There are a lot of very valuable comments in this dialog. Thank you all.
I am sorry for how long my posting is. But those of you know me will understand that this pushes my buttons...HARD. For those of you who I have not had the pleasure to meet, again, I regret the length. However, there are some gems in what follows...use them as appropriate...
I agree with increasing the distance, in concept. However, I also very well understand the very visceral, political and economic realities of doing so in Spain. My ideas or recommendations, below, add to what Rebekah stated above and approach the end result from a simple maxim: "Instead of raising the bridge, lower the water..."
Increasing the required distance raises the bridge and affects all pilgrims, including those with special needs. "Lowering the water" also affects all pilgrims, but in a manner than affects each person individually, not all pilgrims as a class.
I think the end result of adopting at least some of my ideas would likely be similar. That result is fewer people will hang their entire Camino experience on the paper document - the Compostela. I agree with all of those who desire to increase the sincerity, solemness, and spiritual accomplishment of completing a proper Camino.
However, I also feel this desired result would be reached, without much of the vitriol and anxiety that simply drawing a larger diameter radius for starting a Camino entails. While a simple tactic for reducing pilgrim numbers among some tranches of the current Pilgrim demographic, simply requiring more distance will not work and will likely never happen. So, and accordingly, I cam up with alternative, process solutions, that should achieve a similar outcome.
On the other hand, from what I have seen among the "Camino Quickee" crowd over three years, many people will simply find more and clever ways to cheat the system. I believe the current system needs to change to remove the inducement to cheat, by eliminating the free FREE benefit at the end. All of what I propose is about increasing value, both to the individual pilgrim and the Camino community writ large.
My view, predicated on walking three Caminos and having served a total of six-weeks as a volunteer at the Pilgrim Office, mirrors some of Rebekah's outstanding thoughts, above. To wit:
"Pilgrims who hike across continents should not be awarded the same as people who've done the four-day, four-star "Camino Quickee Tour." The cathedral seems to have abandoned its initial hope to keep the Compostela a "precious document of holy vows completed," and has simply gone into the souvenir business at worst, and traffic-policing at best."
I agree totally with this sentiment. This past August, I implored, no...begged, the Pilgrim Office management, and Fr. Jaime (? surname) who oversees the ACC (Acogida Cristiana en en Camino) on several occasions over a month, to PLEASE find a way at the new Pilgrim Office to separate out those requesting the Compostela as a spiritual document, from "the tourists." I sought to remove issuing the free Compostela from those who wanted a Compostela, but as one FREE item on their shopping list of certificates, souvenirs, baubles and what not, that they were intent on purchasing while in this (supposedly solemn) Cathedral space.
Incidentally, all of this added-on"tripe" for purchase contributes in a straight-line fashion to queues, aggravation and displeasure among the arriving pilgrims. Perhaps ironically, or not, in my observation, the loudest complainers were those in the largest sub-groups (fewer than 4 or 5), or with the longest shopping lists, who had walked the shortest distances...I am just sayin...
My specific comment to Fr. Jaime at the time was that the current atmosphere is akin to Jesus in the courtyard of the Temple in Jerusalem overturning the money changer and vendor carts. We have, perhaps accidentally, turned part of a house of God into a marketplace.
While I understand the need for the Pilgrim Office to be self-sufficient financially (they are NOT supported by the Cathedral budget if I recall correctly), I believe that changes to the current business plan are indicated. The current atmosphere (2015) is not conductive to spirituality and solemness, at least IMHO.
For example, as part of my 2015 pleading, I recommended that there be an onsite tienda at the new Pilgrim Office (Lord knows they have the space) that would sell all the souvenir and devotional items, as well as laser-printed distance / mileage certificates. I strongly maintain that issuance of the formal Compostela should be done in a more serious and devout manner and setting.
Knowing that approximately half of all Pilgrims start in Sarria, and are on the "Camino Quikee Tour" as Rebekah so concisely states it, I make the following recommendation for any and all who can actually DO SOMETHING with it.
First, we start with a suggest, revised policy for the Archbishop to "issue."
