[Gocamino] Fwd: From the horse's mouth.

[David Hough on gocamino]

Posted on behalf of Rosina; unfortunately some of the
characters came out oddly.   The original can be
viewed in its proper splendor at

http://www.archicompostela.org/Peregrinos/Ingl%C3%A9s/La%20Compostela%20.htm



> La Compostela
> 
> Since the pilgrimage to St. James’ Tomb, which
> spontaneously arose in the 9th and 10th centuries,
> was institutionalised under specific
> religious-social circumstances, it has been
> necessary to certify its completion. For this
> purpose pilgrims first made use of badges that could
> only be acquired in St. James, such as the scallop
> shell. Due to the number of fakes St. James’
> prelates and even the Pope had to impose
> excommunication penalties against the falsifiers.
> From the 13th century onwards the so-called
> evidential letters have been used due to their
> well-proved efficiency. These are the direct roots
> of the Compostela. In the 16th century the Catholic
> Monarchs constituted the Foundation of the Royal
> Hospital and ordered to erect the building nowadays
> occupied by the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos. In
> 1954 it was turned into a state-run parador.
> Pilgrims were allowed to stay free for three days by
> presenting the “Compostela”. Pilgrims’
> sanitary needs – with the necessary enlargements
> – converted the institution into the most
> important hospital in Galicia and later into the
> central office of the famous medical school of St.
> James. 
> 
> The appearance of motor vehicles and the
> popularisation of tourism in the 20th century
> brought about a crisis in terms of pilgrimage. The
> effort and sacrifice as a sin expiation involved in
> the traditional pilgrimage changed into a pleasant
> holiday activity. Civil authorities in other
> sanctuaries began to draw up visit certificates
> imitating the “Compostela” – e.g. in the Holy
> Land the Israeli Ministry of Tourism draws up a
> certificate of that kind. Thank heaven the Chapter
> of the Metropolitan Church of St. James continued
> drawing up the “Compostela” and claiming –
> almost unsuccessfully – the fulfilment of the
> foundational engagement from the Hostal de los Reyes
> Católicos. In recent times, the “Compostela”
> would be limited to those pilgrims who walk or go on
> horseback for at least the last 100 km or cycle for
> the last 200 km up to the Apostle’s Tomb in St.
> James.
> 
> The text is written in Latin. Here is the
> translation:Â 
> Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  "The Chapter of this Holy
> Apostolic Metropolitan Cathedral of St. James,
> custodian of the seal of St. James' Altar, to all
> faithful and pilgrims who come from everywhere over
> the world as an act of devotion, under vow or
> promise to the Apostle's Tomb, our Patron and
> Protector of Spain, witnesses in the sight of all
> who read this document, that:
> Mr…………………has visited devoutly this
> Sacred Church in a religious sense (pietatis causa).
> 
> "The Chapter of this Holy Apostolic Metropolitan
> Cathedral of St. James, custodian of the seal of St.
> James' Altar, to all faithful and pilgrims who come
> from everywhere over the world as an act of
> devotion, under vow or promise to the Apostle's
> Tomb, our Patron and Protector of Spain, witnesses
> in the sight of all who read this document, that:
> Mr…………………has visited devoutly this
> Sacred Church in a religious sense (pietatis causa).
> 
> 
> 
> Witness whereof I hand this document over to him,
> authenticated by the seal of this Sacred Church.
> 
> 
> 
> Â Given in St. James de Compostela on the
> (day)……(month)……A.D. ……… 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Chapter Secretary"
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  "The Chapter of this Holy
> Apostolic Metropolitan Cathedral of St. James,
> custodian of the seal of St. James' Altar, to all
> faithful and pilgrims who come from everywhere over
> the world as an act of devotion, under vow or
> promise to the Apostle's Tomb, our Patron and
> Protector of Spain, witnesses in the sight of all
> who read this document, that:
> Mr…………………has visited devoutly this
> Sacred Church in a religious sense (pietatis causa).
> 
> "The Chapter of this Holy Apostolic Metropolitan
> Cathedral of St. James, custodian of the seal of St.
> James' Altar, to all faithful and pilgrims who come
> from everywhere over the world as an act of
> devotion, under vow or promise to the Apostle's
> Tomb, our Patron and Protector of Spain, witnesses
> in the sight of all who read this document, that:
> Mr…………………has visited devoutly this
> Sacred Church in a religious sense (pietatis causa).
> 
> 
> 
> Witness whereof I hand this document over to him,
> authenticated by the seal of this Sacred Church.
