‘Twas a bit rainy when we rolled into town and there was a hike from where the bus could park to get to the hotel… an adventure!
I forgot my umbrella. Thankfully I have friends in the group.
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
the place of burial for St. James the Greater, one of the twelve apostles and the first to be martyred. This holy shrine has been one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites since medieval times outside of Rome and Jerusalem. The Cathedral had its groundbreaking in 1060.
St. James tried to evangelize the Iberian Peninsula about 40 years after the resurrection of Christ. The people did not react very enthusiastically to the good news of the Gospel he preached. One day in prayer the Blessed Virgin (who was still alive at the time so she bi-located) appeared to St. James. She was a top a pillar of jasper carried by angels. She was holding a small wooden statue of herself which she gave to St. James, requesting a church be built on that spot. There is now a beautiful Basilica there known as Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, Spain. St. James returned to Jerusalem where he was beheaded. His
body was then taken back to Spain. It was at this time that conversions to the faith flourished. The blood of the martyrs
is the seed of the Church.
Many people walk the Camino de Santiago now. I’m curious how many realize that it’s a Christian pilgrimage not just an extreme hike.
The massive cathedral has lots of side chapels with statues. This one caught my attention the most. In a church covered in gold leaf the blood on the crucifix stands out.
Botafumeiro
At the end of Mass we had the joy of experiencing the giant thurible (incenser) that takes eight men to swing. I saw this in a movie a few months ago and wondered where it was funny how so many seemingly little things I saw online or in a movie within this last year I’m now seeing in real life!
Hospedería San Martín Pinario
Our hotel is a XVIth century monastery.
The restaurant is the old cafeteria for the monks.
Since they lived mostly in silence someone would read scripture to them from the lookout (not a technical term) above. The acoustics are solid.
I didn’t learn until the end of devouring dessert that it’s the famous cake from Santiago.
It was good.
And the wine! 🤤 I would like more of this in my life.
Church of Santa Maria Salome
Salome is the mother of the apostles St. James and St. John, and one of the “three Marys” at the foot of the cross.
We had mass first thing in the morning. It was a joy to watch the lights slowly come on as if the church as waking up with the world.
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