Roncesvalles church

[jim allen]

My wife and I attended a wedding in Los Arcos (near Pamplona) in August,
2001.  We went to an evening Mass on Friday night.  The church was packed
(yes, mostly women).  After Mass the priest invited the Pilgrims to come
forward for a special blessing.  My wife told me to go up there because I
had been and still was a Pilgrim having completed a Camino in Sep 2000.  The
priest handed out copies of the Pilgrim's Blessing, depending on your
language.  After hearing several languages, I said, "English."  He said
loudly, "OK.", and handed me the blessing in English.  It was a special
moment.

Jim Allen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Polly Helm" <pjhelmaEARTHLINK.NET>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2002 10:53 AM
Subject: Re: Roncesvalles church


> Thank you so very much for this poem, Rosina.  I will be making my first
> trek this year from mid-May through June.
> I thank every one here for all the useful and insightful information you
> have given me. Because of your guidance, my preparation is going well.  It
> seems that as questions pop up in my mind, they are almost instantly
> addressed in this group.
>
> I wonder, Rosina, about the Pilgrims' blessing in Roncesvalles.  How often
> does the blessing happen, once a week, every day?  And are there other
> ceremonies like this along the way?
> Thank you,
> Polly
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rosina Lila" <BlaroliaAOL.COM>
> To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
> Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2002 6:49 AM
> Subject: Roncesvalles church
>
>
> > Hello you all,
> > A while back several pilgrims inquired about the poem that appears at
the
> > entrance of the church at Roncesvalles, where one receives the Pilgrims'
> > blessing at the start of the pilgrimage.  Rummaging through my
photographs
> I
> > found a picture of it.  It is not exactly a poem... (perhaps a prose
> poem?).
> > well, here it is, accompanied by an attempted translation:
> >
> > "Amigo que llegas a Roncesvalles
> >     quien quiera que seas....
> > te damos la mas cordial bienvenida.
> > Por favor, respeta esta iglesia
> > que ahora vas a visitar.
> >
> > Piensa que mas alla de las maravillas
> > de su arquitectura, ES testimonio
> > de unos hombres que creyeron en Dios
> > y levantaron estas piedras para morada de Cristo
> > vivo en medio de los suyos.
> >
> > Este es un espacio hecho para el silencio y la oracion.
> > El lugar en que se reune la comunidad
> > para celebrar la Eucaristia.
> >
> > Dejanos pedirte que no turbes su recogimiento.
> > Permiterle ser para lo que fue hecho.
> >
> > Contempla mas con el corazon que con los ojos
> > la belleza que crearon los hombres de otro tiempo.
> >
> > Pero busca sobre todo en su penumbra
> > el discreto misterio de Dios
> > que se revela a los humildes......
> >
> > Y a tu regreso que el gesto maternal
> > de la Virgen de Roncesvalles
> > te acompane siempre a lo largo del camino."
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > "Friend arriving in Roncesvalles
> >     whoever you are.....
> > We offer you a warm welcome.
> > Please esteem this church
> > which you are about to visit.
> > Appreciate that beyond the marvels
> > of its architecture, it IS a testimony
> > of those who believed in God
> > and assembled these stones
> > as an abode of Christ, alive amidst His people.
> > This dwelling was made
> > for contemplation and prayer.
> > A place where the neighbors come together
> > to celebrate the Eucharist.
> > Let us request that you not disturb their devotion.
> > Contemplate more with the heart than with the eyes
> > the beauty that men of other times created.
> > But, above all, search in its quiet shadows
> > the discreet mystery of God revealed
> > to humble souls.....
> > And, on your homegoing, may the maternal love
> > of the Virgin of Roncesvalles
> > go with you every step of the way."
> >
> >
> > Warm regards,
> > Rosina
> > p.s., I find the contemplating with the heart more than the eyes the
> "beauty
> > that   men of other times created" and the allusion to "humble souls"
very
> ,
> > very moving.
> >