Celebrated Mass with GW Catholics IN THE TOMB!!

Day 9

In the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, this is Mount Calvary...where Jesus died on the Cross.  We all touched the spot where the Cross went into the ground.  We went up many steps to get to Calvary, and then went down to the tomb where He was buried.  Put us in the footsteps and experiences of the Apostles and disciples - what must they have experienced at both places!  Unimaginable lows and highs.  How blessed are we to be where they were through the Act of Salvation.

The tomb of Christ...celebrated Mass with GW Catholics IN THE TOMB!!

GW Catholics filing in for Mass...they were in the first room through the doors.  Then, I went into the smaller, back room where Jesus's body was laid.  Celebrated Mass on a marble slab where He lay...and rose!!!  Couldn't contain the tears, and had to stop several times just to speak.  Most emotional Mass I've ever celebrated.

From the priest's book of prayers (missal) from Mass at the Holy Seplucher: notice "HERE, I have risen".  No other missal in the world says that.  Wow.

GW Catholic praying at the spot where Mary was born.

Pool of Bethesda (!) where Christ healed a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years...I blessed our pilgrims with holy water there so that they would be healed of whatever paralyzes them in their life with Christ.

The courtyard where Jesus was scourged / whipped over 100 times :(   On to the Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering) and the 14 Stations of the Cross.

4th Station, Jesus meets His mother.

8th Station, Jesus meets the holy women of Jerusalem (two holy women of GW in pic).

Near 9th Station, and getting ready to go up to Mount Calvary (in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on left).

11th (right) and 12th Stations (left): Jesus in nailed to the Cross, and dies on the Cross.

Relic of the True Cross...largest in the world, I think.

GW Catholics in the Upper Room!  This is where Jesus instituted the Eucharist and priesthood at the Last Supper, and where the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles at Pentecost...WOW!

Church of the Assumption...the spot where Mary was taken up to Heaven body and soul.

GW Catholics in the tomb of Lazarus!