Holy Year Travel & Pilgrim Readings

[gretchen gonzalez]

I would appreciate any input and advise from pilgrims who have done the
camino from Roncevalles or SSPP in beginning in the month of April.
Thanks
Gretchen in Detroit






>From: Richard Ferguson <peregrinoaATT.NET>
>Reply-To: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
>To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
>Subject: Holy Year Travel & Pilgrim Readings
>Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 01:10:49 +0000
>
>I am traveling right now, so do not have the numbers at my fingertips, but
>I
>recollect that the number of pilgrims during a Holy Year is much more than
>double the number in a normal year, it could be as high an increase as four
>times.  I believe that the numbers show that increase in every month.  I
>heard
>that they put up huge army tents to handle the crowds.  I have month by
>month
>data for several years, I found it useful in trip planning.  As you
>probably
>know, the numbers of pilgrims tend to increase each year, but holy year
>numbers
>are just in a different class.
>
>I don't like crowds, so I went in March and April of a non-holy year.  I
>would
>probably not go during a Holy Year, but that is just my opinion.  Just be
>aware
>that the holy year numbers are much higher than a normal year.
>
>On the topic of the bible readings done by pilgrims at the pilgrim mass,
>one
>person that I walked with did a bible reading.  He said that he was asked
>whether he wanted to read at mass in the office when he got his
>compostella.
>His view was that he would never get an opportunity like that again, so he
>said
>yes.  We were very happy that someone we knew got to read.  He was from
>Spain.
>I also spoke to a Mexican pilgrim who read at mass, but I did not ask him
>how
>he was selected to read.  This offer was not made to me, but I would have
>declined in any event, I am sure a native Spanish speaker would read better
>than I.  I like the idea of having some non-Spanish readers, but of course
>most
>of the pilgrims are from Spain.  They would have to stock up on bibles in
>many
>languages.
>
>Richard


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