Washing a Pilgrim's Feet at the Cathedral

[nilesite]

In Shirley MacLaine's book, she says that when she arrived at the Cathedral, her credencial was stamped and a priest bathed her feet. This was in July 2000. Does anyone of that era or before have any experience with feet being washed upon a pilgrim's arrival?

 

[Tincatinker]

Ms MacLaine's imaginative powers are renowned.

The only historic washing point I am aware of is at Lavacolla on the outskirts of Santiago, though the popular translation of its name doesn't relate to feet. It was also, reputed to be, the location of many tavernas and brothels offering one last opportunity to rack up a few more sins prior to absolution and a life of new found purity.

 

[nilesite]

Ms MacLaine's imaginative powers are renowned.

The only historic washing point I am aware of is at Lavacolla on the outskirts of Santiago, though the popular translation of its name doesn't relate to feet. It was also, reputed to be, the location of many tavernas and brothels offering one last opportunity to rack up a few more sins prior to absolution and a life of new found purity.

Ha!

Lavacolla is meant to remind us that pilgrim hygiene is important! She is quite specific to being in the Cathedral. If it's her imagination, that's fine. I'm seeing if anyone else knows about this as a practice.

 

[oursonpolaire]

Unless she hit Santiago on Maundy Thursday..... I first arrived at the Cathedral in 2002, didn't see it then, and have never heard of a pilgrim speak of this.

 

[nilesite]

Yeah. I thought of that too - it was July.

 

[David Tallan]

Accounts before and shortly after 2000 do not discuss a foot-washing. Some that I just pulled off the shelf to check include: Laurie Dennett (late 1980s), Jack Hitt (early 1990s), Hape Kerkeling (2001), Tim Moore (2004). I'm afraid this does cast some doubt on the reliability of her account. Had their feet been washed in the cathedral, I'm sure these authors would have mentioned it. (I can't speak to my own experience in 1989 as I didn't seek a compostela that pilgrimage.)

While Lavacolla was certainly a historic washing point, it isn't foot-washing I'd always heard it associated with. ;-)

The foot washing place I'm familiar with is somewhat earlier in the Camino, at the Saint Nicholas albergue run by the Italians. I'm not sure how long they've been there doing that, though. Being charitable, perhaps Ms. MacLaine experienced it there and moved it to Santiago in her book as literary license for greater impact?

 

[nilesite]

I reminded my daughters every day we walked to make sure their fannies were clean. I have several 19th c. accounts too - nowhere does it say anything about feet washing in Santiago anywhere.

 

[nycwalking]

In Shirley MacLaine's book, she says that when she arrived at the Cathedral, her credencial was stamped and a priest bathed her feet. This was in July 2000. Does anyone of that era or before have any experience with feet being washed upon a pilgrim's arrival?

SM’s feet may have been washed in a time before the present.

You know, one of her past lives.

I first arrived in Santiago September 2001, no foot washing in sight.

No crazed dog gangs in Foncebadon either; thank you Shirley MacLaine and Paulo Coehlo.

 

[fransw]

The only foot washing place I know is in Lascabanes(Lot) on the via Podiensis, every day at 6 PM in the church .

 

[nilesite]

Thank you. I'm writing a book and I need to be able to say one way or the other if this was done in recent memory.

 

[Sara_Dhooma]

Not the Camino, but I had my feet washed by a Baptist Church member in Virginia on the Appalachian Trail in 2014. Plus a massage, visit with an orthopedic surgeon about some foot pain, and a haircut!

In this video: Appalachian Trail Day 41 (starts at the 45-second mark)

A very unique experience.

 

[nilesite]

That's very sweet.

 

[Tincatinker]

Thank you. I'm writing a book and I need to be able to say one way or the other if this was done in recent memory.

I think one of us would have remembered. I can't even find any reference to such a sacramental act in historic times let alone during the modern revival (praeter MacClaine). I think you can take comfort in absence rather than occurrence.

 

[oursonpolaire]

Accounts before and shortly after 2000 do not discuss a foot-washing. Some that I just pulled off the shelf to check include: Laurie Dennett (late 1980s), Jack Hitt (early 1990s), Hape Kerkeling (2001), Tim Moore (2004). I'm afraid this does cast some doubt on the reliability of her account. Had their feet been washed in the cathedral, I'm sure these authors would have mentioned it. (I can't speak to my own experience in 1989 as I didn't seek a compostela that pilgrimage.)

