Holy Door opening

[Rosina Lila]

Hello you all,
       The Correo de Galicia (one of Santiago's dailies) reports today that
the Portuguese Way Association of Friends of Santiago has organized a 50
pilgrims walk that will end in Santiago on December 31, and will have the honor of
participating directly in the Holy Door opening ceremonies.
       Why don't we, Association of Friends of the Caiman in the USA,
together with our Canadian brothers and sisters organize a similar effort?  For those
of us who live in New York, or New England, or the Eastern seaboard, I
suppose. It is easier, less expensive and far more comfortable to go to Europe than
to go to California; yet it seems that the Association of Friends has met
repeatedly in Santa Barbara.
Couldn't we try to go to Santiago as a group?

       Speaking of going, I myself will leave next Monday, the 22nd. to spend
Christmas in Assisi.  Not only was Saint Francis the first to organize a
Christmas celebration as we now observe the date, but over the last few years I've
become rather obsessed with finding some convincing indicia that Saint
Francis indeed made the pilgrimage to Santiago.  -The more I look into it, the more
likely it seems.
       Some good friends secured passage for me, and lodgings for four days
over New Years in Santiago, right by the Cathedral, for the opening of the Holy
Door and all.  Afterwards I will return to Italy to spend January roaming
about the peninsula which is, blessedly free of crowds then.  It is also very
cold..... I've never known low temperatures as punishing as those of Milan  in
January.  But then, when else can you spend hours, literally, almost alone
beholding Leonardo's Last Supper?
       Of late almost every  Italian hotel has computer facilities (On some
of them you can access, and address, e-mail through the television in the
room); because of such convenience (and professional necessities) I'll be
e-checking in frequently.
       If there's anything in particular that I can look into for anyone of
you, please let me know.
.......Ah!.... the Santiago's newspapers  report that at least 3,000 (three
thousand!) celebratory Holy Year acts have been scheduled by the Xunta and the
Archbishopric in the Casco alone, and that the opening (tearing down?) of the
Holy Door will be accompanied by a mammoth fireworks production in the
Quintana Plaza such as the one held in Obraidoro on July 25th.
       Also, for the first time in decades and decades, the King and Queen
will attend, as well as the Prince heir to the throne and his television
anchorwoman fiancee.
It looks like it's going to be a heck of a party............ But after being
a regular in Seville during Holy Week, with the King, Queen, Prince and
princesses often in attendance, and the largest, liveliest crowds of Seviilians
imaginable,  the beginning of the New Holy Xacobean year in Santiago does not
appear daunting.
Warm regards from cold New York City,
Rosina



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