New 'Compostela' only available this year

Thomr

Member
Feb 24, 2009
32
21
Every 100 years the Francistern order produces their own 'Compostela' to celebrate the Pilgrimage of Saint Francis of Assisi to Santiago which happened in 1214 - 800 years ago and so this certificate is available this year (and then there won't be another until 2114).

I received mine on the 25th april and it says:
Pax et Bonum
Sancti Francisci
Conventus Composelae
Peregrinus Sancti Jacobi Composservi Dei, Francisci Assisi protectione, aedes, quas dominus Cotolaya fundavit, ad praesentiam et permansionem Fratrum Minorum in hac urbe Metropolitana, visit
De mandato fraternitatis suae Revmae
Fr. Francisco Javier Castro Miramontes
Guardianus et humilis in Domino Servus
This translates (imperfectly) as:
Peace and Good
San Francisco
Congress Composelae
Crusaders of the Holy One of Jacob Composservi of God, the protection of Francis of Assisi, house, and
the protection of other buildings, which the Lord hath founded the Cotolaya, in this city at the presence of the Friars Minor and the tenure of Metropolitan and inspected the mandate of the brotherhood of charge Francisco Javier Castro Miramontes And humble servant of the Lord Warden
To get this certificate you need to take your credential to the Francistern Church 10-11 in the morning or 5-7 in the afternoon. Once inside go down the left hand side of the Church to the big wooden doors where there is a monk at a desk who will check your credential, stamp it and get you to fill in a simple form with your name, age and a few other details before he fills in your certificate and gives it to you (they do ask for a small donation).

I have a map of the Church's position and a picture of the certificate (and the Church's sello) on my blog at http://footprintsonthecamino.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-compostela-only-available-this-year.html
 
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Thomr

Member
Feb 24, 2009
32
21
After writing about this certificate I did a bit more research on Saint Francis of Assisi's Pilgrimage to Santiago and found a plan for June/July this year for two nautical pilgrimage s to Santiago, one in the Mediterranean Ocean of over 1000 nautical miles and another in the Atlantic of about 200 nautical miles. The two fleets will then meet and make their way up river to Padron (where legend says Saint James landed in Spain and first preached) before the crews walk the 25km to Santiago where it sounds like they will receive this new certificate and the Compostela. I've gathered all the information I can find at http://footprintsonthecamino.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-nautical-pilgrimmage-for-saint.html if you want to read more.
 
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The first edition came out in 2003 and has become the go-to-guide for many pilgrims over the years. It is shipping with a Pilgrim Passport (Credential) from the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
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After writing about this certificate I did a bit more research on Saint Francis of Assisi's Pilgrimage to Santiago and found a plan for June/July this year for two nautical pilgrimage s to Santiago, one in the Mediterranean Ocean of over 1000 nautical miles and another in the Atlantic of about 200 nautical miles. The two fleets will then meet and make their way up river to Padron (where legend says Saint James landed in Spain and first preached) before the crews walk the 25km to Santiago where it sounds like they will receive this new certificate and the Compostela. I've gathered all the information I can find at http://footprintsonthecamino.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-nautical-pilgrimmage-for-saint.html if you want to read more.


Hola. Just to be clear the certificate issued by the Church of San Francisco in Santiago is not the Compostela. There is only one of those which is issued by the Pilgrims' Office in Santiago. The certificate issued by the Church of San Francisco is being issued to anyone who queues up for it during the appointed hours.

Again for the sake of clarity those participating in the nautical pilgrimage whereby they sail to Padron and then walk 25 kms to Santiago may very well receive the Franciscan Certificate however as things stand they will not receive the Compostela for which pilgrims need to walk at least the last 100 kms in Santiago.
 
