Feast of Blessed Charles de Foucauld in Jerusalem kehilla

Since the very beginnings of the Hebrew speaking Catholic communities in Israel, the Little Brothers and Little Sisters of Jesus have been involved and committed to these communities. Among the first members of the Jerusalem kehilla was Little Sister Aliza of blessed memory. Little Brother Yohanan worked tirelessly to facilitate the use of Hebrew in Catholic liturgy and Catholic theology, as well as contributing with others to the musical tradition of the kehillot. In this he was assisted by others, like Little Sister Ora of blessed memory. Many other brothers and sisters have contributed by their work and their presence to the Hebrew speaking kehillot in Israel. It was thus natural to celebrated Blessed Charles in a special way in the Jerusalem kehilla.

The mass was a joyful Advent mass, punctuated by the memory of Charles de Foucauld. The readings this Sunday mentioned "a voice crying out" (Isaiah 40:3) and "a voice crying out in the wilderness" (Mark 1:3). Blessed Charles was certainly a voice crying out in the wilderness. The time of intercessory prayers was a time to give thanks for all we have received from the Fraternities in Israel as well as from the example of Blessed Charles.

After communion, the choir sang for the first time a magnificent Hebrew rendition of Blessed Charles's famous prayer "Father, into your hands I abandon my spirit", composed by the members of the choir. This was followed by the Little Sisters from the Old City of Jerusalem, present with us, singing the same prayer in Arabic.

After mass, those present viewed a thirty minute presentation of the life and heritage of Blessed Charles, produced by the Little Sisters of Jesus. This was followed by some brief comments on the life of the Little Brothers and little Sisters by Little Brother Yohanan, who ended his words by pointing out: "When the one who has given much realizes that he has received even more from those to whom he has given, he has reached the summit".

Blessed Charles pray for us!