Reflections on the Holy Land

By Linda Roy Cross

Times have changed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Not since the Black Death/Bubonic Plague in the 14th century have parts of the Holy Land been closed this long and infinitely, nor have visitors been limited in numbers for this long. The closure, or limited access, coincidentally coincides with the release of Reflections on the Holy Land following the author’s return from a spiritual and emotional pilgrimage in Israel/Palestine, during early spring 2019 with more questions than answers. Soon after, Linda Roy Cross began her year-long research.
"Reflections on the Holy Land: A Pilgrim's Guide for Travelers" is a book for those who plan to travel to the Holy Land, once the current Coronavirus pandemic has been controlled.
It’s also for wanna-be travelers, and those who for a variety of reasons will never travel there, be it health, finances, fear of terrorism, or fear of flying. This is the author’s fourth pilgrimage including Fatima. She also walked the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage twice: alone in 2012 and again 2017. See: Alone on the Camino on Smashwords.com
There is something for everyone in the Holy Land whether it be spiritual, historical, or an archeological curiousity. This illustrated work, with more than 270 full color photos, makes the biblical sites and gospels come alive. The Holy Land is where Christians, Jews and Muslims work, worship, live, and fight face-to-face on a daily basis. Her curiosity tapped, Cross grabbed the opportunity to begin delving into the 30+ sites visited including some where Jesus was born, preached, crucified, and buried.
The knowledgeable tour guide was a wealth of information as he explained that it takes someone with a Ph.D., and perhaps first-hand life involvement, to understand how differently neighboring Israelis and Palestinians live, and how strongly each side feels. It becomes easier for the reader to understand the intrigue of Ancient Israel and its hold over Orthodox and modern Jews, and its relationship with the sovereign state of neighboring Palestine.
As the saying goes, what you get out of [travel] depends on how much you put into it. Knowing not all readers enjoy doing research themselves, Cross investigated and dug deeper beyond what most tourist see on the surface. This resulted in an additional 50+ up-to-date chapters, which examines and explains the unseen. These inside stories of Biblical and historic places go back to hundreds and thousand of years before the time of Christ (BC), laid the recognition of Christianity in the 4th century, and tell of current times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Roy Cross
• Release date: Apr 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463737743

Linda Roy Cross

Linda Roy Cross traveled to the Holy Land in 2019 and returned home with more questions than answers. Immediately, Cross began researching the back stories of each site. Just as the book rolled off the press, Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the place of Jesus’ crucifixion and death was closed indefinitely due to the Corona virus outbreak. Look for and pre-order “Reflections on the Holy Land: A Pilgrim’s Guide for Travelers.” She is also the author of three more works of non-fiction: “Alone on the Camino” (available in paper or Smashwords.com), “Cowboy to C.O.P.”, “An Ordinary Nun” as well as several travel websites after traveling to Brazil, Europe, Cambodia, Mexico, Canada, and on medical missions in Nepal, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru and Belize. She earned a degree in organizational communication at University of Colorado, Boulder. Before retiring, she worked at the Boulder (Co.) Daily Camera, and Pensacola, Fl. News Journal newspaper. When not writing, Cross is involved in various charitable organizations and researching her French-Canadian genealogy. In addition to Colorado and Florida, she and her husband have lived in Idaho and northern Virginia. They retired in Tucson, Arizona where they are surrounded by the peaceful Sonoran Desert at the foot of the Santa Catalina mountains. They are the parents of two sons.

Book preview

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to first readers who previewed early drafts: Kathy Breslin, Jan Izlar, and fellow pilgrims Katie Maglaya, and Mary Beth Pierce.

As I progressed in the development of the book, later readers provided in-depth suggestions. I’m deeply indebted to Nila Brown Denton for her expertise and experience. As a fellow author having visited the Holy Land, she was spot on with gentle suggestions. She is also a true professional in her editing skills and scholarly commentary on biblical studies.

An older brother, Father Duane Roy OSB was my travel companion to the Holy Land; the Portuguese Camino de Santiago; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as well as several other travel adventures. He offered tremendous support by reading and critiquing numerous drafts. Personally, I think he closely fits the criteria of someone else who walks on water.

Last but not least, neither the pilgrimage, nor the book would have been possible without the love and support of Randy Cross, my husband of 36 years. Each book I’ve written has taken longer than expected, was internally challenging, and yet equally rewarding. This project was no exception. My earthly savior encouraged me every step of the way especially when I was deep in confusion about technical issues. A true helpmate in every sense. To paraphrase Genesis 2:18: It is not good for woman to be alone. I will make a helper suitable of her.

