Camino 11
Tuesday, 15th October, 2019.
"Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer." Catechism of the Catholic Church #2691. From Fr Michael's daily reflections.
Traditionally, the pilgrims' Masses are held every day at 12 noon in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
A feature of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the famous Botafumeiro, a large incense censer which disperses incense amid the congregation. Weighing 53 kg and measuring 1.5 metres in length, it is one of the largest in the world and is suspended 20 metres above the congregation via a system of ropes and pulleys. On special occasions, and during some Masses, the Botafuemeiro is released by team of eight tiraboleiros who swing it across the cathedral at great speeds of up to 68 km/hr. It is thought that this tradition was started in order to cover up the smell of the thousands of pilgrims arriving at the cathedral after their exertions.
I know that my friend Kathy has seen it at the end of her Camino walk (as some Japanese pilgrims paid for it) but many people have not.
Thank you Jan Jones for lending me your copy of the DVD The Way as those people in the movie were lucky enough to have seen it (and so has everyone else, including me, who has seen that movie).
Here are Veronica and Marianna providing us with our Botofumiero experience.
As the Cathedral is undergoing repairs, the pilgrims' Masses are now held in the Church of San Francisco, traditionally founded by St Francis of Assisi during his visit to Santiago de Compostela in 1214.
Val had us all installed by 11.30am, which was just as well, as we were able to get seats. I don't think I have ever been to a Mass with so many people. They just kept pouring in.
The Mass was concelebrated by priests of several different nationalities, but was of course mainly in Spanish. We were very proud that Michael was able to join them, the only English speaker for the Mass, although an Irish lady spoke during the welcome. Michael offered one of the general intercession prayers, reminding us that it was the feast day of St Theresa of Avila, and praying for women, and that their potential for roles within the church should be recognised and encouraged (or something like that). Go Michael!
Michael also read the pilgrim's blessing, which was along the lines that Santiago de Compostela had a secret - that our pilgrimage has not ended, but was just beginning. That we were to go back to our daily lives, renewed, to do as much good as we could, and that love was to be the basis of our lives from now on (or something like that.)
A most inspiring Mass.
While I was expecting to feel much fitter after all that walking, it was a great disappointment to find that I actually currently feel worse, probably owing to my tumble out of the bus onto my tailbone at the beginning of the trip, and general fatigue. There was a guided tour of the Cathedral in the afternoon, but I opted to stay in my very comfortable hotel room and catch up on my blog - which I have nearly done.
Before dinner, Val gave us our Compostela certificates (in Latin) which certify that we have walked a minimum of 100kms on this pilgrimage. Val kindly obtained them for us as a group, so we wouldn't have to queue up for them individually.
Val had also bought Camino Tshirts for Michael and also for Pearl, who has done a lot of running round for her.
Tomorrow we go to Finisterre, (by bus!) on the coast, once believed to be the end of the world.
Tuesday, 15th October, 2019.
"Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer." Catechism of the Catholic Church #2691. From Fr Michael's daily reflections.
Traditionally, the pilgrims' Masses are held every day at 12 noon in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
A feature of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the famous Botafumeiro, a large incense censer which disperses incense amid the congregation. Weighing 53 kg and measuring 1.5 metres in length, it is one of the largest in the world and is suspended 20 metres above the congregation via a system of ropes and pulleys. On special occasions, and during some Masses, the Botafuemeiro is released by team of eight tiraboleiros who swing it across the cathedral at great speeds of up to 68 km/hr. It is thought that this tradition was started in order to cover up the smell of the thousands of pilgrims arriving at the cathedral after their exertions.
I know that my friend Kathy has seen it at the end of her Camino walk (as some Japanese pilgrims paid for it) but many people have not.
Thank you Jan Jones for lending me your copy of the DVD The Way as those people in the movie were lucky enough to have seen it (and so has everyone else, including me, who has seen that movie).
As the Cathedral is undergoing repairs, the pilgrims' Masses are now held in the Church of San Francisco, traditionally founded by St Francis of Assisi during his visit to Santiago de Compostela in 1214.
Val had us all installed by 11.30am, which was just as well, as we were able to get seats. I don't think I have ever been to a Mass with so many people. They just kept pouring in.
Michael also read the pilgrim's blessing, which was along the lines that Santiago de Compostela had a secret - that our pilgrimage has not ended, but was just beginning. That we were to go back to our daily lives, renewed, to do as much good as we could, and that love was to be the basis of our lives from now on (or something like that.)
A most inspiring Mass.
While I was expecting to feel much fitter after all that walking, it was a great disappointment to find that I actually currently feel worse, probably owing to my tumble out of the bus onto my tailbone at the beginning of the trip, and general fatigue. There was a guided tour of the Cathedral in the afternoon, but I opted to stay in my very comfortable hotel room and catch up on my blog - which I have nearly done.
Tomorrow we go to Finisterre, (by bus!) on the coast, once believed to be the end of the world.
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