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!   :))