I plan on doing the the Frances is it possible to go to Mass everyday

John White · Oct 24, 2015

I have read different things and have questions. My plan is to do the Camino as a Pilgrimage. Is it possbile to attend Mass every day along the way. Should I plan on reserving rooms in each town or hope that the hostels will have room? I worry about how my knees will hold out are there doctors along the way?

If all goes to my plan I start in early July is this a good/bad or OK time for weather, crowds, ... Thanks in advance for you replies and advice.
John

Rebekah Scott · Oct 24, 2015

you will have a hard time finding a Mass every day. Your Holy Sacrifice may just be sacrificing the daily Mass... but pilgrims get an official pass, from what I understand!

Peter Fransiscus · Oct 24, 2015

John White said:
I have read different things and have questions. My plan is to do the Camino as a Pilgrimage. Is it possbile to attend Mass every day along the way. Should I plan on reserving rooms in each town or hope that the hostels will have room? I worry about how my knees will hold out are there doctors along the way?

If all goes to my plan I start in early July is this a good/bad or OK time for weather, crowds, ... Thanks in advance for you replies and advice.
John

Hi John, as already stated you will have a hard time attending Mass every day.
The weather is at it is, we can predict it.
There are doctors along the way.
Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

Bajaracer · Oct 24, 2015

John White said:
I have read different things and have questions. My plan is to do the Camino as a Pilgrimage. Is it possbile to attend Mass every day along the way. Should I plan on reserving rooms in each town or hope that the hostels will have room? I worry about how my knees will hold out are there doctors along the way?

If all goes to my plan I start in early July is this a good/bad or OK time for weather, crowds, ... Thanks in advance for you replies and advice.
John

You're going to need this link.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zcf5zDxSIzv4.kExF_twLHLRg&msa=0

Deleted member 3000 · Oct 24, 2015

John White said:
I start in early July is this a good/bad or OK time for weather, crowds

July and August are the busiest months, so there will be crowds! The numbers are barely tapering off in October of this year, with 700 to 1,500 a day. It is becoming harder to find a bed, so reserving ahead may be a good idea. Crowds are not a problem if you keep a good attitude about them. Buen camino.

spursfan · Oct 24, 2015

Don't get fixated on needing to go to mass each and every day - but there will be lots of opportunities to pray in churches along the way - also monastries and convents

Anniesantiago · Oct 24, 2015

Probably not EVERY day, but I had a couple of pilgrims with me two years ago that nearly managed to attend Mass every day!
You'll need to check the door of the church in each village where you stay for times, as they change.

oursonpolaire · Oct 24, 2015

Rebekah is on the ground and knows more of this than I do, but in eight Caminos I had little trouble in finding a mass in a village church in the evening and I would agree with Anniesantiago.- I would guess about 80% of the time-- and this includes less-frequented Caminos. With the lessening number of priests, I think that mass availability will also diminish in the next few years but others have described how this should not be a killer for the churchgoing pilgrim. Your challenge might be simply that it is not always easy to find out what time masses are-- many churches do not post times, and not everyone in a village or town will know-- we need to remember that many Spaniards are not believers and honestly will have no idea. Even hospitaleros will not always know but, as Rebekah once advised me, when you need to know something in Spain, ask the bartender. If he doesn't know, he'll find out for you.

mspath · Oct 24, 2015

Another good source of Spanish info is a local pharmacist. Generally multi-lingual he can often provide many types of help including the location of hidden ATMs.

purplesage · Oct 24, 2015

John White said:
I have read different things and have questions. My plan is to do the Camino as a Pilgrimage. Is it possbile to attend Mass every day along the way. Should I plan on reserving rooms in each town or hope that the hostels will have room? I worry about how my knees will hold out are there doctors along the way?

If all goes to my plan I start in early July is this a good/bad or OK time for weather, crowds, ... Thanks in advance for you replies and advice.
John

John, Usually not where one may be stopping.... which can be a little village somewhere. They'd have a church alright, but no one to say mass.... which is sad. What I've learned is to find out the nearest place to where you will be sleeping.... a town or city.... get a taxi back and forth.... and you'd be able to attend a mass in the evenings. I've done this.... sometimes its hard on the pocket if you're doing this alone, but you are very likely to find fellow pilgrims who might want to join you and thereby share the taxi fare. Buen Camino

JabbaPapa · Oct 24, 2015

You could only find a Mass every day if you focused during your Camino on nothing else -- then, you might find a priest to walk with.

