Podcasts about holy sepulchre

You're invited next September 20-26, 2026, to The Tender Harvest, a week-long retreat amidst the golden hues and organic bounty of the world-class Ballymaloe House in County Cork, Ireland. Each day will feature yoga, meditation, farm-to-table meals, and curated excursions—plus ample time for rest, self-nurturance, and imagination.The sound of flowing water soothes most nervous systems, but particularly those acclimatized to the desert, and particularly upon waking. I have struggled with sleep disturbances for most of my adult life, so it's rare for me to experience the weight and metabolic satisfaction of a good night's rest. But twice last month, I found myself receiving what we can call river medicine: first while visiting friends at their cabin in the Pecos Wilderness, and again east of Aspen, Colorado, while teaching at Beyul Retreat, a guest ranch along the Frying Pan River, a tributary of the Roaring Fork River.River medicine is like this: surrounded by tall, sappy pines, I found myself one early morning in the atmospheric valley between sleeping and waking, an integrative field of frequencies and forms. You know the place. Even now, I do not know for certain: did the river, by some charm of consciousness, stream into my dreamscape and stir me awake? Or was it the dream that pulsated forward into the matrix of a new day? What I can say is that I felt a bright, hydrous intelligence moving in ripples and waves through my body—clarifying and tonifying, calming neurons and glial cells in their watery beds, clearing layers of baked-in tension like grit loosened from a soaking pan. And for a time, I floated above the push of the day, appearing and disappearing and reappearing to myself.In the wake of hours that followed, to my delight, I noticed a quiet reverberation—an elemental answer quelling a wordless, needful thirst.Science offers a partial explanation for this. Water has a high dielectric constant, meaning it reduces the electrostatic attraction between charged particles, which helps substances like salt crystals separate and dissolve more easily. I would also propose that water's properties of solubility, absorption, and transmission apply to its natural ability to clean and balance the bioenergetic forces of being human.When a river twists and turns, it releases negative ions into the air. Microscopically, this process is dynamic—even violent. Molecules spill over rocks and tumble forward, rushing and colliding, breaking apart, and thereby transferring electrons and charging the surrounding air. But I find comfort in this science of fluid revitalization. New, more supportive structures can form when old ones give way, pointing to how, beyond turmoil and devastation, we too can hope for vital transformation.Years ago, I read a New York Times article called “Where Heaven and Earth Come Closer,” in which journalist Eric Weiner wrote about “thin places,” locations where the gap between the ordinary and extraordinary—or, better yet, transordinary—thins out.“Thin” seemed to me a strange choice to describe where the air thickens with meaning. But Celts and early Christians held that a small but distinct distance, like three feet, separates heaven and earth—and that distance dissolves in “places that beguile and inspire, sedate and stir, places where, for a few blissful moments [we] loosen [our] death grip on life, and can breathe again.”Many a thin place has been built by human hands. Early in my career, I worked for the United Nations Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, and developed the sensible habit of visiting the most treasured cathedrals, temples, and sanctuary sites wherever I found myself in the world. Jama Masjid in Delhi, Sacré-Cœur in Paris, Tirta Empul in Bali, Newgrange in Ireland, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem: each has a distinct energetic signature that lives in my memory, a resonance born of its purpose and the accumulation of countless prayers that infuse the surrounding air.But thin places are more often found than made. Mountains, canyons, coral palaces—they are organic monuments to mysticism and ready reminders of our humble size before nature. As Weiner writes, “Thin places relax us, yes, but they also transform us—or, more accurately, unmask us. In thin places, we become our more essential selves.”In this sense, thin places evoke qualities of alchemy and revelation. In traveling to Beyul Retreat, I recalled how the Vajrayana Buddhist term “beyul” refers to hidden valleys believed to be sanctuaries blessed by enlightened teachers, places where the land itself is animate. A beyul holds the wisdom that rivers, trees, and even rocks are not objects but mandalas — living altars, ineffable and intricate in their aliveness.Aptly named, Beyul Retreat is a place where the boundary between perception and imagination feels more permeable. The land electrifies with new growth as summer approaches: dandelion confetti bursts open in the meadows, aspen trees shimmy, and fresh sage scents the air. Each morning, as the river's murmur moves through the valley, calypso orchids bloom in the shade while the pointed ears of silver fox pups perk up from behind cool, wet stones.In the imaginal realm of childhood, there are many such beyuls, many thin places. There are fern groves and swallow lairs, stars nestled in apple cores and galaxies in lightning bugs, and lobe-handed sycamore leaves at the wild end of the yard.We tend to think of nature as speaking in symbols, but its directness transmits rather than approximates. “The world is not made of objects; it is a communion of subjects,” writes Stephen Harrod Buhner, author of Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm. “To enter the imaginal realm is to give permission to the ineffable within us, to allow the world to speak through our senses, our dreams, our longings.”To commune is to listen with our whole body, to notice the most basic and vital exchange of breath and circumstance that underpins our existence. To allow for a metamorphosis of our attention. And when we realize the subjectivity of the world, we can discover strange and wonderful ways of joining the conversation. Like us, the aspens drink water and eat light. They have instincts and work to protect their lives. And did you know that the dark spots resembling eyes on the smooth, pale bark are scars left behind when the tree sheds lower branches that receive less sunlight? Look how this porous watchfulness is directed in our direction, how the forest offers us its attention.Together, we are making sense of being human in an era of radical change. Your presence here matters. Thank you for reading, sharing, ‘heart'ing, commenting, and subscribing to The Guest House. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shawnparell.substack.com/subscribe

