On October 4, 1932 the Custody of the Holy Land acquired land on Mount Nebo; the archeological adventure could begin. It continues to this day, with digs directed, accompanied, carried out and encouraged by the Franciscan fathers, today with Father Michele Piccirillo at the lead. These digs, together with the visits from pilgrims and tourists, provide the framework for life on Mount Nebo.
The Custody’s Discretorium, meeting in Jerusalem from July 1st to 5th, has just given new vitality to this high place. The monastery adjoining the sanctuary has been canonically erected for the first time, and a fraternity will remain living on the holy mountain. Made up of three friars of three different nationalities and from three different continents – Brother Fabian, Australian; Brother Simon, Italian; and Brother Salem, Syrian – the community will renew the life of prayer and hospitality for pilgrims on the mountain, which can be traced back to Egérie’s pilgrimage journal from the Fourth Century.
This is the Custody’s only sanctuary in Jordan. It is also the only one that, at the gateway to the Holy Land, is a Holy Place of the Old Testament. Faithful to the Custody’s mission to conserve and direct the Holy Places, the Discretorium wanted to mark its desire to live this vocation fully in Jordan, too.
Father Michel Piccirillo remains in charge of the digs and of the project to erect a roof worthy of the name above the sanctuary. In the future, the Custody hopes to provide a hospitality and retreat center, primarily for the local church.
The canonical erection of the monastery is part of the Custody’s larger program to reinforce its presence in Jordan; the Holy Land School in Amman will also feel its effects. From two friars, the community will expand to six in this educational and vocational project headed by Father Rashid Mistrih.
In Jewish tradition, Moses died on Mount Nebo while being kissed by God. Our wish for the Franciscans of Jordan is that, in encountering God and bringing others to encounter Him, they will know this divine intimacy so that the Custody may be ever more alive in this blessed Land.
MAB
The Custody’s Discretorium, meeting in Jerusalem from July 1st to 5th, has just given new vitality to this high place. The monastery adjoining the sanctuary has been canonically erected for the first time, and a fraternity will remain living on the holy mountain. Made up of three friars of three different nationalities and from three different continents – Brother Fabian, Australian; Brother Simon, Italian; and Brother Salem, Syrian – the community will renew the life of prayer and hospitality for pilgrims on the mountain, which can be traced back to Egérie’s pilgrimage journal from the Fourth Century.
This is the Custody’s only sanctuary in Jordan. It is also the only one that, at the gateway to the Holy Land, is a Holy Place of the Old Testament. Faithful to the Custody’s mission to conserve and direct the Holy Places, the Discretorium wanted to mark its desire to live this vocation fully in Jordan, too.
Father Michel Piccirillo remains in charge of the digs and of the project to erect a roof worthy of the name above the sanctuary. In the future, the Custody hopes to provide a hospitality and retreat center, primarily for the local church.
The canonical erection of the monastery is part of the Custody’s larger program to reinforce its presence in Jordan; the Holy Land School in Amman will also feel its effects. From two friars, the community will expand to six in this educational and vocational project headed by Father Rashid Mistrih.
In Jewish tradition, Moses died on Mount Nebo while being kissed by God. Our wish for the Franciscans of Jordan is that, in encountering God and bringing others to encounter Him, they will know this divine intimacy so that the Custody may be ever more alive in this blessed Land.
MAB