Maritza Martínez Mejía, AWA: The Fifth Gospel Experience

Friday, April 29, 2022

The Fifth Gospel Experience - Day 5

LuzDelMes Pilgrimage Experience

✞Friday, April 29, Day 5: BETHLEHEM - SHEPHERDS FIELD

This morning we departed for Bethlehem to visit the Basilica of the Nativity, built over the site of the birthplace of Christ. (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:1-20) We entered the cave where Christ was born. I had a blessed feeling on this day.

The entrance is small. It's the Doorway of Humility. Lovely images. God made Himself small, and spiritually, we must as well bend down to pass through the door to meet Him.

The Son himself is the Word, the Logos: the eternal word became small – small enough to fit into a manger. He became a child, so that the Word could be grasped by us."[1]

We sang the traditional Christmas Carols and celebrated Mass at the Church of St. Catherine, the venue for the midnight Mass, which is broadcast all over the World from Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.

This Tree Kings Nativity Stained Glass at Saint Catherine Church of the Nativity grabbed my attention.

Then, we visited St. Jerome’s Grotto, the cave where the saint St. Jerome lived for many years while translating the Bible into Latin, the Vulgata. At this place, we visited the orphanage at the French Hospital.

We enjoyed a traditional meal at the Shepherd’s Field called "Upside-down." The field recalls the “great throng of the heavenly hosts” who appeared to the shepherds and told them of the Savior's birth. (Luke 2:8-20)

At night, we went to the Museum of the Shroud. It uses forensic science to analyze the Shroud, culminating in a 3D model of the image. Amazing images!