TAKE A HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE
ISRAEL • BETHLEHEM • JORDAN
A travelogue of some of our amazing pilgrimage experiences in the Holy Land.
Join Us on Our Upcoming Holy Land Pilgrimage
Come with us to the Holy Land, where you’ll get to visit many of the places we include in The Faithful Traveler in the Holy Land TV series and in our new series The Faithful Traveler: A Papal Pilgrimage in the Holy Land.
Jerusalem's Church of St Anne
This post first appeared at Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction, where I have been invited to blog once a month on Catholic travel. If you’re not familiar with the site, check it out! They have some awesome bloggers there, with great info on a variety of aspects of practicing and living our faith!
It’s been a few months since I last wrote. Those who saw me recently on EWTN’s Life on the Rock or who read my blog know that my husband David suffered a heart attack on Mother’s Day, just nine days before we were supposed to fly to the Holy Land to document Pope Francis’ Holy Land pilgrimage. He’s fine, thank God, and is recuperating well, but it did throw our lives into disarray, and my posting on this blog suffered as a result. I am grateful to Dan and Liz for their patience and prayers. At David’s insistence, I went to the Holy Land without him and, God willing, hope to release our program about the Pope’s pilgrimage sometime in the Fall.
Today, in honor of Saints Joachim and Anne, the Virgin Mary’s mom and dad and Jesus’ grandparents, I thought I’d introduce you to the beautiful Church of St Anne in Jerusalem. Why is it not the church of Saints Joachim and Anne? I don’t know… but I think it’s a good question!
The Church of St Anne is a really amazing church for many reasons. It’s located in one of the most beautiful parts of Jerusalem that I remember: a lush garden in the Muslim quarter, right next to the ruins of the Pools of Bethesda. It’s a wonderful place to visit, as the gardens provide pilgrims with a refreshing place to sit and relax in the shade and enjoy the rompings of the many feral cats that live in the gardens.
Built between 1131 and 1138, the Church of St Anne is the best preserved Crusader-built church in all of Jerusalem. It’s built in the Romanesque style, with thick walls and arches, and it has some of the best acoustics around, especially for Gregorian chant. Step inside this church, and you’re bound to hear a group singing a song and enjoying the wonderful echo.
Unlike most churches in Jerusalem, the Church of St Anne was not destroyed after the Muslim conquest of 1189. Instead, the church was turned into one of the city’s most prestigious schools, as can still be seen by the inscriptions above the main entrance. Eventually, the building was abandoned and was given to the French. Today, the French White Fathers maintain the beautiful church and grounds.
The Church of St Anne is built atop caves that are believed to have been where Saints Joachim and Anne lived, and where the Virgin Mary was born and lived as a child. They are wonderful places to visit and give thanks for our Blessed Mother and the gift she brought to the world.
You may be wondering, “Didn’t Mary live in Nazareth, where the Angel Gabriel greeted her in her room?” Tradition tells us that she did, and I talked about that home before, in March, at the Basilica of the Annunciation. While the Bible doesn’t tell us about Saints Joachim and Anne, tradition and apocryphal literature tell us much of what we believe about today’s saints and the Blessed Mother’s youth.
The Protoevangelium Jacobi (or Gospel of James) is believed to have been written by the Apostle James [or his followers] around the year 170. It tells us that Joachim and Anne were wealthy, but childless, and of course this made them sad. One day, Joachim decided to go out into the desert and fast for 40 days and 40 nights, in the hopes that God might answer his prayer for a child. Of course, men being men, Joachim went out into the desert without telling Anne, and so she found herself not only without a child, but without a husband, too. Eventually, an angel appeared to Anne and told her that Joachim was not dead and that she would soon bear a child. Anne was so happy, she vowed to dedicate her child to God, and when Mary was three, she was taken to the Temple and dedicated to God.
Aside from being parents to the Blessed Mother, don’t forget that Saints Joachim and Anne were also Jesus’ grandparents! Today, many grandparents look to them as examples of holiness. We can learn about them by looking at their daughter, Mary. Even as a young teenager, Mary’s faith was strong enough to enable her to make that fateful, and faithful, decision that changed the world forever. She believed that she was capable of making such a decision, and so she must have been confident. Yet the decision also indicated that she was humble enough to assent to God’s designs for her. Surely, today’s saints had a hand in raising her to be the woman who said yes to God.
Image of Church of St Anne by Berthold Werner from Wikimedia Commons.
Talking Food, Shoes, and Pilgrimage on EWTN's Life on the Rock
It’s out! My interview with Doug Barry and Father Mark on EWTN’s Life on the Rock! Did you see it? If not, watch it here!
[youtube width=”550″ height=”509″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYKFJsglRV0[/youtube]
If you were on Twitter when it broadcast, I live-tweeted the whole thing, commenting on random things. You can check out my Twitter feed for that.
Overall, I think it was a good interview. There is so much to say, and so much I left out. That’s one of the frustrating things about interviews. My mind races when I’m being interviewed, and its inevitable that I’ll leave something or someone out.
I’m pleased that I mentioned the Israel Ministry of Tourism and the Jordan Tourism Board. I did neglect to mention that Voices of Faith Tours and, of course, Select International Tours also helped make our recent trip to the Holy Land possible.
And it’s funny–on Facebook and on the phone with my sisters, I’ve been talking a lot about that last question that Doug threw at me. I’m not sure I answered it well. I don’t know that I did. If I could call a do-over, I’d say this:
“The saints of all ages are saying to us today the same thing that the Blessed Mother has always said, and which she said to St Catherine Labouré, when she met her at the Rue de Bac in Paris: ‘Come to the altar, for there you will receive great graces.’ Whether that altar be at our local church or in the far reaches of Israel, Jordan, or Palestine, our God is always there, always ready to give us great graces. He is just waiting for us to come close, and to ask.”
I think that’s much better that what I said, but… you got the point. Enjoy everyone!
Oh, and for those who are wondering, the shoes I’m wearing are Oboz (see my earlier post about shoes and bags). Rillettes are basically some nasty sort of pork pate. And I stand by my dislike of beets and mushrooms. But I will still like you if you like them. 🙂 David does!
Crossing into Jordan
The last time I blogged, I was in the Holy Land.Today, I am back in the U.S., still jet lagged and missing the part of my heart I left behind.
With each new international trip I take with The Faithful Traveler, it becomes more and more clear to me that blogging while on pilgrimage or a filming trip is next to impossible unless I actually schedule time to sit and write. That, of course, is the LAST thing I want to do in a foreign land. Sit and write?! NO! I want to go out and explore and drink and eat and discover new places and meet new people! The sitting and writing can come later when all I have to do is … well, sit and write. 🙂
So here I am, sitting in a hospital waiting room (David is having a stress test), and reminiscing about the amazing times I had in the Holy Land. Want to join me? 🙂
Last I wrote, I was talking about Thursday, May 22nd, our second day in the Holy Land. It seems like ages ago since then, when we made our way from Nazareth to the Israel/Jordan border.
driving toward the Israel-Jordan Border: Sheikh Hussein bridge
As a San Diegan, borders aren’t new to me. When I was young, my parents would frequently traverse the US-Tijuana border to shop for whatever they thought they needed in Mexico. My sisters and I would sit in the cab of the truck my dad was driving (it had a camper cover). We made up this song we’d always sing as we crossed the border: “American citizen, from San Diego!” and we’d sing it over and over again. The border patrol guy must’ve either laughed or wanted to throw us back into Mexico for being so goofy.
