[Gocamino] Credential requirements. From the horse's mouth. Message 2

[hme347 at aol.com]

You would think that the Church would have more pressing concerns than dealing with "bogus" credentials and hassling pilgrims who inadvertently present the wrong credentials. I am sure most of these individuals referred to have had honorable intentions.  



And for those who lie or cheat to get a piece of paper that eventually will gather dust somewhere, let them have their ill-gained document.  It will not be a passport to Paradise if the Divine Spirit knows that it was obtained fraudulently. So what?




Howard Mendes, NYC


Commencing on January 1, 2009, the Pilgrims’ Office will only accept as such the 
credential issued by the Santiago Cathedral, which has a space for the seal of 
the authorized institution, church or Santiago Friends’ Association that issued 
it.

Friends Associations that are not part of the Federation of Associations that 
may wish o issue credentials must contact its parish to obtain the information 
that must be imparted to those who wish to make the pilgrimage. Through their 
parish they may obtain a sufficient number of blank credential forms.


For the purposes of granting the Compostela the criteria that have compelled the 
need to accept at the Pilgrims’ Office only the credential issued by the 
Cathedral, or those that may be created by the Federation of Friends of Santiago 
Associations that will clearly contain information about the religious character 
of the Santiago pilgrimage, have been openly, abundantly and repeatedly 
discussed20and recognized. 




-----Original Message-----
From: Rosina <blaroli at aol.com>
To: GoCamino at oakapple.net; saintjames at yahoogroups.com
Cc: acaciopaz at yahoo.com.br
Sent: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:29 am
Subject: [Gocamino] Credential requirements. From the horse's mouth. Message 2








Translation of Don Genaro’s letter (omitting the long list of names in reunions, 
etc).

 

“The credential has been, throughout the centuries, the fundamental means to 
certify a Santiago pilgrim. For a long time the most significant pilgrim 
document was the signed and seal letter from his/her parish attesting to the 
intentions of the pilgrim’s effort. On September 14, 2000, recognizing modern 
necessities, in a final, for the purpose,  reunion of the Santiago Archdiocese, 
the Archconfraternity, and the Federation of Friends of Santiago Associations, 
an accord was made regarding future Pilgrimage-related measures. 

Those present recognized that the ultimate destination of Santiago pilgrims is 
the tomb of the Apostle. With this in mind, those present pledged themselves to 
nurture, assist and protect, in every possible way, those making the pilgrimage 
to Santiago, and to cooperate with one another in such purpose.

Because of the profusion, and the lack of genuineness in many instances, of 
pilgrims’ credentials, the need for only one uniform pilgrim’s credential was 
recognized, and agreed upon.

In 2000 the number of Compostela earning pilgrims was 55,004, and in 2007 it 
was  114,026. But m
any more approached the Pilgrims’ office with credentials 
issued by non-recognized institutions, and they did not have the necessary 
information about the pilgrimage, its Christian significance, or its spiritual 
dimension. On a daily basis a great many such non-pilgrims appear at the 
Pilgrims’ offi
ce bearing would-be credentials which only attest to their free use of 
albergues.

These are the reasons for the following resolutions and measures:


Commencing on January 1, 2009, the Pilgrims’ Office will only accept as such the 
credential issued by the Santiago Cathedral, which has a space for the seal of 
the authorized institution, church or Santiago Friends’ Association that issued 
it.

Friends Associations that are not part of the Federation of Associations that 
may wish o issue credentials must contact its parish to obtain the information 
that must be imparted to those who wish to make the pilgrimage. Through their 
parish they may obtain a sufficient number of blank credential forms.


For the purposes of granting the Compostela the criteria that have compelled the 
need to accept at the Pilgrims’ Office only the credential issued by the 
Cathedral, or those that may be created by the Federation of Friends of Santiago 
Associations that will clearly contain information about the religious character 
of the Santiago pilgrimage, have been openly, abundantly and repeatedly 
discussed and recognized. 

 

Genaro Cebrian Franco

Canonic of Pilgrimages”

=C
2

And that’s it.  If there are some errors in translation I apologize for them.



Hugs!

Rosina 
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