A
Anonymous
Guest
Came upon this interesting article today.
Talking about reviving old customs!
Buen Camino,
xm
Rent-a-pilgrim: he walks, you pay $2,500
Giles Tremlett
Friday November 24, 2006
The Guardian
He calls himself "the payer-off of promises", but Portuguese computer expert Carlos Gil could just as easily go by the name of "rent-a-pilgrim".
Mr Gil has revived a 700-year-old tradition by hiring himself out to go on pilgrimages for those too infirm, too busy or just too lazy to go themselves.
His twice-yearly pilgrimages to the shrine at Fatima, in central Portugal, are now financed by those who wish to fulfil pledges secretly given in their prayers.
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He charges $2,500 (£1,300) for the week's 100-mile walk from his home in Cascais, near Lisbon, to the shrine to the Virgin Mary at Fatima. He also walks back, which takes another week.
Mr Gil describes himself as an avid devotee of the sanctuary at Fatima, which was built after three shepherd children claimed the Virgin Mary had appeared to them several times on a hillside in 1917.
Mr Gil says he does not make a profit on his trips, and the money just covers his costs. He also denies that the people who pay for him to go on the pilgrimage are cheating on their own pledges.
To guarantee that he made the trip on foot, he hands his customers a certificate after every journey with stamps from various places along the way.
Those wishing to use his services are invited to leave details of their credit card, and permission to charge $2,500 to it, on his website at Peregrino.org.
Talking about reviving old customs!
Buen Camino,
xm
Rent-a-pilgrim: he walks, you pay $2,500
Giles Tremlett
Friday November 24, 2006
The Guardian
He calls himself "the payer-off of promises", but Portuguese computer expert Carlos Gil could just as easily go by the name of "rent-a-pilgrim".
Mr Gil has revived a 700-year-old tradition by hiring himself out to go on pilgrimages for those too infirm, too busy or just too lazy to go themselves.
His twice-yearly pilgrimages to the shrine at Fatima, in central Portugal, are now financed by those who wish to fulfil pledges secretly given in their prayers.
Article continues
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He charges $2,500 (£1,300) for the week's 100-mile walk from his home in Cascais, near Lisbon, to the shrine to the Virgin Mary at Fatima. He also walks back, which takes another week.
Mr Gil describes himself as an avid devotee of the sanctuary at Fatima, which was built after three shepherd children claimed the Virgin Mary had appeared to them several times on a hillside in 1917.
Mr Gil says he does not make a profit on his trips, and the money just covers his costs. He also denies that the people who pay for him to go on the pilgrimage are cheating on their own pledges.
To guarantee that he made the trip on foot, he hands his customers a certificate after every journey with stamps from various places along the way.
Those wishing to use his services are invited to leave details of their credit card, and permission to charge $2,500 to it, on his website at Peregrino.org.