"To increase the devotional and sincere aspect of the accomplishment of a proper Camino, Compostelas should cease to be dispensed for free. Instead, and upon proper certification of completing a Camino, as specified by the relevant authorities, a Compostela may be obtained at a nominal fee, and solely at the Pilgrim Office in Santiago de Compostela. In lieu of a free Compostela, on request, any arriving Pilgrim with a properly completed pilgrim credencial, may receive a free stamp of the Cathedral and Archbishop that documents completion of the pilgrimage. Said stamp(s) will be affixed to the validated credencial"
Second, I considered the following ideas when proposing this simple but profound policy and process change:
- The "cheap holiday" and "Camino Quickee Tour" folks will be dissuaded from standing in line to get something for free, because nothing will be free. At the Pilgrim Office, there would be a separate place, and queue for persons who only desire a sello / stamp, and "close-out" of their Credencial by Pilgrim Office staff (volunteers included).
- Fees from the now, at cost, Compostela should be used to hire one or more qualified calligraphers. The official, staff calligrapher(s) will write the Compostelas upon being told to issue one, by the Pilgrim Office staff person (including volunteers) conducting the arrival interview. The resulting document will be more worth the cost, and will increase the felt value of the entire experience to the Pilgrim.
- Yes, it will increase gross Pilgrim Office revenues, but the intention is to pay for the calligrapher, not necessarily to turn a profit. Surely, there are trained calligraphers in or near Sanitago who would leap at the job opportunity. It is an ancient city, a UNESCO site, and a university city. Spanish labor laws aside, I would propose a minimum wage, with a per Compostela, piece rate payment, to keep production proceeding, especially during the peak season.
- Yes, the Church has been issuing a free Compostela certificate for more than 800 years. However, consider that this started at a time when it was absolutely needed in an era when only clergy could read and write, and the ONLY way you could PROVE you actually completed the pilgrimage was written proof, complete with wax and ribbon seals. The original Compostelas were handwritten, and given on parchment, then vellum, both of which were more durable than paper certificates.
- Currently, many pilgrims take GPS-tagged photos holding their Compostelas on leaving the Pilgrim Office using digital camera or smart phones. I have personally taken hundreds if not thousands of these happy photos. I even adopted a red clown / payaso nose to compel people to laugh.
- Adopting the modern view, one could argue that the paper Compostela was an anachronism, a useless link to an ancient time, with little current value. I would argue that taking photos that have the time, date, and GPS location connected forever to the image electronically, is a far better idea. We could use a standard prop, a "stage" Compostela if you will to stand in for a personalized, free document, or not, whatever works...
- Affixing the formal stamp of the Cathedral and Archbishop on a completed credencial, to signify the successful completion of the Camino, by authorized Pilgrim Office staff, should be adequate to document the Camino. See the policy statement above...
- God, the Angels, Saints and whoever staffs the Pearly Gates will not need to see an earthly piece of paper to document your completion of a Camino and arrival at the Gates of Heaven with your indulgences. Besides, any such paper will long ago have become dust. Consider that...
- All indulgences and spiritual benefits that confer upon one's SOUL from having completed a Camino are just that...SPIRITUAL. Perhaps that is why we see more and more repeat pilgrims simply requesting "solo sello" to document in their credencial that they finished their Camino, but they do not desire a Compostela, even a free one. There is veritas at work here....
- These repeat pilgrims KNOW what they have accomplished, as does the BIG GUY above. To paraphrase a comedic movie from the 1970's: "...(Compostelas, COMPOSTELAS!) we don need no "stinkin" (Compostelas)...! I am using humor here to make a point. NO insult to anyone is intended (sic). The point is that, if you did it (a Camino), you and the Big Guy know it. No piece of paper is going to convince St. Peter and the Angels to let you pass...it is stamped on your immortal soul. Of course, this is problematic if you are not a believer...But I do not judge...
- God knows all, and man goes nuts thinking somehow, that physical, earthly documentation will make a difference in the end...
I am perplexed....
I hope this helps the dialog...actually, I hope the doable bits of this find their way to someone who can act on them...
Feliz Navidad everyone...!