Discover compelling evidence for Christianity through historical documentation, logical reasoning, and archaeological findings. Learn about early written accounts from 55 AD, the significance of eyewitness testimony, and recent archaeological discoveries that validate biblical narratives. Explore why the disciples' actions make sense, the importance of women as first witnesses, and how physical evidence aligns with historical accounts. Keywords: Christianity evidence, historical proof of Christianity, archaeological evidence Bible, Christian apologetics, proof of resurrection, biblical archaeology, Christian faith evidence, historical Jesus, Christianity truth, biblical history, Church of Holy Sepulchre, early Christian documents, Christian historical facts, resurrection evidence, biblical authenticity.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: By Pufui Pc Pifpef I - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31309211 via Wikipedia LINKS Vatican bio of Cardinal Raymond Leo BURKE https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_burke_rl.html        Raymond Leo BURKE on FIU's Cardinals Database (by Salvador Miranda): https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios2010.htm#Burke                             Cardinal Raymond Leo BURKE on Gcatholic.org: https://gcatholic.org/p/2334                                                Cardinal Raymond Leo BURKE on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bburke.html                            Apostolic Signatura on Gcatholic.org: https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/romancuria/d13.htm   Apostolic Signatura on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbgch.html 2003 Catholic News Agency bio of Archbishop Burke: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/286/pope-appoints-bishop-raymond-burke-as-new-archbishop-of-st-louis  Merriam-Webster, “Defender of the Bond”: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defender%20of%20the%20bond#:~:text=The%20meaning%20of%20DEFENDER%20OF%20THE%20BOND,the%20marriage%20bond%20in%20suits%20for%20annulment Dead Theologians Society: https://deadtheologianssociety.com/about/  Catholic Herald analysis of Cardinal Burke's 2014 reassignment: https://web.archive.org/web/20160701214308/http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/11/10/thousands-sign-petition-thanking-cardinal-burke/  2013 National Catholic Reporter commentary- “I want a mess” -Pope Francis: https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/pope-i-want-mess  2014 CruxNow “Soap Opera” Synod on the Family coverage: https://web.archive.org/web/20141017055135/http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2014/10/16/synod-is-more-and-more-like-a-soap-opera/ Amoris Laetitia: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20160319_amoris-laetitia.html  2017 Knights of Malta reshuffle: https://catholicherald.co.uk/pope-names-archbishop-becciu-as-personal-delegate-to-order-of-malta/  2018 National Catholic Register editorial Reflection on Amoris Laetitia controversy https://www.ncregister.com/news/francis-fifth-a-pontificate-of-footnotes  2016 National Catholic Register coverage of the Dubia: https://www.ncregister.com/news/four-cardinals-formally-ask-pope-for-clarity-on-amoris-laetitia Traditionis custodes: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/20210716-motu-proprio-traditionis-custodes.html  Cardinal Burke's Statement on Traditionis Custodes: https://www.cardinalburke.com/presentations/traditionis-custodes The 2023 Dubia (w/Pope Francis' responses): https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-10/pope-francis-responds-to-dubia-of-five-cardinals.html  National Catholic Reporter coverage of removal of Cardinal Burke's Vatican apartment and salary: https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/pope-francis-remove-cardinal-burkes-vatican-apartment-and-salary-sources-say Anonymous “Cardinal Burke is my enemy” report: https://catholicherald.co.uk/pope-calls-cardinal-burke-his-enemy-and-threatens-to-strip-him-of-privileges-reports-claim/  Where Peter Is coverage of Cardinal Burke's 2024 private meeting with Pope Francis https://wherepeteris.com/cardinal-burkes-meeting-withĥhh-pope-francis/    Thank you for listening, and thank my family and friends for putting up with the time investment and for helping me out as needed. As always, feel free to email the show at Popeularhistory@gmail.com  If you would like to financially support Popeular history, go to www.patreon.com/Popeular. If you don't have any money to spare but still want to give back, pray and tell others– prayers and listeners are worth more than gold!   TRANSCRIPT Welcome to Popeular History, a library of Catholic knowledge and insights.   Check out the show notes for sources, further reading, and a transcript.   Today we're discussing another current Cardinal of the Catholic Church, one of the 120 or so people who will choose the next Pope when the time comes. The youngest of six, Raymond Leo Burke was born on June 30, 1948, in Richland Center, a small town in sparsely populated Richland County, Wisconsin.   Not too much later, the family moved north to tiny Stratford, Wisconsin, where he grew up.   We've had a *lot*, of midwestern Cardinals, in fact all but one of our 8 American Cardinals so far has been born in the midwest, a percentage I would probably consider shocking if I didn't identify as a midwesterner myself, though technically I'm about as much of a northern southerner as you can get, considering my parents basically moved to Virginia to have their kids and immediately moved back to Ohio once that was accomplished. But enough about me, this is about Raymond Leo Burke, who signed up for Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse in 1962. Later he went to The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he wound up with a masters in philosophy in 1971. After that he was sent to Rome for his theology studies, getting a second masters, this time from the Gregorian. He was ordained by Pope Paul VI–yes, *before* JPII, crazy I know, in 1975 on June 29th, which longtime listeners will probably clock as the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul and more importantly the Popeular History podcasts' official anniversary date.   Returning to Wisconsin as a priest for the Diocese of La Crosse, Father Burke served as an associate rector for the cathedral, then as a religion teacher at Aquinas High School in town.   Making his way back to Rome, Father Burke returned to the Gregorian to study Canon Law, by 1984 he had a doctorate in the topic with a specialization in jurisprudence.   He came back stateside long enough to pick up a couple diocesan roles back in La Crosse, but soon enough he went back to the Gregorian for a third time, this time not as a student but as a teacher, namely as a Visiting professor of Canonical Jurisprudence, a post which he held for nearly a decade from ‘85 to ‘94.   He wound up becoming the first American to hold the position of Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, as a reminder that's basically the Vatican's Supreme Court.   As for what being a Defender of the Bond entails, it's basically the guy in charge of proving the validity of a disputed marriage, typically–I'd imagine--oversomeone's objections, or else, you know, the case wouldn't have wound up in court.   In 1994, his white phone rang, and it was Pope John Paul II, calling to make him bishop of his home Diocese of La Crosse. Father Burke was personally consecrated by His Holiness in the Vatican.   In ‘97, Bishop Burke became a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, ranking as a Knight Commander with Star automatically by virtue of his being a bishop. The Order traces its origins to the First Crusade, making it one of the oldest chivalric Orders in the world–and it's not the only such order Bishop Burke will get involved in.   In 2000, bishop Burke became National Director of the Marian Catechist Apostolate, something which certainly seems near to his heart considering he's still in the role. Well, international director now, as things have grown.   In 2002, Bishop Burke invited a fairly new apostolate named the Dead Theologians Society to the diocese, which isn't something I'd normally include, but I wanted to make sure it got a shoutout because it started at my parish. Oriented towards high school and college students, they study the lives of the saints, and Cardinal Burke is a fan, saying: “I am happy to commend the Dead Theologians Society to individual families and to parishes, as a most effective form of Catholic youth ministry.”   In 2003, Bishop Burke became Archbishop Burke when he was transferred to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Louis, where he served until 2008, when he was called up to Rome, to serve as prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, there's that Vatican Supreme Court again, and this time he's running it. And if you're making assumptions based on that appointment, yes, he's absolutely considered one of the foremost experts on canon law worldwide, having published numerous books and articles.   In 2010, Pope Benedict raised Archbishop Burke to the rank of Cardinal Deacon and assigned him the deaconry of S. Agata de 'Goti. Naturally he participated in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis, where I am prepared to guess he was in the minority given subsequent events.   The next year, so 2014, Cardinal Burke was transferred from his top judicial spot to serve as the patron of the Sovereign Order of Malta, aka the Knights of Malta, a reassignment that was generally interpreted as a demotion, given he was going from his dream job for canon law geek that made him the highest ranking American in the Vatican at the time to a largely ceremonial post that was, well, not that.   [All that is nothing against the Knights of Malta, which these days are a solid humanitarian resource and quasi-state trivia machine I'll give their own episode at some point.]   The tension between Cardinal Burke and Pope Francis has been fairly clear from the start. They have fundamentally different approaches and styles, and frankly different goals. Cardinal Burke is dedicated to maintaining tradition as the safest route, while Pope Francis has famously called for shaking things up, for example saying:   “What is it that I expect as a consequence of World Youth Day? I want a mess. We knew that in Rio there would be great disorder, but I want trouble in the dioceses!”   That's Pope Francis, of course. Just before his transfer out of his top spot at the Vatican's court, Cardinal Burke noted that many Catholics, quote:   “feel a bit of seasickness, because it seems to them that the ship of the Church has lost its compass.”   End quote.   To his credit, Cardinal Burke took the move in stride, which matches up well with his general view that authority should be respected and that, as a canonist, the Pope is the ultimate authority.   Deference to such authority in the context of the Catholic Church is known as Clericalism, and being pro or anti Clericalism is another point of disagreement between Cardinal Burke and Pope Francis, who said “I want to get rid of clericalism” in the same early interview I mentioned before.   Part of what Cardinal Burke was responding to with his “lost compass” quote was the first stages of the Synod on the Family, which veteran Vatican reporter John Allen Jr described as like a “soap opera”, with working notes that were released to the public speaking positively about things like same-sex unions and other relationships the Vatican tends to describe as “irregular”. After the Synod on the Family wrapped up, in 2016 Pope Francis produced a post-synodal apostolic exhortation called Amoris Laetitia, or “The Joy of Love”, which I saw one of my sources described the longest document in the history of the Papacy, a hell of a claim I am not immediately able to refute because it sure *is* a long one, which is primarily known for the controversy of just one of its footnotes, footnote 351.   I'm still making *some* effort to make these first round episodes be brief, but it's important to keep things in context, so let's go ahead and look at the sentence the footnote is attached to, which is in paragraph 305, and Then the footnote itself. If you want even more context, the entirety of Amoris Laetitia is, of course, linked in the show notes.   Here we go:   “Because of forms of conditioning and mitigating factors, it is possible that in an objective situation of sin – which may not be subjectively culpable, or fully such – a person can be living in God's grace, can love and can also grow in the life of grace and charity, while receiving the Church's help to this end.”   And yes, that is one sentence. Popes are almost as bad about sentence length as I am.   Without the footnote, this probably would have gone relatively unnoticed, the Church accompanying sinners is not a fundamentally revolutionary idea. But the footnote in question gets specific and brings in the Sacraments, which is where things get touchy:   “In certain cases, this can include the help of the sacraments. Hence, “I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber, but rather an encounter with the Lord's mercy” I would also point out that the Eucharist “is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak”.   For one thing, just to get this out of the way, some of that is in quotation marks with citations. In a document like this that's pretty normal, showing how your argument is based on precedent and authority. Except in this case the precedent and the authority being cited is literally Pope Francis himself. To be clear, this is a normal Pope thing, I found multiple examples of JPII and Pope Benedict doing the same thing, it just amuses me.   Anyways, the idea of people in objectively sinful states receiving communion is hyper-controversial. After all, even as far back as Saint Paul, receiving Communion “unworthily” is an awful thing. Of course, questions have long followed about how anyone can be truly worthy of the Eucharist, with the basic answer there being “with God's help”, but yeah, it's tricky.   We can have an educated guess how Cardinal Burke felt about all this, because he and three other Cardinals--it'll be a while before we get to any of the others–anyways Cardinal Burke and three other Cardinals asked Pope Francis some fairly pointed questions about this in a format called a dubia, traditionally a yes/no format where the Holy Father affirms or denies potential implications drawn from one of their teachings to clarify areas of doubt. In this case, there were five questions submitted, with the first and I daresay the most sincerely debated being the question of whether footnote 351 means divorced and subsequently remarried Catholics can receive communion. There's lots of subtext here, but as a reminder this is actually the *short* version of this episode, so pardon the abbreviation. The next four questions are, to put it snarkily, variations on the obviously very sincere question of “does the truth matter anymore?”   Pope Francis decided not to answer these dubia, which the Cardinals took as an invitation to make them–and his lack of a response–public. Not as a way of outing him after his refusal to answer gotcha questions with a yes/no, not by any means, but because clearly that's what not getting an answer meant Pope Francis wanted them to do.   Now, there's something of an issue here, because we're nearing record word count for Cardinal Numbers, and that's without any real long diversions about the history of Catholicism in Cardinal Burke's area or his interactions with the local secular ruler. It's all been Church stuff. And we're nowhere near the end.   The reality is that I'm painfully aware my own discipline is the only thing that keeps me from going longer on these episodes when appropriate, and the major driving force for keeping them short was to keep things manageable. But now that I'm no longer committed to a daily format, “manageable” has very different implications. And even my secondary driver, a general sense of fairness, not making one Cardinal's episode too much longer than the others, well, the other Cardinals in this batch have had longer episodes too, so it's not as much of a lopsided battle for the First Judgment, and it's not like longer automatically means more interesting.   In the end, with those inhibitions gone, and a sense that this stuff is important and it would be a shame to skip big chunks of it if Cardinal Burke *doesn't* make it to the next round, I'm going to go ahead and keep walking through this so it gets said, and let it take what time it takes. My best guess is we're about halfway through. That way there's no special pressure to make Cardinal Burke advance just to cover anything I felt was too rushed. Don't worry, there's still plenty being left out. Fair?   Fair or not, Let's resume.   In 2015, so after his relegation to the Knights of Malta but before Amoris Laetitia and the Dubia, Cardinal Burke was added to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which is still one of his roles though like other Vatican offices it has since been rebranded as a Dicastery.   In 2017, Burke's posting as Patron of the Knights of Malta, the one I described as largely ceremonial, threatened to become interesting when Pope Francis forced the head of the order to resign over, well, condoms, basically. But as soon as things started looking interesting Pope Francis helicoptered in an archbishop to serve as his “special delegate” and more importantly his “exclusive spokesman” to the Order, which effectively sidelined Burke from a gig he had been sidelined *to* a few years earlier.   Nevertheless, 2017 also actually saw Burke start to bounce back some. I want to re emphasize this is notably *after* the Dubia, when later in the year Pope Francis picked Cardinal Burke as the judge in the case of an Archbishop who had been accused of sexully abusing his altar servers. The Archbishop was found guilty and deposed, and by the end of the year, having gotten his feet wet again, Cardinal Burke was back on as a member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, though, notably, not as its head anymore.   The next major flashpoint came In 2021, when Pope Francis published Traditionis Custodes, a document that severely restricted the celebration of the old Latin Mass.    Long story short, what's colloquially called Latin Mass is the version of Mass that was the main liturgy for Latin rite Catholics for hundreds of years until the Second Vatican Council kicked off serious updates in the 1960s, the most obvious of which is the general shift from Latin to the use of local aka vernacular languages, and the second most obvious is the direction the priest is facing for the majority of the liturgy. There's obviously more detail available on everything I just said, and people have *opinions*, I'll tell you that for sure.   Cardinal Burke's fundamental opinion was and is that the Latin Mass is great and should be maintained and that, in short, Pope Francis may even be overstepping his bounds in restricting it as much as he is with Traditionis Custodes, which is a strong claim given the whole, you know, general idea of the Papacy.   A few weeks after the Traditionis Custodes stuff went down, Cardinal Burke was on a ventilator fighting for his life. We're only doing living Cardinals at this time, so no suspense there for us, but his bout with COVID was touch-and-go for a while there.   In June 2023, notably a few weeks before his 75th birthday and that customary retirement age, Pope Francis replaced Cardinal Burke as the Patron of the Knights of Malta with an 80 year old Jesuit Cardinal. If you're noticing that Burke was relaced by someone who was themselves a fair bit older and also well past retirement age, yeah, you're not alone in noticing that, and you wouldn't be alone in thinking that some kind of point was being made here.   Just a few weeks after that retirement, Cardinal Burke attached his name to another dubia document, this one covering a larger variety of topics and appearing and in the context of the ongoing Synod on Synodality.   Cardinal Burke was again joined by one of his fellow signers of the first dubia, the other two having passed away in 2017, may they rest in peace. They were also joined by three Cardinals who had not cosigned the previous Dubia, though all of those are over 80 and so we won't be covering them for a while.   In any event, this second set of dubia covered a wider range of topics in its five questions, including two particularly hot-button issues, namely the question of blessings for same sex unions, which is something I will refer you to my Fiducia Supplicans anniversary coverage (oops, didn't get that out yet) on for fuller detail, and notion of women serving as deacons, which is still an open question at the time of this writing: as we've discussed previously, ordination has been pretty firmly ruled out, but there may be room for an unordained diaconate. After all, Saint Paul entrusted the letter to the Romans to a woman he described as a deacon.   Pope Francis actually responded to this second dubia the day after the dubious Cardinals submitted it, giving lengthy and detailed answers to all of their questions. Naturally this seems to have annoyed Cardinal Burke and his compatriots, because remember, traditionally answers to Dubia have been yes or no, and so they reframed their questions and asked Pope Francis to respond just with “yes” or “no”. When it was evident His Holiness was not going to reply further, the Cardinals once again took the lack of an answer- or rather the lack of yes/no format answers- as encouragement to publish everything, which was an interesting move since that seems to have essentially set Fiducia Supplicans in motion, as Pope Francis indicated an openness to informal blessings for homosexuals in one of his dubia responses. All of that is in the show notes.   Later in 2023, Pope Francis stripped Cardinal Burke of his Vatican apartment and retirement salary, which I have been tempted to call a pension but everyone I've seen calls it a retirement salary so it's probably safest to follow suit. Officially no reason was given, but I mean, you've listened to this episode, take your pick of tension points and believe it or not I've skipped several chapters of drama real or alleged. Speaking of alleged, this is the Vatican, so anonymous sources are happy to weigh in, including alleging that Pope Francis straight up said “Cardinal Burke is my enemy”. I don't think I buy that he was so plain about it, but I also don't expect Cardinal Burke is Pope Francis' favorite guy.   On December 29, 2023, Cardinal Burke had a private audience with Pope Francis for the first time in over seven years. Cardinal Burke's last private audience with Pope Francis had been back in 2016, four days before the first dubia was made public.   The idea of the two having a little chat grabbed media attention more than any other meeting between a Cardinal and a Pope that I can recall. As is typical for such one-on-ones, no official reason or agenda was given, and it's not likely we'll ever know what exactly was said, but I've got to hand it to Cardinal Burke for his response when Reuters asked him about it:   ‘Well, I'm still alive.'”   Raymond Leo Cardinal BURKE is eligible to participate in future conclaves until he turns 80 in 2028. “AM I THE DRAMA”? Today's episode is part of Cardinal Numbers,  and there will be more Cardinal Numbers next week. Thank you for listening; God bless you all!

