The Grand Master’s Pilgrimage to the Holy Land for the Feast of the Assumption

“This mid-August day is consecrated in the Church to the veneration of the Easter of Mary, the Lord’s Mother. Following an ancient historical-liturgical tradition, the feast is also known as the Transit of the Virgin, or the Dormitio of Mary, or more commonly, her Assumption into Heaven.” This is how Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, began his homily delivered on August 15 at the Benedictine Abbey of the Dormition in Jerusalem.

The invitation to visit the Holy Land and celebrate the solemnity was extended to Cardinal Filoni by Father Nikodemus Schnabel, O.S.B., the Abbot at the Benedictine Abbey. At this complex and tragic moment, Cardinal Filoni brought with him the intentions for peace of the 30,000 Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and a prayer of entrustment for the beginning of the Petrine ministry of Leo XIV. The Cardinal had written to the Holy Father before his departure and for whose intentions he celebrated a Mass in the Edicule of the Holy Sepulchre.

In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, according to which, in her glorious passing from this earth, Mary’s body “did not undergo corruption” and she was assumed into heaven, body and soul.

The Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, stated in his Homily, “Thus, we may affirm that Mary’s Easter follows the Easter of the Lord Jesus”. He then addressed a clear question to those present, of whom there were far fewer than usual in a Jerusalem that is empty of pilgrims, “What does the Assumption of Mary into heaven offer to our journey, and to our lives? In what way does it concern us? Is it merely a “doctrine”, or does it mean something more?”

He continued, “To answer this question, I would like to recall Benedict XVI’s reflection. In a homily for this Solemnity, he spoke of the threefold meaning of Mary’s Assumption: The first, that through Mary we see that in God there is room for man. God is not closed in on Himself, He is not indifferent to humanity […]; The first, that through Mary, we see that in God there is space for humanity. God is not enclosed in himself, nor is he indifferent to humankind […]; the second, that like the Holy Ark, Mary brings the presence of God to humanity […]; and third, that in humanity there can be space for God”.

In addition to Cardinal Filoni, Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel, who is an ecclesiastical Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre too, hosted a small group of young men living a time of approach and discernment toward monastic life. During his stay, Cardinal Filoni held a private meeting with them. These were small yet significant presences in a prostrated land awaiting the return of pilgrims who, especially for local Christians working in the holy places and in pilgrimage services, represent an essential support both in faith and in concrete economic life.

“In the current ocean of suffering”, said the Abbot of the Dormition, “the feast of our holy patroness is like a summer Easter that brings hope at a time when people are tormented in body and soul. We celebrate the fact that our bodies and souls have an indestructible future with God because what God has done for Mary is a promise of hope for all of us”.

During his pilgrimage, Cardinal Filoni visited the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Grand Prior of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and then went on to pray also at the holy places of Bethlehem, Nazareth and on the Sea of Galilee. In Bethlehem, he took the opportunity to listen attentively to the various activities supported by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre through the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, in particular through the social services office, which deals with many local initiatives. These include, for example, scholarships to cover school fees, a program of medical and pharmaceutical assistance, and food vouchers to help families who struggle to make ends meet.

In Bethlehem, as elsewhere, unemployment has become widespread because of the war, the lack of tourism and the ever-expanding denial of entry permits into Israel (where many Palestinians from the area once worked). Cardinal Filoni heard the story of Yusef, 37, who is a father of four children, the youngest just four months old, diabetic and with leg and vision problems. Yusef is presently working part-time for the parish, thus managing to support his family and continue to live in dignity.

Among his various meetings, the Grand Master also spoke with the Patriarch Emeritus, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah.  “We Christians are as few in number as in the time of Jesus”, shared Patriarch Emeritus Sabbah, who is an authoritative voice of the local Church to which he has dedicated his life. “In fact, at the time of the Cross, Christians were few in number, after Jesus they remained few then too, and today we are still few. And Jesus never told us ‘You will be millions’. He always said ‘Do not be afraid, little flock’. We will always be few here, but we must make an effort, because not everyone likes remaining small, thinking that because of our numbers we are less capable than others. This is a false outlook. The Christian is not bound to numbers but to faith. One believer, Jesus said, can move mountains. Even though we are few in number, we Christians can change the whole situation. But we need catechesis, formation, prayer and the awareness that it is God who acts here”.

He concluded, “There is a mystery in this land. It is blessed but at the same time there is a curse. We hope that God acts with the power of His Spirit, who will cast down from their thrones the great dictators and oppressors of the people, and that one day He Himself will come with the glory of His love, humility, not human power but glory, love for all”.

With this private pilgrimage, Cardinal Filoni wished to encourage the faithful to come to the Holy Land, and live out an act of solidarity and shared hope toward the local Christian community whose members form the Mother Church of Jerusalem.

Elena Dini

(September 2025)