Don Gaetano Corbo has been a guest at the Custody of the Holy Land’s Saint Saviour’s Monastery for over ten months. Many friars will remember his joy and his availability. We met this Italian priest from the little diocese of Acerenza in the South of Italy during his last days in Jerusalem.
Don Gaetano, why did you come to the Holy Land?
I have been a parish priest for forty years and sometimes it is difficult to renew oneself, especially in small villages. The faithful diminish in number, and so does religious practice; there is a fragile equilibrium. As everywhere in the world, the priest has an increasing number of tasks: I was the priest, taught religion at the high school, and was director of a rest home. After many years of increasing fatigue, one’s motivation and confidence weaken. I had the impression that I was enduring the situation and I had no energy left to face it. That is when I asked my bishop for a sabbatical year to free myself of this weight. I had come here several times, accompanying lay people on pilgrimage. The idea of staying in Jerusalem came to me little by little until it seemed the almost obvious choice!
Father, you came to the Custody of the Holy Land in October, to a large community of friars. How did you fit in?
I had always lived alone, surrounded by parishioners and my mother, but alone in day-to-day life, in my thoughts, etc. I have to say I found myself in an ideal environment! I was thirsting for this fraternal life; it is what I was looking for. The friars’ community life was an enormous gift. Even though I am not a Franciscan, I was welcomed as one of their own by both the young and the old. We formed friendships and I participated in the daily life of the monastery. We live together, respecting the liberty of each and being together when we want to. This respect for others touched me and did me good.
How did you spend your time this year?
As a member of a community, I had to do my bit. The Franciscans do not host many priests for such long periods of time, and I am grateful to have been accepted. I was asked to celebrate mass in different chapels or for our sisters the Poor Clares. I heard confessions at the Holy Sepulchre twice a week, and I took a course at the Faculty of Biblical Science at the Flagellation. I came here with a real need to deepen faith and my knowledge of this Land. I attended this university for two semesters. After forty years, I was back in the classroom and it was very pleasant! I particularly appreciated the teaching of Fr Manns on the relationship between Judaism and early Christianity. We made numerous biblical excursions, not only in Israel and Palestine, but also in Jordan and in Turkey, following the footsteps of St. Paul. I took part in many encounters, particularly the “evening conversations” series organized by young Italians. I was able to approach key figures in dialogue, human rights activists, people of spirit. And then we had the pope in the Holy Land!
Is there a place that particularly left its mark on you?
I would say Capernaum. I spent several days in this sanctuary on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It is here that Jesus spent a large part of his public life; you can feel his presence. In addition, I knew Fra Virgilio Corbo well; I was the parish priest in his village. We would meet during his summer vacations and he would passionately speak about the discoveries and the progress being made. From 1968 to 1986 he directed nineteen digs and restoration projects on the remains of Peter’s House. It was with great emotion that I discovered “his Capernaum” and the rock located at the entrance to the House of Peter. I hear him telling me, “This stone – Jesus touched it for sure!”
After a year in their midst, what will stay with you from the Franciscans of the Holy Land?
Liturgies in Latin! When I was little I learned to serve mass in Latin and then with the liturgical reform we switched to Italian. It was an emotional experience to sing the Mass in Latin again. Then there are all the beautiful ceremonies. I will remember Holy Week at the Holy Sepulchre for the rest of my life. The procession around the tomb on Easter Day moved me very much. To celebrate the Resurrection of our Christ in that very place and in such a way – unique. You know, the Franciscans are sometimes criticized for the conditions on pilgrims who come to this land, but they truly play an enormous role here. It does not stop with what we see in the sanctuaries. They are on mission, and they care for the Christians of the Holy Land, getting to the roots of their problems. There is intelligence and clarity of vision among the friars. The local Christians communities are beautiful, with a real community life, and the friars love them and encourage them. They really opened me up to the reality of this land, but also to the difficulties in reaching unity and peace. There is such a long way to go! There are so many prejudices and received ideas, so much generalization and extremism: everything crystalizes on the religious.
How do you feel now that you are on the eve of your departure?
I came here full of expectation, and I leave “recharged” and filled with peace. I already feel different and I hope this will be felt in my homilies. I feel filled up. Above all, I understood that we are all on pilgrimage. Here, one comes to see and hear Jesus with the emotions of discovery; we also realize that Jesus is in us and will come with us back home! Jerusalem is a step, a stage. That is the certainty that I have today. And though I already feel the pangs of leaving, I know that when I return I will nourish a great deal of interest for this land and its peoples. THANK YOU.