Join us today for our Easter Day Service from Holy Sepulchre, London.For the past week we have reflected and remembered Jesus' sacrifice, His Love and the hope that was born through His suffering. The story did not end, resurrection has come and life has been reborn.Our Easter Day service is an invitation to all - whether you've been to church before or never joined us - and is led by four church leaders from different parts of the Church of England, united in song, word and prayer at Holy Sepulchre, the National Musicians Church and Royal Fusiliers Chapel.Be sure to tune in and be part of this community of faith, connecting worshippers across England and beyond. Whether you have been to Church before or not, you're invited to this service that we're bringing to you, wherever you're celebrating Easter.

Good Friday special with the Holy Sepulchre in Spišská Sobota, the Calvary in Prešov and a talk with Ben Kosnac about Roman Catholic Good Friday practices, as Roman Catholics account for 81% of Slovakia's Christians, who represent 56% of the country's population.

Good Friday special with the Holy Sepulchre in Spišská Sobota, the Calvary in Prešov and a talk with Ben Kosnac about Roman Catholic Good Friday practices, as Roman Catholics account for 81% of Slovakia's Christians, who represent 56% of the country's population.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

Talks continue between Iran & the US. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem for Holy Week. Archeological discoveries under the tomb at the Holy Sepulchre reveal an ancient garden. Analysis re: Pres. Erdogan's ambitions. Modern miracles at the Garden Tomb.

The new excavations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre have us asking questions. What's it like digging in the holiest place in the Christian world? Is it as stressful as it sounds? How many phases could there be in a 1700 year old building anyway? And was the Crusaders' North Atlantic cod fresh or frozen?