While Lavacolla was certainly a historic washing point, it isn't foot-washing I'd always heard it associated with. ;-)

The foot washing place I'm familiar with is somewhat earlier in the Camino, at the Saint Nicholas albergue run by the Italians. I'm not sure how long they've been there doing that, though. Being charitable, perhaps Ms. MacLaine experienced it there and moved it to Santiago in her book as literary license for greater impact?

Perhaps it's simply a matter of conflation more than intentional licence-- she had a recollection of the experience in San Nicolas, and then placed it in her memory in Santiago. Memory does play tricks. I had a milder version of this type of error, retailing particular incident of being invited to an 80th birthday party, and placed it in Jaca at the casino. Trying to find a photo of the casino some years later, I realized that it had happened in Huesca but, in the interim, had directed people to see the arte nouveau imagery at the very different (and perhaps less exciting) casino in Jaca.

 

[David Tallan]

Perhaps it's simply a matter of conflation more than intentional licence-- she had a recollection of the experience in San Nicolas, and then placed it in her memory in Santiago. Memory does play tricks. I had a milder version of this type of error, retailing particular incident of being invited to an 80th birthday party, and placed it in Jaca at the casino. Trying to find a photo of the casino some years later, I realized that it had happened in Huesca but, in the interim, had directed people to see the arte nouveau imagery at the very different (and perhaps less exciting) casino in Jaca.

Perhaps. I can certainly see getting confused as to which albergue washed your feet, but to transpose from the albergue setting to the pilgrim office where you get your compostela seems a much greater leap and more likely planned.

 

[oursonpolaire]

Perhaps. I can certainly see getting confused as to which albergue washed your feet, but to transpose from the albergue setting to the pilgrim office where you get your compostela seems a much greater leap and more likely planned.

I think that neither you nor I would have confused an albergue and a cathedral, but Ms MacLaine has perhaps evinced different levels of perception..... than you or I would have.

 

[trecile]

I haven't read MacLaine's book, but from what I've heard about it I would consider it semi-fiction, and not use it for research purposes.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I walked in 2001 and no one washed my feet for me. The albergue at St. Nicolas was not an albergue then, so she couldn't have experienced it there.
But then again, Shirley experienced mystical union with Charlemagne whilst on the camino, so who's to say a priest didn't wash her feet at the pilgrim office?

 

[Old Crow]

In 2014 I spent a night of Easter week in Carrion De Los Condes and attended the evening service at the Iglesia de Santa Maria. As we entered, one of the clergy selected about 8 of us from the congregation, 2 pilgrims and 6 locals, to sit separately. At the right time, we were led to the front of the church and had our feet washed as part of the service. I found it very moving.

 

[Jomas]

I walked in 2001 and no one washed my feet for me. The albergue at St. Nicolas was not an albergue then, so she couldn't have experienced it there.
But then again, Shirley experienced mystical union with Charlemagne whilst on the camino, so who's to say a priest didn't wash her feet at the pilgrim office?

Information from the official site of the Brotherhood of St. James says that the Albergues of San Nicolas was born in 1994. It is not written whether it was already operational at that time. But I will ask the person who introduced me to the French way and who is a member of the Brotherhood

 

[Deleted member 2518]

In Shirley MacLaine's book, she says that when she arrived at the Cathedral, her credencial was stamped and a priest bathed her feet. This was in July 2000. Does anyone of that era or before have any experience with feet being washed upon a pilgrim's arrival?

 

[Deleted member 2518]

She also states she was a handmaiden of Charlemagne in a previous life.
It was months after I read this, that I realized that I was Charlemagne in a previous life.

 

[kaylfrazer]

Definitely nothing at Santiago in October 2001 but did have my feet washed at San Nicholas in September 2003.

 

[Jomas]

was born in 1994
I will ask the person who introduced me to the French way and who is a member of the Brotherhood

just for the record. he told me that the structure began its work in 1994. The name that was once is "Hospital of San Nicolás de Puente Fitero". This choice, rather than Refugio or Albergue, is closely linked to the etymological root of "hosting" which implies the sense of true welcome, of gratuitousness and of service to those in need (those who welcome a pilgrim and as if welcoming the same St. James and Christ himself). Over the years it has been included in the category of "Albergues" but for the brotherhood the real name remains Hospital. Foot washing is still a practice in use

 

[MarkN]

My wife completed her first Camino in Nov of 2001 and has many many observations of things that have changed since her second Camino in 2016.
However she sadly missed out on any foot washing. She said she never saw or heard of such a thing.

 

[nilesite]

I think it's fairly safe to say it didn't happen to anyone else.