Stones everywhere you look: in the streets, in the architecture of the houses, in the walls of the shops, in some public benches and on the doors and walls surrounding the old town. Br FRÉDÉRIC MANNS, ofm Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "Houses in Jerusalem must be made of stone because the earthly Jerusalem corresponds to the heavenly Jerusalem and the heavenly Jerusalem, as described in the apocalypse by St. John, is made of precious, wonderful stones. For this reason, the stones of the earthly Jerusalem must anticipate, evoke the heavenly Jerusalem." Stones have been used in the Bible in different ways, and their importance goes far beyond the mere physical appearance. Br FRÉDÉRIC MANNS, ofm Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "The symbolism of the stone in the Bible is very rich. First of all we see that the tablets of the law that Moses received on Sinai were written on stone. The stone means stability, security. In another very beautiful text from the book of Samuel, David takes 5 stones with his stick and sling to kill the giant Goliath. The giant is a symbol of evil. We have another text, Isaiah 51: "Look at the stone from which you have been cut, and the quarry from which you have been extracted. And he continues: "Look at Abraham and Sarah." Abraham is called "the rock from which the Jewish people were cut". Peter, who received this promise, "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church", is a new Abraham. Just as the faith of the Jewish people is based on Abraham, so the faith of Christians has its basis in the faith of Peter." Time goes by, they remain ... they bring beauty, they are part of the history of this Holy Land, in all the places where Jesus passed, the cornerstone. Br FRÉDÉRIC MANNS, ofm Studium Biblicum Franciscanum "In Jerusalem we have many stones: the stone of anointing, the stone of agony, the stone of Calvary. These stones that we have here in Jerusalem are all memorials of the life, passion and death of Jesus and recall a fundamental text, Psalm 118: "the stone discarded by the builders has become the cornerstone". In Hebrew "stone" is "eben" while son is "ben". It means that God can make children for Israel from these stones. And in fact "the stone rejected, the son rejected, has become the cornerstone". In addition to preserving the Memorial Stones, the Franciscans guard the living stones of the Holy Land. Br IBRAHIM FALTAS, ofm Holy Land Custody "The Franciscans have been here for more than 800 years now: we are the custodians of the memorial stones and of all the holy places, but we are also custodians of the living stones, of the people of this place, and this is the most important thing. That is why the Franciscans have always built the parish, schools, sports, social and spiritual centers... housing and houses to rent... we also give work and scholarships." Br IBRAHIM FALTAS, ofm Holy Land Custody "The Custody helps these families, these people, so that they can stay here and live with dignity in this Holy Land. This is why the Custody does so much for the living stones". In the Holy Land, many stones bring back to biblical times and facts, stones that have been part of the history of God's people and of the life and teachings of Christ. He Himself said: 'If the voice of the prophets is silent, the stones will cry out', and exhorted: 'He who is without sin, cast the first stone'.