Pilgrimage to Santiago

Pictured below is the magnificent Cathedral in Santiago de la Compostela which is at the end of “The Way of Saint James”.   It is currently under restoration but still stands commandingly over the city of Santiago in northern Spain. Since medieval times pilgrims have been making their way to this church to worship.  This cathedral is the resting place of the bones of James, the brother of Jesus, and the writer of the New Testament book of James.  He was an early Christian leader that led the church in Jerusalem.  History has it that he came to Spain and preached the gospel, and then returned to Jerusalem where he was martyred.  His body was said to have been taken by boat back to Spain and his bones later discovered in Santiago.  Pilgrims or Pelegrinos  walk, bike or ride on horseback along The Way towards Santiago from France, and Portugal.

What is it that causes someone to want to journey with nothing but what they can carry on their backs for hundreds and hundreds of miles?   From what I have read and those I’ve talked to the reasons vary.  Some walk for religious reasons, personal reflection, the physical challenge, the companionship, etc.  One pelegrino I talked to in Burgos said, “It is amazing to discover how much you really do not need each day.  It is a welcome relief to step away from all our technology, busyness, jobs and commitments.  You can take time to focus on internal thinking, light, air, steps, communication and the landscape surrounding you.”  Since you do not know how far you will walk in a day, each night you need to find accommodations in an alberque- or a hostel for pilgrims.   A good deal of trust in God is required as you set out with only the final destination determined and each day open to experience.

Psalm 84:5 says “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.”   I used this verse earlier in the year when I made my way to Jerusalem, but it also fits here.  There is much to be gained by going on a pilgrimage.  This time I went on a tour and visited the “high” points, yet I do hope to walk part of The Way of Saint James myself in the future.

The cathedral is amazingly beautiful and takes your breath away.  The incense burner is swung now at selected masses but in medieval times it was swung daily.   The pilgrims were a smelly and sweaty lot that came and filled the sanctuary.  The swinging of the incense burner is vividly seen in the movie “The Way” by Martin Sheen and Emilio Esteves.  It is a touching movie that they made in honor of their ancestors that had come from that region of Spain and gives a good portrayal of walking The Way.

In Santiago,the beauty of the altar reminds me that as rich as it seems it is nothing to compare with what awaits us in the presence of God.  Ezekiel’s shares his vision of God and his glory in Ezekiel 1:26-28a, “Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like a glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.  Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.  This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.    John also had a vision of the throne room of God in Revelation 4:2-3 “At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.  And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian.  A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.”  In both visions the writers were trying to describe godly things and places with earthly words and images.  Our finite minds cannot truly conceive that which we will one day experience in the presence of Almighty God.  I love visiting beautiful cathedrals for as magnificent as they seem they only give me a mere glimpse of what I will see in heaven.

When I was in the cathedral late on a Sunday evening, I witnessed a group of teenagers getting their picture taken before the altar.  They had finished walking The Way, had their certificates and were filled with joy.  They broke into song and the music of their joy was a sweet incense to the Lord and a testament to their perseverance and trust in God as they completed their journey.  (Some of them are pictured in the last photo.)

Where are you journeying with God?  Do you consider each day a journey with God or is he just something to be considered on Sundays?  Walking with God requires faith and trust, hard as that seems, it is the surest way to get where we are going.  The end of our journey is heaven and eternity with God.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own  understanding;    In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”      Proverbs 3:5-6

Blessings,
Linda

Procession of Prayer

I have been home from Europe for several days, and I am still reeling with images speeding through my mind.  There was so much to take in on this trip to holy sights in France, Spain and Portugal that I am struggling to process it.  I want to try to make sense of a few of the highlights for you and help you to catch a glimpse of how God is at work all over the world.

After seeing amazing churches in Paris- Norte Dame, Sac Le Coeur, and Saint Chappelle, we were off to Lourdes.  Since I am not Catholic and did not have previous teaching about the miracles that occurred at Lourdes, I did some reading before I went.  It seemed when I got there all I had read disappeared from my brain so it is a good thing we had knowledgeable guides to refill us.  A young girl, named Bernadette, was gathering wood in a nearby grotto when an angel appeared to her.  She later learned that the apparition was the Virgin Mary and that she had a message for her and the world.  She was instructed in one visit to dig in the dirt, wash and drink the water that came out.  Then she was told that a chapel should be built there and that people should process in prayer.  Since 1858 when the virgin appeared to Bernadette, a small church was built near the site and now there is large church and a large underground basilica.  A clear cool spring is coming out of the place where Bernadette dug and each year there are thousands upon thousands of visitors.  Many healing miracles have been attributed to the waters of Lourdes and people come from all over the world to drink and bathe in the crystal clear spring waters.

I was able to drink the water from a plastic water bottle I brought with me.  I just stepped up to the spring water and filled up my bottle. There was no miraculous healing when I drank but I can still feel the water as it went down my throat and the cooling sensation it brought to my body.  It is just a symbol of the true 'living water' that Jesus gives and speaks of in John 4:13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life". 
Many services are held each day and the grotto is open 24 hours a day.  The sick are brought to the baths by volunteers and given first priority each day for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.  Each evening there is a rosary service in front of the above ground church and each section of the rosary is given in a different language.  Each section is proceeded by a plea to those present to pray- for mothers, children, families, the world condition and the lost.  After the service is concluded the priest leads the procession with lighted candles around a large oval area in front of the church.  It is about a half mile procession in silence by candlelight.  I found this extremely moving and unifying as all the participants were praying.  The unity of spirit was incredibly powerful and I truly felt the Holy Spirit's presence.

As I reflect upon this powerful experience, several scriptures on prayer come to mind.  Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."  James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  Each night they gather in Lourdes to pray and process in prayer.  I find it incredibly comforting to know that each night our brothers and sisters gather in prayer.  The collective prayers of Christians throughout the world are powerful and a reminder of our unity in Christ.

We are told in Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."   Are you coming to God in prayer believing that He will show you mercy and help?

Remember, they are praying tonight in Lourdes.  Won't you join the community of believers and pray with confidence to our faithful heavenly Father trusting Him with you problems and concerns?

With heartfelt prayers for - mothers, children, family, the world and those that do not know Jesus,
Linda
                    The church built at the site of the miracles.

                    Candlelight procession of prayer.