The Camino continues....

Sabbath

Today is a good day for rest and prayer.  Pilgrims are allowed and encouraged to spend 3 days in Santiago before returning home.  I am sure part of that is for support of the local economy, but primarily it allows the body to rest after a long journey.

There is time for prayer as well. I concelebrated Mass last night in the Cathedral.   Not only was the Botafumeiro in use....I got to put some incense in it before it swung from the rafters.  :)  This morning there was a Mass in English which I concelebrated with a priest from Sri Lanka.   My Mass intention was for the people of St. Matthew's.  

Then I spent time praying at the tomb of St. James.   It is below the main altar.  Only two or three can be there at once; a sweet personal visit with the Apostle.  All the intentions folks had placed in my prayer journal were remembered.

Sabbath is a commandment to pray and rest with the Lord one day each week.   It allows us to gather with the community of the faithful to worship together and renew our covenant with the Lord.  Today has been a wonderful blessing of Sabbath.... with the evening Vigil Mass and dinner still to come!   :))

Certifiable

There is a joy and a peace that words do not describe in being here in Santiago.   What a wonderful gift! 

I took a walk around the old town this afternoon and collected not one, but two, Compostelas.  The first is from the Cathedral as a pilgrim to Santiago.   The second is from the Franciscans since this is the 800th anniversary of St. Francis walking to Santiago.

I am headed back to the Cathedral this evening for the Pilgrim's Mass... time to offer my thanks to God in sacrament.  This Mass is for Nancy Slattery.  I am particularly blown  away that the gospel for today is the call of Matthew from Matthew, chapter 9.  Does it get any better than to hear Jesus say.... Come, follow me???  Can it be lived better than by his call....it is mercy I desire, not sacrifice????

Buen Camino.

Cathedral

After 33 days of walking.....

Way

We have made it to the outskirts of Arca and Santiago is about 20km away.   We will arrive tomorrow, God willing.  It's hard to believe it is so close....been walking for a while.  

Today is the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle....the one who questioned and doubted....who had to experience the Resurrected Christ....and came to great faith.  Morning prayer reminded me that it was to him that Jesus said....I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

I have met him along the Camino.   In the silence we have discussed all sorts of blessed truth.  And oh what life he bestows!

Just a few shots from along the Way...that we, like Thomas, may know him and believe.

Bridges

I stayed up far too late watching the US World Cup match, so we started a little late today.  But we made our 23km walk to the outskirts of Arzua and I will be going to bed early tonight.

As we walked along today we crossed several streams and I have included 3 of the bridges built to help us pilgrims.  I also include several other famous bridges from along the Camino.

I love the craftsmanship in these functional gifts.  Though I know they ice over before the rest of the road in winter, I generally drive over them without a second thought.   Walking provides a different experience and simply shifting from earth to stone or wood is cause for notice.  

A bridge helps to get you from here to there....to cross the stream or river without getting wet.  But it is sweet to pause...before ever crossing.... just to appreciate the work of art and architecture.   It is peaceful to pause over the water.... to listen to the cascading flow and enjoy the view.

How many times do we cross bridges?  Who designed and made these wonders so that our way will be easier? More beautiful? 

And thanks be for the Son who is the bridge to the Kingdom who ever guides us along the Way.

Herald

We walked today from Portomarin to Palas de Rei.  We covered the 24km under cloudy skies and intermittent rain.   It was a lovely soft rain.... this is a very Celtic land.  Only three more days of walking....

Today marks my anniversary of ordination as a deacon.  As I walked along I pondered the beautiful and haunting mission each deacon receives from the bishop as he is handed a copy of the Book of the Gospels.

Receive the Gospels whose herald you now are.

Believe what you read.

Teach what you believe.

Practice what you teach.

May the Lord grant me many more years to proclaim the good news with my life and my words.

Images of Santiago

Different towns have an statue of St. James the Pilgrim, often in the main square but always along the Camino so we pilgrims can ponder its beauty.   They are quite diverse and charming and thought provoking.  

There are certain symbols that go with the Pilgrim Saint.  The scallop shell is from this land by the sea.  The cape to protect from the elements.  The staff to help with the walking.   The gourd as a container for water. 

The artists capture much about the pilgrim experience.  Enjoy the beauty.

Galicia

I had a lovely walk today through the countryside in Galicia between Sarria and Portomarin.   Walking along has created lots of inner peace.  But today was lovely.... slightly overcast in the morning, it cleared up to be sunny.  A delightful 70 degrees. And the sights were breathtaking in this Celtic land.  Just wanted to share a few images from today.

New Pilgrims

We walked the 23km from Sarria to Portomarin today.  This was the beginning of the home stretch.   Sarria is about 100km from Santiago and the beginning point for many pilgrims who want to do the minimum for a Compostela.  The guidebook had warned there would be more people on the Camino from here to Santiago.   There are... a lot more.

