You came into your Temple...

"You have come into your Temple, you, the sacrificed Lamb, the torch of the new Jerusalem, the true Temple of which we are the living stones... "

        It was to the singing of this refrain that we went this morning, February 2, to the Meeting of the Lord presented in the Temple by the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, and joyfully welcomed by Simeon and Anna, the prophetess.

         The procession with lighted candles begins at the enclosure gate and continues through the cloister to the choir. Fortunately, the stormy rain that had been falling generously since yesterday (no one is complaining, we need water for the land and the cisterns!) had stopped, allowing us to proceed in peace, without (too much) relighting the candles along the way...

On this Day of Consecrated Life, we also renewed our commitment to follow Christ through the profession of the evangelical counsels. On this feast day, we are in communion with all consecrated persons, especially the religious men and women of the Holy Land gathered at the Patriarchate.

         “My eyes have seen your salvation, the light that shines on the nations and brings glory to your people Israel” (Lk 2:30).