Special intentions

[SCwalker]

I had an idea of carrying the intentions of my loved ones with me, written on paper. Is there a place to leave such intentions in the Cathedral? Some kind of votive place?

 

[Former member 49149]

Welcome to the forum, and buen camino. I can’t answer your question, exactly. I can tell you that in the church at Zabaldika you can write intentions on post-its. They are posted inside the frame where a large crucifix hangs. Every so often, some are removed to make way for new ones. Those that have been removed are burned, intentionally. So, if you don’t get the answer, at least you know you will be able to leave the intentions in a place early on the camino where others can read them and carry the intentions along the way.

 

[SYates]

I had an idea of carrying the intentions of my loved ones with me, written on paper. Is there a place to leave such intentions in the Cathedral? Some kind of votive place?

Not in the cathedral, but people put them anyway through the metal grid/door before the tomb. The best place to leave them is in the chapel of the pilgrim's office, there is a basket for intentions. Mass in English is 09:30 every day there and Father Manny is always happy to dedicate the mass for the intentions of a pilgrim or pilgrim group.
BC SY

 

[David]

Don't forget the Cruz de Ferro - countless prayers and requests and votive stones from home left there, with a heartfelt prayer.

 

[Steveand Jannie]

Better still and longer lasting. Paint or sketch them on small pebbles and leave them on the camino.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I've left intentions in the Cathedral in one of the chapels.
I believe it is the Capilla de la Corticela.

 

[lt56ny]

When I walked this winter the weather was pretty miserable. When I woke up in Astorga the owner of our albergue told us we should take a buss there was heavy snow going up to Cruz de Ferro and they were turning people back at Rabanal. She said there was no place to stay in Rabanal as they sending people back to Astorga in taxis. So I missed the chance to leave my rock there.
When I got to Santiago I went into the meditation chapel as there were no services because of the renovation. I held my rock and placed under my seat. It was something that probably should not have been done but it was something I felt at the moment.

 

[SCwalker]

Thank you all for your suggestions-- especially about Zabaldika and the chapel in the pilgrim's office.

 

[Deleted member 59555]

I had an idea of carrying the intentions of my loved ones with me, written on paper. Is there a place to leave such intentions in the Cathedral? Some kind of votive place?

I am with David Cruz De Ferro A very very special place google it you will see what we mean. I took my granddaughter's picture on a T shirt in 2017 as she died from Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 17 It was a bit out there but I didn't care wearing it got me through the hard bits. Good luck God bless.

 

[AlwynWellington]

Is there a place to leave such intentions in the Cathedral?

Thinking outside the box:

You may wish to consider continuing (walk or bus or both) to Fisterra (Land's End).

There you may find a place to, considerately, bury your loved one's intentions. Either at the Pharos on top of the spit or after a short walk over a slight hill immediately west of the town.

Kia kaha (take care, be strong)

 

[Anniesantiago]

I had an idea of carrying the intentions of my loved ones with me, written on paper. Is there a place to leave such intentions in the Cathedral? Some kind of votive place?

Just curious if you saw my post. There IS a chapel in the Cathedral where you can leave intentions. The Capilla de la Corticela has a basket to receive them.

 

[jmcarp]

Don't forget the Cruz de Ferro - countless prayers and requests and votive stones from home left there, with a heartfelt prayer.

Leaving a stone at the Cruz de Ferro is the traditional way. I know that people who leave photos or written material are well-intentioned, but such remembrances can become quite distracting when they begin to dominate the experience of others (see attached photo). It's much better to leave those at one of the many chapels which have repositories for prayer requests, etc. We took a small bag of smooth pebbles on which we had written the names of those we were praying for along the way, then said a final prayer for each at the base of the Cruz de Ferro and left them at the foot of the cross. BTW, that's just a random pilgrim in the photo.

 

[David]

Leaving a stone at the Cruz de Ferro is the traditional way. I know that people who leave photos or written material are well-intentioned, but such remembrances can become quite distracting when they begin to dominate the experience of others (see attached photo). It's much better to leave those at one of the many chapels which have repositories for prayer requests, etc. We took a small bag of smooth pebbles on which we had written the names of those we were praying for along the way, then said a final prayer for each at the base of the Cruz de Ferro and left them at the foot of the cross. BTW, that's just a random pilgrim in the photo.

View attachment 69911

Well, that is a point of view .. for me the Cruz de Ferro is rather wonderful and it concerns me not that the local council come and bulldozer excess away each year .. what happens there, for each pilgrim, happens in the heart .... don't you think?

 

[jmcarp]

Well, that is a point of view .. for me the Cruz de Ferro is rather wonderful and it concerns me not that the local council come and bulldozer excess away each year .. what happens there, for each pilgrim, happens in the heart .... don't you think?

Certainly, David, and I understand that a passing pilgrim sincerely wants to leave a prayer intention or remembrance of a loved one at a meaningful place like the Cruz de Ferro. It was my intent to just reinforce the earlier suggestions that it may be better in the long run to leave such articles at a dedicated chapel or other repository where it will be handled in a more suitable manner, since as you suggest, those items will be periodically stripped from the wooden pole and probably placed in a garbage bin somewhere.

 

[Michael-FL]

I had an idea of carrying the intentions of my loved ones with me, written on paper. Is there a place to leave such intentions in the Cathedral? Some kind of votive place?

SCwalker, That is a wonderful thing you're doing. I too am carrying a “laundry list” of people and their pray requests/intentions for whom I will pray along the way and at every Mass. I recently lost my dear wife and I will be leaving memorial cards with her photo at roadside shrines, chapels and at the Cruz de Ferro.

 

[Micah26]

SCwalker, That is a wonderful thing you're doing. I too am carrying a “laundry list” of people and their pray requests/intentions for whom I will pray along the way and at every Mass. I recently lost my dear wife and I will be leaving memorial cards with her photo at roadside shrines, chapels and at the Cruz de Ferro.

Dear Michael,
I’m so sorry for your loss! I walked for my mom and my friend Nancy they died of blood and lung cancer. I carried them with me along the way. They got me through the rough spots and the time let me mourn the loss. I hope the Camino is as healing for you!

 

[J.Patrick]

Both caminos that I've walked included praying for the intentions of my parishioners...I had hundreds of requests for prayer, which I lifted up at every shrine, chapel or church along the way. I would stop, take off my pack and pray my way through 3 to 6 of them, depending on how long they were and how tired I was. I managed to get through the list in a prayerful spirit about 5 times in 6 weeks. It was such a rich experience, keeping me rooted in the sufferings and longings of the world. I didn't leave the list anywhere, as I kept it electronically on my phone. Instead, I left the prayers, spoken, at holy places all along the way.

 

[Michael-FL]

Both caminos that I've walked included praying for the intentions of my parishioners...I had hundreds of requests for prayer, which I lifted up at every shrine, chapel or church along the way. I would stop, take off my pack and pray my way through 3 to 6 of them, depending on how long they were and how tired I was. I managed to get through the list in a prayerful spirit about 5 times in 6 weeks. It was such a rich experience, keeping me rooted in the sufferings and longings of the world. I didn't leave the list anywhere, as I kept it electronically on my phone. Instead, I left the prayers, spoken, at holy places all along the way.

I intend to do the same