Your Camino, not ours. Does sound like a superb plan though

annakappa · Oct 24, 2015

JabbaPapa said:
You could only find a Mass every day if you focused during your Camino on nothing else -- then, you might find a priest to walk with.

Your Camino, not ours. Does sound like a superb plan though

Well, yes....you might have more success if you found a priest to walk with!
Joking apart, not all priests say Mass every day, but they do recite the Hours. Liturgias de las Horas ( not sure how you say it in English)! Sometimes we have searched around for a Mass and no one could tell us anything! The attentive Hospitalero should know. But...!
I definately must say that I have NOT found Mass said every time I stopped for the day (or even the next morning)!
However, you will find many churches open during the day, so, take a pause......

JabbaPapa · Oct 24, 2015

annakappa said:
not all priests say Mass every day

Likely you're right, but apart from Easter Friday and Saturday, they are required to.

Bala · Oct 24, 2015

John, I just returned from 14 nights on the Camino, SJPP to Burgos. We attended mass every day but 2 -- Valcarlos and Larasoana. On 2 occasions I even managed, quite by accident, to go to Mass morning and evening.

Masses were without doubt the highlight of my pilgrimage, in fact, for me, that's what made it a pilgrimage . Here are a couple special moments:

In virtually all cases, the Mass celebrated was a pilgrim's Mass. Each priest did things slightly differently, but we were almost always called forward after the final blessing and special prayers were said. In one case each pilgrim was given a Cross of Lorraine, which had just been blessed at Mass and the priest personally placed it around the neck of each pilgrim. In another we were invited to ring a special pilgrim's bell (3 times each) and then each of us signed the church guest book with our names, countries, and the date of our visit. At another church, we read gospel passages that were particularly appropriate for pilgrims and then prayed an Our Father together, each in our various languages!

On several occasions the priest made a point of telling us the people of the parish regularly pray for pilgrims and their safe journeys. And in every case the Spaniards in attendance motioned us up to the front if we seemed uncertain.

Mass was usually at 7:30 or 8 pm, plenty of time to shower, wash clothes, even enjoy a vino tinto without breaking the hour fast . Times were always posted on the church doors.

We were sticking to the standard Brierley stages, so I don't know how easily available Mass would be if you stopped in some small town that didn't see a lot of pilgrims. But I did see signs on the doors of several churches where I stopped in during the day.

I think it may be a matter of "seek and ye shall find." Good luck to you and Buen Camino! -- Bala

oursonpolaire · Oct 24, 2015

I should have also noted that one of my Australian friends was sufficiently taken by Spanish churches (she was Assemblies of God and so people from Oz will know the significance of this) that she would not only attend the village mass but would often join the local women who would gather to say the rosary in the absence of a priest.

annakappa · Oct 25, 2015

JabbaPapa said:
Likely you're right, but apart from Easter Friday and Saturday, they are required to.

Well, we used to have an Italian Friend priest who often came and stayed with us here, (now sadly departed). I asked him once regards saying Mass each day and he said no, but he was obliged to say the Liturgia de las Horas. He would sometimes attend a weekday Mass when with us and only on Sunday's did he co-celebrate.
Until then, I always supposed that priests should say daily Mass.

JabbaPapa · Oct 25, 2015

annakappa said:
Well, we used to have an Italian Friend priest who often came and stayed with us here, (now sadly departed). I asked him once regards saying Mass each day and he said no, but he was obliged to say the Liturgia de las Horas. He would sometimes attend a weekday Mass when with us and only on Sunday's did he co-celebrate.
Until then, I always supposed that priests should say daily Mass.

Many priests fail to adhere to the requirement, but that doesn't mean it's non-existent.

Though it's true on the other hand that saying the Mass alone is actively discouraged.

Paul C · Oct 25, 2015

Just for information, Catholic priests are under no obligation to celebrate Mass every day.

They are obliged to celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours (the 'Office') however.