Me and Uri Golani at the Jordanian border
As our guide, Uri Golani, drove Andy, Patrick, and I toward to Jordanian border, that song played in my mind. How funny would it be if that was the only thing you had to do to cross a border: sing a goofy song? But no. Crossing borders into and out of Israel is no laughing matter. It took us a good 2 hours to cross, and I know it would have taken much longer had we not had two things working in our favor:
1) we discovered this VIP service that, for a fee, helped ease our trip across. It was AWESOME. We used two different companies–one entering Jordan and the other leaving Jordan, but both were spectacularly helpful. For any camera crews traversing these borders, I HIGHLY recommend them.
Just a quick note on crossing borders with a bunch of camera and sound equipment: it is always an issue, no matter where you go. There are many safety and customs concerns involved, and there are an equally large number of forms and procedures you need to take to ensure a smoothish entry. Throughout our trip, we crossed a variety of borders and encountered a lot of searches and delays, as well as some friendly and some not-so-friendly people. Sometimes it was frustrating and annoying (like when we arrived at the airport 4 hours in advance and they asked us why we got there so late… grumble). Suffice it to say, I’m glad it’s over, and I’m glad I know more for the next time around.
2) Our Jordanian guide: Izhac (or Isaac, as the boys called him).
What can I say about Izhaq? He was one of the highlights of our trip. We all came away from Jordan loving him and loving his country, and we all hope to return some day simply because he is so fabulous.
As we crossed into Jordan, I had no idea who would be picking up up. Part of this was bc the Jordanian Tourism Board’s emails kept getting kicked into my junk mail folder for some bizarre reason, so I didn’t see their email about who our guide would be. I just hoped that SOMEONE would pick us up and take us to where we needed to go.
And that someone was Izhaq, with his huge smile and his awesome accent, bordering on Australian and Chicago gangsta. He greeted us with a big smile and told us to hang out while he took care of everything. And he did.
Me and Izhaq: salt of the earth.
As we sat in the waiting room, looking around at everyone, I had a distinct feeling I was leaving one country for another. I don’t know how to explain, but the people looked different, the feel was different. It wasn’t better or worse, just different. On the walls of the waiting room were photos of the Kings of Jordan: the late King Hussein (who I think looks a lot like Sean Connery),
Sean Connery? No! King Hussein!
and the very handsome King Abdullah II, who would be meeting Pope Francis in a couple of days, his gorgeous Palestinian wife, Queen Rania, and their beautiful children.
The Jordanian Royal Family
I was amazed at how little I knew about this family, so I started looking them up online. They are a fascinating people with a fascinating history–I won’t get into it here, but I encourage you to read more about them, because they reign over the only country in the Middle East where Christians and Muslims live in peace. During his welcome to the Pope on May 24th, King Abdullah II said, “you have become a conscience for the whole world.” And the Pope called King Abdullah a peacemaker.
The entire time I was in the Holy Land, I spoke with many people about how wonderful we thought Jordan was, and many expressed their hope that Jordan’s peaceful coexistence among Muslims and Christians would spread to the rest of the Middle East. Inshallah.
Now, that reminds me of the few Arabic terms I learned during my time in Jordan and Bethlehem. I have always been of the mind that it shows respect to foreign people when you visit them in their land to at least TRY to say a few things in their language. I generally start with “please”, “thank you”, “good morning”, and whatever other pleasantries I can remember. Izhaq was such a great teacher, this is what I learned in Jordan (these are obviously not written in Arabic, but phonetically, so I could remember how to say it):
- Please: min fad lick (to a woman) / min fad luk (to a man) / lao sam hat (gender neutral)
- Thank you: Shokran
- Thanks be to God: Al ham dulelah
- If God wills it: Inshallah
- Morning is good (Good morning): Sabah al Khair
- (the response to Good Morning) Morning is bright: Sabah al noor
- Good evening: Massa al Khair
- Welcome/Hi: marhaba
- Father: Abouna
- Dear/Dearest one: Habibi
Suffice it to say, I didn’t learn nearly enough Arabic as I would have liked to, but the fact that I learned something brought smiles to the faces to whom I spoke, and made me feel as though I was trying to not seem like an entitled American. We aren’t the only country, after all. 🙂 Inshallah, I can learn more Arabic for the next time I need to use it, but I don’t see myself ever not using the terms Inshallah, habibi, or al ham dulehlah.
My friend Habib, whose name I only later realized must mean “dear one” (and he is so dear), told me how beautiful Arabic is, because it incorporates God’s name in everyday parlance. And I agree. Of course, other languages do that, too. I remember, back in the day when I was trying to learn Gaelic, how the Irish greet one another by saying “Dia dhuit“, which means “God be with you”, and the response is “Dia is Muire dhuit”, which means, “God and Mary be with you”. And, of course, in Spanish, we say “Si Dios quiere”, which is the equivalent of Inshallah, if God wills it.
Speaking this way leads to thinking that way, which, I think, is a great way to think. God is a better planner than I am, after all. So I’ll leave my future to Him, just letting him know every now and then what I’d love to do or see happen.
Wow. This is a super long blog post. Clearly, I don’t do well with word limits, and since this is my blog and I am the Queen, I could continue. 🙂 But I’ll break for now and explore our Jordanian trip tomorrow.
Today, I begin reviewing the footage, particularly for clips to send to EWTN for my appearance on Life on the Rock next week! Tune in if you can!
Time FLIES in the Holy Land
I can’t believe it’s already May 28th. My trip to the Holy Land is almost over, and I’ve blogged about it… ONCE. Eesh. Sorry about that. Would it make things better if I told you I was exhausted and every moment was spent either filming or experiencing this amazing land as much as I can?
No? Oh, ok, then. Let me catch you up.
Wow. Well… let’s see. I already told you about our crazy first day, so let me say that the days after that got better and better. And let me first say that that is because of the two wonderful gentlemen who are here with me on this trip: the young and dapper Mr. Andrew Buckmaster, and the amazingly spectacular Patrick Dolan.
I can’t say enough wonderful things about these guys, and just in the short time we’ve been here, I’ve gone from knowing them a little to loving them completely and trusting them inherently. I am blessed to have them here, and I pray that I can bring them along on future shoots. If I had my druthers, I’d have them along for every one. Insha’Allah, right?
So, while our first day was rough, getting used to each other, dealing with equipment failures and jet lag, the days since have been amazing. Our second day began in Nazareth–we slept at the Golden Crown hotel, which is absolutely fabulous in every way. Comfy beds, yummy food, and beautiful views. I highly recommend it.