> 
> 
> 
> Â Given in St. James de Compostela on the
> (day)……(month)……A.D. ……… 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Chapter Secretary"
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The Credential
> 
>  The pilgrim has to abide by the rules above
> mentioned if he/she wants to obtain the
> “Compostela”. The recent  revival of the Way
> has caused the creation of an official model of the
> pilgrim's credential.
> 
> Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Printed in thin cardboard, it
> consists of 14 pages to be opened as an accordion.
> The first and the last ones are at the left side of
> this page. The second – below – is a form that
> functions as a recommendation letter and has to be
> filled in the pilgrim's parish, in a Christian
> association, abbey, confraternity, etc. At the
> bottom, there is a specific place for the last stamp
> with the corresponding date once you are in the
> Pilgrims’ Office, where you will also be given the
> “Compostela”. 
> 
> In the following pages the pilgrim will find a place
> where to put on the stamps of the refuges, parishes,
> confraternities, etc. On the other side there is a
> series of maps with the different Ways to St. James.
> Finally, one of the pages contains the following
> directions for use:
> 
> Necessary reflections 
> 
> XÂ  This credential is destined for those who aim to
> walk, go on horseback or cycle to St. James as an
> act of religious devotion or at least as a spiritual
> search. It is intended to identify the pilgrim.
> Therefore, the presenting institution has to be a
> parish, a confraternity and the like. The credential
> does not generate any right to the pilgrim. It has
> two practical goals:
> Â  This credential is destined for those who aim to
> walk, go on horseback or cycle to St. James as an
> act of religious devotion or at least as a spiritual
> search. It is intended to identify the pilgrim.
> Therefore, the presenting institution has to be a
> parish, a confraternity and the like. The credential
> does not generate any right to the pilgrim. It has
> two practical goals:
> 
> -The admittance to the refuges offered by Christian
> hospitality along the Way and
> 
> 
> 
> - To obtain the “Compostela” from the Cathedral
> of St. James, which is the official certificate of
> the pilgrimage. It is only awarded to those who have
> come in Christian terms: devotionis affectu, voti
> vel pietatis causa - “being the motivation
> devotion, vow or piety”. In order to get the
> "Compostela", you also have to walk or go on
> horseback up to the Apostle's Tomb for at least the
> last 100 Km or cycle for at least the last 200 Km.
> 
> 
> XÂ  Thus, the pilgrim credential can exclusively be
> drawn up by the Church through its institutions –
> that is to say, Bishopric, Parish, Confraternity,
> etc. or institutions authorized by the Church. This
> is the only way to obtain the “Compostela” in
> the S.A.M.I. Cathedral of  St. James (Jornadas
> sobre el Año Santo: noviembre 1993).
> Â  Thus, the pilgrim credential can exclusively be
> drawn up by the Church through its institutions –
> that is to say, Bishopric, Parish, Confraternity,
> etc. or institutions authorized by the Church. This
> is the only way to obtain the “Compostela” in
> the S.A.M.I. Cathedral of  St. James (Jornadas
> sobre el Año Santo: noviembre 1993).
> X Refuges do not receive any subsidy; therefore
> pilgrims should collaborate on their maintenance,
> keeping their austerity in mind – cleaning,
> facility care, economic contributions…
>  Refuges do not receive any subsidy; therefore
> pilgrims should collaborate on their maintenance,
> keeping their austerity in mind – cleaning,
> facility care, economic contributions…
> X Organized groups on bicycle or with supporting car
> please look for alternative lodgings.
>  Organized groups on bicycle or with supporting car
> please look for alternative lodgings.
> X The bearer of this credential abides by these
> rules. 
>  The bearer of this credential abides by these
> rules. 
> Â 
> 
> Blessing 
> 
> "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, receive this
> pouch, habit for your pilgrimage, so that,
> castigated and corrected, you hasten to prostrate at
> Saint James' feet, where you yearn to arrive and,
> after having completed your journey, you come to us
> delighted with the help of God, who rules over the
> world without end. Amen.
> 
> Receive this staff as support for the journey and
> your efforts during your pilgrimage so that you are
> able to defeat the throngs of enemies and thus
> arrive safely at Saint James' feet and, after having
> completed your journey, you come to us delighted
> with the consent of the same God, who lives in and
> rules over Heaven without end. Amen."