Albertagirl · Oct 25, 2015

I am currently in Sahagun, after walking from Ledigos this morning (Sunday). I found a mass to attend, but largely by accident. There was no mass posted on the church door at Ledigid, none at Teradillo de los Templarios, a mass for last Sunday posted at Moratinos, and a woma n with a large key heading for the church in San Nicolas del Real Camino. When I pointed out to her that I had passed four churches with only one mass, her response was "12 churches, one priest." Yes, there are evening masses various days of the week in the larger Camino centres, although I had to miss the mass in Fromista this week, because it was not in one of the nearer churches that are known to me. From what I have seen so far, churches are almost always locked, except for scheduled masses. If these are posted somewhere, it will probably not be on the locked door or gate outside the church. If you stay only in major centres and make a priority of attending mass, you may manage to do so several times a week. But I defer to those with more experience than myself.

timr · Oct 25, 2015

I am a Catholic priest.
Catholic priests are not obliged to celebrate Mass every day.

The Code of Canon Law, as revised in 1983 states:
Canon 276,2,2: [Clerics] are to nourish their spiritual life from the two-fold table of sacred scripture and the Eucharist; therefore, priests are earnestly invited [my italics] to offer the eucharistic sacrifice daily and deacons to participate in its offering daily;
while Canon276.2.3 states:
-priests and deacons aspiring to the presbyterate are obliged [my italics] to carry out the liturgy of the hours daily according to the proper and approved liturgical books; permanent deacons, however, are to carry out the same to the extent defined by the conference of bishops;

In relation to saying Mass alone, the "old" Code of Canon Law (1917) required a "grave" cause, while the present Code requires [merely] a "just" cause.
In the new Code, Canon 906 states: Except for a just and reasonable cause, a priest is not to celebrate the eucharistic sacrifice without the participation of at least some member of the faithful. [So this is a relaxation].

Canon 904 states: Remembering always that in the mystery of the eucharistic sacrifice the work of redemption is exercised continually, priests are to celebrate frequently; indeed, daily celebration is recommended earnestly [my itlalics] since, even if the faithful cannot be present, it is the act of Christ and the Church in which priests fulfill their principal function.

Anemone del Camino · Oct 25, 2015

I'm confused. Preists saying mass to noone serves à purpose, or not? And is something prefered to not saying it at all? But is not mandatory? Is that correct? Thank you.

timr · Oct 25, 2015

I am a Catholic priest.
I would agree with several people above, that approx 80% of the time (on the Camino Frances) it is possible to find a Mass, assuming you are staying in at least a village of some sort. Times vary 7pm, 7:30pm or 8pm. Albergues usually have a notice somewhere, but it may often have been obscured by other notices. My experience has been that local priests are generally very welcoming of pilgrims, and often the evening Mass is specifically designated as a "pilgrim Mass." By which I mean, participation of non-Spanish speakers is encouraged. The first reading and/or the Gospel may be read in another language as well as, or instead of, Spanish. If I was concelebrating, I was usually invited to say part of the Canon of the Mass in English.
I was in Santa Catalina de Somoza (between Astorga and Rabanal) earlier this year on Sunday morning about to have a coffee break when I heard a bell ringing and went to investigate. I was able to join 6 other people for Sunday Mass!
In addition, parochial albergues, and convent and monastery albergues will always have Mass and/or Evening prayer and a pilgrim blessing. Sometimes, as in Rabanal, the Mass is in the morning when most people will have moved on. If you have never been to Evening or Night Prayer, and would like to experience it, may I recommend in particular the parochial albergue in Carrion de los Condes, the Benedictine Monastery in Rabanal, the large Benedictine Convent (with albergue) in Leon, the Benedictine convent in Sahagun, the Parochial albergue in Tosantos, and many others. For people with no experience of formal Christianity, or of a Catholic service, evening prayer is very approachable and certainly everyone is welcome.
My experience of walking on the Norte is that it is much harder to find a pilgrim mass.