Coronavirus Impact

In April 2020, as I put the finishing touches on this labor of love I started a year ago, I, we, a family, state, country, the world learned of the coronavirus that has now spread around the globe, our blue planet.

Rather than take a wait-and-see approach, I moved forward with publishing this book not knowing what the future brings for the world, for family and friends, for myself.

The following prayer was first presented by Cardinal Dearden in 1979 and quoted by Pope Francis in 2015. This reflection is an excerpt from a homily written for Cardinal Dearden by then-Fr. Ken Untener on the occasion of the Mass for Deceased Priests, October 25, 1979. Pope Francis quoted Cardinal Dearden in his remarks to the Roman Curia on December 21, 2015.

* * * * *

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts; it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.

No prayer fully expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection.

No pastoral visit brings wholeness.

No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.

We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.

It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own.

Fellow Pilgrims

I traveled with fellow pilgrims late March-early April 2019 from Saint Thomas the Apostle parish church, Tucson, Arizona; Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Oak Lawn, Illinois; and Benedictine Abbey, Atchison, Kansas.

Nina Angiulo

Alice Barrett

Scott Barrett

Linda Boyea

Kristine Bruce

Peter Bruce

Linda Roy Cross

Stanley Davis

Beverly Donovan

Stacie Emert

Douglas Everett

Patrick Ferriter

Timothy Ferriter

John Ficke

Linda Ficke

Erika Mayer Gamas

Richard Govern

Sheila Govern

Janell Jellison

Kate Maglaya

Sharon Mansour

Nick Mansour Jr.

Lupita Mayer

Tania Mayer

Mary Niego McNamara

William McNamara

Melissa Miller

Carmen Moncada

Alfredo Nartatez

Maria Nartatez

Ron Nathan

Patricia Niego

Avelino Noble

Estrellita Noble

Bernadette Noji

Veronica Paredes

Rose Petry

Mary Beth Pierce

Tony Poe

Edgar Ramos

Emelita Ramos

Becky Rebenstorf

Norm Rebenstorf

Judith Reidy

Fr. Duane Roy OSB

Lupe Acuna Salazar

Christen Sheffer

Deacon Edward Sheffer

David Sheldahl

Gordon Stone

Cindy Tolentino

Reynaldo Tolentino

Fr. Dennis Ziomek

Epigraph

"To go on pilgrimage means to step out of ourselves to encounter God where He has revealed Himself, where His grace has shone with particular splendor, and produced rich fruits of conversion and holiness among those who believe.

Above all, [this pertains to] Christians going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, to visit places associated with the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection."

Pope Benedict XVI (2010)

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest."

Ecclesiastes: The Way of Life-King Solomon

Introduction: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: March 26-April 4, 2019

I’ve visited several pilgrimage sites: Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris; Basilica of Sacre Coeur, Montmartre/Paris; Notre Dame Basilica, Montreal, Canada; Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, Quebec, Canada; Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal; Hagia Sophia, Istanbul; House of the Virgin Mary, a Catholic and Muslim shrine on Mt. Koressos, Ephesus, Turkey; Basilica of St. Francis Assisi, Italy; Vatican City and Colosseum, Rome, Italy; Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil; Basilica of National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C. (where my husband used to live); and more, including Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson, Arizona where we now both live.

However, I’ve never traveled to the Holy Land to retrace ancient footsteps, which Jews, Christians, and Muslims all regard as holy.

Tourism in Israel is one of the country’s major source of income with 3.6 million visitors, and growing each year. Annually, travelers contribute more than six billion dollars to the Israeli economy.

My dear late father, John Felix Roy didn’t care much for travel. After three days, he was ready to return home. Two years following his death in 1978, my more-adventuresome mother, Olive Morin Roy made a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, Canada, where her father/my grandfather, Stanislas Morin visited. She also visited the Holy Land and Vatican City with an organized tour. She returned home with her staunch Catholic faith glowing even more radiant in the years before she peacefully died in 1985.

My older sister, Sister Veronica Roy celebrated her 25th jubilee as a Sister of St. Joseph. She used gift monies for a Holy Land group tour, which included stops in Greece and Vatican City 10 years before her tragic death in 1995.

Surprisingly, my brother, Father Duane Roy, OSB a Benedictine monk/priest for 52 years, had never visited the Holy Land. Having survived a heart attack the previous year, I thought it was high-time we travel together to see the sites and sights.