Top headlines for Friday, March 28, 2025In this episode, we explore the controversy surrounding a significant security breach after a journalist was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat detailing the plans. Next, we discuss the U.S. Senate's confirmation of a new director for the National Institutes of Health, a figure known for vocally opposing COVID-19 lockdowns. Plus, we travel to Jerusalem's Old City, where archaeologists have uncovered remnants of an ancient garden beneath the revered Church of the Holy Sepulchre, offering new insights into the area's storied past. Subscribe to this PodcastApple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsOvercastFollow Us on Social Media@ChristianPost on TwitterChristian Post on Facebook@ChristianPostIntl on InstagramSubscribe on YouTubeGet the Edifi AppDownload for iPhoneDownload for AndroidSubscribe to Our NewsletterSubscribe to the Freedom Post, delivered every Monday and ThursdayClick here to get the top headlines delivered to your inbox every morning!Links to the News5 things to know about the Signal chat leak controversyTrump advisor Paula White-Cain promises 'supernatural blessings' | U.S.Senate confirms Trump's pick, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, to lead NIH | PoliticsTen Commandments monument returning to Kentucky Capitol grounds | PoliticsKirk Cameron aims to offer hope in kids' show ‘Iggy and Mr. Kirk' | EntertainmentICC Pres. Jeff King sheds light on alarming persecution report | WorldBible found at charity shop sells for over $72K | WorldFindings under Jerusalem church support Gospel of John | World

The Government says it has 'mutually agreed' with Lifecome Care to terminate the service provider's contract for Domiciliary Care and Home Support.Number Six says this was decided at a meeting this morning between the Health Minister, Care Agency and Lifecome Care Gibraltar management.It says all parties have agreed on a 30-day transition period to ensure a "smooth handover" of the service. Our reporter Ros Astengo has been following the story.Security arrangements at schools have been reviewed following a trespassing incident at Westside, according to the Minister for Education. Teachers and students barricaded themselves in classrooms after reports that a group of people from Spain had entered the school. Education Minister, John Cortes, told Parliament established protocols were put in place, with no danger to pupils or staff. News Editor Christine Vasquez told us more.Comprehensive School students are helping to influence Government policy on climate change. They are known as ‘Net Zero representatives'. These Bayside and Westside school students recently met with the Deputy Chief Minister and the Environment Minister. As a result of that meeting, the Government has agreed to look at how they communicate on social media about net zero. Lauren Garcia, Maia Norton, Aditya Dhanwani and Maika Faouzi El Haimoudi are trying to be the change they want to see in the world.Phase Two of the Eastside project has received approval from the Development and Planning Commission. According to the plans, this phase is focused on proposed coastal protection works, reclamation and marina structures. Minister Leslie Bruzon said he cannot support the project as it stands, while Minister Cortes suggested that a visit to the site could be scheduled so that the members of the commission can get a better idea of how the pier will impact the beach.An art initiative for young people is launching next week. The Growing Artists Programme continues the mantra 'Art is for Everyone' which is very much at the heart of the Art Space Gallery. Amy Shepherd and Phoebe Noble explained gave us more details about the programme.This year's London Marathon is expected to be the biggest ever! Attracting people from around the world, including Gibraltar. People run for charity, it's a great feat of endurance, there are always some who do it in fun costumes, London boasts incredible landmarks that look great on TV and in photos of the marathon. Faye Morse, Jovan Santos, Karim Vatvani and Kim Baglietto will be taking on the challenge.And, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem has its origins in the First Crusade but has existed on the Rock since the 1980s. Originally a military order, its role developed to supporting various religious, educational, and charitable activities while maintaining the spiritual mission of evangelism and faith sharing. Joe Cortes is Chancellor of the Gibraltar Lieutenancy, and is preparing for an event this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 20th of March, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Gospel of Matthew 27:54: “Truly this was the Son of God!” Then if you go to Mark 15:39, the very same comment: “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”It took gentiles, unbelievers, to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. You see when they saw what was happening, the earthquakes; the rocks splitting; the graves opening; the saints walking around; a terrible reverence came over them. What saddens me so much at this Easter season, is that there are some churches that do not even celebrate Good Friday. Oh, they celebrate Easter Sunday, The Resurrection, and so do I by the way, but there is a lack of reverence shown for the incredible price that our Lord Jesus Christ paid for our debt and our sin. There is a lack of respect and reverence shown. No crucifixion, no resurrection! I remember Michael Cassidy saying that once and I have never forgotten it. Without the crucifixion there can be no resurrection. Jill and I as new believers, we would come home from church on Good Friday and quietly sit in the garden, maybe with a cup of tea, and just humbly reflect on the gigantic price that Jesus paid for our sinful lives. There is much more reverence required in the church today. I am even talking about dress code. When you go to a special meeting, you get dressed up, don't you? - A wedding or maybe a funeral, but what about coming to church?I always remember one particular Good Friday, we decided at Shalom, to show the movie, The Passion of the Christ. Yes, it is very graphic and maybe for younger children it is not even appropriate, but I want to tell you, I watched that movie and when the movie was finished and the people quietly started leaving our church, I was riveted to my chair. I could not get out of my chair. I was the only one left in the church and I wept and I wept.I went to Israel with my wife, Jill. We went to the Old City and I went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. As I walked in through those big doors, there are massive doors, there is a little bench inside and on the right-hand side are steps up to where they say was Golgotha. There are two places in Israel, the other one is the garden tomb, which is very special as well, but that particular time, I sat down on that bench and I just broke down. I started to weep uncontrollably. My dear wife had to try and comfort me when I realised what our beloved Master had done for us. This Easter time, please, spend time in the presence of God. Jesus bless you and goodbye.

Join this fascinating conversation, we explore the historical, cultural and religious significance of one of the world's oldest and most contested cities, which is holy to the three major Abrahamic faiths. Jerusalem's rich tapestry of history includes periods of conquest, conflict and coexistence, each leaving its mark on the city's identity. From the ancient walls of the Old City to the revered sites like the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem serves as a focal point for millions of believers worldwide. In the modern context, what does the ancient city of Jerusalem stand for today?

In 2022, a prize of one million dollars was promised to anyone who could recreate the Shroud of Turin. If it is a forgery, that should be a simple task. Yet, no one has accepted the challenge. “The Shroud of Turin is the most lied-about artifact in history,” says Jeremiah J. Johnston — distinguished New Testament scholar, pastor, and president of Christian Thinkers Society — who guides Glenn through a scientific, historic, and theological exploration “beyond the mystery” to the “message of the shroud.” Discredited and marginalized as a relic only relevant to the Catholic faith, Johnston contends that the Shroud of Turin has something to offer every follower of Christ. He reveals what he believes to be the rare blood type of Jesus, the real design of the crown of thorns, and why, in his opinion, Christ was buried at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Glenn shares what he saw when given a behind-the-scenes look at the artifacts housed in the Vatican and asks Johnston whether he is concerned about the AI recreation of the face of Christ. Not only may the Shroud of Turin provide a deeper understanding of the crucifixion, but does it also miraculously uncover the exact moment of Christ's resurrection? Find out in this paradigm-shattering episode of "The Glenn Beck Podcast."     GLENN'S SPONSORS  American Financing   American Financing can show you how to put your hard-earned equity to work and get you out of debt. Visit https://www.americanfinancing.net/ , or call 800-906-2440.    Relief Factor        Relief Factor can help you live pain-free! The 3-week quick start is only $19.95. Visit https://www.relieffactor.com/ or call 800-4-RELIEF to save on your first order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we sit down with Jim Bertrand, a Shroud of Turin researcher and educator, to explore some of the most intriguing topics surrounding this ancient and sacred artifact. With decades of experience and a passion for uncovering the mysteries of the Shroud, Jim provides an in-depth look at the science, history, and faith intertwined with this relic.Topics covered in this episode include:The Shroud's Journey: When and why the Shroud of Turin left its home in the 20th century, and what this movement reveals about its history.Miracles and Mysteries: Have there been miracles associated with the Shroud? Jim dives into accounts and their implications for faith and understanding.Carbon Dating Revisited: Jim explains why the 1988 carbon dating test on the Shroud is widely considered invalid, breaking it down into layman-friendly terms with a focus on "significant deviation" in the results.Insights from STURP: Learn the three key points to remember from the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) and why good science matters when studying this extraordinary artifact.A New Connection: Jim discusses a groundbreaking discovery linking the Shroud to the Holy Sepulchre, involving strontium and limestone, shedding new light on its historical authenticity.Jim also addresses open questions and shares his thoughts on the next big advancements in Shroud research, offering a glimpse into the future of this fascinating field.Whether you're a skeptic, a believer, or someone curious about the mysteries of the Shroud of Turin, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and insight. Don't miss this enlightening conversation with Jim Bertrand, where science and faith come together in a powerful way.Subscribe to our channel for more discussions on the Shroud of Turin, faith, and historical discoveries!Subscribe to our podcast for more insightful interviews and engaging discussions on faith, history, and the intriguing mysteries of the Shroud of Turin.Want to learn more about author Guy R. Powell? Check out the socials below:Website: www.guypowell.comInstagram: @guy.r.powellFacebook: @AHistoryOfTheShroudOfTurinBook Link: https://www.amazon.com/Only-Witness-H...Connect today to unlock the mysteries of the Shroud of Turin.

