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N° 49 Newsletter WINTER 2018 jerusalem cross ordinis equestris sancti sepulchri hierosolymitani @granmagistero.oessh www.oessh.va @GM_oessh Reflections of the Grand Master lenten Message ent, as a forty day preparation for Easter is first mentioned as an established practice in the Ldecrees of the Council of Nice, 325. The sacred season calls us to fast, prayer and almsgiving. Since the Second Vatican Council the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults serves as a liturgical and catechetical preparation for those entering into full communion with the Church. For all believers it is a period offering extraordinary opportunities for spiritual growth. There is, of course the popular association of Lent with personal sacrifice or “giving up” of something good and ordinarily attractive. There is also a growing emphasis on increasing our works of charity and good deeds. The Mass prayers of Lent are especially rich and date back to the earliest days of the Season. Might we turn to them, therefore as a prayerful opportunity to seek from God that which Lent should mean for us. For example: Grant, O Lord: … that as we take up battle against spiritual Lent allows us to spiritually prepare evils, we may be armed with weapons of self- our hearts to receive the grace of restraint Easter. It is a journey of interior ... look with compassion on our weakness and conversion that is well symbolized by the Way of the Cross that the ensure us your protection Knights and Dames of the Order … that we may grow in understanding of the walk on the streets of Jerusalem riches hidden in Christ. during the pilgrimage to the Holy The petitions each day are many and profound. In Land. making a special effort to arrive for Mass a little earlier during Lent, we might open the missalette to the Collect, the Prayer over the gifts or to the Prayer after Communion to enrich our personal prayer during that Mass and during the week that follows. Edwin, Cardinal O’Brien contents The Order in Union with SPOTLIGHT ON TWO INITIATIVES FUNDED BY THE LATIN PATRIARCHATE THANKS TO the Universal Church THE REGULAR MONTHLY AID OF THE ORDER XIV RESPECTING THE STATUS QUO OF JERUSALEM II BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND EASTER IN THE HOLY LAND XV JERUSALEM IS A TREASURE FOR HUMANITY V MSGR. GIRELLI, NEW APOSTOLIC DELEGATE Proceedings of the Grand Magisterium FOR JERUSALEM AND PALESTINE AND NUNCIO IN ISRAEL XVI HOMAGE TO CARDINAL MONTEZEMOLO, EDUCATION, KEY TO HOPE IN THE HOLY LAND XVII ASSESSOR OF HONOR OF THE ORDER VI MSGR. GIUSEPPE LAZZAROTTO: The Life of the Lieutenancies “MYHEARTISALWAYSINJERUSALEM” VII TWO INITIATIVES OF THE LIEUTENANCY THE GRAND MASTER’S AGENDA IX FOR SWITZERLAND XVIII NEW LIEUTENANT OF THE ORDER KNIGHTS AND DAMES OF BRAZIL FOR FRANCE IS INVESTED IN ROME X IN THE HOLY LAND XIX THE VISIT OF THE FORMER COLLABORATORS 50 YEARS OF THE LIEUTENANCY OF THE NEW GOVERNOR GENERAL XI FOR NORTHERN ITALY XX The Order and the Holy Land IMPRESSUM GRAND MAGISTERIUM OF THE EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CUSTODY, SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM THE LATIN PATRIARCHATE AND 00120 VATICAN CITY THE ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE XII E-mail: [email protected] The Order in Union with the Universal Church Respecting the status quo of Jerusalem n Wednesday December 6, Pope expressed by the Holy Father and countless Francis launched an appeal during other religious and civic leaders for the Othe general audience, “that everyone’s possible consequences of any unilateral effort respect the status quo of the city, in decision that might alter the equilibrium of conformity with the pertinent United Nations the Holy City”. He also recalled “the necessity Resolutions”, stating that “Jerusalem is a that all initiatives within the Land that unique city, sacred to Jews, Christians and contains the places of worship of the three Muslims, in which the Holy Places are major monotheistic religions, the Holy venerated by the respective religions, and Sepulchre, the Wailing Wall and the Mosque which has a special vocation for peace”. of Omar be the result of a peaceful dialogue The following day, in a press release, the among all the interested parties”. Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Any action that violates the status of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem – Cardinal Jerusalem has global repercussions, affecting Edwin O’Brien – shared “the deep concern in particular the Arab-Muslim universe, ● ● N° 49 - WINTER 2018 Newsletter III ● JERUSALEM CROSS ● closely linked to one of the oldest Islamic sanctuaries, the Dome of the Rock. A HEARTFELT APPEAL Therefore, on Friday December 8, demonstrations were held on all the Excerpt from Pope Francis’ address to continents, and already it seems that new the Diplomatic Corps - January 8, 2018 strategic alliances are being drawn up on the think in particular of Israelis and global scene. The big European countries “IPalestinians, in the wake of the tensions of have insisted on respect for the UN Security recent weeks. The Holy See, while expressing Council resolutions, warning the US federal sorrow for the loss of life in recent clashes, administration about the risk of dangerous renews its pressing appeal that every initiative destabilization. be carefully weighed so as to avoid exacerbating The UN General Assembly has reaffirmed hostilities, and calls for a common commitment the principle of the internationalization of to respect, in conformity with the relevant United Jerusalem since 1948 and – taking into Nations Resolutions, the status quo of Jerusalem, a city sacred to Christians, Jews and account historical reality – the Security Muslims. Seventy years of confrontation make Council emphasizes that it will not recognize more urgent than ever the need for a political any changes to the 1967 borders, including solution that allows the presence in the region East Jerusalem, where the Old City is of two independent states within internationally located, inhabited by 300,000 Palestinians recognized borders. Despite the difficulties, a but annexed by Israel. willingness to engage in dialogue and to resume The Palestinians received the support of a negotiations remains the clearest way to large majority of the UN General Assembly achieving at last a peaceful coexistence Member States on Thursday December 21, between the two peoples.” with the approval of a resolution declaring the American decision on Jerusalem “null and void”. Fourteen of the fifteen member Monday, December 18, then blocked by a states of the UN Security Council had Washington veto. already tried to condemn the US choice on “While winds of war blow on the world”, The Communications Office of the Grand Magisterium was honored to be represented on December 19, 2017 at the audience granted by the Pope to the King of Jordan. The fraternal and serene atmosphere during the meeting between Francis and Abdallah, who exchanged like two friends, touched those who were there. The Hashemite sovereign gave the Holy Father a beautiful painting representing the holy places in Jerusalem that he traditionally protects. They both care for favouring a wise consultation about the Holy City, a treasure for humanity and world heritage of which no one can claim ownership. May our fervent prayer continue supporting the diplomatic action of the successor of Peter at the service of peace and interreligious dialogue in the Middle East. ● ● IV Newsletter N° 49 - WINTER 2018 ● JERUSALEM CROSS ● Pope Francis transmitted in his own way – in his 2017 Christmas message – an appeal to “A SPECIAL STATUS” the international community in favour of a concerted effort in the Holy Land. He Excerpt from the Holy Father’s letter indicated “the sign of the Child”, which leads to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar on us to “recognize him in the faces of children”, the occasion of the Al-Azhar alluding to those for whom – just as for Jesus International Conference in support – “there is no place in the Inn” (Luke 2,7). of Jerusalem “We see Jesus in the children of the Middle he Holy See, for its part, will not cease to East who continue to suffer because of “Tcall urgently for a resumption of dialogue growing tensions between Israelis and between Israelis and Palestinians for a Palestinians” he said. “On this festive day, let negotiated solution, aimed at the peaceful us ask the Lord for peace for Jerusalem and coexistence of two states within the borders for all the Holy Land. Let us pray that the agreed between them and internationally will to resume dialogue may prevail between recognized, with full respect for the special the parties and that a negotiated solution can nature of Jerusalem, whose meaning goes beyond any consideration of territorial issues. finally be reached, one that would allow the Only a special status, also internationally peaceful coexistence of two States within guaranteed, can preserve its identity, the unique mutually agreed and internationally vocation of the place of peace the sacred places recognized borders. May the Lord also recall, and its universal value, allowing a future sustain the efforts of all those in the of reconciliation and hope for the entire region.” international community inspired by good Vatican City State, January 2018 will to help that afflicted land to find, despite grave obstacles the harmony, justice and security that it has long awaited”. city that is bound firmly together “. Let us For our part, let us join in the prayer of the invoke joy for Jerusalem: “May those who successor of Peter, meditating as often as love you prosper! May peace be within your possible on the psalms that enhance the “ ramparts.“ (Psalm 122). N° 49 - WINTER 2018 Newsletter V ● JERUSALEM CROSS ● Jerusalem is a treasure for humanity Following the declarations of the US President regarding the city of Jerusalem, the Church in the Holy Land did not hesitate to express its concern about a situation of which it has first hand experience.