Holy Sites in Bethlehem

St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, where we had church on Saturday, is adjacent to the Basilica of the Nativity. It was the feast day of St. Joseph, but our liturgy today was that of Christmas Day. We sang, "O Come, All Ye Faithful," and "Joy to the World" among other Christmas hymns. This is a Roman Catholic church, but the other types of Catholics also worship here: Greek Orthodox and Armenian. They take turns worshipping in the cave each morning. Mosaics in this church were done during the Byzantine era.

We also visited the Milk Grotto where Mary was said to have nursed the baby Jesus. Her milk dripped down and bleached the stone white. Packets of white powder are sold there for those who are sick, or those who are infertile. When the powder is mixed with liquid and drunk, cures occur. It is said that there are lots of documentation about cures in this manner, but of course, it all depends on faith!

By bus, we went to Shepherd's Field in Beit Sahour (House of God) which is a beautiful park monument where the angels announced news of Jesus' birth. While there, our guide Sam gave us a marvelous explanation of the 23rd Psalm and what it meant to be a shepherd in those days. He showed us a cave which was a sheep fold in those days. Five shepherds could place 150-200 sheep in this at night, which afforded protection from marauders and wild animals. Sheep evidently have little or no intelligence, and have to rely on their shepherds for guidance and protection! (Like us!)