[Gocamino] Readying to go

[blaroli@aol.com]

Hello you all,
I will leave for the Camino this weekend.
First, I'll fly to Valencia to see the Holy Chalice about which many messages have been posted here. The more I read about it the more drawn I am to believe that It may be the Real Thing.  The mountain of writings and scientific and archaeological studies cannot be ignored, nor, in my view, the stunning historical coincidences (or, should one say, convergences?).  It turns out that next week there is a huge celebration in Valencia regarding the Chalice!
>From Valencia I'll go to Zaragoza to revisit the famous "Pillar". You may remember the writing, legends and traditions which tell of  our Saint James visiting the north of Spain in his apostolic mission; he failed to make many converts, was persecuted and prosecuted under a hail of sticks and stones and was returning to Galilee defeated, physically hurt and dejected when the Virgin Mary appeared to him, atop the remains of an ancient Roman column (pillar,,,, "pilar" in Spanish), and revived his spirits and renewed his zeal in his mission.  The occasion is hugely significant to us believers because it was not only the first of the ever so many times that the Virgin Mary has appeared among us, but at the time of her apparition to Saint James she was still alive.  In fact, when Saint James did return to Palestine his first visit was to her.
Because of that momentous happening, the Virgin Maria del Pilar (Mary of the Pillar) is supreme in Spain. My own Granadine grandmother was named Maria del Pilar as was my oldest sister.
>From Zaragoza I'll go to Jaca and to San Juan de la Penha, a sublimely special place about which I will post here, before I leave, something that I read recently. Then I'll go to the Leyre Monastery, which changed me from a tourist to a pilgrim (but that's a story for some other time), and from there to Puente La Reina, Santo Domingo de la Calzada (to visit my friends in the Cistersian convent-cum-albergue) and San Juan de Ortega. Then I'll make my way to the Coast to begin walking the Camino del Norte (or, at least, the last 150 or so kms.)
Hopefully, I'll be able to stay at least a week in Santiago catching up with things and carrying out messages and chores.
The last two times I went to the Camino I was accompanied by family members. This time I am going entirely by myself and I'm looking very much forward to it. Sometimes the spirit must come up for air from under the world that is so much around us.
Before I leave I'll return the books lent to me and will send the DVDs, etc. which I have promised.
I do not expect to be back before the second week in September.
Of course, I'll keep in touch throughout.
Big hugs!
Rosina     
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