Today the Sacred Heart pilgrims ventured to the old city of Jaffa or otherwise known as Joppa in the Acts of the Apostles. This is the city that Peter took residence as he began to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. We were blessed to have Mass at the Church of St. Peter which marks the place where Peter received a vision of unclean animals brought down from heaven. Peter was then moved to meet with Cornelius, a God-fearing man, and bring the Holy Spirit to a large crowd of people.
We also visited the site of the city of Emmaus, where Jesus appeared to two disciples on the day of His resurrection. The ruins of a Byzantine church remain at the place where the house of Cleopas (one of the disciples) is believed to be. We prayed here for a deeper love for Christ in the Mass as we allow our hearts to “burn within us” as we listen to God’s Word in the Scriptures and receive Him in the Eucharist.