“We Need Peace” - words painted on a wall in Jerusalem near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a sacred space marking the place where Jesus suffered and died and rose again to life. Jesus did this to bring us peace. Peace knowing the Lord is with us through it all. Peace that transcends our circumstances. Peace that guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:4-8). We need the peace Jesus brings, now and always. *** Join us In-Person or Online for Worship Sundays at 9:30am and 11am. Find out more about upcoming events and ways to serve our community by joining our mailing list. Email office@stjohnslutheran.church and request to be added! If you are in need of prayer or pastoral care, email Pastor Jen at pastor@stjohnslutheran.church or Pastor Emily at am@stjohnslutheran.church. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing generosity of our St. John's community members, and the faithful financial support that contributes to our mission to “Know Christ and Make Christ Known.” Thank you! Ways you can Give: • Online stjohnslutheran.church • Text "Give" to 760-330-2326 • Mail a check: 42695 Washington St. Palm Desert, CA 92211 For more information about Worship and Ministry at St. John's, please email the Church Office at office@stjohnslutheran.church or call us at 760-345-2122 CCLI Streaming & Podcast License # CSPL129016

'These Martyrs contested for piety's sake in the year 524 in Najran, a city of Arabia Felix (present-day Yemen). When Dhu Nuwas, ruler of the Himyarite tribe in south Arabia, and a Judaizer, took power, he sought to blot out Christianity, especially at Najran, a Christian city. Against the counsels of Arethas, chief man of Najran, the city surrendered to Dhu Nuwas, who immediately broke the word he had given and sought to compel the city to renounce Christ. Led by Saint Arethas, hundreds of martyrs, including women, children, and babes, valiantly withstood his threats, and were beheaded and burned. After the men had been slain, all the free-born Christian women of Najran were brought before the tyrant and commanded to abjure Christ or die; yet they rebuked the persecutor with such boldness that he said even the men had not insulted him so contemptuously. So great was their faith that not one woman was found to deny Christ in all Najran, although some of them suffered torments more bitter than most of the men. In alliance with Byzantium, the Ethiopian King Elesbaan liberated Najran from Dhu Nuwas soon after and raised up churches in honour of the Martyrs. Najran became a place of pilgrimage until the rise of Islam a century later. At the end of his life King Elesbaan, who was also called Caleb, retired into solitude as a hermit; he sent his crown to Jerusalem as an offering to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He also is commemorated on this day as a saint. Saint Arethas' name in Arabic, Harith, means "plowman, tiller," much the same as "George" in Greek.' (Great Horologion)   Ethiopia is still a Christian nation, surrounded by Islamic states. The late Emperor Haile Selasse's name means, in Ethiopian, "Power of the Trinity."

Bishop Dolan joins us to talk about Sunday's Gospel. Nicole Delaney helps us understand indulgences and we'll learn about the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. You'll also get up to date on the latest news and events.   Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.

Since the early 18th century, a small wooden ladder has rested against a window at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. In this episode, we learn about "The Immovable Ladder" and why no one has bothered to move it after hundreds of years. Then we play the quiz with America's Got Talent star, Jonathan Burns! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

VATICAN INSIDER: ST. JOHN CANTIUS, THE STORY OF A CHICAGO PARISH My guest this week in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” is a longtime friend, Fr. Frank Phillips, former pastor for 30 years at Chicago's well-known St. John Cantius Church. After a number of years, we met serendipitously over my vacation at a pre-investiture ceremony for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre that was held at St. John Cantius. I've always been intrigued by the rich history of this parish and you will be too as you hear Fr. Frank talk of his 30 years here, of his love of reverent and beautiful liturgy, of his founding of a religious community, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, and so much more. Thanks to Fr. Frank's dedication, inspiration, as well as decades of both material and spiritual renewal, the current pastor, Fr. Josh Caswell and his staff offer many liturgies during the week, including morning, afternoon and evening prayers, vespers and high and low Masses in both Latin and English. Astonishingly enough, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius today work in 3 parishes in 2 dioceses in Illinois, offering 57 public Masses weekly and hearing more than 700 confessions each week! Yes, you read that right! First called the Society of St. John Cantius by Cardinal George, the name was later changed to the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. The reference is to St. John of Kenty, Poland! Here are some of the dozens of photos I took at the Holy Sepulchre liturgy on September 24. Some kind of technical glitch prevented me today from uploading all the pictures I took but when I finally make that happen, there are many photos and many stories to tell What you see is only a small representation of the main body of the church, the reliquary room and what I call the Polish chapel, a room in which Fr. Phillips had recreated to one-third original size the main altar of St. Mary Church on Market Square in Krakow. You'll love the story of this Polish parish! (originally

VATICAN INSIDER: ST. JOHN CANTIUS, THE STORY OF A CHICAGO PARISH My guest this week in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” is a longtime friend, Fr. Frank Phillips, former pastor for 30 years at Chicago's well-known St. John Cantius Church. After a number of years, we met serendipitously over my vacation at a pre-investiture ceremony for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre that was held at St. John Cantius. I've always been intrigued by the rich history of this parish and you will be too as you hear Fr. Frank talk of his 30 years here, of his love of reverent and beautiful liturgy, of his founding of a religious community, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, and so much more. Thanks to Fr. Frank's dedication, inspiration, as well as decades of both material and spiritual renewal, the current pastor, Fr. Josh Caswell and his staff offer many liturgies during the week, including morning, afternoon and evening prayers, vespers and high and low Masses in both Latin and English. Astonishingly enough, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius today work in 3 parishes in 2 dioceses in Illinois, offering 57 public Masses weekly and hearing more than 700 confessions each week! Yes, you read that right! First called the Society of St. John Cantius by Cardinal George, the name was later changed to the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. The reference is to St. John of Kenty, Poland! Here are some of the dozens of photos I took at the Holy Sepulchre liturgy on September 24. Some kind of technical glitch prevented me today from uploading all the pictures I took but when I finally make that happen, there are many photos and many stories to tell What you see is only a small representation of the main body of the church, the reliquary room and what I call the Polish chapel, a room in which Fr. Phillips had recreated to one-third original size the main altar of St. Mary Church on Market Square in Krakow. You'll love the story of this Polish parish! (originally from 10/14/22)

On the podcast this week, the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, is interviewed by Francis Martin about her visit this month to Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Since the “awful atrocities” committed by Hamas on 7 October and the subsequent “horrors of the war in Gaza”, she said, “there has been an absence of a focus on the West Bank. “One of the main points of my trip was to go to the West Bank, to listen to the voices of Palestinian Christians, to see how things are for them in the light of all that's been going on since 7 October, but being acutely aware that things have been going on for years and years.” During the visit, she met the family of Layan Nasir, the 23-year-old Anglican who has been detained by Israel since April. “We are praying and speaking out loudly in the hope that, when her case is heard, when the review happens at the beginning of August, that she will be released back to her family, who simply want her home.” Her itinerary also included a visit to the Military Court attached to Ofer Prison, near the West Bank city of Ramallah; a visit to the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem, where Christians are trying to protect their land from development; and prayer in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Bishop also had conversations at Hebrew Union College, in Jerusalem, with Rabbi Dr Michael Marmur, of Rabbis for Human Rights, and the Archbishop in Jerusalem, Dr Hosam Naoum. Try 10 issues of the Church Times for £10 or get two months access to our website and apps, also for £10. Go to www.churchtimes.co.uk/new-reader