Before leaving home, I was slightly hesitant having heard news accounts of occasional terrorist outbreaks, fighting, and bombings in the Holy Land, which might have potentially subjected my dear brother to risks. Only after returning home did I learn from a Holy Land website that tour buses are in constant contact with their headquarters monitoring hour-by-hour potential trouble spots. If situations arise, drivers and guides are notified and re-routed.

We learn daily life for residents is safe with the exception of war zones. Our group did not visit the Gaza Strip, or West Bank claimed by the State of Palestine. One must be aware of places to stay away from with the on-going political unrest.

Travelers must be prepared to walk approximately a half-mile to each site having few to no parking places for numerous tour buses. Streets and paths are often stony or irregular.

Break in walking shoes before leaving home. Be prepared for occasional rain with protective gear or umbrella. Even though Israel offers a Mediterranean climate, summers can be hot, and winters chilly, much like where I live in the Sonoran Desert of Tucson, Arizona. Travel is best March through May, or September through November.

Normally, I don’t like organized tours for several reasons: primarily for the rigid structure. It also seems the same person gets lost, is habitually late, and holds up the group, which didn’t happen in this group. As a bonus, our tour guide provided earphones to clearly hear him speak in sacred spaces where a low voice is appropriate, if not required.

In hindsight, I highly recommend a certified tour company for first-time travelers to the Holy Land. Unless one can afford a private driver, it can be overwhelming with heavy traffic, no place to park, crowded conditions, many sites to choose from, and the logistics of traveling within Israel where Hebrew is the predominant language.

Once home, I pondered my experience and was asked to speak about travel highlights. I was soon inspired by the Holy Spirit to document this fascinating trip to further educate myself, which required massive research on the Holy Land history, geography, and religions.

A quote credited to both Einstein and Socrates holds significant meaning for this writer: The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.

This writing could have been much shorter, or longer, although hopefully the reader will find it just right much like the Goldilocks story. While I found every site visited deserves a book of its own, I leave that to the scholars.

This book was designed with something for everyone with a multitude of reading levels and interests. There are more than 275 color photos for those who have strictly a visual interest and want to see what the Holy Land looks like. For others, there are timeless, more descriptive narratives woven throughout, with some chapters delving into intricate details and history. Hopefully, readers of all types will find this a book to be read and re-read over the years.

I was asked to make available this information to encourage and provoke in others a desire to learn more, and for those who are able to make a Holy Land pilgrimage of their own-God willing.

For those readers unable to travel to the Holy Land due to health, physical limitations, finances, fear of flying, or the fear of personal safety in a foreign land, this year-long labor of love may serve as an armchair pilgrimage. Shalom!

Supplementary Chapters

Upon my return home, I found supplementary readings would have helped me in advance of the pilgrimage to better understand what I would be seeing throughout the Holy Land. Therefore, I’ve inserted 11 informative chapters in the beginning, in addition to focusing on background information explaining the many sites and sights throughout the book on this sacred journey.

For example, within the Day One section, I write of Franciscan Friars in the Holy Land, who are frequently mentioned throughout this book.

If you wish to skip past the information-only chapters and begin reading Day One: Cana Wedding Church, you can always return to the supplementary/bonus chapters that helped answer many questions for me.

And, in the event I publish a second edition, or asked to give more presentations, I would appreciate hearing your questions, answers, and comments.

Gratefully,

Linda (Lin) Roy Cross

Contact: [e-mail]

Jesus was not Christian. He was Jewish.

He did not speak English. His language was Aramaic.

The New Testament does not include a physical description.

This chapter is among many side-notes interspersed throughout this book to highlight significant topics. Historical figures, as well as locations, and beliefs, will also be spotlighted in pages to come.

After I noticed road signs in Hebrew, Arabic and English, our tour guide explains, It takes a scholar with a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern studies to understand how we live with religious and political conflicts going on here for centuries. I had much to learn.

Within the following chapters, in an attempt to provide answers, even more questions arise. For example, in biblical days Palestine was called Canaan. This region between Europe, Asia, and Africa, and the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity, has had a long and tumultuous history as a crossroads for religion, culture, commerce, and politics over 800+ years.

Before Israel became a nation in 1948, the majority of people dwelling in the region were Palestinians-Arabs-living in what was then known as Palestine. Historically, Israel and Palestine have been at odds and each claim Jerusalem, the largest city, as their capital, adding to upheaval and unrest. Furthermore, Palestine is currently not recognized as a State, while its geography includes four regions in the country. I have much to be grateful for in my corner of the world.

Above: Israel boasts a national average of three children and a high life expectancy at birth.

