From Jerusalem On Palm Sunday

By Deal W. Hudson
Inside Catholic.com
Posted on April 05, 2009, 1:38 AM


From my window at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem I watched the sun come up over the old city. Pilgrims from everywhere have filled every room to celebrate Holy Week at "ground zero" of our faith. In a few hours, we will start the Palm Sunday procession from the Mt. of Olives down and up the hills west of the city until we reach St. Stephen's Gate where Jesus was welcomed so many centuries ago. It will be an occasion of joy which I hope everyone who reads this will, one day, experience for themselves. There will be groups of singing, chanting, even dancing Catholics from around the world -- and, having seen this three times before, I know it will be difficult for me not to join in.


The weather today is perfect, mid-sixties and sunny skies. Already the knights and ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre are gathering in the lobby in their white robes. I will not be walking with them, but will be cheering from the sidelines.

The head of the center, Fr. Juan Solano, is already making his rounds, greeting pilgrims and making ready for Mass and the procession. Everyone is smiling, and not a grim church-going face in sight.

It is good to be here. Later I will report on the procession and the people I meet along the way.

The next time you are thinking about a trip to Rome, for the second, third, or fourth time, I hope you will consider coming here, and don't worry about the stories you hear about the "danger." There are times to stay away, but they are few and far between.