- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021)
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Ms MacLaine's imaginative powers are renowned.
The only historic washing point I am aware of is at Lavacolla on the outskirts of Santiago, though the popular translation of its name doesn't relate to feet. It was also, reputed to be, the location of many tavernas and brothels offering one last opportunity to rack up a few more sins prior to absolution and a life of new found purity.
In Shirley MacLaine's book, she says that when she arrived at the Cathedral, her credencial was stamped and a priest bathed her feet. This was in July 2000. Does anyone of that era or before have any experience with feet being washed upon a pilgrim's arrival?
I think one of us would have remembered. I can't even find any reference to such a sacramental act in historic times let alone during the modern revival (praeter MacClaine). I think you can take comfort in absence rather than occurrence.Thank you. I'm writing a book and I need to be able to say one way or the other if this was done in recent memory.
Accounts before and shortly after 2000 do not discuss a foot-washing. Some that I just pulled off the shelf to check include: Laurie Dennett (late 1980s), Jack Hitt (early 1990s), Hape Kerkeling (2001), Tim Moore (2004). I'm afraid this does cast some doubt on the reliability of her account. Had their feet been washed in the cathedral, I'm sure these authors would have mentioned it. (I can't speak to my own experience in 1989 as I didn't seek a compostela that pilgrimage.)
While Lavacolla was certainly a historic washing point, it isn't foot-washing I'd always heard it associated with. ;-)
The foot washing place I'm familiar with is somewhat earlier in the Camino, at the Saint Nicholas albergue run by the Italians. I'm not sure how long they've been there doing that, though. Being charitable, perhaps Ms. MacLaine experienced it there and moved it to Santiago in her book as literary license for greater impact?
Perhaps. I can certainly see getting confused as to which albergue washed your feet, but to transpose from the albergue setting to the pilgrim office where you get your compostela seems a much greater leap and more likely planned.Perhaps it's simply a matter of conflation more than intentional licence-- she had a recollection of the experience in San Nicolas, and then placed it in her memory in Santiago. Memory does play tricks. I had a milder version of this type of error, retailing particular incident of being invited to an 80th birthday party, and placed it in Jaca at the casino. Trying to find a photo of the casino some years later, I realized that it had happened in Huesca but, in the interim, had directed people to see the arte nouveau imagery at the very different (and perhaps less exciting) casino in Jaca.
Perhaps. I can certainly see getting confused as to which albergue washed your feet, but to transpose from the albergue setting to the pilgrim office where you get your compostela seems a much greater leap and more likely planned.
Information from the official site of the Brotherhood of St. James says that the Albergues of San Nicolas was born in 1994. It is not written whether it was already operational at that time. But I will ask the person who introduced me to the French way and who is a member of the BrotherhoodI walked in 2001 and no one washed my feet for me. The albergue at St. Nicolas was not an albergue then, so she couldn't have experienced it there.
But then again, Shirley experienced mystical union with Charlemagne whilst on the camino, so who's to say a priest didn't wash her feet at the pilgrim office?
In Shirley MacLaine's book, she says that when she arrived at the Cathedral, her credencial was stamped and a priest bathed her feet. This was in July 2000. Does anyone of that era or before have any experience with feet being washed upon a pilgrim's arrival?
was born in 1994
I will ask the person who introduced me to the French way and who is a member of the Brotherhood
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