Walking for a sick friend

Ceci · Oct 5, 2014

I understand that a person can walk the Camino for a deceased person, or at least I read that somewhere.

Does anyone know if I can walk for someone who is seriously ill and dying?

I know that I am walking for my very good friend of many years, who made me fall in love with Spain. He's the reason I discovered the Camino. However, does anyone know if I can get a Compostela with his name instead of mine, or maybe with my name as having walked for him? He has cancer and is near the end. I hope I make it to see him before he leaves us. I would so love to give the Compostela to him or to his wife if he has already passed over before I get there.

I am leaving this Tuesday, October 7, to start the Camino on October 10.

Any leads would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

Ceci

homa_bird · Oct 5, 2014

I walked the Camino for my grandson, who had been battling cancer for a year when I left. He had finished his chemo and radiation therapy before I planned for and began the CF, and we thought he was going to be okay, but it was a very bad kind of cancer and there was a substantial chance of it recurring. A month after I returned, his cancer came back and he died two months after i got back.

I left so many prayers, and tears, in so many churches and paths and pillows along the way. I told his story and showed his picture to pilgrims along the way, and asked them to carry his name with them, and they told me they did. I bonded deeply with so many people in my sweet grandchild's name... it was pretty amazing.

So I would say that you can most definitely walk the Camino for your friend, and you will be doing it for yourself, and for all those you meet that you tell about him, and of course also for him. But I wouldn't worry at all about the Compostela. He is going where he can't take it with him. Write your journey for him in the compostela of your heart, dedicate it to him there, that is the real place to keep it.

Also, since my pilgrimage was such a single-minded and fervent prayer for our Little Bhau, I made the decision not to take a camera, as it was far from that sort of trip for me, and to try to accept whatever happened along the way with grace in honor of his suffering. Both of these stood me in good stead along the Camino.

lots of love and good wishes to you on your Way!

wayfarer · Oct 5, 2014

A PM to Johnnie Walker should give you the definitive information you need Ceci.
Wishing you a safe Camino.

GettingThere · Oct 5, 2014

I believe it is possible to have the name of another person added to your Compostela - there was a discussion about this on another thread: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ino-on-behalf-of-someone-who-has-passed.6838/

It sounds like this is not uncommon as aa way to honor a sick friend or one who has passed away. What a beautiful idea.

wayfarer · Oct 5, 2014

Thanks for the link GettingThere, Johnnie gives the answer here.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...lf-of-someone-who-has-passed.6838/#post-40227

Deleted member 3000 · Oct 5, 2014

Ceci said:
with my name as having walked for him

I am looking at one now. When you get the Compostela, just ask the Pilgrim Office to have the pilgrimage dedicated to the person. They hand-write a dedication on the Compostela.

Buen camino.

Ceci · Oct 6, 2014

falcon269 said:
I am looking at one now. When you get the Compostela, just ask the Pilgrim Office to have the pilgrimage dedicated to the person. They hand-write a dedication on the Compostela.

Buen camino.

Thank you so much to all. God Bless You all! I think it would mean a lot to my friend, if I make it to see him, or his wife, if not. I just want to give that to him/them. I have no doubt in my mind that my friend will soon be in a more beautiful place than we could ever imagine. Buen Camino!

Ceci

Ceci · Oct 6, 2014

homa_bird said:
I walked the Camino for my grandson, who had been battling cancer for a year when I left. He had finished his chemo and radiation therapy before I planned for and began the CF, and we thought he was going to be okay, but it was a very bad kind of cancer and there was a substantial chance of it recurring. A month after I returned, his cancer came back and he died two months after i got back.

I left so many prayers, and tears, in so many churches and paths and pillows along the way. I told his story and showed his picture to pilgrims along the way, and asked them to carry his name with them, and they told me they did. I bonded deeply with so many people in my sweet grandchild's name... it was pretty amazing.

So I would say that you can most definitely walk the Camino for your friend, and you will be doing it for yourself, and for all those you meet that you tell about him, and of course also for him. But I wouldn't worry at all about the Compostela. He is going where he can't take it with him. Write your journey for him in the compostela of your heart, dedicate it to him there, that is the real place to keep it.

Also, since my pilgrimage was such a single-minded and fervent prayer for our Little Bhau, I made the decision not to take a camera, as it was far from that sort of trip for me, and to try to accept whatever happened along the way with grace in honor of his suffering. Both of these stood me in good stead along the Camino.

lots of love and good wishes to you on your Way!

How hard it must be to lose a child or grandchild and to watch them suffer before they go. What a beautiful thing you did to walk the Camino for him and with him in your thoughts and in your heart. I'm so sorry for your loss. I found out from others that I can get a Compostela with my friend's name on it. It might be of some comfort to his wife. I'm sure he doesn't need the help to get into Heaven, but it's one small thing I can do to to give a little comfort to someone going through a tough time.