IFCA
Youth Coordination
Rome, 6th December 2007
ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION n.4
SUGGESTIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS’ PERSONAL PREPARATION
1
Live the spirit of ADVENT intensely
2
Follow the news on the Italian and the Israeli newspapers and on the website
http://www.fiacifca.org/it/osservatori/TS
3
Refer to Guide Books of the Holy Land, in your language (history, geography, holy places,…)
We are working on the possibility of having a guide for every language during our visit in the
Holy Land
4
THE PILGRIMAGE to the Holy Land in the history of the Church
The Christian Pilgrimage in the Holy Land (IV-VII century)
http://198.62.75.5/opt/xampp/custodia/01pell.php
A Saint Jerome lived in Bethlehem and there he translated the VULGATE Bible
"Those who do not know the Bible do not know Christ "(Saint Jerome)" [Second Ecum. Vat.
Council, Dei Verbum, 21] Catechism of the CC133
Saint Paola and her daughter Eustochio followed him from Rome to Bethlehem
http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/38700
B Egeria, Diary of a Journey
This is the famous ‘Diary of a Journey’ by Egeria, a noble widow who lived in the IV century
and who visited the holy places in the Holy Land. She left us the first diary of a pilgrimage to
the places where Christianity was born and gives us a taste of the enchantment experienced
by a Christian woman during the first pilgrimages to the Holy Land. She belonged to the first
generation of Christians who were free from persecution and restrictions.
She traveled from Sinai to Jerusalem, from Palestine to Egypt up to Constantinople, trying to
discover the places where the patriarchs and Jesus Christ spent their lives. A deeply emotional
journey, with a personal experience of faith and participation, where discovery and prayer
were the main concern.
http://www.url.it/donnestoria/testi/recensioni/maririegeria.htm
TRANSLATED into many languages
C The map of Madaba shows the Holy Places
http://198.62.75.1/www1/ofm/mad/index.html
D Three SAINTS - pilgrims in the Holy Land
 Saint Francis of Assisi
Journey to the Holy Land in 1219, meeting with the Sultan, beginning of the Holy Land
Custody
http://www.terrasanta.net/terrasanta/csm_cst.jsp
 Saint Ignatius of Loyola
1523 meets Pope Adrian VI in Rome, who blesses his planned pilgrimage to holy places. He
leaves from Venice to the Holy Land. He visits Jerusalem, the Holy Sepulchre, Bethany, Jordan
and the Mount of Olives. He wanted to remain there.
 Brigitte of Sweden
She was already seventy years old when she wanted to undertake her last and most desired
pilgrimage, that to the Holy Land. In May 1372 she arrived in Jerusalem, where for four
months she visited and meditated in the places where Jesus spent His life. She then returned
to Rome treasuring the memories and emotions in her heart. She died in 1373.
E Two BLÈSSED - in the last century
Blessed Charles de Foucauld spent a very important period of his life and of his
vocation in Nazareth
Biography for his beatification on the website.va web
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20051113_de-foucauld_fr.html
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20051113_defoucauld_en.html
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20051113_de-foucauld_it.html

 Blessed Myriam Baouardy of Jesus Crucified,
ENG
http://www.melkite.org/sa33.htm
http://www.abbaye-saint-benoit.ch/hagiographie/fiches/f0240.htm
ENG
http://www.carmelholyland.org/en/mariam/index49.htm
5 POPES - pilgrims
 Paul VI Pilgrim in the Holy Land 4-6 January 1964
http://www.va/holy_father/paul_vi/travels/sub-index/index_terrasanta_it.htm
 John Paul II Jubilee Pilgrim in the Holy Land (20-26 March 2000)
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/travels/sub_index/trav_holyland-2000_it.htm
6 For pilgrims of our times
LETTER BY HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
ON HIS PILGRIMAGE TO PLACES LINKED WITH THE STORY OF SALVATION
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/documents/hf_jpii_let_30061999_pilgrimage_it.html
7 JERUSALEM
APOSTOLIC LETTER REDEMPTIONIS ANNO by John Paul II 1984
It esp
Ai vescovi della Chiesa cattolica, ai sacerdoti, ai religiosi e religiose, e ai fedeli tutti sulla città
di Gerusalemme, patrimonio sacro di tutti i credenti e desiderato crocevia di pace per i popoli
del Medio Oriente
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jpii_apl_20041984_redemptionis-anno_it.html
http://www.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jpii_apl_20041984_redemptionis-anno_sp.html
8
Carlo Maria Martini
After more than twenty years, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini left the Archdiocese of Milan and,
as from 2007, chose Jerusalem as “the final aim of a journey”. Martini took this decision after
an intricate spiritual, cultural and existential experience. In the present situation, marked by
destruction and conflicts, this decision assumes more significance.
http://www.libreriadelsanto.it/libri/880717071X/verso-gerusalemme.html
9 THE CRIB – Saint Francis - The Holy Land Greccio 1223 …
Francis of Assisi is the saint of the crib.
http://www.sanfrancescoassisi.org/SANFRA_NATALE.htm
http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/sites/TSbtgrecc1.html
10 CRONOLOGICAL MAPS (recent)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/israel_and_palestinians/key_map
s/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/v3_ip_timeline/html/default.stm
http://www.peacereporter.net/dettaglio_mappamondo.php?idc=8&idm=4&menu_aree=46
http://www.giovaniemissione.it/index.php?option=content&blog=on&task=view&id=451&Itemi
d=123
http://www.mideastweb.org/timeline.htm