Dr. Nathan S. French A school field trip to Washington, D.C. is a formative rite of passage shared by many U.S. school students across the nation. Often, these are framed as “field trips.” Students may visit the White House, the U.S. Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, Declaration of Independence (housed in the National Archive), the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Jefferson Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, or the Smithsonian Museum – among others. For many students, this is the first time they will connect the histories of their textbooks to items, artifacts, and buildings that they can see and feel. For those arriving to Washington, D.C. by airplane or bus, the field trip might also seem like a road trip. Road trips, often involving movement across the U.S. from city-to-city and state-to-state are often framed as quintessential American experiences. Americans have taken road trips to follow their favorite bands, to move to universities and new jobs, to visit the hall of fame of their favorite professional or collegiate sport, or sites of family history. As Dr. Andrew Offenberger observes in our interview, road trips have helped American authors, like Kiowa poet N. Scott Momaday, make sense of their identities as Americans. What if, however, these field trips to Washington, D.C. and road trips across the country might amount to something else? What if we considered them to be pilgrimages? Would that change our understanding of them? For many Americans, the first word that comes to mind when they hear the word, “pilgrimage,” involves the pilgrims of Plymouth, a community of English Puritans who colonized territory in Massachusetts, at first through a treaty with the Wampanoag peoples, but eventually through their dispossession. For many American communities, the nature of pilgrimage remains a reminder of forced displacement, dispossession, and a loss of home and homeland. Pilgrimage, as a term, might also suggest a religious experience. There are multiple podcasts, blogs, and videos discussing the Camino de Santiago, a number of pilgrimage paths through northern Spain. Others might think of making a pilgrimage to the Christian, Jewish, or Muslim sacred spaces in Israel and Palestine often referred to as the “Holy Land” collectively – including the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (among others). Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad, is a classic example of this experience. Some make pilgrimage to Salem, Massachusetts each October. Others even debate whether the Crusades were a holy war or pilgrimage. American experiences of pilgrimage have led to substantial transformations in our national history and to our constitutional rights. Pilgrimage, as a movement across state, national, or cultural boundaries, has often been used by Americans to help them make sense of who they are, where they came from, and what it means, to them, to be “an American.” The word, “pilgrimage,” traces its etymology from the French, pèlerinage and from the Latin, pelegrines, with a general meaning of going through the fields or across lands as a foreigner. As a category used by anthropologists and sociologists in the study of religion, “pilgrimage” is often used as a much broader term, studying anything ranging from visits to Japanese Shinto shrines, the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj, “birthright” trips to Israel by American Jewish youth, and, yes, even trips to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee – the home of Elvis Presley. Arnold van Gennep (1873-1957) defined pilgrimage as one of a number of rites of passage (i.e., a rite du passage) that involves pilgrims separating themselves from broader society, moving themselves into a place of transition, and then re-incorporating their transformed bodies and minds back into their home societies. That moment of transition, which van Gennep called “liminality,” was the moment when one would become something new – perhaps through initiation, ritual observation, or by pushing one's personal boundaries outside of one's ordinary experience. Clifford Geertz (1926-2006), a contemporary of Turner, argued that a pilgrimage helps us to provide a story within which we are able to orient ourselves in the world. Consider, for example, the role that a trip to Arlington National Cemetery or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier plays in a visit by a high school class to Washington, D.C. If framed and studied as a pilgrimage, Geertz's theory would suggest that a visit to these sites can be formative to an American's understanding of national history and, perhaps just as importantly, the visit will reinforce for Americans the importance of national service and remembrance of those who died in service to the defense of the United States. When we return from those school field trips to Washington, D.C., then, we do so with a new sense of who we are and where we fit into our shared American history. Among the many examples that we could cite from American history, two pilgrimages in particular – those of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X – provide instructive examples. Held three years after the unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the 1957 “Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom,” led by Dr. King brought together thousands in order to, as he described it, “call upon all who love justice and dignity and liberty, who love their country, and who love mankind …. [to] renew our strength, communicate our unity, and rededicate our efforts, firmly but peaceably, to the attainment of freedom.” Posters for the event promised that it would “arouse the conscience of the nation.” Drawing upon themes from the Christian New Testament, including those related to agape – a love of one's friends and enemies – King's speech at the “Prayer Pilgrimage” brought national attention to his civil rights movement and established an essential foundation for his return to Washington, D.C. and his “I Have a Dream Speech,” six years later. In April 1964, Malcolm X departed to observe the Muslim pilgrimage ritual of Hajj in the city of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hajj is an obligation upon all Muslims, across the globe, and involves rituals meant to remind them of their responsibilities to God, to their fellow Muslims, and of their relationship to Ibrahim and Ismail (i.e., Abraham and Ishamel) as found in the Qur'an. Before his trip, Malcolm X had expressed skepticism about building broader ties to American civil rights groups. His experience on Hajj, he wrote, was transformational. "The holy city of Mecca had been the first time I had ever stood before the creator of all and felt like a complete human being,” he wrote, “People were hugging, they were embracing, they were of all complexions …. The feeling hit me that there really wasn't what he called a color problem, a conflict between racial identities here." His experience on Hajj was transformative. The result? Upon return to the United States, Malcolm X pledged to work with anyone – regardless of faith and race – who would work to change civil rights in the United States. His experiences continue to resonate with Americans. These are but two stories that contribute to American pilgrimage experiences. Today, Americans go on pilgrimages to the Ganges in India, to Masada in Israel, to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and to Bethlehem in Palestine, and to cities along the Trail of Tears and along the migration of the Latter-Day Saints church westward. Yet, they also go on pilgrimages and road trips to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, to the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown, to the national parks, and to sites of family and community importance. In these travels, they step outside of the ordinary and, in encountering the diversities of the U.S., sometimes experience the extraordinary changing themselves, and the country, in the process. * * * Questions for Class Discussion What is a “pilgrimage”? What is a road trip? Are they similar? Different? Why? Must a pilgrimage only be religious or spiritual? Why or why not? How has movement – from city to city, or place to place, or around the world – changed U.S. history and the self-understanding of Americans? What if those movements had never occurred? How would the U.S. be different? Have you been on a pilgrimage? Have members of your family? How has it changed your sense of self? How did it change that of your family members? If you were to design a pilgrimage, what would it be? Where would it take place? Would it involve special rituals or types of dress? Why? What would the purpose of your pilgrimage be? How do other communities understand their pilgrimages? Do other cultures have “road trips” like the United States? Additional Sources: Ohio History and Pilgrimage Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve, Ohio History Connection (link). National Geographic Society, “Intriguing Interactions [Hopewell],” Grades 9-12 (link) Documentary Podcasts & Films “In the Light of Reverence,” 2001 (link) An examination of Lakota, Hopi, and Wintu ties to and continued usages of their homelands and a question of how movement through land may be considered sacred by some and profane by others. Melvin Bragg, “Medieval Pilgrimage,” BBC: In our Time, February 2021 (link) Bruce Feiler: Sacred Journeys (Pilgrimage). PBS Films (link) along with educator resources (link). The American Pilgrimage Project. Berkley Center, Georgetown University (link). Arranged by StoryCorps, a collection of video and audio interviews with Americans of diverse backgrounds discussing their religious and spiritual identities and their intersections with American life. Dave Whitson, “The Camino Podcast,” (link) on Spotify (link), Apple (link) A collection of interviews with those of varying faiths and spiritualities discussing pilgrimage experiences. Popular Media & Websites “Dreamland: American Travelers to the Holy Land in the 19th Century,” Shapell (link) A curated digital museum gallery cataloguing American experiences of pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel, and Palestine. LaPier, Rosalyn R. “How Standing Rock Became a Site of Pilgrimage.” The Conversation, December 7, 2016 (link). Talamo, Lex. Pilgrimage for the Soul. South Dakota Magazine, May/June 2019. (link). Books Grades K-6 Murdoch, Catherine Gilbert. The Book of Boy. New York: Harper Collins, 2020 (link). Wolk, Lauren. Beyond the Bright Sea. New York: Puffin Books, 2018 (link). Grades 7-12 Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. New York: Penguin Books, 2003 (link). Malcolm X. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley. New York: Ballantine Books, 1992 (link). Melville, Herman. Clarel: A Poem and Pilgrimage in the Holy Land. New York: Library of America, n.d. (link). Murray, Pauli. Song in a Weary Throat: Memoir of an American Pilgrimage. New York: Liveright, 1987 (link). Reader, Ian. Pilgrimage: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015 (link). Twain, Mark. The Innocents Abroad. New York: Modern Library, 2003 (link). Scholarship Bell, Catherine. Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Bloechl, Jeffrey, and André Brouillette, eds. Pilgrimage as Spiritual Practice: A Handbook for Teachers, Wayfarers, and Guides. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2022. Frey, Nancy Louise Louise. Pilgrim Stories: On and Off the Road to Santiago, Journeys Along an Ancient Way in Modern Spain. First Edition. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998. Lévi-Strauss, Claude Patterson, Sara M., “Traveling Zions: Pilgrimage in Modern Mormonism,” in Pioneers in the Attic: Place and Memory along the Mormon Trail. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020 (link). Pazos, Antón. Redefining Pilgrimage: New Perspectives on Historical and Contemporary Pilgrimages. London: Routledge, 2014 (link). Reader, Ian. Pilgrimage: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015 (link). Van Gennep, Arnold. The Rites of Passage. Translated by Monika B. Vizedom and Gabrielle L. Caffee. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1960 (link)

This week, Mr Daniel Hill KHS (Knight of the Holy Sepulchre) enlightens the listener on the very controversial yet very misunderstood subject of the crusades. There are many misconceptions about the intentions of the crusades, and the listener is in for a surprise, to understand that these brave Knights and Soldiers were indeed very prayerfully devout people who carried out their mission with bravery and purpose, as opposed to greed and vengeance, as is often portrayed.   – The Show is Live on the following Platforms Television   TV Maria: tvmaria.ph  Radio Platforms: Voice of Charity Australia (1701AM): www.voc.org.au    Radio Maria Australia: https://www.radiomaria.org.au/  Cradio: www.cradio.org.au  Social Media:  @thecatholictoolboxshow Facebook & Instagram - Partners: Parousia Media: www.parousiamedia.com EWTN Asia Pacific www.ewtnasiapacific.com - SUBSCRIBE to our weekly Alert and Newsletter: www.thecatholictoolboxshow.com Get your copy of "The Art of Practical Catholicism" by George Manassa: Get your copy of "The Art of Practical Catholicism Series" by George Manassa: store.parousiamedia.com/the-art-of-practical-catholicism-your-faith-guide-george-manassa-paperback/  https://store.parousiamedia.com/the-art-of-practical-catholicism-2-your-faith-guide-george-manassa-paperback/    Book George Manassa to speak at your parish or event now: www.parousiamedia.com/george-manassa/    DISCLAIMER This Episode does not count as Medical, Psychological or professional advice. All the contents within the parameters of this episode are simply the personal views of the host and guest(s) and any personal advice reflected should always be verified by your relevant professional. In no way is this a substitute for seeking any professional advice and we urge that you seek relevant professional attention at any stage. Please seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health or other professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this episode or read on any online media. If you are experiencing any emergencies please call  000 OR if you need assistance call  13 11 14 within Australia Or your national emergency service

