Newspaper Page Text
APRIL 13, 1957.
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
ELEVEN
Difficulties Confront Pilgrims
All Holy
Cenacle, In Jordanian Sector
(By Rev. Bonaventure Simon,
O. F. M.)
Headlines in recent months
have again publicized the churn
ed waters of the Middle East, and
the feverish efforts of internation
al diplomacy to calm the storm
lest even more combustible inci
dents explode into -a third world
war.
Caught like innocent bystand
ers in this maelstrom of national
and international rivalry, the
monuments of Christian heritage
—the Holy Places—await more
peaceful days when Christians, ir
respective of nationality, may
freely visit, pray and meditate on
the mystery embodied in each sac
red site.
Throughout the centuries Pales
tine mothered within its borders
Biblical sites, especially those as
sociated with Christ’s misson. But
since the 1948 division of Pales
tine into two sections, one Arab
and the other Israeli, pilgrims
find themselves hampered, delay
ed, and even at times l-efused ac
cess from one sector to the other,
in their efforts to visit all the Holy
Places. Fortunately for the Lent
en pilgrim, all but one of the Holy
Places pertaining to the Passion
and Death of our Lord—the Cen
acle—are situated within the Arab
section of the divided city of Je
rusalem.
Like Any Frontier
A pilgrim to the Holy Land to
day faces the ordeal—at times—
exasperating— of obtaining the
necessary permissions from both
Arab and Israeli authorities to
cross the military line of demar-
catiton dividing Jerusalem into
two distinct sectors. As at any
frontier, documents and baggage
are inspected by Arab officials
px'ior to the crossing of “no-man’s
land.” Then a walk of about 100
yards brings the pilgrim to the
checkpost of the Israeli, where
documents and baggage are again
examined. Such formalities com
pleted, the pilgrim—who, remem
ber, is still within the city of Je
rusalem—may proceed to Mount
Sion and visit the Cenacle, site of
the Last Supper, the Descent of
the Holy Ghost on the Apostles,
and the “Falling Asleep” of the
Blessed Virgin.
During Lent, and especially dur
ing" Holy Week, in the Arab sec
tor special services are conducted
at the Church of the Holy Sepul
chre and the shrines of the
Scourging and the Crowning with
Thorns; at the site of the Con
demnation and Taking Up of the
Cross; at the chapels marking the
W. A. Strickland
Repairs, Installations
Residential and
1286 5y1van Road, S. W.
Atlanta, Go.
Expert Workmanship
PL. 8-1438
H
v;
H
!
ii
m
|p
jg:
WORRIES GO AS SAVINGS GROW
There’s nothing better than a growing Savings Account to give you
the peace of mind that comes with financial security. You know that
you are prepared for emergencies and opportunities.
Save more and worry less. Join our growing family of savers and
investors WHERE THOUSANDS SAVE Mil.I IONS.' Open a savings
account today in person or by mail.
NOW PAYING 3Vz%
eaerai
WILLIAM M. SCURRY, tocfeta? HOLLIS t. MORRIS, fxec. Vic* Prm.
26 PRYOR ST., N. E„ ATLANTA. GA.
Northslde Branch:
Peachtree at Paces Ferry Rd.
Atlanta, Ga.
FUNDS RECEIVED BY 10th EARN FROM 1st
East Point Branch:
106 Thompson Ave.
Rear U. S. Post Office
spots where Christ met His Bles
sed Mother and where Simon of
Cyrene helped to carry the Cross;
also, at the shrine of the Second
Fall on the Way of the Cross.
The Cenacle, or “Upper Room”
of the Last Supper, is to the south
west of the old city of Jerusalem.
Several successive churches, the
first in the 4th century, have been
built on this site. The present
building is largely due to the res
toration by the Franciscans in
1342. However, in 1551 they were
forcibly ejected. Nevertheless, by
virtue of long-standing practice, a
visit by Christians takes place on
Holy Thursday afternoon. But
since the 1948 partition, the local
laity and visiting pilgrims within
the Arab secton of Jerusalem do
not attend. Ths is the result of of
ficial formalities involved in cross
ing and reci’ossing from one sector
to the other. Instead, the institu
tion of the Holy Eucharist is sol
emnized with due liturgical gran
deur before the Tomb of our Lord,
within the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre.
Center of Solemn Services
From the very beginning of
Holy Week this Church of the
Holy Sepulchre, which covers the
sites of Calvary and the adjac
ent Tomb, is the center of all sol
emn services. On Palm Sunday
morning, the Latin Patriarch of
Jerusalem blesses the palms for
distribution to the vast throng en
circling the Tomb. On Good Fri
day the Death and Burial of the
Saviour is reenacted and the
mournful services of the day car
ried out in full pontifical, liturgic
al requirements; and there beside
the Tomb, on Holy Saturday, the
Resurrection is announced with
the repeated chanting of the joy
ful Alleluia. But the climax comes
on Easter Sunday when, following
a solemn pontifical Mass, a pro
cession encircles the Tomb three
times while the four Gospel nar
rations of the Resurrection are
chanted.
At Bethphage, only a mile to
the east of the old city of Jerus
alem, near the spot where Christ
set out on His triumphal entry
into the city, today’s Palm Sunday
procession forms in the afternoon.
Across the Mount of Olives, down
into the Valley of Gethsemane,
then up the slope it moves to with
in touching distance of the Temple
area, the point at which our Loi'd
made his triumphal entry into Je
rusalem.
Holy Thursday evening finds
all pilgrims directing their steps
to the Basilica of Gethsemane,
outside the city’s walls. There, in
commemoration of the Agony in
the Garden, a Holy Hour service
of prayer, meditation and the
chanting of the four Gospel nar
rations of the Passion is conduct
ed.
The processions on Good Fri
day are quite a contrast to that of
Palm Sunday. Along the city
streets known as the Via Dolor
osa, groups of pilgrims, each in
their own language, make the
Way of the Cross, pausing at each
hallowed spot. On Easter Monday,
pilgrims again follow in the foot
steps of the Saviour—this time
the Risen Saviour—as they go to
Emmaus, where He met the two
disciples along the road, to partic
ipate in solemn services.
Other Holy Places
While Jerusalem contains all
(Continued on Page 12)
COMPLIMENTS
T. RALPH GRIMES, Sheriff
FULTON COUNTY
RESTAURANT
THE BEST IN FOOD
318 PONCE DE LEON AVE., N. E.
ATLANTA, GA.
TR. 6-5478
(Paid Political Advertisement)
RE-ELECT
JAMES E. (Jim)
JACKSON
Alderman,
First Ward
Sixteen years as Chairman
Water Committee — Served
on all major Committees.
Don’t Swap Performance
for Promises
May 8th City Primary
Entire City Votes
• EXPERIENCED
• DEPENDABLE
• QUALIFIED
Your Vote and Influence
Appreciated