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

[Grant Spangler]

No funciona el enlace. The é in Inglés is not a sanctioned character for 
URLs, and the %20 shows sloppy Web coding technique (it is the space between 
two words .. a cardinal sin).  Neither of course are are your fault, but 
let's see if this one works:

http://www.archicompostela.org/Peregrinos/Inglés/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:

"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.
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.
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

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.

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).

Refuges do not receive any subsidy; therefore pilgrims should collaborate on 
their maintenance, keeping their austerity in mind – cleaning, facility 
care, economic contributions…

Organized groups on bicycle or with supporting car please look for 
alternative lodgings.

The bearer of this credential abides by these rules.


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."


.. I love those robotic translations ..

"Apostle’s Tomb in St. James" is, of course, "Apostle’s Tomb in Santiago".


Buen Camino,

Grant

Grant Spangler
GASpangler at hotmail.com
http://groups.msn.com/ElCaminoSantiago
http://community.webshots.com/user/ElCaminoSantiago