timr · Oct 25, 2015

To the OP
I am a physician. I am a physician who chooses always not to heal himself.
So I have on the odd occasion looked for medical advice along the way. The Farmacia is generally a very reliable place to get advice and treatment. And as noted above, the pharmacist relatively likely to speak some English. They can also point you in the direction of a clinic if necessary. I had to consult a doctor this year, in order to get a prescription medicine. It was quick and simple and (at least for EEC nationals with an EHIC), entirely free. There was a nominal charge for prescription medication, perhaps €8.
I also consulted a chiropodist once in Carrion de los Condes (called Inigo) who was exceptionally helpful. Certainly along the Frances, people want to help you I think!

timr · Oct 25, 2015

Anemone del Camino said:
I'm confused. Preists saying mass to noone serves à purpose, or not? And is something prefered to not saying it at all? But is not mandatory? Is that correct? Thank you.

@Anemone del Camino
Mass, that is the Eucharist, is a sacrifice offered to God, so saying Mass without a 'congregation' does "serve a purpose". But generally it is the act of the Christian community, so it is considered preferable to have others to take part. But it is not strictly required to have others present, whereas before 1983 it was much more strongly required.

Anemone del Camino · Oct 25, 2015

timr said:
@Anemone del Camino
Mass, that is the Eucharist, is a sacrifice offered to God, so saying Mass without a 'congregation' does "serve a purpose". But generally it is the act of the Christian community, so it is considered preferable to have others to take part. But it is not strictly required to have others present, whereas before 1983 it was much more strongly required.

And then do you go through all its different parts, or just jump the communion, no readings, etc.?

timr · Oct 25, 2015

Anemone del Camino said:
And then do you go through all its different parts, or just jump the communion, no readings, etc.?

@Anemone del Camino
Indeed if a priest says Mass alone, the complete Mass must be said, including the readings.

Anemone del Camino · Oct 25, 2015

timr said:
@Anemone del Camino
Indeed if a priest says Mass alone, the complete Mass must be said, including the readings.

Thank you so much for having taken the time to explain. Very interesting.

timr · Oct 25, 2015

Anemone del Camino said:
Thank you so much for having taken the time to explain. Very interesting.

De nada.

Anemone del Camino · Oct 25, 2015

timr said:
De nada.

When is San Juan de Oreteg a fellow pilgrim, Anglican priest, explained the dirent ways the chuch bells ring. Do you know anything about that? If so, perhaps a new thread?

SabsP · Oct 25, 2015

timr said:
@Anemone del Camino
Mass, that is the Eucharist, is a sacrifice offered to God, so saying Mass without a 'congregation' does "serve a purpose". But generally it is the act of the Christian community, so it is considered preferable to have others to take part. But it is not strictly required to have others present, whereas before 1983 it was much more strongly required.

Slightly off topic. I remember years ago on a regular holiday in Extremadura we were visiting the Monasterio de la Virgen de Guadalupe( Extremadura, Spain ) . It was low season and we had a guided tour with three Spanish people, my partner and a German priest. The tour was in Spanish and I translated in Dutch to my partner and he translated it to German for the priest.
After closing time the priest celebrated Mass at the main altar only for my partner and myself. A very special and unique experience indeed.

timr · Oct 25, 2015

Anemone del Camino said:
When is San Juan de Oreteg a fellow pilgrim, Anglican priest, explained the dirent ways the chuch bells ring. Do you know anything about that? If so, perhaps a new thread?

Not my area of expertise! (But the old monastery albergue at San Juan de Ortega one of my favourites!!)
So maybe proceed to a new thread....

simply B · Oct 26, 2015

@JabbaPapa -

What this all boils down to is that "recommended earnestly" really means "are ordinarily required to"

Ummm... I am thinking that you do not have to get involved with much in the way of law. And, good for you, if that's the case. But I think I'll read the Canon Law in strict, legal sense rather than with your interesting (tho' apparently earnest) substitutions in word meanings.

Let it go... the OP has some very good answers above from recent experience, and probably little need (interest?) of education in Canon Law.

B

Kanga · Oct 27, 2015

A reminder that Forum Rules do not allow discussions about religion. We do tolerate quite a bit because of the nature of the Camino, but the line was crossed in this thread. No personal insults or attacks please.

I think the OP has had his question answered so for now I will close the thread.

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I plan on doing the the Frances is it possible to go to Mass everyday

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