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Reflection by: Christina

 

Chronicles of a pilgrim – Day 12 – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

#sequelachristi2024

After a long 5 hour drive from Salamanca, we finally reached Santiago de Compostela!

Best known as the end point of the El Camino, millions of pilgrims frequently  embark on this pilgrimage during Holy Week right up to October. The Way of St James is one of the most significant Christian pilgrimages apart from those to Rome and the Holy Land. It encourages pilgrims to reflect on their spiritual journey and detach themselves from worldly desires and ambitions, while reconnecting with themselves and purpose in their lives. 

  

In the morning, we had a tour around the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where it houses the tomb of St James the Apostle. Legend has it that a field of stars led the hermit Pelagius to discover the tomb of which the church was built upon. We were also given time to visit the tomb and embrace the statue of St James up close. It was surreal to be able to see the tomb of St James, an apostle close to Jesus and who had travelled to the Iberian Peninsula to preach to the local populations at the time. This made me grateful that we have an army of Saints and Apostles in our Catholic Church who are able to intercede and pray with us in our prayers on our journeys towards salvation. 

After this, we celebrated a Spanish mass with the wider Spanish community and it was heartwarming to see pilgrims come together as one universal church despite the language barriers. Some of us bought gifts from the gift shop including rosary bracelets with shells that represent the Camino Walk from all parts of the world. 

As dusk fell, I continued to explore the narrow alleys of Santiago de Compostela that were still bustling with energy, had fellowship with other pilgrims of our group and walked a part of the Camino around our hotel. Reflecting on this journey on our last day in Spain, I have a deep profound respect for pilgrims who choose to walk the Camino as a form of spiritual discipline and growth, and it has encouraged me to allow the Lord to take control of my life and to detach myself from earthly possessions. 

As Pope Benedict XVI says, “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness.” 

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