Fr. Laurence Freeman, OSB led a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land last February 15, 2019. The pilgrimage was highlighted by deep reflections from Fr. Laurence at every place that was visited with some moments of contemplative meditation afterwards. The group also had daily meditation at the beginning and end of each day. It was a blessed, unique and very fulfilling experience for each pilgrim.
The work of Jesus was to preach and to heal, and to communicate the Word of God so that God’s presence becomes a reality in us and among us. We are called to go into our inner room in silence and to set our mind to the Kingdom of God.
~ Fr. Laurence Freeman’s reflection at the Mount of Beatitudes.
Sharing is an enriching experience through generosity.
~Fr. Laurence Freeman’s reflection at the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish in Tabgha
Celebrating marriage with the renewal of marriage vows at the Wedding Church of Cana
Fr. Laurence and our pilgrims in meditation at the St. Simon the Canaanite Chapel in Cana.
Our pilgrim, Larry Veloso, was asked by Fr. Laurence to share his challenging journey, inspire fellow pilgrims with his personal witnessing of the Lord’s loving work in his life, through a battle with a life-threatening illness.
Note: Photo is Larry with his wife, Dedit, before the renewal of marriage vows at the Wedding Church of Cana.
A sketch prepared by our pilgrim, Ludwig Braun, of Fr. Laurence giving reflections while on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
A complete group photo at the River Jordan before the renewal of baptismal vows at the Jordan River.
A beautiful watercolor sketch by Ludwig Braun at the Jordan River.
Dear fellow pilgrims: John Main said that the purpose of life is to respond fully to the gift of our being. In other words: each one of us is called to fullness of life. Fullness of life means different things to different people. Personally, I have always found music to be part of it: A gift like perhaps none other. This is possibly one of the finest, universally beautiful melodies ever written: https://youtu.be/1pmBJLI4kVw
— I dedicate it to JM, who took her oblation today, explained to us so movingly how she had started out on her journey of meditation.
~ Fr. Laurence with JM at the Grotto of Gethsemane
Jesus’ question to Peter: “Who do you say I am?” Peter: “You are the Christ!”
It matters that we are listening to the question… it opens us up to self-knowledge… to the interior prayer of the heart.
~ Fr. Laurence Freeman’s reflections at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where he also led the group in meditation.
At the Garden of Gethsemane where Fr. Laurence shared some reflections and the group had meditation (sketch by pilgrim Ludwig Braun).
Fr. Laurence and our pilgrims prayed the Way of the Cross at the Via Dolorosa, the path which Jesus walked while bearing the cross from the place of judgement (Praetorium) to Calvary.
Our pilgrims kissed the spot where Jesus was crucified at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Mary is the symbol of contemplation while Martha is a symbol of action. Quality of being impacts the quality of action. Being comes first before action. Being comes first before the doing.
~ Fr. Laurence Freeman’s reflection at the Church of Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus
At the Benedictine Monastery in Abu Gosh, Emmaus, where Fr. Laurence celebrated Mass at the Church of the Resurrection with fellow Benedictine Monks.
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Please find the sharings of the pilgrims of their Pilgrimage experience at the WCCM website here.
See all the photos from the pilgrimage at our Facebook Page here.
The Pilgrims’ Center is grateful to our pilgrim, Mr. Ludwig Braun, who shared his journal with us which we used as a reference for this account; he also shared with us his beautiful sketches which we posted in our Facebook page and in this summary.