E.R
Don Gaetano, why did you come to the Holy Land?
I have been a parish priest for forty years and sometimes it is difficult to renew oneself, especially in small villages. The faithful diminish in number, and so does religious practice; there is a fragile equilibrium. As everywhere in the world, the priest has an increasing number of tasks: I was the priest, taught religion at the high school, and was director of a rest home. After many years of increasing fatigue, one’s motivation and confidence weaken. I had the impression that I was enduring the situation and I had no energy left to face it. That is when I asked my bishop for a sabbatical year to free myself of this weight. I had come here several times, accompanying lay people on pilgrimage. The idea of staying in Jerusalem came to me little by little until it seemed the almost obvious choice!
Father, you came to the Custody of the Holy Land in October, to a large community of friars. How did you fit in?
I had always lived alone, surrounded by parishioners and my mother, but alone in day-to-day life, in my thoughts, etc. I have to say I found myself in an ideal environment! I was thirsting for this fraternal life; it is what I was looking for. The friars’ community life was an enormous gift. Even though I am not a Franciscan, I was welcomed as one of their own by both the young and the old. We formed friendships and I participated in the daily life of the monastery. We live together, respecting the liberty of each and being together when we want to. This respect for others touched me and did me good.
How did you spend your time this year?
As a member of a community, I had to do my bit. The Franciscans do not host many priests for such long periods of time, and I am grateful to have been accepted. I was asked to celebrate mass in different chapels or for our sisters the Poor Clares. I heard confessions at the Holy Sepulchre twice a week, and I took a course at the Faculty of Biblical Science at the Flagellation. I came here with a real need to deepen faith and my knowledge of this Land. I attended this university for two semesters. After forty years, I was back in the classroom and it was very pleasant! I particularly appreciated the teaching of Fr Manns on the relationship between Judaism and early Christianity. We made numerous biblical excursions, not only in Israel and Palestine, but also in Jordan and in Turkey, following the footsteps of St. Paul. I took part in many encounters, particularly the “evening conversations” series organized by young Italians. I was able to approach key figures in dialogue, human rights activists, people of spirit. And then we had the pope in the Holy Land!
Is there a place that particularly left its mark on you?
I would say Capernaum. I spent several days in this sanctuary on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It is here that Jesus spent a large part of his public life; you can feel his presence. In addition, I knew Fra Virgilio Corbo well; I was the parish priest in his village. We would meet during his summer vacations and he would passionately speak about the discoveries and the progress being made. From 1968 to 1986 he directed nineteen digs and restoration projects on the remains of Peter’s House. It was with great emotion that I discovered “his Capernaum” and the rock located at the entrance to the House of Peter. I hear him telling me, “This stone – Jesus touched it for sure!”
After a year in their midst, what will stay with you from the Franciscans of the Holy Land?
Liturgies in Latin! When I was little I learned to serve mass in Latin and then with the liturgical reform we switched to Italian. It was an emotional experience to sing the Mass in Latin again. Then there are all the beautiful ceremonies. I will remember Holy Week at the Holy Sepulchre for the rest of my life. The procession around the tomb on Easter Day moved me very much. To celebrate the Resurrection of our Christ in that very place and in such a way – unique. You know, the Franciscans are sometimes criticized for the conditions on pilgrims who come to this land, but they truly play an enormous role here. It does not stop with what we see in the sanctuaries. They are on mission, and they care for the Christians of the Holy Land, getting to the roots of their problems. There is intelligence and clarity of vision among the friars. The local Christians communities are beautiful, with a real community life, and the friars love them and encourage them. They really opened me up to the reality of this land, but also to the difficulties in reaching unity and peace. There is such a long way to go! There are so many prejudices and received ideas, so much generalization and extremism: everything crystalizes on the religious.
How do you feel now that you are on the eve of your departure?
I came here full of expectation, and I leave “recharged” and filled with peace. I already feel different and I hope this will be felt in my homilies. I feel filled up. Above all, I understood that we are all on pilgrimage. Here, one comes to see and hear Jesus with the emotions of discovery; we also realize that Jesus is in us and will come with us back home! Jerusalem is a step, a stage. That is the certainty that I have today. And though I already feel the pangs of leaving, I know that when I return I will nourish a great deal of interest for this land and its peoples. THANK YOU.
E.R