Walking the Camino de Santiago
Thoughts about the spiritual aspects of the Camino.
What do you want for your fiftieth birthday? Thom asked me this not realizing or ever foreseeing what would come of this question… “I want an ADVENTURE!” I came back with enthusiasm. “What sort of adventure?” he queried. I, having just read somewhere about a pilgrimage trek, spilled out “The Camino de Santiago.” thinking that was the most insane idea […]
» Read moreAt the highest point of the Camino in Spain, upon the plateau of Monte Irago, is a cross. This cross, called Cruz de Ferro (literally, “iron cross”) is a tall oak post with a small iron cross attached to the top. All around the cross is a large pile of stones. Pilgrims have been laying a stone at Cruz de […]
» Read moreSome time ago, I ruminated on why. Why do the Camino? Here’s another answer, from the very first guide book to the Camino, the Codex Calixtinus, written some time in the XIIth Century: The pilgrim route is a very good thing, but it is narrow. For the road which leads us to life is narrow; on the other hand, the […]
» Read moreHappy they who dwell in your house! Continually they praise you. Happy the men whose strength you are! Their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage. (from Psalm 84, Optional Responsorial Psalm for today’s Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph) With just over three months to go until I leave for the Camino, my preparations are again […]
» Read moreGod willing, six months from today I will set out on my Camino. Where has the time gone? Most of the clothing and equipment I plan on taking has been purchased at this point, though there are still a lot of fiddly things to get – lightweight containers (stuff sacks), for example. I’m keeping track of some of the items […]
» Read moreFrom the Catholic News Agency: Members of the Catholic clergy from around the United States hiked 100 miles of an ancient pilgrimage this summer, relying on God to give them strength to endure suffering along the way. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, Bishop James S. Wall of Gallup, N.M., Fr. Gerry Baker of Owensboro, Ky. and Fr. Don […]
» Read moreWhy walk the Camino? Why would anybody want to spend a month walking nearly 500 miles through northern Spain? Why do I? That’s a darn fine question. I wish I had a good answer. When somebody asks me, I usually reply with a glib, “obviously, I’m an idiot.” The truth is, I don’t know why I feel called to the […]
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God willing, and assuming I have calculated correctly, exactly one year from today I will be arriving in Santiago de Compostella in Spain at the end of a long pilgrimage. The two obvious questions are: What? and Why? The “what” part is easy. I will follow the medieval pilgrimage trail known as the Camino de Santiago, starting from the mountain […]
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