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. It is day 246 of the war with Hamas. Host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaks with archaeologist Prof. Jodi Magness for today's bonus episode from our What Matters Now weekly podcast series. This Wednesday, Israel marked Jerusalem Day, which celebrates the reunification of Jerusalem following the 1967 Six-Day War. But the capital has a rich and fascinating history of rulership changes since its foundation circa 1000 BCE. Magness just published her latest book, "Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades," through Oxford University Press. She stopped by The Times of Israel's Jerusalem offices to speak about the ancient eternal city's rulerships and populations throughout the eras. “Jerusalem Through the Ages” is a 700-page weighty tome that delves into the city's history through archaeological evidence and also texts, including the Bible and extra-biblical material such as the Egyptian Amarna Letters. Magness is Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of 11 books, including "Masada: From Jewish Revolt to Modern Myth," "Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit: Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus," and "The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls." From 2011 until 2023, Magness directed excavations at Huqoq in Israel's Galilee and uncovered its breathtaking mosaics. Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.  IMAGE: Prof. Jodi Magness in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, on April 11, 2022. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/The Times of Israel)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring one key issue currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World. This week, host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaks with archaeologist Prof. Jodi Magness. This Wednesday, Israel marked Jerusalem Day, which celebrates the reunification of Jerusalem following the 1967 Six-Day War. But the capital has a rich and fascinating history of rulership changes since its foundation in circa 1000 BCE. Magness just published her latest book, "Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades," through Oxford University Press. She stopped by The Times of Israel's Jerusalem offices to speak about the ancient eternal city's rulerships and populations throughout the eras. “Jerusalem Through the Ages” is a 700-page weighty tome that delves into the city's history through archaeological evidence and also texts, including the Bible and extra-biblical material such as the Egyptian Amarna Letters. Magness is Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of 11 books, including "Masada: From Jewish Revolt to Modern Myth," "Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit: Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus," and "The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls." From 2011 until 2023, Magness directed excavations at Huqoq in Israel's Galilee and uncovered its breathtaking mosaics. So this Jerusalem Day, we take a quick break from our current war and ask archaeologist Prof. Jodi Magness, what mattered then? What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.  IMAGE: Prof. Jodi Magness in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, on April 11, 2022. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/The Times of Israel)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Probably at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Thank you for listening! Please leave a 5 star review! Please share with friends and family! God bless!

And there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.Erat autem homo ex pharisaeis, Nicodemus nomine, princeps Judaeorum.  2 This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him: Rabbi, we know that thou art come a teacher from God; for no man can do these signs which thou dost, unless God be with him.Hic venit ad Jesum nocte, et dixit ei : Rabbi, scimus quia a Deo venisti magister, nemo enim potest haec signa facere, quae tu facis, nisi fuerit Deus cum eo.  3 Jesus answered, and said to him: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.Respondit Jesus, et dixit ei : Amen, amen dico tibi, nisi quis renatus fuerit denuo, non potest videre regnum Dei.  4 Nicodemus saith to him: How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born again?Dicit ad eum Nicodemus : Quomodo potest homo nasci, cum sit senex? numquid potest in ventrem matris suae iterato introire et renasci?  5 Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.Respondit Jesus : Amen, amen dico tibi, nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua, et Spiritu Sancto, non potest introire in regnum Dei.  6 That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.Quod natum est ex carne, caro est : et quod natum est ex spiritu, spiritus est.  7 Wonder not, that I said to thee, you must be born again.Non mireris quia dixi tibi : oportet vos nasci denuo.  8 The Spirit breatheth where he will; and thou hearest his voice, but thou knowest not whence he cometh, and whither he goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.Spiritus ubi vult spirat, et vocem ejus audis, sed nescis unde veniat, aut quo vadat : sic est omnis qui natus est ex spiritu.  9 Nicodemus answered, and said to him: How can these things be done?Respondit Nicodemus, et dixit ei : Quomodo possunt haec fieri?  10 Jesus answered, and said to him: Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things?Respondit Jesus, et dixit ei : Tu es magister in Israel, et haec ignoras?  11 Amen, amen I say to thee, that we speak what we know, and we testify what we have seen, and you receive not our testimony.amen, amen dico tibi, quia quod scimus loquimur, et quod vidimus testamur, et testimonium nostrum non accipitis.  12 If I have spoken to you earthly things, and you believe not; how will you believe, if I shall speak to you heavenly things?Si terrena dixi vobis, et non creditis : quomodo, si dixero vobis caelestia, credetis?  13 And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven.Et nemo ascendit in caelum, nisi qui descendit de caelo, Filius hominis, qui est in caelo.  14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up:Et sicut Moyses exaltavit serpentem in deserto, ita exaltari oportet Filium hominis :  15 That whosoever believeth in him, may not perish; but may have life everlasting.ut omnis qui credit in ipsum, non pereat, sed habeat vitam aeternam. After the victory gained by Constantine by virtue of the Cross which appeared to him in the skies, and whose sign he reproduced in the Laborum, St Helena, his mother, went to Jerusalem to try to find the true Cross. At the beginning of the second century Hadrian had covered Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre under a terrace of 300 feet in length, on which had been erected a statue of Jupiter and a temple of Venus. The Empress razed them to the ground, and, in digging up the soil, they discovered the nails (Allelluia) and the glorious trophy to which we owe "life, salvation and resurrection" (Introit). The miraculous cure of a woman authenticated the sacred tree .

Pastor Steve Boots April 28,2024 Bible Geography (Sunday Evening)

Bible Study: (1:52) Acts 4:1-12 Peter understands the prophecy from Psalm 188 Jn 21:1-14 Jesus' fraternal care for John  Letters (23:53) - Father discussing the meaning of Ex 4:23 & Moses' circumcision  (27:11) - Triduum Question  (29:55) - Listener laughed at a FSS promo (30:54) - Can I take notes during the homily?  (31:46) - Listener is upset that Fr. Simon used the term 'woke'  Word of the Day: Touch (36:14) Callers  (38:39) - How would you look in a resurrected body or how would you look when you get to heaven, are you young again? (41:44) - Commentary about what you saw at the Holy Sepulchre and at the very base is 'Adam's Skull'  What do you think? (44:02) - About the synoptic Gospels, did they get the writings from the people who where there? (47:30) - Why does the Catholic Church use the term Easter instead of Resurrection Sunday? Original Air Date: April 14, 2024

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Good Friday, the 29th of March, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Gospel of John 15:12-13: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” In the year 2003, which is 21 years ago, my wife, Jill and I went to the Holy Land for the first time. I have been many, many times since then, but that particular trip, I have never forgotten. We went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. As we walked into that place, I have never forgotten it, I sat down in a little bench and I looked across the way, and there were steps going up to where they say the Lord was crucified and I started to weep uncontrollably. I don't think I have ever wept like that before in my life. The reality of what Jesus has done for me hit home, and my dear wife, Jill had to actually comfort me. I was completely overwhelmed at the price that the Master had paid for my sin. Yes, I realised what a sinner I was. I broke down and I wept.I looked up and I saw pilgrims coming into this massive cathedral, flocking in from every part of the world. I saw women from Russia with those little scarves tied around their heads and their brightly coloured clothes, coming up to a slab of granite that they say the Master's body was laid on when Joseph of Arimathea took Him off the cross after He had died. They were taking cloths from their bags and wiping the top of the concrete slab and the tears were flowing. They would obviously take these cloths back to Russia with them for their families. There was such a presence of the Holy Spirit and I think of all those multitudes of pilgrims from all over, from Japan, China, South America, Britain, South Africa, Canada, the United States of America, coming together and just spending time on their knees worshipping the Lord.Now, we don't know exactly where it took place. There is another place in Jerusalem also, where they say (The Garden Tomb) where the Lord was buried. That doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is that it happened and it happened in Jerusalem, in the Old City, and I just thought how Mary Magdalene felt when she cried and asked the angel in the morning, where the body of Christ was.I want to say to you today, take time out please to sit on your own and contemplate. It wasn't the Jews that killed Jesus, it wasn't the Roman soldiers that killed Jesus. It was our sin that murdered the Darling of Heaven and we need to ask Him again to forgive us and we need to think carefully about our lifestyle so that it doesn't happen again. This is a time for you and I to contemplate on the greatest sacrifice that has ever been made in the world.Jesus bless you as you have a very thoughtful Good Friday,Goodbye.