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Thomr

Member
Feb 24, 2009
32
21
I thought that it sounded a little odd that they'd receive the Compostela but didn't know if the organisation had sought some sort of special permission from the Cathedral. Thanks for clarifying Johnnie
 
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May 4, 2014
42
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Sugar Hill, Georgia (NE of Atlanta)
Time of past OR future Camino
Leaving August 25, (2014) for Camino Frances starting in SJPP.
Every 100 years the Francistern order produces their own 'Compostela' to celebrate the Pilgrimage of Saint Francis of Assisi to Santiago which happened in 1214 - 800 years ago and so this certificate is available this year (and then there won't be another until 2114).

I received mine on the 25th april and it says:
Pax et Bonum
Sancti Francisci
Conventus Composelae
Peregrinus Sancti Jacobi Composservi Dei, Francisci Assisi protectione, aedes, quas dominus Cotolaya fundavit, ad praesentiam et permansionem Fratrum Minorum in hac urbe Metropolitana, visit
De mandato fraternitatis suae Revmae
Fr. Francisco Javier Castro Miramontes
Guardianus et humilis in Domino Servus
This translates (imperfectly) as:
Peace and Good
San Francisco
Congress Composelae
Crusaders of the Holy One of Jacob Composservi of God, the protection of Francis of Assisi, house, and
the protection of other buildings, which the Lord hath founded the Cotolaya, in this city at the presence of the Friars Minor and the tenure of Metropolitan and inspected the mandate of the brotherhood of charge Francisco Javier Castro Miramontes And humble servant of the Lord Warden
To get this certificate you need to take your credential to the Francistern Church 10-11 in the morning or 5-7 in the afternoon. Once inside go down the left hand side of the Church to the big wooden doors where there is a monk at a desk who will check your credential, stamp it and get you to fill in a simple form with your name, age and a few other details before he fills in your certificate and gives it to you (they do ask for a small donation).

I have a map of the Church's position and a picture of the certificate (and the Church's sello) on my blog at http://footprintsonthecamino.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-compostela-only-available-this-year.html
 

jeffnd

Active Member
May 14, 2012
536
1,093
North Dakota, USA
Time of past OR future Camino
March/April 2014
I don't think I went to the church at the "right" time. It was Palm Sunday and that back room was packed with kids getting ready for the procession to the cathedral. But the fellow was good enough to write me out a certificate!
 

Pikachu

New Member
Feb 12, 2014
4
1
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances (SdC-Muxia-Fisterre) April 2014
I got one myself too. It felt really sacred when I received because the priest actually wrote my name on the compostela instead of workers at pilgrim office.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

Camino Yogini

Camino Junkie
Dec 4, 2011
65
70
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Time of past OR future Camino
Francés (Spring 2012); Norte Costa (Fall 2013); Del Ebro/Francés (Fall 2014); European Peace Walk (Spring 2016)
This is really neat, Thomr. Thanks for letting us know. Another reason why I should go on Camino this year too. Are there any limitations such as any routes you must take, distance you must travel, or mode of travel? Your post about the nautical pilgrimage suggests to me that there aren't but I shouldn't assume!
 

shefollowsshells

Veteran Member
Sep 3, 2013
770
1,846
Time of past OR future Camino
Several alone and with children
I found it to be a treat! Surprised at how few folks knew about it. I did personally witness one in a group running up there to get the certificate for all of her group.
We got ours, make note of the times as it can be frustrating if you head there only to find out you have to be there at a certain time.
In my case we left Santiago for the Inglais that same day we arrived so chose to pick it up (with some planning) upon the second arrival to Santiago a few days after the first.
 
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mylifeonvacation

Active Member
Apr 15, 2014
401
702
Phoenix, Arizona
mylifeonvacation.wordpress.com
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Camino Inglés (from Ferrol June 2014)
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It seems you need only to request it at the Franciscan church at the appointed times with the evidence that you have walked the last 100km. I missed the time by about 5 minutes and they were closed until late afternoon (I had a bus to catch). While in the church I ran into a group of Italian pilgrims who I had met a few days earlier on the Ingles. They all proudly showed me their Franciscan certificates so I took a photo of theirs, but just didn't get one of my own.
 

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