That morning–which seems so long ago–we met Habib for a tour of his hometown, Nazareth. Our first stop: the International Center for Mary of Nazareth, where I met the wonderful Beatrice and Luc, who gave me a quick tour of and explained the significance of the center. We interviewed Beatrice about the first-century home found on the site. I look forward to sharing that interview with you.
Then, we were off to the Sisters of Nazareth, where we were taken to the bowels of the building to see a first century tomb, stated to be the “Tomb of the Just or Righteous one”. Who is that? Some say St. Joseph. Others don’t bother guessing. What did I think? As I made my way down to the tomb and listened to Sister explain it, emotion began to swell in me, and by the time I got to the entrance of the tomb, I began to sob. Uncontrollably. I have no idea why. I wasn’t sad. I didn’t know who was buried there. But it was as if a huge rush of something just pushed past me from the tomb, and I felt goodness and love and everything that comes of God. I prayed to this righteous one, and asked him to bless our efforts.
I didn’t want to leave, but before we did, sister gave me permission to walk down the steps crusaders used to use to access the holy site and venerate the tomb. As I walked down the steps, once traversed by crusaders, I felt the most bizarre crush of history. Here I was, this silly girl in jeans and a ponytail, making a television show, walking down stairs once touched by men from God knows where, who gave their lives to protect the Holy Land. Unreal.
After this spot, we made our way to the Church of the Synagogue, where it is believed that Jesus first read the scroll from Isaiah, put it down and said, “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” It was amazing. But the fun part of that trip was meeting Jean. As I watched Andy film the interior, I overheard Patrick speaking with someone outside about The faithful Traveler. He was explaining what we were doing and who we were. Next thing you know, one woman from the group–Jean–said that not only had she seen our show, but she loved it! Patrick called me over, and I said hi! What a sweet lady! And it was her birthday. Andy was mad he didn’t get our first encounter on film, but we were able to have some members of the group, and Jean, to speak with us on camera about their trip. That’ll be fun to share, too.
And this is only the first half of the day. After this, we had to make our way to the amazing land of Jordan, which I’ll have to tell you about in my next blog bc it’s time to go have some breakfast and interview the Latin Patriarch!
Until later, my friends! Keep praying for us! I am praying for you.
Flights, Frights, and Friends in the Holy Land
It is 12:15 AM. I am exhausted, albeit reinvigorated with two or three cups of the most amazing Turkish coffee I’ve ever had.
I need to tell you all about my day. Wanna hear about it? here goes!
Despite setting my alarm for 6:30 AM, I awoke on my own at 5:30. Figured I might as well get up and do some online stuff before getting ready for my flight, which now seems AGES ago. I replied to some emails, printed some documents out, then started getting ready as girls do: shower, makeup, hair. The works.
Andy, one of our cameramen, was supposed to meet us at our house at 8 am to go over the equipment one last time before leaving. With two cameramen out, we had to reevaluate everything we’d packed. Oh, did I not mention that? Yes, after David was hit by a heart attack on Mother’s Day, another of our cameramen came down hard with the flu. We quarantined him away from our home, and his dear wife brought over his equipment, which he still allowed us to use (sweetheart!). Still, we had to really think it through, and unfortunately David simply didn’t have the energy to do it.
But of course, as things go, Andy encountered the worst traffic in the world on his way to Casa von Glahn, and instead arrived at 8:45. We were supposed to leave at 9 to pick up Patrick–the other cameraman–and make our way to Newark airport from the Philly suburbs in time to return the car I’d rented for the trip, get to the airport, through security, and on the plane before it left.
David mustered his strength and went through the equipment with me, and we got it all done. Fortunately, he didn’t suffer another heart attack, as stressful as this was. Andy arrived, we packed the car, picked up Patrick, and were on our way.
It was hard leaving. I wanted David to come, but I was glad he wasn’t.
Fortunately–and at this point, surprisingly–we didn’t hit any traffic on the way to Newark. We rented a minivan from Avis, who gave us “their best car”, which was AWESOME. Then, when we dropped the car off, and I told one woman that we had a lot of equipment, she drove us herself in the rental car to the gate!! WOW! I was amazed and grateful. What service. BRAVO AVIS! Bravo.
At the airport, we encountered the pleasant El Al checkin people, who proceeded to question us about everything under the sun for what seemed like three hours but was really more along the lines of 45 minutes. Still, I was REALLY glad we were early. I was surprised at the level of grilling we got, especially considering El Al was sponsoring our flight… but whatever. I at least felt somewhat safer on that plane.
After the grilling, we went to customs who had to sign off on our ever changing equipment list, then through security, and finally to the gate, where everyone was already boarding. I was bummed, I’d hoped to connect with the Catholic Press Association journalists who were on our flight–Denise Bossert, Marge Fenelon, John Feister, Peter J Smith, Julie Holthaus, and Elizabeth Scalia. They all got to hang out in the El Al lounge! La di da! LOL. But I did recognize Elizabeth as I rolled my bag down the aisle and said hey. I also saw Denise walk on and gave her a shout. God, I love these people! So glad to have met them all!
The flight was a typical 12-hour flight: uncomfortable and restless. I did get fitful sleep for a while, but MAN is it impossible to sleep in those seats! And I’m little. I don’t know how big people do it.
But there were some great moments.
I got to watch the Lego movie. Everything is awesome.
The El Al flight attendants were FANTASTIC. So nice and peaceful! Especially considering their demanding customers! One example of how they went out of the way to help us: I brought a HUGE 24-ounce water bottle aboard for my flight bc I always get thirsty, but of course bc of the pre-flight grilling I got, I didn’t have a chance to buy water before the flight. As I sat there, woefully looking upon the teensy little water glasses the stewardesses were handing out, I recalled an online article I’d read that said that if you ask a flight attendant to fill your water bottle, they usually will. “Not my behemoth,” I thought. And sat there, dejected.
Eventually, my thirst got the better of me, and I slunk up to the flight attendant stand and said, “Can you put some water in my bottle? Iknowitsbigandyoudonthavetofillitallthewayup!” But before I even finished my lame attempt at seeming selfless, the ANGEL attendant filled my ENTIRE BOTTLE! I could have kissed her. I was THAT thirsty.
The food on El Al is also stupendous. Normally, for breakfast, I’ll have a yogurt. Or a bagel and cream cheese. Or an omelet. Or some fruit. This morning, I got a bagel, some cream, cheese, a yogurt, an omelet, some fruit, AND a chocolate danish! I felt like a pig but ate like a king!
THANK YOU, EL AL, for your service and for allowing us to fly on your flight. Such an awesome experience. Of course, I’ll get ready for that grilling on the way home… 🙂 Better safe than sorry, right?
