The road to Compostela” “

A symbol of European cohesion and of the Christian identity, a way of celebrating EU enlargement to Eastern Europe: that will be the sense of the pilgrimage “On the road of hope” to Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, that the bishops of the whole of Europe will make from 17 to 21 April. In the days that follow (21-23 April) they will then meet together in Santiago for the congress on “European Union: hope and responsibility – theological readings of the future of united Europe”. Both events are being organized by COMECE , the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community. A brief history of the “Road to Santiago” and what it means follows. TOWARDS THE TOMB OF THE “SON OF THUNDER”. The historic “Road to Santiago” leads to the tomb of the “son of thunder”, the nickname that Jesus gave to his apostle James (Santiago in Spanish) (cf. Mark 3:17). The tradition of pilgrimaging on foot or on horseback along one of the four roads that lead to Santiago de Compostela, where the tomb of the apostle is situated, began in the first half of the tenth century. It was a period in which Europe felt its own Christian identity threatened by the advance of Islam in Spain and France, and so the faithful invented this form of pilgrimage to strengthen their own faith. During the Renaissance and Reformation the pilgrimage to Santiago was subjected to hostile criticism and attacks, but in more recent times it has been rediscovered in all its significance and its traditions revived. The numbers of pilgrims have steadily increased: the 1285 pilgrims who arrived in Santiago on foot or by bicycle in 1985 (along the 775 km of the more famous French route from Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port or on the other three routes through Northern Spain, along the Via della Plata or from Portugal) have since risen to 154,613 during the Holy Year 1999 and to 74,614 in 2003. “HE WHO GOES TO COMPOSTELA”. The term “pilgrim” primarily means “he who goes to Compostela”, whereas the term “palmer” was reserved for the faithful who went to the Holy Land and “romei” for those who went to Rome. Before setting out the pilgrim usually received divine blessing (“Receive this pilgrim’s staff, may it be a support to you on your way…”. He also had to provide himself with a “letter of credence”, or recommendation, from his parish, association or confraternity if he wanted to be received in one of the many “hospitaleros” (pilgrims’ hostels) in the countries he passed through on his way. Here he could find a bed for the night, usually free of charge, or by leaving a small gratuity, or helping in the running of the house. The duration of the pilgrimage route through France was 25 days on foot, or 12 days by bicycle. On arriving at the cathedral where the tomb of the apostle is situated, pilgrims received the “Compostela”, though this was only issued to those who had journeyed at least the last 100 km on foot or on horseback, or the last 200 km by bike. Many tourists or faithful in fact prefer to visit by car the towns of Jaca, Pamplona, Calahorra-La Calzada-Logroño, Burgos, Palencia, Leòn, Astorga and Lugo before arriving in Santiago. On reaching their goal pilgrims could experience the mystical atmosphere, heightened by the “butafumeiro”, the great censer that sways back and forth inside the cathedral. The city also benefits from the unique privilege of the indulgences granted for the first time in 1122. They may be obtained every year in which the 25 July, feast of St. James, falls on a Sunday – as it does also in this jubilee year.