The Israeli Song

-This Land-

The Theme to Exodus- the movie

This land is mine, God gave this land to me

This brave and ancient land to me

And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plain

Then I see a land where children can run free

So take my hand and walk this land with me

And walk this lovely land with me

Though I am just a man, when you are by my side

With the help of God, I know I can be strong

To make this land our home

If I must fight, I’ll fight to make this land our own

Until I die, this land is mine.

Written by Pat Boone 1960

Search:

YouTube-Pat Boone at Masada

And

YouTube-Pat Boone Friends of Zion Museum (FOZ)

The National Anthem of Israel

Hatikvan

The Hope

As long as in the heart, within,

A Jewish soul still yearns,

And onward, towards the ends of the east,

an eye still gazes toward Zion;

Our hope is not yet lost,

The hope two thousand years old,

To be a free nation in our land,

The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

The national anthem of Israel based on lyrics of a 19th century Jewish poem

by Naftali Herz Imber from Złoczów (today Zolochiv, Ukraine).

Map-The Middle East

Israel is smaller than New Jersey: 263 miles north to south (pictured below: 9 o’clock on the left). Its width varies between 9 to 71 miles. It is located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea in Western Asia. With its diverse geography, there are desert conditions in the South, and snow-capped mountains in the North.

The term Holy Land is traditionally synonymous with both the biblical land of Israel and the region of Palestine. The designation, used by Muslims and Christians as well as Jews, also includes the area roughly located between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by the Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt, Jordan, West Bank, Golan Heights/Syria, Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Popular Holy Sites in Israel for Christian, Muslim and Jews

Holy Sites in Jerusalem

Temple Mount or Haram Al-Sharif

Dome of The Rock

Al-Aqsa Mosque

Western Wall or The Buraq Wall

Church of The Holy Sepulcher

Via Dolorosa

King David’s Tomb

Cenacle/Last Supper Room

Church of Dormition

Dome of Ascension

Church of Saint Mark

Mount of Olives

Garden of Gethsemane

Church of All Nations

Tomb of The Prophets

Holy Sites in Bethlehem

Church of The Nativity and Grotto of The Nativity

Church of St Catherine

Milk Grotto

Tomb of Rachel

Holy Sites in Nazareth

Basilica of The Annunciation

Church of St Joseph

Synagogue Church

Mary’s Well

Church of The Transfiguration

Holy Sites in Hebron

Tombs of The Patriarchs and Matriarchs

Holy Sites at Sea of Galilee

Mount of Beatitudes

Tabgha

Capernaum

Jesus Trail

Qasr El Yahud - The Baptism Site of Jesus on The River Jordan

Holy Sites in Haifa

Muhraka Monastery

Stella Maris Monastery and Elijah’s Cave

Shrine of The Bab and Baha’i’s Gardens

Holy Sites in Akko

House of Abbud

Bahji Mansion and Shrine of Baha-Ullah

Holy Sites in Safed

Tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

Haari Ashkenazi Synagogue

Sephardic Haari Synagogue

Abuhav Synagogue

Israeli Defense Forces

Much like the Israeli Air Force, the Israeli Army came from humble, but more established beginnings. The 400-year Ottoman Empire (1516-1917) was followed by the British Mandate for Palestine (1918-1948).

A percentage of Israel’s ground forces had their origins in a paramilitary force created in the early 1920s, with Haganah Zionist (now the core of the Israel Defense Forces-IDF) protecting the Jewish nation and interests. During this time, the Haganah cooperated with British authorities, but turned hostile in 1944 when the Axis (Italy and Germany) neared defeat and the need for a Jewish state became increasingly clear.

During 1933 to 1945, millions of Jews were persecuted, or murdered by the German Nazi regime (as well as Gypsies, the intellectually disabled, dissidents, homosexuals, and Catholics). What is called the Holocaust (1939-1945) spanned the period when Germany controlled areas from France to Russia and Germany itself.

In 1947, a national Israeli army was quickly formed. Due to its status as a small country, Israel’s low population and manpower limitations meant its citizens could train and organize a military presence.

The Haganah was re-organized into regular army units. The next year, the Israeli Defense Force (Jewish paramilitary organizations of Haganah, Irgun and Lehi) was established as Israel’s official military divided into Army, Navy, and Air Force branches. Two weeks later, the IDF was re-named the Israeli Army.

The United Nations approved a plan to partition Palestine into a Jewish and Arab State in 1947, but the Arabs rejected it. Regardless, in May 1948, Israel was officially declared an independent state with prime minister David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency.

Conscription of mandatory service continues to exist in Israel for all Israeli citizens: male and female over the age