Once off the flight, I finally had my “Joe versus the Volcano” moment, and saw someone at the end of the walkway holding up a sigh that read “The Faithful Traveler”. Awesome. She was standing right next to a woman holding a sign for the Catholic Press Association journalists, so we all met up, passed quickly through passport control (no more stamping, BOO), and then waited a while for our luggage which eventually came. Then we split up–my team went our way and the other team went their way. I DID get to hug Marge Fenelon, though, as I’d promised on Facebook. She’s awesome.
Our day continued with Uri, our driver and guide. When I mentioned that Uri was a popular name–the man at the Israel Ministry of Tourism who first contacted me about this trip is also called Uri–he said “Uri” means light, and that name is usually given to boys born during Hanukkah. I asked him if he was one. “The first light,” he said. Awesome.
Uri first took us to Old City Jaffa, where we’d hoped to film some stand ups overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and maybe some in or around the Church of St Peter. Unfortunately, we picked the loudest, busiest street in the world, apparently. Oh, AND we discovered that some bug decided to crawl up into the deep insides of one of our lenses and DIE there, rendering that entire camera USELESS. Yeah. We brought a useless camera. Annoying.
After many attempts at talking about Jaffa and Andromeda and Tel Aviv (watch the show to find out more!), I gave up, and decided to just go inside the Church of St Peter to have a look inside. “How could this day get any worse?” I said to Andy and Patrick as I walked toward the church… and watched the priest shut and lock the doors just as I neared them.
“Seriously?!” I thought. Seriously. At this point, hanger was creeping up, and Uri solved that problem with some of the best shawarama EVER. YUM.
We drove to Caesarea Maritima, decided it was way too windy to do anything there, and then made our way to Nazareth. At this point, jet lag was kicking in. Andy and Patrick were dozing in the back, and I was doing my best to fight it off. After all, I didn’t come here to sleep. Uri and I chatted the whole way up to Nazareth, which was beautiful.
Once in Nazareth, we checked in to our hotel and I called Habib. Now, for those of you on Facebook, you know Habib. For those of you who don’t, let me tell you: Habib is awesome. I met him online a few months ago when a blog post I wrote about Nazareth appeared on www.rcspiritualdirection.com. Habib liked it and emailed me right away–he’s got gumption! And, of course, I wrote him back right away, and the next thing you know, I told him we were coming out to Nazareth and would he like to meet us, and then we’re making plans, and now we’re friends!
Habib and his beautiful wife, Gosayna, came to meet us at the hotel. They had graciously invited us to their home that evening for dinner, but before that, we wanted to film some things at the Basilica of the Annunciation first–we got to go to the roof top and film from there. It was fabulous! Then, we went to get ice cream at this amazing little shop in the town where Gosayna grew up. YUM!
After that, we went to Habib’s beautiful home and had the most fabulous dinner of salad, stuffed baby zucchini, spiced chicken, hummus, rice, and little pastries with spiced meat. SO YUMMY! After dinner, Andy and Patrick made their way to the hotel, while I stayed to chat with my new friends.
Can I just tell you right now that God is good? He is so good, he orchestrates things. I know it. And I am SO grateful that he allowed me to meet this super fantastic couple, whom I hope to know for the rest of my life. What a blessing they are to their family and friends and community. To the world, at large, because let me tell you, these are the kinds of people who have the faith that moves mountains. And I believe they are doing just that right here in Nazareth. I am SO grateful I met them, and so blessed to call them friends. Oh, we enjoyed some yummy Turkish coffee and Easter cookies. And we chatted and enjoyed one another’s company.
Tomorrow, Habib will show us around Nazareth a bit more, and then we’re off to Jordan.
It’s been a long day, folks. But today, my prayer is this:
Dear Lord. I love you. I love you for having created me and this world that I enjoy to discover. I love you for having created my friends, Habib and Gosayna and Denise and Marge and John and Peter and Julie, and Elizabeth, and Uri.
Dear Lord, please bless all of our endeavors to help make the world a better place, to spread the word of your Love. And please don’t let any more of my crew or equipment come down with the flu.
Amen.
G’night all! More tomorrow!
The Church of the Annunciation and the Church of St Joseph
This post first appeared at Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction, where I have been invited to blog once a month on Catholic travel. If you’re not familiar with the site, check it out! They have some awesome bloggers there, with great info on a variety of aspects of practicing and living our faith!
In celebration of the debut of The Faithful Traveler in the Holy Land on EWTN, I have been exploring sacred sites in that wonderful land. This month brings us two solemnities that are associated with pilgrimage sites within walking distance of each another: the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, falls on the 19th, while the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is on the 25th. In Nazareth, the Basilica of the Annunciation sits atop the traditional site of the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and is believed to be where the Archangel Gabriel first met Mary and made his happy announcement. Less than 200 yards away (about 170 meters) sits the Church of St. Joseph, where tradition holds that St. Joseph lived, worked, and where he brought the Holy Family after their return from Egypt.
The Basilica of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph sit in a complex of buildings operated by the Franciscans, who have been custodians of the Holy Land since the 13th century. On one end is the huge, stylistically modern, two-story Basilica, with a towering concrete dome and art everywhere for the eye to see. It is the largest Christian church in the Middle East. On the other side of the complex, the Church of St. Joseph sits in its shadow, a small, austere, Romanesque church.
The Basilica of the Annunciation can best be described as a celebration of the Virgin Mary. From the top of its dome shaped like a Madonna Lily, to the Salve Regina carved into the façade, to the bas relief scenes from Mary’s life on the doors, this Basilica honors that young woman who met an angel and who, when told she was to give birth to the Son of God, responded with the greatest YES ever uttered in the scope of human history. The courtyard is decorated with hundreds of artistic renderings of the Virgin Mary, made and donated by countries around the world. It’s awesome, seeing what people from all around the world think Mary looks like. And when you consider that, in every Marian apparition Mary looks different, you realize they might all be right. I love that.
Entering the basilica from the lower level can be a little discombobulating, especially if it’s a bright and sunny day. Inside, the concrete walls and floors seem to simultaneously suck up and reflect the minimal light coming in from the stained-glass windows. Everything on the lower level points to the main attraction: the grotto in the center of the room. Here, the Angel Gabriel first greeted the young virgin with the words, “Hail Mary, full of grace!” An altar in the center of a cave is inscribed with the words “Verbum Caro Hic Factum Est”: Here the Word was made flesh. When Masses are not being celebrated in the space in front of this room, pilgrims can pass and admire the room from behind a grille. It seems so inconspicuous—it’s just an empty space.
And yet, as the altar states: right HERE, God became man.
A hole in the ceiling opens up to the upper level, showing a continuation of purpose—this building celebrates what took place here, and that here is everywhere.
Up a spiral staircase, the celebration continues, with images of the Virgin Mary everywhere the eye can see. Art imitates life—for as we know, the Blessed Virgin Mary isn’t blessed and honored simply because of who she is, but because of what she did and continues to do: she introduced the world to the Son of God.
Behind the sanctuary, a huge mosaic celebrates the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, as instituted by Jesus and guarded by Peter and his successors. The Virgin Mary sits behind and to the right of Jesus, who stands behind St Peter, holding the Keys to the Kingdom. God and the Holy Spirit hover above all, while saints look on from below.
