Today we could know the other place where “the verb became flesh”. We mentioned this phrase in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, but although it began there, Mary and Joseph could see it for the first time

We are in the Basilica of the Nativity. The entrance to the Basilica is very particular since from the outside you can see a fortress, one can practically walk in front of it without recognizing it. This is so since in the time of the crusaders a fortress was built to protect it. This Basilica was rebuilt only once since it was built by St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine in the fourth century. Later it was expanded. But it did not come to be demolished in the Persian invasion (they practically destroyed all the churches) since in the front it had a mosaic representing the arrival of the Kings of the East, Sages of the East, or Magi when seeing them dressed as Persians believed that it was a place of self worship.

Right here San Jerónimo translated the Bible for the first time and we had the grace to celebrate the Eucharist. This was before entering the place of birth itself, it is in a part of the Basilica that is run by Orthodox Christians. Now I should tell you what I felt once inside, but the truth is that if the Holy Sepulcher represented what I told you the day we visited it, this place generates a lot of emotion, this is where everything started, just think that this animal cave The Child leaves one breathless. I really thought that the Holy Sepulcher had been the place of greatest emotion of this pilgrimage but this compared it

Following in the footsteps of the Holy Family, remember that the Sacred Child was born in a cave, but the Holy Family, a few days after receiving the Child receives a new message and is to emigrate to Egypt. But … where did those days remain between birth and flight?

The answer is a few meters from the Cueva del Nacimiento (Basilica of the Nativity today). Today the place is known as Cueva de la Leche, but it is actually the place that inhabited the Holy Family while they were in Bethlehem. One enters the place and is greeted by a sign that reads “Mother of God pray for us” – “Mother of God prays for us”, is that we are entering the house of Mary (in Bethlehem). In this house there are some minor chapels, although one dedicated to Santa Maria de Jesus Crucified, of whom we will speak later, but at the end of the house, that is to say, at the furthest point from the entrance to it and as is customary at present. Among the inhabitants of this region, there is a smaller cave where the Virgin kept the Child. In this cave the Virgin poured a drop of milk from her mother’s womb, transforming the dark color of the rock into a pure white.

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In this place there is an iconographic painting depicting Mama Mary loving the Child Jesus. This is an image of such sweetness and intertwined glances between the two that one can just imagine the love between them. Here we asked Our Mother to pray for our families, and especially our children. The time here was one of great emotion for many pilgrims.

A little further away from this place, about 700 or 800 meters, was the Grotto of the Shepherds. There are many caves in the area and it is likely that the Angel of the Lord has been seen in several of them. In this particular one, there was a chapel that also had a store in it. In there, were paintings that represented images of the Shepherds and each had the presence of a dog which imitated the attitude of the Shepherds (amazement, fear and joy), Below this was the cave which holds the best known image of ‘Belen’s Boy’.

We traveled from the East to the West of the city of Bethlehem to reach the Barefoot Carmelite Convent to learn about the history of Mariam Bawardi or St. Mary of Jesus Crucified. The Bawardi family could not have a baby even though they had approximately twelve pregnancies. They decided to travel on a pilgrimage to Bethlehem to ask Mary to pray that they would have a baby. The Bawardi family was blessed with Mariam and a year later her brother was born. Unfortunately, within two years of having the two children, both parents died. The children were separated; Mariam went with one uncle and her brother went with another.

Mariam grew up without seeing her brother. The uncle with whom she lived with decided that she had to marry and arranged a marriage. Not wanting to marry, but wanting to dedicate her life to God, she cut her hair and the boy’s family rejected her. Her uncle, not wanting her to be unmarried, gave her to one of his employees. The employee demanded that she convert to Islam, she refused and he cut her throat and left her to die in an alley. A lady appeared dressed in blue who brought her to a grotto and stitched her wounds. Later, Mariam realized the woman was the Virgin Mary.

After some time had passed, Mariam entered as a novice into the Order of Carmelites, She chose the name Santa Maria of Jesus Crucified. Many miracles were granted to her, and she suffered from the stigmata. This gir,l who became a holy woman, is a great example for many of us. We were happy to be able to get to know her history and see her relics.

Inspirational Phrases:

• If you make a well for your brother, you will fall into it. But if you make a heaven for your brother there you will be.
• Where is charity, there is also God.

We need only one day in this Holy Land

Until next time!

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