Day 20 of Walking
Hello everyone,
Today was a fairly easy walk day. Due to your prayers, the weather was beautiful - thanks! We left Astorga around 6 am and arrived in Rabanal del Camino by 11:15.
God greatly blessed us today. When we arrived, there were flowers strewn on the main street. We found out there was Mass at 12:30, so we went. We were so happy to see that it was the celebration of Corpus Christi! (They do not move it to Sunday.) There was a small group of people playing instruments while heading to the church. One man was playing both a drum and some kind of flute. Three others had castenet-like clappers with ribbons on them. After a beautiful Mass, which included Gregorian chant and some of the prayers in Latin (the Gloria, the Our Father, and the Agnus Dei), the two priests processed with the Blessed Sacrament and the whole congregation to the monastery´s church, Santa Maria, about 3 blocks up the street. Santa Maria is a 12th century Knights Templar church. All the people fell in behind. There was even a canopy over the Blessed Sacrament. The local ladies sang a beautiful song. We all went into the monastery church, where the priest reposed the Blessed Sacrament. What a great blessing for us to be here in this town at this time! As soon as we find a computer where we can post photos, we´ll put some up for you.
We´re staying at the albergue which was formerly the priest´s house. The hospitaliers are from New York, so their English is fairly understandable :) We´ll be praying Vespers at 7 pm and Compline at 9:30 with the monks. The inhabitants of this area are known as "maragatos." Their ethnic origins are unknown for certain, but perhaps the Phoenicians or the Berbers from the 9th century. Whichever, they were a race apart and for centuries were the muleteers of Spain, doing the job now done by 38 ton trucks. (Bill wants to hire one to carry our packs to Santiago.) They are renowned for their honesty and unique customs.
We continue to pray for you daily. Please keep us (and the weather) in your prayers. God bless you!
Los peregrinos.
Today was a fairly easy walk day. Due to your prayers, the weather was beautiful - thanks! We left Astorga around 6 am and arrived in Rabanal del Camino by 11:15.
God greatly blessed us today. When we arrived, there were flowers strewn on the main street. We found out there was Mass at 12:30, so we went. We were so happy to see that it was the celebration of Corpus Christi! (They do not move it to Sunday.) There was a small group of people playing instruments while heading to the church. One man was playing both a drum and some kind of flute. Three others had castenet-like clappers with ribbons on them. After a beautiful Mass, which included Gregorian chant and some of the prayers in Latin (the Gloria, the Our Father, and the Agnus Dei), the two priests processed with the Blessed Sacrament and the whole congregation to the monastery´s church, Santa Maria, about 3 blocks up the street. Santa Maria is a 12th century Knights Templar church. All the people fell in behind. There was even a canopy over the Blessed Sacrament. The local ladies sang a beautiful song. We all went into the monastery church, where the priest reposed the Blessed Sacrament. What a great blessing for us to be here in this town at this time! As soon as we find a computer where we can post photos, we´ll put some up for you.
We´re staying at the albergue which was formerly the priest´s house. The hospitaliers are from New York, so their English is fairly understandable :) We´ll be praying Vespers at 7 pm and Compline at 9:30 with the monks. The inhabitants of this area are known as "maragatos." Their ethnic origins are unknown for certain, but perhaps the Phoenicians or the Berbers from the 9th century. Whichever, they were a race apart and for centuries were the muleteers of Spain, doing the job now done by 38 ton trucks. (Bill wants to hire one to carry our packs to Santiago.) They are renowned for their honesty and unique customs.
We continue to pray for you daily. Please keep us (and the weather) in your prayers. God bless you!
Los peregrinos.
posted by chucko99 | 10:55
5 Comments:
We are so happy to see your smiling faces instead of blistered feet! Mom & dad McDonough (Jan's here dictating right now) are doing fine - keeping up with your travels BUT are really glad the trip is over half completed - they miss you lots (as we all do all of you). My extra treadmill time each day in solidarity with you has been do-able but I really like Leone & Dick's idea of solidarity through ice cream - I promise to comply!
Ellen
Great idea, Bill. But if the muleteers can haul 38 tons, they should be able to carry your packs with you attached to Santiago! Make sure you send pictures of that:) If you can't work that out, we'll enlist the angels and saints with our prayers. They'll fill your packs with helium and soothe your aches and pains. Your good works continue, as do our prayers...
Connie H.
Hey, you guys only walked a little over five hours? Is someone holding back? We aren't holding back here, Ellen is doing an extra 5 minutes on the treadmill, we're eating ice cream every day with you, some of the women here are finding spanish men to kiss, others are walking 5-12 blocks at at time. All with the goal of being one on the pilgrimage. Keep on keeping on, God Bless.
What a wonderful experience. On our pilgrimage in Italy, we or I had many little iritations. Where would we sleep that night, the blisters, and other little creatures and creature comforts. But as I look back it was one of the highlights of my life and I hope a highlight of my childrens lives. What a wonderful day you had. I am going to Cape Lookout, an island off the outerbanks to celebrate my sister's birthday. She likes to fish. There are no amenities there or rather they are few. So my mother and I will offer it up for my sister and the pilgrims.
Glory be to Jesus Christ,
Linda
Hey, Dick...No one told me about the Spanish men to kiss! 'Fess up, Leone. (If we resident pilgrims have to do the extra 5 minutes AND eat ice cream, we should also know about the kissing.) We do pray for the real pilgrims as we endure.
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