The Church of St. Joseph is tucked into a little corner of the compound. Built in 1914, it sits atop a series of caves believed to have been used as food and waters storage areas during the Roman period, and as a baptistery during the Byzantine period. The upper level features images and windows celebrating St. Joseph and the Holy Family—my favorites are the image of the Holy Family above the sanctuary and the painting of Jesus as a young boy helping St. Joseph with his carpentry as the Blessed Mother looks on. The stained glass windows show scenes from St. Joseph’s life—his marriage to Mary, the angel telling him to go to Egypt, and his happy death with Jesus and Mary at his sides.
This “cul-de-sac of the Holy Family”, as I like to call it, is a wonderful place to visit, to honor and reflect on the lives of two amazing people who did what we are all called to do: trust in God.
The Basilica of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph are only two of the many sacred sites in the Holy Land explored in the new EWTN series, The Faithful Traveler in the Holy Land. DVDs of this series are available at The Faithful Traveler’s website.
Back to the Holy Land!
It’s been a while since I last posted. It often is. I either have nothing to share or to much to do. What can I say? This time, my excuse is too much to do. Why? The most exciting thing has happened:
The Israel Ministry of Tourism has invited me and my production team to the Holy Land this May to film a new program about the Holy Father’s upcoming trip to the Holy Land!
I can’t say that with more excitement. Imagine me jumping up and down. On the inside. Because I simply have so much to do to make this happen, it isn’t even funny. Maybe I’ll rejoice when I’m there, but no, I think. It’ll be time to get to work! Maybe I’ll rejoice after? No… the super-speedy editing will have to begin ASAP. Maybe I’ll rejoice when the program broadcasts on EWTN, and on the other networks to whom we offer the program?
No, you know what’s going to happen? I’ll rejoice when it’s finished. When I’ve edited the last bit, and it’s perfect and I love it and… I’ll be all alone in my office. David will be at work. Nemo will be asleep by my chair. And I’ll just give a little yippee in my seat and thank God and my Guardian Angel and our Spiritual Board of Directors for all of their help. That’s how it will happen. That’s how it always happens. The work gets done. The excitement is buried below the joy that is getting things done.
How did this happen, you might ask? Just a couple of posts ago, I was talking about The Future of The Faithful Traveler, as if, perhaps, there might not be one. Oh, this television producing thing… you know. It’s never certain, people. Everyone wants good content, but the struggle comes in finding people to help you create it, to help you fund it.
Let me tell you how this came about.
Back in February, when The Faithful Traveler in the Holy Land broadcast on EWTN, I received an email from the Israel Ministry of Tourism. They had seen our show and loved it. They wanted to know what EWTN would think of our show on the Pope’s visit to the Holy Land in May.
“Huh?” I thought. Maybe I was misunderstanding them… maybe they misunderstood me…
“I won’t be in the Holy Land in May,” I responded. Because, well, why make assumptions, right?
No… no, they knew that. What they wanted to know was, would EWTN be interested in a program we produced if the IMOT sent us back to the Holy Land in May!
!!!!!!!!!
We said yes, and the work began.
I should say that we have no guarantee that we’ll have any access to the Papal events in the Holy Land. The IMOT isn’t running that show, so we are left to our own devices to try to get that access. And I have been trying like a madwoman. I’ve emailed just about everyone I can think of, and begged everyone for contacts (know anyone?). I still am unsure. I think we’ll be able to film some events. Others, I’m not sure. We’ll see as time passes. I’ve filled out all the forms there are to fill out. Now, I’m praying about it. It’s all I can do at this point.
In the meantime, I’m making all sorts of plans, doing my best to create the most interesting and fun production I can imagine. Want to know some highlights from our itinerary? Twist my arm!
- We’ll be given a tour of Nazareth from my new friend, Habib, a native of Nazareth.
- We’ll spend some time in Jordan, as guests of the Jordan Tourism Board, exploring that amazing country
- We’ll chase after pope Francis from country to country
- We’ll have dinner with a Palestinian family in Bethlehem and maybe even get to interview the Mayor of Bethlehem!
- We’ll get to interview Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Custos of the Holy Land, and Patriarch Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch!
- We’ll explore the Old City vendors and walk Jerusalem’s ramparts with the fabulous Elisa Moed, CEO of Travelujah, one of my favorite places to go for info on the Holy Land
- We’ll get to film at Yad Vashem, the Holocuast Memorial visited by Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, AND Pope Francis (on this trip)
- I’m going to try and see if we can spend the night inside of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- And so much more!
I have a few other interviews I’ve requested, and am still waiting for permission on a few things, but I think this looks pretty exciting! I’m praying a LOT and just reading as much as I can before we go.
Please pray for us, will you? I have a lot of work ahead of me for the next few months. I will be praying for all of you, as well.
Why I Go On Pilgrimage (and Why You Should, Too!)
This post first appeared at Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction on September 24, 2013.
There are many reasons why I go on pilgrimage—to learn, to give thanks, to petition, to remember, to honor. Early Christians made valiant treks to the Holy Land to visit the places of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Having made the trip myself recently, I recommend it wholeheartedly!
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales recounts the journeys of 14th-century pilgrims traveling to England’s Canterbury Cathedral, where St. Thomas Becket was cruelly martyred. (I saw that, too!) Spain’s Camino de Santiago de Compostela, which dates to the 9th century, was one of three pilgrimages that provided pilgrims with a plenary indulgence. The other two were the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome, and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Today, pilgrims flock to these locations and many others, including the sites of apparitions of Jesus and Mary, such as Lourdes, France, Knock, Ireland, Akita, Japan, or Kibeho, Rwanda. Penitent pilgrims trek barefoot up Ireland’s Skellig Michael or on their knees to Fatima, Portugal. Curious pilgrims visit the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on St. Juan Diego’s tilma in Mexico City, the incorrupt bodies of Saints John Vianney, Bernadette Soubirous and Catherine Labouré, or the Eucharistic miracles in Siena and Lanciao, Italy, or Seefeld, Austria. Many, like me, love to soak up the ambient holiness in cities where saints once lived, like St. Teresa’s Avila, Padre Pio’s Pietrelcina and San Giovanni Rotondo, and St. Francis’ and St. Clare’s Assisi.
A pilgrimage doesn’t necessarily require expensive and time-consuming trips overseas. In the first season of The Faithful Traveler, my husband and I visited some amazing places of pilgrimage, all within a few hours’ drive of our home.
We visited Emmitsburg’s National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, where the first American saint once lived; Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, which has windows that rival those of Chartres Cathedral in France; and the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, where Catholics stood their ground in the face of discrimination in the early days of our country.
Closer to home, we are blessed with five amazing shrines—the National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia, the Miraculous Medal Shrine, the National Shrine of St. Katherine Drexel, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, and the National Shrine of St. John Neumann—two of which house the remains of saints!