It has been a fascinating meditation on these new members on the way.   They are fresh.  They are clean.  They walk fast and with purpose.   Several large groups were encountered.   It reminded me of myself a month ago.  And made the change from the walk obvious and clear.   For those on the Way these many weeks, we are worn. The clothes and especially the shoes show the miles.   We take our time walking and know when we need to break for food or water.... rest or prayer.  Often alone.... companions leave space... for the Way is done within most of all. 

The characteristic of the new pilgrims that was most startling was they are LOUD.  They talk to each other a lot.   They talk incessantly.   There is music blaring. ... and all this in multiple languages simultaneously.   The silence and the solitude of the Meseta is gone.  But the Camino continues.  

I am reminded of the high and grace that comes when on a good retreat.   Then life returns and sustaining the grace is difficult to impossible.   Today was a glimpse of returning to life.... and yet still on retreat.  So the choice and the practice of that choice remain.   What pace do I want for my life? What fills my day? Do I make time for the Lord within and listen to His voice?  Do I walk gently? Quietly? Do I have a blessing ready for my companion along the Way?

And then there was.....

We walked through beautiful rolling countryside in Galicia today.  Though overcast this morning, it was another beautiful day.  Galicia is the northwest province of Spain....and Santiago is its capital.   This land was settled by Celts centuries ago....and I can see why those from Ireland and Scotland would feel at home here.

As we were walking along in the country, what do we come across in the middle of a field?!?

Plugged in.
With its own recycle bin beside it.
With video surveillance to prevent crime.

You can't make this stuff up....

A room at the inn

There are countless blessings in the daily task of finding a bed to sleep in at the local albergue.  And with those blessings come many people and stories... too many to all be told.... but a little glimpse is important.   Several folks have asked about accommodations on the Camino.   Each afternoon we have to ask at the local albergue if there is room in the inn for us.  For the most part, they don't take reservations.... first come, first served.   The first blessing is receiving a bed for the night.

Each albergue has its own floor plan, but the variations are from two variables..... how many beds in the room.... beds or bunk beds.   it is co-ed living with multiple generations in the room each night.  From four to seven languages can be heard as people unload their backpacks.

As the days unfold, we see familiar faces at times... but every evening there are new neighbors in the room.  As we all unpack...take showers...do laundry by hand in the sink...catch a nap.... charge our cell phones.... a simple dance unfolds, back and forth.... making room for the other; each taking their turn.

There is a courtesy and respect among pilgrims that is amazing.... all of us strangers in each other's personal space... and no fights break out.  But the night brings great humor and humbling truth.  We are in bunkhouses...all sleeping together....when the songs of the night are sung.  The beans from dinner make for great trumpets.   After all the walking during the day,  many saw wood through the night.  Many stumble in the dark to find the needed relief in the bathroom down the hall.  I certainly contribute my fair share of musical notes.  What a grace to love and forgive the many others singing in the chorus each night.

And then we arise, generally before dawn, to walk again.  Each goes their own pace, each with their own schedule.... some we see every day, others never again.   But there was a room in the inn for us.... to encounter the One humble enough to walk with us.... to love us completely.

Hills

We walked a pleasant 24km up to Villafranca del Bierzo today.  Passing through several villages, we were mostly pounding the pavement... up and down hills on the way to O'Cebreiro...the big mountain we will start climbing tomorrow and reach its summit on Saturday.  

As we have been walking for a couple of days in the mountains again, the conversation has turned to hills.... going up them and going down them.  Both actions have their challenges....but going down seems to me the more difficult physically and spiritually.

Going up a hill pulls at the calves and strains the lungs for air.  But there is the built in reward of the vista when the summit is reached.   There is the satisfaction of achieving the new height.  The Scriptures often speak of being closer to God....of receiving revelation...whether on Sinai or Tabor or Calvary.

But going down the hill pounds on the knees and the feet.  There is no view to anticipate and even the rocks of the path become more tricky to navigate when going down.  It is rough...especially when the descent is steep.  Yet Jesus made descent his signature gift in the spiritual life....descending from heaven to earth... and from here to hell... for our salvation.  His signature approach in ministry was to identify with the least and the lowly.... going down to their level and raising them up.  But the challenge is in going down.... to walk that path so that we are on the same level as each and every one of our brothers and sisters.   How blessed is the example of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, in living out the Lord's commands to serve the least.   What little I know about him indicates he is willing and able to go down the hill.... and rejoice in reaching the bottom... for there is an encounter with the Lord waiting to happen.

As we walk along, do we meet the Lord at the summits in life when the view is beautiful?  As we walk along, do we encounter the Lord in the valleys having gone down the hill in order to meet him in our sisters and brothers there?

Sweetness

Being the civilized people that they are, the Spanish don't consider dinner complete without dessert.  This is simply a beautiful thing.   I have had flan several times.  I have tried a couple of different chocolate cakes....some rice pudding.... custard....a cheesecake with caramel sauce.  Once or twice the restaurant was more health conscious and we had yogurt and fruit. 

What a wonderful way to finish the day....with a little something sweet!!!