Notes and photos online HERE --- -https---www.generationword.com-jerusalembook-52.html

Notes and photos online HERE --- -https---www.generationword.com-jerusalembook-52.html

Notes and photos online HERE --> https://www.generationword.com/jerusalembook/52.html

This week's monument is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a church found in Jerusalem that is considered to be the holiest place in the Christian faith, and one that has some very amusing stories attached to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Questions Covered: 03:25 – How do you respond to someone who claims that Mt 6:30-34 offers a false promise? 12:15 – I will be invested into the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. There is a possibility that I might be ordered to take action that might cause the deaths of Christians in the Middle East. How do I reconcile these actions? 18:12 – To what extent does submission of intellect must we abide to non-infallible teachings such as the death penalty? 29:38 – What do you measure oral traditions against to know whether it’s from God or man-made? 33:14 – Domestic Church Media… When and how did Jesus become aware of his divinity? 40:54 – Are we relieved of our human emotions when we pass to heaven? 44:39 – I'm protestant. Do Catholics use the Septuagint or a Hebrew translation with the Deutro-canon? 49:26 – How do I approach a loved one who is divorced and remarried without an annulment without pushing her away from the Church? …

'These Martyrs contested for piety's sake in the year 524 in Najran, a city of Arabia Felix (present-day Yemen). When Dhu Nuwas, ruler of the Himyarite tribe in south Arabia, and a Judaizer, took power, he sought to blot out Christianity, especially at Najran, a Christian city. Against the counsels of Arethas, chief man of Najran, the city surrendered to Dhu Nuwas, who immediately broke the word he had given and sought to compel the city to renounce Christ. Led by Saint Arethas, hundreds of martyrs, including women, children, and babes, valiantly withstood his threats, and were beheaded and burned. After the men had been slain, all the free-born Christian women of Najran were brought before the tyrant and commanded to abjure Christ or die; yet they rebuked the persecutor with such boldness that he said even the men had not insulted him so contemptuously. So great was their faith that not one woman was found to deny Christ in all Najran, although some of them suffered torments more bitter than most of the men. In alliance with Byzantium, the Ethiopian King Elesbaan liberated Najran from Dhu Nuwas soon after and raised up churches in honour of the Martyrs. Najran became a place of pilgrimage until the rise of Islam a century later. At the end of his life King Elesbaan, who was also called Caleb, retired into solitude as a hermit; he sent his crown to Jerusalem as an offering to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He also is commemorated on this day as a saint. Saint Arethas' name in Arabic, Harith, means "plowman, tiller," much the same as "George" in Greek.' (Great Horologion)   Ethiopia is still a Christian nation, surrounded by Islamic states. The late Emperor Haile Selasse's name means, in Ethiopian, "Power of the Trinity."

'These Martyrs contested for piety's sake in the year 524 in Najran, a city of Arabia Felix (present-day Yemen). When Dhu Nuwas, ruler of the Himyarite tribe in south Arabia, and a Judaizer, took power, he sought to blot out Christianity, especially at Najran, a Christian city. Against the counsels of Arethas, chief man of Najran, the city surrendered to Dhu Nuwas, who immediately broke the word he had given and sought to compel the city to renounce Christ. Led by Saint Arethas, hundreds of martyrs, including women, children, and babes, valiantly withstood his threats, and were beheaded and burned. After the men had been slain, all the free-born Christian women of Najran were brought before the tyrant and commanded to abjure Christ or die; yet they rebuked the persecutor with such boldness that he said even the men had not insulted him so contemptuously. So great was their faith that not one woman was found to deny Christ in all Najran, although some of them suffered torments more bitter than most of the men. In alliance with Byzantium, the Ethiopian King Elesbaan liberated Najran from Dhu Nuwas soon after and raised up churches in honour of the Martyrs. Najran became a place of pilgrimage until the rise of Islam a century later. At the end of his life King Elesbaan, who was also called Caleb, retired into solitude as a hermit; he sent his crown to Jerusalem as an offering to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. He also is commemorated on this day as a saint. Saint Arethas' name in Arabic, Harith, means "plowman, tiller," much the same as "George" in Greek.' (Great Horologion)   Ethiopia is still a Christian nation, surrounded by Islamic states. The late Emperor Haile Selasse's name means, in Ethiopian, "Power of the Trinity."

I'm finally back on my shit, folks. Lots of PPM coming at you.  Subscribe to the PPM Patreon to access the full version: patreon.com/ParaPowerMapping In Pt. II of our survey of curious evidence possibly indicating a continuum from Catholic military orders like the Knights Templar, Hospitaller, & Knights of the Cross with the Red Star to esoteric Protestant movements like Rosicrucianism... on to Freemasonry and all the way to the Red Cross, we discuss:  The Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ & the Temple of Solomon origin story; the Knight & Grand Master Hugues de Payens; Pope Innocent II; King Baldwin; Solomon's Temple; passing mention of Baphomet & decapitated reliquary legends; Bernard of Clairvaux; Cistercians; the Templars as favored "charity" of Euro aristocracy & the Holy See (another Red Cross similarity); transmutation into transnational corporation; Red Cross & Swiss neutrality kinda mirrored in the fact the vast majority of Templars were noncombatants; Knights Hospitaller history; Blessed Gerard; Church of the Holy Sepulchre; militarization during du Puys reign; Hospitaller heraldry also evoking RC & Templars; the "Bohemian" (Austrian, Czech, & German) Knights of the Cross w/ the Red Star, directly inspired by the Hospitallers; similarly to the Templars & ARC, a society initially intended to serve the poor & sick gradually morphs into amorphous corporation; Archbishop of Prague becoming de facto Grandmaster of the Order for a 150 years (15/ 1600s), using Red Star coffers to subsidize the bishops' lifestyle; Swiss founders of the Red Cross; Swiss General & army engineer Guillaume Henri Dufour; his service as Captain w/ Napoleon's forces; reception of the Legion d'Honneur; engineering suspension bridges & gas lights; his tutelage of Napoleon's nephew at a military academy (possible indication of Freemasonic connections); Dufour's parents living in exile from Switzerland at the time of his birth bc of their involvement in the Genevan Revolution of 1782; Dufour playing a major role in the transition from Old Swiss Confederacy to modern Swiss confederation thru his military campaign against the Catholic cantons (Sonderbund); the most famous of the Swiss founders—Henry Dunant; Calvinist upbringing; Dunant's v instructive involvement in founding the first YMCA in Switzerland; uncanny connections b/w the YMCA & the Red Cross, which dbls back to previous EPs on the Wall St. Putsch & W.D. Pelley; Business Plot organizer & American Legion financer Grayson MP Murphy serving as ARC commissioner in Europe; stray thoughts about the utility of these kinds of orgs for both espionage & colonial purposes; Dunant's colonial business venture in French-controlled Algeria; the Battle of Solferino, which he witnessed bc he was traveling to meet Napoleon III & secure land rights; likelihood that Dunant's business was at least super exploitative if not dependent on slave labor; his ouster from the Red Cross "Committee of Five" after Credit Genevois's bankruptcy, causing him to become embroiled in financial scandal; his probable embezzlement of RC funds, judging by the fact Moynier et al refused him awards monies that had initially been promised; after 25 years of poverty & obscurity, Dunant becomes the darling of Euro aristocrats & receives the VERY 1ST Nobel Peace Prize; bringing us to the instructive life of Alfred Nobel—Swedish chemist, arms trader, & industrial espionage agent; invention of dynamite; the 90 armaments factories he owned at the end of his life; accusations in French press that Nobel committed "high treason" & spied on a French inventor following his decision to sign a prod. contract for 100ks of kgs of the propellant "Ballistite" w/ the Italian gov't; all of which brings us back to the Red Cross's role in the perpetuation of warfare.  Songs:  | Death Grips - "Bitch Please" (had to for the Templar reference) |  | Tyler, the Creator feat. Lil Wayne - "Hot Wind Blows" |  | Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - "Higgs Boson Blues" | 

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday. US bureau chief Jacob Magid and feature reporter Melanie Lidman join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast. Magid talks about former treasury secretary Jack Lew, an Orthodox Jew who is the current frontrunner for US ambassador to Israel. Lew was chief of staff for former President Barack Obama and has been critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the past. Magid also discusses comments made by two Democrat lawmakers who are perturbed that President Joe Biden's White House is moving ahead with the Visa Waiver Program and the Saudi normalization deal for Israel -- two projects that Netanyahu is eager to finalize -- despite the administration's continued frustration with Netanyahu's right-wing government. Lidman speaks about the painstaking renovation work that was undertaken at Jerusalem's Church of Holy Sepulchre in the Old City, one of Christianity's oldest sites. It's a complicated process given the handful of churches that wield control over the holy site. Lidman also talks about an archaeological find near Kiryat Gat, where the region's most ancient city gate was found, unfolding new information about the establishment of cities and urban environments earlier than was previously thought. Discussed articles include: Former treasury secretary Jack Lew frontrunner for next US ambassador Some Democrats ‘dumbfounded' by Biden's willingness to hand major gifts to Netanyahu Round-the-clock excavations at Church of Holy Sepulchre yield historical treasures Discovery of Israel's oldest gate resets clock on local urbanization by centuries Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. IMAGE: Christian worshippers take part in the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City during the Easter holiday on April 15, 2023 (Photo by Jamal Awad/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks to former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman about the significance of various holy sites such as the Dome of the Rock, the Temple Mount, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; the real story behind Donald Trump's plan to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem; how the Abraham Accords were achieved; and much more. 0:00 Intro 1:31 Israel and Jewish History 6:09 Behind Being Israel's U.S. Ambassador 13:51 What Can We Learn from Israel?