Pilgrimages begin long before we leave home, as we prepare physically and spiritually. That’s one of the reasons why we created The Faithful Traveler, to show pilgrims what they would see at the shrines we visit and why it should mean something to them. We might start a walking regimen before going to the Holy Land or the Camino de Santiago, read a book written by the saint whose city we’re going to visit, or pray a 54-Day Rosary Novena, asking for a fruitful pilgrimage that helps us grow in holiness. Many pilgrims make a sacrifice of their journey, by walking great lengths to their destination or by living an ascetic lifestyle during the trip, offering up luxurious hotel rooms and sumptuous meals in exchange for sparse lodging and light fare.
Once we arrive, the possibilities for spiritual and intellectual growth are endless. One of my favorite things to do on pilgrimage is admire and photograph the art, whether it be stained glass windows, statues, paintings, mosaics, or Stations of the Cross. I like to see beautiful things devoted to God because they remind me that He gave us the materials we use to honor Him, He gave us the ability to use those tools to make beautiful things, and He gave us hearts full of love that make us want to honor Him.
Once the art sends my mind and heart to reeling up to God, I get down to business and visit with my Heavenly relatives. I thank God for all of His gifts and I offer Him whatever weighs on my heart. I pray to the Blessed Mother, to St. Joseph, her wonderful spouse, and to any saints whose statues I come across. Shrines are also a great place to learn about the lives of saints and to let their example show you new ways to deal with life’s dilemmas. They motivate me, inspire me, and help shoulder my cross a little better. And at the end of the day, all of this does the one thing that matters the most: it brings me closer to God here on earth so that I might, someday, be closer to Him in Heaven. It’s like Continuing Ed for those of us who want our St. degree.
While I can’t presume to know what God thinks of all of this, I’ll bet He likes it. Just like any other relationship in our lives, God wants us to talk to Him (prayer), to be intimate with Him (communion), to be friends with Him, and to love Him. A pilgrimage is a wonderful way to continue, or even begin, our relationship with God.
I am thrilled to be able to share my experiences of pilgrimage with you—be they places I’ve been or places I dream of visiting—through this website. And I hope that my faithful travels will inspire your own.
Interview with the St Josemaria Institute
Recently, I was fortunate to meet Elia Rivera, the Executive Director of the St Josemaria Institute in Chicago. The Institute promotes the life and teachings of this fantastic saint, and strives to help everyone benefit from his teachings on the spiritual meaning of ordinary life. As Elia and I shared our love of St Josemaria and his many awesome quotes, Elia mentioned that she’d like to interview me about The Faithful Traveler, during the month of May, in honor of the Blessed Virgin. Below is the interview, which can also be found on their website.
Interview: The Faithful Traveler
By St. Josemaria Institute
Personal blogs and photo/video sharing sites dedicated to travel are transforming how people travel and see the world. They are also contributing to reviving and increasing the interest in pilgrimages. Among them is The Faithful Traveler.
The Faithful Traveler, hosted and produced by Diana and David von Glahn, is a travel series that takes viewers on tours of shrines, cathedrals, and pilgrimage sites to “discover the treasures of the Church and gain a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith.” The series is airing this month (May 2013) on EWTN and is also available on DVD.
With the Marian month of May upon us, and summer around the corner, we are very grateful to Diana for taking the time to speak with us about her faith-filled travel experiences and about the meaning and impact of pilgrimages today.
Q: What inspired you to produce “The Faithful Traveler” and what is the mission of the series?
A: Ten years ago, my husband, David, and I were planning our honeymoon to Paris and the Loire Valley. Around that time, we had been watching a lot of the Travel Channel, and we noticed that, while the shows sometimes visited Catholic sites, they usually spoke of them with a lack of understanding. We thought it’d be great if there was a travel show that looked good enough for the Travel Channel, but that covered Catholic locations with respect and faith, and we joked about creating it ourselves. We even pretended to be doing so while on our honeymoon, as we visited places like the Miraculous Medal on the Rue de Bac and the amazing church of Sacre Coeur. When we came home, we thought, “Let’s try it!” So, we bought all the equipment we could afford and taught ourselves the craft of television production.
Our goal with The Faithful Traveler was to inspire, entertain, and teach, but to do so in a way that rivaled many of the secular television programs currently on TV. While secular TV was rife with many slick productions, most of them presented atrocious untruths about our faith, and while Catholic networks presented truthful programs, they lacked high production values, usually presenting a panel of people sitting in a room talking. Neither of those programs appealed to us, so we set out to create something that entertained and inspired while presenting the amazing majesty of the history and tradition of the Catholic Church.
Q: When and how did you discover the pilgrimage tradition?
A: While David converted to Catholicism shortly before our wedding, I’ve been Catholic all my life, and I’ve always loved visiting Catholic churches and pilgrimage sites, and admiring the art, architecture, and history behind them. I grew up in San Diego, California, where we were blessed with the legacy left behind by Father Junipero Serra and the Franciscans, who left California dotted with amazing Missions. As I grew up and travelled the country and world for school and work, I always gravitated toward Catholic places, because, while I might have been in a foreign state or country, a Catholic church is always home.
Q: How do you explain the differences between a trip/tour/vacation and a pilgrimage? How do those differences impact and enrich the travel experience?
A: I like to mix the three as much as I can, and I think anyone can do so with a little planning and forethought. Blessed Pope John Paul II said that vacation is a great time to grow in our faith, and I tried to imbue The Faithful Traveler with that concept. When we travel for business, we’re usually focused on our business purpose, and when we travel for vacation, our goal is often relaxation or sightseeing. Pilgrimage can be those things and so much more. We can learn while on pilgrimage, about a saint, for instance, like when you visit a shrine dedicated to him or her, or about a Catholic devotion, like that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We can relax while on pilgrimage, like when we sit in a beautiful cathedral and let the light from the stained glass bathe our souls in peace, or when we reflect on the statues and think about the lives of the saints, or on the crucifix and think about God’s great sacrifice for us.
We can also make sacrifices and acts of reparation during pilgrimage, and doing so definitely gives our visit so much more spiritual heft. Of course, we can do that whenever we travel for any reason—driving in the car to work, dealing with long lines at the airport or grumpy travelers we might encounter. There are so many opportunities to offer things up. But pilgrimage is a perfect opportunity for that. Many pilgrims will walk long distances to a shrine, sometimes even barefoot or on their knees! There are many traditions associated with pilgrimage that include sacrifices, and many times, pilgrims make a pilgrimage to ask for a favor of God or a healing of some sort.
Q: What do you think people today are seeking when they go on a pilgrimage or simply when they travel to sacred destinations? Can you share any anecdotes with us from your encounters with pilgrims?
A: I think St Augustine said it best when he said, “our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” We have a God-sized hole in our hearts, and pilgrimage helps us fill that hole in a concrete way. We leave our homes, we travel a distance, and we arrive at a spot that, for one reason or another, makes us feel closer to God. As Catholics, we know that God is as close as our nearest Catholic church, where He waits for us in the tabernacle, body and blood. But there’s something special about visiting a magnificent place that does nothing but glorify God in its art and architecture, or that represents an important historical event or person in our faith and tradition.
