Thought I’d try a catholic pilgrimage. Any information on monasteries, churches, religious sites or any other insights would be appreciated.
Thanks
Thoughts carried on the midnight breeze under a clouded sky:
Pilgrim: I’m bored. Is this all there is? During the many decades of my working life, my conceit was that if I only had the time, I could do great things. I’ve been comfortably retired now for three years and have not done much of anything except pander to every passing fancy.
Jesus: You can’t live by bread alone. The great things you thought you’d do were of this world and just a dream. But you did stumble towards the light. Recall that of your own free will, you undertook two arduous pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela in 2012 and 2014. Is it just a passing whim that you intend to go on yet another when the snow clears in 2016?
Pilgrim: I cannot deceive you, Jesus. My motivation in undertaking those pilgrimages was not primarily religious. I thought I would have a good time – and I did. Though, now you mention it, I did feel your presence at times. Fleeting, golden moments of sublime ecstasy no sooner realized than gone; but most times, I forget you; other times I struggle to believe.
Jesus: All who walk are blessed, though many know not what they do. I see you as the sun sets over a Camino village. You leave the warmth of your friends’ company for the cold stone of my house. You are sitting all alone in the huge cavernous church. There are only seven elderly Spanish ladies to celebrate the sacred mysteries. I know how desolate you felt when my frail overworked priest limped in with his frayed tunic and taped responses to the mass, the plaintive singing, the crumbling walls, how you pitied my poor church, how sad you were.
Pilgrim: I thought of all the saints and martyrs going to their death singing your praises; the untold millions baptized, married and buried in your name through the centuries; the magnificent cathedrals filled to bursting with the faithful - reduced to this- a congregation of seven and my own weak self in a crumbling church in an abandoned village in the middle of nowhere. My heart broke. But then I re-joined my fellow pilgrims; feasted, drank wine, laughed, made merry; and forgot.
Jesus: Do not despair. The beloved are just asleep. A new dawn is breaking and soon they will awake. I am glad you were not long cast down. It is good to have joy in your life. Remember that I changed water into the finest wine for the celebrations at Cana; wine to gladden the heart of man.
I have a proposal: take me with you on your next Camino; try to walk a Catholic pilgrimage and see where it takes you.
Lucifer: Don’t abandon your life of ease. You’ll just stress yourself out going on a pilgrimage with Jesus; you’ll be a figure of fun for the sophisticates of this world. I know this guy from a long time ago. I offered him everything in the desert, but no, he had to go and die on the cross. For what? For a bunch of ungrateful louts who don’t even remember him today. You’ll be all alone. He’s yesterday’s man. I’m the man, the man of the hour. Hang around with me and you’ll have lots of fun. I’ll find work for your idle hands. We’ll ramp up the pleasures and have a really good time.
St. James: Be gone Satan. Sully not the ears of my pilgrim with your vile calumny.
Pilgrim: I’m not sure, Jesus. I’m pretty weak.
Jesus: Have faith. I’ll be with you. My grace is sufficient for you because power is perfected in weakness. I am the Way, the truth and life.
Pilgrim: I’ll try.
The clouds clear and the moon and stars shine down.
Thanks
Thoughts carried on the midnight breeze under a clouded sky:
Pilgrim: I’m bored. Is this all there is? During the many decades of my working life, my conceit was that if I only had the time, I could do great things. I’ve been comfortably retired now for three years and have not done much of anything except pander to every passing fancy.
Jesus: You can’t live by bread alone. The great things you thought you’d do were of this world and just a dream. But you did stumble towards the light. Recall that of your own free will, you undertook two arduous pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela in 2012 and 2014. Is it just a passing whim that you intend to go on yet another when the snow clears in 2016?
Pilgrim: I cannot deceive you, Jesus. My motivation in undertaking those pilgrimages was not primarily religious. I thought I would have a good time – and I did. Though, now you mention it, I did feel your presence at times. Fleeting, golden moments of sublime ecstasy no sooner realized than gone; but most times, I forget you; other times I struggle to believe.
Jesus: All who walk are blessed, though many know not what they do. I see you as the sun sets over a Camino village. You leave the warmth of your friends’ company for the cold stone of my house. You are sitting all alone in the huge cavernous church. There are only seven elderly Spanish ladies to celebrate the sacred mysteries. I know how desolate you felt when my frail overworked priest limped in with his frayed tunic and taped responses to the mass, the plaintive singing, the crumbling walls, how you pitied my poor church, how sad you were.
Pilgrim: I thought of all the saints and martyrs going to their death singing your praises; the untold millions baptized, married and buried in your name through the centuries; the magnificent cathedrals filled to bursting with the faithful - reduced to this- a congregation of seven and my own weak self in a crumbling church in an abandoned village in the middle of nowhere. My heart broke. But then I re-joined my fellow pilgrims; feasted, drank wine, laughed, made merry; and forgot.
Jesus: Do not despair. The beloved are just asleep. A new dawn is breaking and soon they will awake. I am glad you were not long cast down. It is good to have joy in your life. Remember that I changed water into the finest wine for the celebrations at Cana; wine to gladden the heart of man.
I have a proposal: take me with you on your next Camino; try to walk a Catholic pilgrimage and see where it takes you.
Lucifer: Don’t abandon your life of ease. You’ll just stress yourself out going on a pilgrimage with Jesus; you’ll be a figure of fun for the sophisticates of this world. I know this guy from a long time ago. I offered him everything in the desert, but no, he had to go and die on the cross. For what? For a bunch of ungrateful louts who don’t even remember him today. You’ll be all alone. He’s yesterday’s man. I’m the man, the man of the hour. Hang around with me and you’ll have lots of fun. I’ll find work for your idle hands. We’ll ramp up the pleasures and have a really good time.
St. James: Be gone Satan. Sully not the ears of my pilgrim with your vile calumny.
Pilgrim: I’m not sure, Jesus. I’m pretty weak.
Jesus: Have faith. I’ll be with you. My grace is sufficient for you because power is perfected in weakness. I am the Way, the truth and life.
Pilgrim: I’ll try.
The clouds clear and the moon and stars shine down.
I am sure others will mention those that I have forgotten. Buen Camino, SY
