The afternoon of day two took on a very prayerful feel. While the morning had some devotion, there was lots of historical and tourist information to absorb as well.
If anyone had doubted we were on a Pilgrimage, after the afternoon they doubted no more! After lunch the group prayed the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa. That's all 14 stations along the route that Jesus took through the city to Calvary, or Golgotha, which we had seen earlier that morning.
The Stations of the Cross
The majority of pilgrims went to Ecce Homo Chapel at the Convent of the Sisters of Zion, just around the 
corner from the Austrian Hospice where we had lunch. A few pilgrims who were in need of a bit of extra rest remained with the Archbishop in the Austrian Hospice and prayed the first two stations of the Cross in the small chapel before joining the rest of the group as they prayed the Third Station, just outside the Hospice.
The Stations of the Cross are beautiful prayers. A scripture reading followed by prayers then an Act of Contrition and a verse from a hymn is the format. However, whilst this is probably very manageable in a parish as you follow the Stations on the church wall, it is another experience in Jerusalem along the Via Dolorosa.
As we fought for space outside the sites with tourists, other pilgrim groups, people going about their daily business, you got a sense, even if just a small idea, of just how difficult the route is. It was very humbling and inspiring to think that we were following in Christ's footsteps, despite the noise, chatter and sights around us.
The Stations ended where we had begun our day; at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. After a time for private prayer, further rest or in some cases a cup of tea, we then gathered in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament for Mass at 5pm. The Chapel is the 'Catholic/Franciscan' area of the Basilica and just about managed to hold our pilgrimage group.
Mass
The Archbishop celebrated Mass and asked all pilgrims of think of images and things that had struck them most that day and to keep hold of them in a mental diary so they can be referred back to.
The Archbishop said: "While we have today grasped some of the history of Jesus and immersed ourselves in the historical detail of Christ, we must not forget that Jesus is alive and is the Lord of our lives and will take us to heaven. The link with Jesus isn't through stones and places it is through the resurrection."
"You must also remember that we are witnesses to these things, witnesses to what we have sen and witnesses to the promise of heaven."
Christians in the Holy Land
After Mass , and another walk through the City the group met the Latin Patriarch, His Beatitude Fouad Twal at his Cathedral. The Patriarch told us about the plight of Christians living in the Holy Land and the difficulties that they face. He said: "There are three things that you can do for us to help us. Firstly, pray for us. We have never stopped believing in the power of prayer. Secondly, pilgrimage. Come on pilgrimage, come and see us. Thirdly, projects. Support our projects, we have schools, hospitals and much religious activity. I also urge you to talk about us when you get back home. Tell people what you think, for we must create a new culture of dialogue and prayer. Speak to your family, your friends, your priest and tell them about us."
A special birthday surprise
The meeting was followed by a surprise celebration as Archbishop Nichols celebrated his birthday today. A giant cake was revealed to celebrate the Archbishop's birthday, and the birthday of three other pilgrims who will celebrate their special day whilst we are on pilgrimage.
After singing happy birthday and cutting the cake into over 100 pieces each pilgrim had a pre-dinner dessert before heading back out into the City streets and running into some celebrations, the nature of which we couldn't quite work out! It was however just a short 
walk to the hotel, where all the pilgrims gratefully ate dinner and headed for an early night in preparation for the 6.30am phone call to wake us up as we have to be en route to the on the Mount of Olives by 8am!
