The Memorial of Moses.

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of adapting the Studium to the exigencies of a truly modern Centre. By decree of the Congregation for Catholic Education it was erected as a Faculty of Biblical Science and Archaeology in 2001.

Friar-archaeologists and workers at a dig in Capernaum.

As a research centre, it is dedicated to the pursuit of archaeological studies, in particular to rediscovering the Holy Places of the New Testament and the early church in the Holy Land; to the study of literary sources (Jewish and Christian written testimony, ancient Holy Land voyages); and to illustrating the history of the sanctuaries of the Redemption.

It carries out biblical research in all its historical, exegetical, theological, linguistic and environmental aspects.

As an educational centre, the SBF offers the pontifical academic degree of baccalaureate in theology of the Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum and

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license and doctoral degrees in biblical science and archaeology. Also offered are a superior diploma in Oriental-Biblical and Archaeological Sciences and a diploma in Biblical Formation. Since 1991, it also confers the Diploma of Biblical Studies of the Catholic Biblical Institute of Hong Kong. It organizes continuing Biblical education, conferences and formation courses for Holy Land guides. The program includes ancient oriental languages, as well as special introductions to the Old and New Testaments, to exegesis and Biblical theology, to the history and geography of the Biblical lands, to Biblical archaeology and ancient Christian archaeology and to the topography of Jerusalem, as well as guided excursions in the Holy Land, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey.

The SBF is open to students of any nationality, to religious and lay people, men and women. The students generally come from abroad, but there are also local students, even nonCatholics.

A room of the Flagellation library.

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Also attached to the SBF, is the archaeological museum (among whose collections are objects from the digs carried out by the members of the SBF at Nazareth, Capernaum, Dominus Flevit, the Mount of Olives, the Jerusalem sanctuaries and their environs, the Judean desert, Transjordan, the Galilee, and the two herodian fortresses: Herodium and Machaerous) and the specialized library, with more than 30,000 volumes and about 400 journals.

That part of the cultural world that is particularly interested in oriental studies is also familiar with our Oriental Study Centre in Cairo. Its goal is to develop the oriental sciences with particular regard to the Christian communities of the Middle East and documentation of its life, as well as of the history of the Franciscans in the Holy Land, continuing the work of Father Golubovich ofm. The Centre’s primary activity is publication. It boasts a unique library: in addition to more than 50,000 volumes and more than 400 journals, it is home to an excellent collection of oriental manuscripts in Arabic, Syrian, Coptic, Armenian, Turkish, Persian, etc.

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Custody of the Holy Land

Nazareth, 3rd century graffiti showing the Greek inscription: X(AIP)E MAPIA, i.e. Ave Maria.

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The Custody is a presence rooted in the Middle East, the Holy Land. It is a meeting point, a bridge (albeit a shaky one at times) between two cultures, the east and the west. There is no place in the world like Jerusalem, where all the Christian denominations are present. Beyond the obvious difficulties of human relationships, the Holy Land has a unique charm. Here the Franciscans represent a rich historical presence that, throughout the centuries has learned a great deal through dialogue among Christians. On the inter-religious level, it is a small entity in relationship to the two major presences: Judaism and Islam. The Franciscans take on certain aspects of oriental tradition while managing to communicate something of their own culture. In the Holy Land, the friars are at the heart of the life of the Church and the world. In spite of limitations due to paucity of personnel and the difficulty of the spoken languages, they still succeed in meeting and accompanying pilgrims and the faithful from all parts of the world, and in fruitful discussion with those who do not think as they do.

Holy Land is a fascinating place, a continual challenge. But the greater challenge that the Franciscans are still facing is not to limit themselves to their present material situation, but to hold themselves in an active, critical attitude, always full of evangelical hope.

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Conclusion

Palm Sunday Procession

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Chronology

1229 – The Franciscans establish themselves in Jerusalem near the Fifth Station of the Way of the Cross.

1323 – Service and a humble abode in the Holy Sepulchre.

1335 – Foundation of the Convent of the Cenacle.

1342 – Canonical erection of the Custody of the Holy Land by Pope Clement VI. 1347 – Definitive installation of the Order in the Sanctuary of the Nativity at Bethlehem.

1392 – Recovery of the Grotto of the Apostles, north of the Olive Garden.

1485 – Purchase of the site of the birth of John the Baptist in Ain Kerem. The present church dates to 1621.

1551 – Final expulsion from the Cenacle.

1557 – The seat of the Custody moves to Saint Saviour’s Monastery in Jerusalem.

1620 – Purchase of the ruins of the Sanctuary of the Annunciation. The first church dates to 1730.

1631 – Purchase of the ruins of the Sanctuary of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.

1666 – Purchase of the Olive Garden in Jerusalem. The current church was built during 1919 - 1924.

1679 – Purchase of the property of the Sanctuary of the Visitation in Ain Kerem. The current church was built during 1938 - 1940.

1745 – Acquisition of the Crusader ruins of the Sanctuary of the Nutrition (the home of Saint Joseph) in Nazareth. The first chapel dates to 1754; the current church was built during 1911 – 1914.

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1836 – Acquisition of the ruins of the Flagellation in Jerusalem. The chapel dates to 1839.

1861 – The Marchioness P. Nicolay donates the Chapel of Saint Cleopas at EmmausQubeibeh. The current church dates to 1901.

1878 – Acquisition of the site of the sanctuary at Naïm. The chapel dates to 1880.

1880 – Acquisition of the site at Bethpage. The chapel dates to 1883.

1889 – Purchase of the Fifth Station, Dominus Flevit, Tabgha, and the Ruins of Magdala.

1894 – Acquisition of the ruins of Capernaum. The Memorial of Saint Peter was consecrated in 1990.

1909 – Purchase of the Shepherds’ Field at Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem. The chapel was built during 1953 and 1954.

1933 – Acquisition of the traditional site of the baptism of Christ on the shores of the River Jordan.

1936 – Construction of the convent of the Cenacle on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

1950 – Recovery of the site at Bethany. In 1952, construction of the Sanctuary of Saint Lazarus.

1964 – Paul VI pilgrim in the Holy Land.

1969 – Consecration of the new Church of the Annunciation at Nazareth.

2000 – Pope John Paul II visits the Holy Land on the occasion of the Great Jubilee.

2009 – Pope Benedict XVI, pilgrim in the Holy Land.

2014 – Pope Francis, pilgrim in the Holy Land.

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Index Map: The extent of the Custody of the Holy Land.

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The Franciscan Presence in the Holy Land

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Papal Bull of Clement VI

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Brief history of the Custody of the Holy Land

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Franciscan Presence and Custody of the Holy Places

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Shrines

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Pastoral Ministry

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Option for the Poor

Youth Formation

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Liturgical Ministry

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Promoting the Message of the Holy Places

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Service to Pilgrims

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Commissariats

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Ecumenical Activity

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Academic Activity

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Conclusion

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Chronology

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Franciscan Printing Press - Jerusalem 2018

Franciscan Printing Press - Jerusalem 2018

Photo Š HS

The Franciscans have been present in the Holy Land for over seven centuries without interruption. Their presence is motivated by faithful service to God, the Church and their neighbor.

Protection of the Holy Places, welcoming pilgrims, aiding local Christians and dialog with everyone have been and remain the reasons for which the Friars Minor passionately place their lives into the hands of the Lord every day, following his footsteps in the Land that was his own.