As we produced The Faithful Traveler, we were blessed to visit many amazing places, all of which helped us grow in closeness to God and His saints. I think of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey, which has the most amazing stained glass windows in any church outside of Chartres Cathedral in France. Or the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, or the small yet amazing Miraculous Medal Shrine here in Philadelphia. These are houses of God, built to honor Him, His Blessed Mother, and the saints, to thank them for everything they do for us. Just stepping inside of them raises my heart and mind to God, and I never want to leave when I’m there.
I’m blessed to live so close to the Miraculous Medal Shrine, where I often go for some of the best confessions I’ve ever had. Every Monday, the Shrine is full of pilgrims from entire states away, of a wide variety of nationalities. They’re all there to praise and honor Jesus and His Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Every Monday, they pray a novena that has been going on for decades, and they often tell of prayers answered and favors granted by Jesus, through the intercession of Mary. It’s just so wonderful to be among these pilgrims, who have such faith and who don’t give up on prayer, even if it takes years, decades. They trust that God hears them, and that our Blessed Mother will help them by bringing their prayers to her Son.
Q: In your series you do a wonderful job at showing some of the beautiful places of pilgrimage in the United States; however, during this Year of Faith, we are encouraged to go on pilgrimages to the See of Peter, to the Holy Land, and to the major shrines of Our Lady. Have you had the opportunity to visit these? How has your pilgrimage to these places impacted your faith?
A: I haven’t been able to visit any of the major Marian shrines, like Lourdes, Fatima, or the Basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, but I hope to do so sometime in my life. We have been blessed to visit Rome, where I went mad trying to visit every single Catholic church in the city (I was unsuccessful). We’ve also been blessed to visit St Teresa’s Avila and the Benedictine Abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat in Spain. And, of course, our honeymoon in France gave us the opportunity to visit the Miraculous Medal Shrine on the Rue de Bac, where Mary appeared to St Catherine Labouré, and where the Miraculous Medal was created.
Recently, and very unexpectedly, David and I were blessed to travel to the Holy Land on a pilgrimage with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia organized by Select International Tours. Our second series of The Faithful Traveler will feature this trip and what it was like to be there. (Check our website for news of its broadcast!) Travelling to the Holy Land is an experience unlike any other. We did see some beautiful churches and cathedrals, like the spectacular Church of the Agony at Gethsemane or the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. But in Israel and Palestine, there is nothing like walking the land that Jesus, his Blessed Mother, and disciples walked. The Sea of Galilee and the Garden of Gethsemane touched me the most, because those are God-made cathedrals that honor His Son. Seeing them brought the Gospels to life for me. I will never pray the rosary or hear the Gospels as I did before visiting this magical land, and for that, I am eternally grateful to God and to those who made our trip possible. I think everyone who joined us on this pilgrimage would agree.
Q: What are some of your tips for making a good pilgrimage: preparation, prayer, reading, logistics, etc.? Additional or special tips for family pilgrimages?
A: First and foremost, prayer is essential, both before and during every moment of your trip. Grab on to a rosary and don’t let go! You’d be amazed at how it centers you, calms you down, and helps you mentally prepare for whatever this crazy world throws at you.
Secondly, prepare as much as you can. Get some guide books. Look online. Watch The Faithful Traveler! That’s why we created it! We wanted to give people a way to learn before they go, so that when they visit a site, they know what they’re seeing. Travel is so much more beneficial, you get so much more out of it if you know what you’re looking at! Not too long ago, David and I were in Segovia in Spain, and we were touring around some historical site, and out a window, I spotted a convent; I had no idea what it was. Later I found out that that convent, which was a Carmelite convent, housed the tomb of St John of the Cross! I hadn’t done enough research, so I missed out on seeing the tomb of one of the greatest Carmelite saints alive! So, knowing before you go is very important.
Lastly, I’d say don’t forget where you are! When you are a pilgrim, you are a witness of Jesus Christ and His Church. Travel and tourism can bring out the worst in people, and there’s nothing worse than being a bad example of Christianity inside of a shrine. On our trip to the Holy Land, as we were ascending the tight stairs to the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, two men in front of me started pushing and shoving each other because somebody cut in line. I was amazed. I said to them, “Gentlemen! Remember where you are!” It’s amazing how the devil likes to sneak in wherever we let him. I am reading a book right now about Padre Pio, and it tells of how people would push and shove their way to the front of the church to get the best seats in the house when he celebrated Mass. Such uncharitable behavior should never be part of who we are, especially inside of a church or holy place. God sees us, and while we might get the best seat here on earth, I’m sure that the uncharitable method we take to get it will affect where (and whether) we sit at the Heavenly Banquet.
Q: The month of May is traditionally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which is marked by the practice of many beautiful devotions and customs in her honor, including pilgrimages. St Josemaria Escriva explained that, “Seeing how so many Christians express their affection for the Virgin Mary, surely you also feel more a part of the Church, closer to those brothers and sisters of yours. It is like a family reunion (Christ is Passing By, 139).” How do you believe travel, in general, can expand our view of the Church and bring us closer to our family in the Faith?
A: Travel gives us so many opportunities to give thanks to God, to be good, and to make sacrifices. It gives us the opportunity to behave like the Christ-bearers we purport to be. It also gives us a wonderful opportunity to meet people who experience God and the Church in ways that are different from ours. There’s nothing like attending Mass in a foreign language, and yet still knowing what is being said (aside from the homily!). It always reminds me of the universality of the Catholic church. The Mass is the same, in Philadelphia, in Rome, in the Philippines, and in Africa. And I absolutely love that. I also find it fascinating to see how sacred art differs from country to country. For instance, in churches in Spain, Jesus is always a little bloodier than he is here in America. I love the dichotomy, and I think it says a lot about the difference in cultures.
Travel also gives us many wonderful opportunities to grow in holiness by practicing the virtues of charity, patience and humility. I love to learn as much about a foreign language as I can before I go somewhere—I see it as a sign of respect. Sadly, we Americans don’t have the best reputation abroad, and are often seen as selfish and entitled. I find that humility in all things brings great benefit. When you approach a stranger in humility, you’d be amazed at the wonderful things that can come of that meeting! In my travels, I’ve met with kind and generous people as well as mean and intolerant people. You never know what you’re going to get. But it always helps to remember that other people are always a great way to grow in holiness—they either inspire us or challenge us. How we respond is up to us. By behaving in a manner that is devoid of expectation and pride, we can allow others to see Christ in us, and we can see Him in them, and that, I think, expands our view of the Church to include everyone, while simultaneously making the world a smaller place by bringing us closer together in faith.
Interview on Travelujah
I’m still working away on our Holy Land episodes, but I wanted to break this radio silence to wish you all a prayerful and blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter!
