[Gocamino] San Juan de Ortega and Padre Jose Maria

[Rosina]

Thanks Grant, and hello you all,

 

The Juan of “San Juan de Ortega” had been a disciple of Santo Domingo de la Calzada at the end of the eleventh century, and helped Santo Domingo built the pilgrims’ bridges and roads for which he is well know.  (Besides the chickens, that is). . After Sto. Domingo died Juan went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and coming back he was shipwrecked and nearly drowned. He promised Saint Nicholas that if his life were spared he would dedicate it to assist Santiago pilgrims. On his return to Spain he built an albergue in the wilderness of the Oca (goose) hills and fixed the road from Villafranca to Burgos.  The area was covered with wild thistle (ortiga in Spanish), from which he became know as Juan de Ortega (John of the thistle). He also began to build the church that we see today.It is believed that the oldest part of the church was built by Juan himself, but there is no doubt that the church plans were drawn by him, including the location of the capitals and the windows.

 

While outwardly modest, the church is extraordinary and unique. It has a triple capital on the left of the apse with carved depictions of the Annunciation, Mary’s Visit with Anne and the Nativity. Every year, on March 21 and September 22, at 5:00 p.m. (Spain’s time), sunrays coming through an uncannily  located small window illuminate the carvings moving slowly, over eight minutes, precisely and only from Annunciation to Nativity.  The effect on the many who travel to see this phenomenon is electrifying.

 

Perhaps because of this San Juan de Ortega is the patron saint of barren women.  Queen Isabel, herself phenomenal, theretofore childless went to the church to pray for an  heir. When she conceived and gave birth to a boy she named him Juan. When the boy didn’t survive infancy the queen went to the church again to pray and when she then conceived and gave birth to a daughter she named her Juana. That daughter eventually inherited the throne of Castilla.

 

San Juan de Ortega is also the patron saint of “hospitaleros” (albergue keepers). 

Because of his warm-hearted dedication to pilgrims Father Jose Maria Alonso Marroquin was assigned full time and permanently by the Catholic Church (a most unusual step) to tend to pilgrims in the region.

 

No doubt Padre Chema (father Joey) is now trading pilgrims’ tales with San Juan himself and, perhaps, sharing a heavenly bowl of garlic soup.

 

May he rest in joy after a job so very well done.

 

 

Rosina