Pilgrimage: Tiberius

Today our pilgrims visited several important locations:

• Church of the Annunciation in Cana
• Mount Carmel:

• Mount Carmel is the place where the prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and where his God came out victorious, as described in the book of Kings (1 Kings 18:16-40).  This testimony to the greatness of the God of Israel has also become central in the Christian faith and the Bible reader will be well acquainted with Mount Carmel in connection to Elijah.  
• The Carmelite order was founded on Mount Carmel and the Carmelite monastery Stella Maris is still to be found on top of the mountain.  Elijah's cave (1 Kings 19:4-8) is at its foot, beautifully decorated and holy to the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.



• It also happens to be (by Divine Providence) the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  Today each pilgrim received a small "gift" - a Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  The scapulars were blessed right there on Mount Carmel - at the altar of 12 Stones (just like the one Elijah built when he proved the reality of God to the prophets of Baal) and each pilgrim was invested with the Scapular.  To celebrate this feast, we prayed a prayer attributed to Saint Simon Stock.
• O Most Beautiful Flower of Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a Pure Virgin, assist me in this my necessity.  O Star of the Sea, help and protect me!  Show me that thou art my Mother.
• Why a Scapular?  At Fatima, Our Lady instructed the children that wearing the Brown Scapular was one of the requirements for those who strive to heed her message.  Sister Lucy said, "One could not follow the Message of Fatima unless he fulfilled the five conditions, one of which is the wearing of the Brown Scapular all the time - day and night."
• Next, we traveled to the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth.  En route we prayed the 1st Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.  Inside the church we prayed the Angelus.  
• From there we traveled on to Cana - the site of the first Miracle the Jesus performed (at the urging of His Mother): turning water into wine at the wedding feast (see John 2:1-11).  En route we prayed the 2nd Luminous Mystery of the Rosary.  We celebrated Mass here in this church and, following Mass, renewed the wedding vows of our married couples.
• Now we are back at the hotel for dinner at 7pm and some evening rest (or a night out on the town).