Also, I wanted to tell you about my recent interview on Travelujah, which was just posted. You can find it here. I’ll also post it below.
If you’re interested in all things Holy Land, definitely subscribe to Travelujah’s wonderful and informative newsletters. I love them.
The Faithful Traveler makes a Holy Land Pilgrimage
A native San Diegan, Diana calls herself a ‘cradle Catholic’, and has always gravitated toward Catholic places. Over the years she increasingly found herself fascinated by Catholic art, architecture and history. After completing law school and even starting to practice professionally, she realized law simply wasn’t what she wanted to do with her life. Deep into planning her own honeymoon, she struck up the idea of a travel show focusing on religious and historic sites and thus, the “Faithful Traveler” was born.
Diana von Glahn, produces and hosts The Faithful Traveler, a travel show carried regularly on EWTN featuring Catholic shrines and places of pilgrimage all around the world. Recently, Diana made her first pilgrimage to the Holy Land and experienced the holy sites first hand. Travelujah asked her about her recent journey.
Travelujah: What were some highlights of your recent trip to the Holy Land?
Diana – The Faithful Traveler – Picking highlights from the most amazing trip ever is hard to do. But I’ll try. The thing about going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, as a Christian, is that you must realize that very few of the places you will be visiting are what they were during the time of Christ. Two thousand years is a long time, and during that time, many groups of people have come and gone from the Holy Land. So, you won’t be seeing the manger where Christ was born, or a church built by St Helena. You’ll be seeing a church built on the ruins of a church built on the ruins of a church where this historical event occurred more than 2000 years ago.
Still, everything is amazing. My favorite places were the Garden of Gethsemane, which is beautiful, and which is the home to olive trees that are more than 2,000 years old! I had no idea olive trees could live that long, and to think some of these trees might have seen Christ during his agony?! Wow. It blows your mind. My other favorite place was the Sea of Galilee. Another spot of nature that can’t have changed much since Christ’s time. There is an electricity at the Sea of Galilee that is unmistakable. It’s like the water is brimming with pride, for having once supported Christ’s footsteps. Going out on a boat into the sea is moving, and visiting the historic spots along its shores brought me to tears many a time.
Every place we visited in the Holy Land was amazing. But something completely unexpected was the FOOD! Oh my goodness, the food. Everything we ate was glorious. I couldn’t get enough hummus, pita, olives, cheese. It’s the Mediterranean Diet in the most ideal circumstances. And I looked forward to every meal.
Travelujah: Every trip has things that don’t go exactly as planned. Can you share one of those stories?
Diana – The Faithful Traveler: It’s just life that things don’t go as planned. And when you’re trying to produce a travel-based television show, compound that by ten!
Our trip to the Holy Land provided us with many of these blips. For instance, shortly before we left, I got some kind of cold that held me in its grip for more than a month. As I started to feel a scratchy throat the Monday before we left, I visited my doctor who said it would be gone by that Friday. I even lost my voice for two days, which is unacceptable when you have to speak in front of a camera!
One morning, I had to wake up at 3:30 am to get ready for a 5 am bus meeting. Our group would be walking the Stations of the Cross in the early morning, to avoid the normal bustle of shopping that surrounds the Stations, and to allow for quiet reflection. I felt horrible. And as we came off the bus, I remember thinking, “I can barely breathe!” And then it struck me: Jesus walked this very road, and more likely than not, he was having trouble breathing, too. AND he was carrying a huge cross, AND he was being whipped, and spat upon, and cursed at, and he kept falling, and he had a crown of thorns on his head… and he knew he was about to be crucified. At that moment, I felt BLESSED to be feeling so awful. I know, it may sound odd, but we Catholics often say “offer it up,” meaning that you should offer your sufferings up to Christ. It’s like you’re saying, “I offer my sufferings to you, as a way of sharing in your Passion.” And what better place to share in Christ’s Passion, even in that teeny tiny way, than along the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa?
Travelujah: How did your Holy Land experience impact and or strengthen your faith?
Diana – The Faithful Traveler -I’ve never had a doubtful moment in my faith, thank God. But our trip to the Holy Land made the historical aspect of our faith more concrete. Before, I believed without seeing. But this trip enabled me to get just a little closer to actually seeing something of the Divine. Of course, I believe that God is every where, in all of His creation. But in the Holy Land, God became man, and breathed, walked, ate, and died. That’s what makes that land so special. Now, whenever I read the Bible or hear it at Mass, I KNOW what it’s like. I’ve BEEN to Shepherd’s Fields! I’ve seen the dry and yet plentiful lands. I’ve touched the rock that held his cross. And it all feels a little more real.
Travelujah: As an art lover, can you tell us a bit about the mosaics, frescos and other art treasures that you saw?
Diana – The Faithful Traveler: The image that first comes to my mind is the spectacular mosaic of Christ in the Church of the Transfiguration. It is bright and shiny, just as you’d imagine Christ to have been, during his Transfiguration. Then there are the peaceful gardens outside, which are, in a way, God’s art, created for us, beautifying our surroundings.
The images along the walls of the Church of All Nations, next to the Garden of Gethsemane, also comes to mind. I’ve always had a great love for Christ in Agony, so that was truly special.
The Basilica of the Annunciation at Nazareth is wonderful, beginning with the words of the Annunciation carved into the facade, and moving on into the many images of the Blessed Mother, from all around the world. It’s an artistic representation of her life as mother of us all, from her “Yes” that changed the world, to her loving care for all of the children of God. Every where you go in the Holy Land, you see something spectacular.
Travelujah: What surprised you the most about coming here? What do you think other faith travelers would find surprising about a journey to the Holy Land.
Diana – The Faithful Traveler: How nice everyone is, and how safe I felt. I don’t want to pretend there isn’t strife for the people in the Holy Land, but everyone we met was glad to see us.
Travelujah: Did you feel safe during your trip to Israel and Palestine? Are there any traveling or security tips that you can share with us?
Diana – The Faithful Traveler: Absolutely. Granted, we didn’t enter into any trouble zones, but we didn’t meet with any issues on our trip. In fact, many of our pilgrims were saying they felt safer there than in Philadelphia!
I think, no matter where you are, whether it be Europe or Israel, or any city in the United States, you just have to be aware of your surroundings and be smart. Once, when David and I were in Rome, we almost got mugged by two thirteen-year-old girls wielding a box cutter hidden behind a piece of cardboard! If I hadn’t been hyper aware, we would have far worse memories of our time there. Bad things can happen to travelers no matter where they are. The key is just being smart, being aware, and being safe.
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The Faithful Traveler series of thirteen episodes can be purchased from the www.patheos.com/blogs/thefaithfultraveler. Clip from previous episodes and upcoming episodes on the Holy Land are also featured on the site. Footage from their trip to the Holy land can be found on Vimeo here: Visit the Faithful traveler on Facebook
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Elisa L. Moed is the Founder and CEO of Travelujah, the leading Christian social network focused on travel to the Holy Land. People can learn, plan and share their Holy Land tour and travel experiences on Travelujah.