Why and Where am I Walking?

From June 16-25, 2011 a group of of us will journey 160km (99miles) through the beautiful region of Galicia in Northwestern Spain. It will be the authentic pilgrim’s experience! We will fly from Dublin to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and bus from there to our starting point: O Cebreiro. From O Cebreiro, we will walk an average 23km (14miles) over seven days, winding our way through breathtaking landscapes that will teleport us back to folkloric medieval Spain. 

We will walk together, eat together, and make many friends along the way. In the evenings we will share our experiences with each other during discussion times, and at night we will camp out in tents. 

On our last day, we will take a bus out to the Spanish coastal town of Finisterre (literally: ‘the  end of the earth’) to celebrate our accomplishment! Your capable guide will be veteran, twelve-time pilgrim, and camino expert, Kelly Mulholland.

• Exercise your body… (lots of walking)
• Broaden your mind… (new cultural experiences)
• Nourish your heart… (get away from the busyness of life)
• Deepen your soul… (dialogue about your spiritual journey with one another)

Why not join us and walk the camino? It will almost certainly make for an unforgettable summer!

What is the Camino de Santiago?

The Camino de Santiago (or The Way of St James)is a collection of ancientpilgrimage routes that wind their way throughout Europe, all of them converging on Santiago deCompostela, an enchanted town in northwestern Spain. For more than 1000 years, pilgrims have traveled the many routes of the Caminode Santiago. Today it is the only long-distance footpath to receive United Nations recognition. And it has been awarded World Heritage status because of its historical and spiritual significance. The Camino de Santiago is for everyone: young and old, fit and unfit, religious or not. Countless millions have walked this path in search of deeper meaning for their lives. Perhaps this is your time to join the thirsty band ofpilgrims along this ancient path...

Who Was Saint James?

According to tradition, St. James the Greater (the brother of John, andone of the apostles of Jesus), having preached Christianity in Spain,returned to Judea and was put to death by order of Herod. Legend states that St. James' remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to IriaFlavia in the northwest of Spain, and later to Santiago de Compostela. The Tradition continues that around 820, a hermit called Pelayo saw,over several nights, radiance and mysterious illuminations which looked like a rain of stars over a knoll in the forest, which led him todiscover the supposed remains of St. James. (thus one possible reason for the name Compostela is derived from the words: campo = ‘field’ and estrella=’star’, so that Compostela could have meant ‘the field of the stars’. It happens that the bones of Saint James were conveniently discovered when Spain’s Christian armies of the re-conquest verily needed them.

The earliest records of visits paid to the shrine dedicated to St James at Santiago de Compostela date from the 8th century, in the times ofthe Kingdom of Asturias. The custom of those who carried back with them from Galicia scallop shells as proof of their journey gradually extended to other forms of pilgrimage.  Across France and Spain the pilgrimage route led from shrine to shrine, just as a caravan routeleads from oasis to oasis.  In the twelfth century the Order of Knights of St. James of Compostela was founded.

Santiago de Compostela, especially during the middle ages, became one of the most famous places of pilgrimage in the world.  However reformationand unrest in 16th century Europe resulted in its decline. In the early 1980's only a few pilgrims a year arrived in Santiago. However, since the late 1980s The Way has attracted a growing number of modern-day pilgrims from all around the globe. The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987 and inscribed as one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in 1993.

Pilgrims of all Kinds

Today, thousands of Christian and non-Christian pilgrims set out from their homes each year, or from popular starting points across Europe.The most popular route is the French Way or Camino Francés. Most pilgrims start from either Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the Frenchside of the Pyrenees or from Roncesvalles on the Spanish side. However many pilgrims begin further afield from cities such as Le Puy or St.Albain. These modern-day pilgrims walk for weeks or months to visit the city of Santiago de Compostela. Some travel on horse back and many come by bicycle. In addition to people on a religious pilgrimage, many travelers and hikers walk the route simply for recreation.

The traditional way of the pilgrim is to travel alone, by foot, carrying all the material possessions we might need for the journey ahead.  This provides the first lesson of the pilgrim – to leave behind all that is superfluous and to travel with only the barest necessities.  Preparation for the inner path is similar – we should start by letting go of soul-waste accumulated over the years such as resentments, prejudices and loss of faith. With a properly prepared mind we can more readily assimilate the lessons that will come our way.

“Just take a look for a moment at our daily routine.  In general we are very busy people.  We have many meetings to attend, many visits to make, many services to lead.  Our calendars are filled with appointments, our days and weeks filled with engagements, and our years filled with plans and projects.  There is seldom a period in which we do not know what to do, and we move through life in such a distracted way that we do not even take the time and rest to wonder if any of the things we think, say, or do are worth thinking, saying, or doing.  We simply go along with the many ‘musts’ and ‘oughts’ that have been handed on to us….” ~ Henri J.M Nouwen

Don’t you think it’s time to get away for a bit? The camino offers us an opportunity to slow down and get away. It allows us to make some space in our lives where we can reflect on the deeper significance of our lives and the reasons why we are here. The camino encourages us to ask the perennial question – who am I?  And, crucially, it provides time for answers to be understood and integrated.

What to Expect

• Live the pilgrim’s life for 9 days
• Make many friends
• Enjoy the culture and art of the camino
• Learn about St. James and the spiritual journey
• Soak in the Spanish sun
• Collect memories and photographs
• Get a certificate for completing the pilgrimage
• Tour the city of Santiago de Compostela
• Enjoy a banquet at the end
• Visit the ‘end of the earth’
• Ok, and perhaps get a blister or two

 

"All of us travel two paths simultaneously – the outer path along which we haul our body and the inner pathway of soul. We need to be mindful of both…” ~ John Brierley (Author of A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago)

Organised by Agapé Student Life and The Journey Community. Learn more about the Camino at the Irish Society of the Friends of St. James.