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I too have no idea what Lisa's answers would be. I am not even sure
what my answers would be. I was raised a Catholic, was in the preparatory
seminary at St.Charles at 13, lasted three years, left the church while
I was in the army during WW 2. In fact the Army sent me to Fordham
University in 1943 to study Spanish and Spanish culture. It's as
if I have always known about the Camino although I must have learned
about it in seminary or at Fordham studying with Spanish refugees.
It's as if I have always wanted to walk the Camino, in or out of the Church.
The call was there, is there. It is something I feel compelled to
do. If I could get out ot it , I would. I was greatly encouraged
by a late 12th century poem cited by Lee Hoinacki in his <i>El Camino:
Walking to Santiago de Compostella.</i> It is a poem praising the
<i>refugio</i>at Roncesvalles.
<p>
The door is open to all, sick or well,
<br>
Not onlty Catholics, but pagans also,
<br>
To Jews, heretics, idlers, the vain
<br>
And... the good and the worldly , too.
<p>This is Hoinacki's translation. He adds, "The only test for entry
is that you appear to be on the camino, no questions are asked."
Since I tend to identify with all these orders, qualities, and conditions,
I am heartened by the poem's message. No questions. The heart
already knows the reasons.
<p>I begin my journey in mid-May.
<p>Peace.
<p>richard e. lee
<br>
<p>Maryjane Dunn wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>Please be assured that my questions are out of pure
curiosity, and are not
<br>meant to be in any way disrespectful...
<p>Why are you planning on going to Compostela for a "truly spiritual"
reason,
<br>rather than going to another place, perhaps one related to your Jewish
<br>heritage?
<p>Why choose a highly organized religious pilgrimage, if you have a spiritual
<br>reason that has nothing to do with organized religion?
<p>Would being denied a credential (pilgrim's passport) lessen the impact
of
<br>the journey?
<p>Would you be upset if the Catholic church denied you a credential (or
a
<br>Compostelana at the end of the journey) because they have become more
strict
<br>about the "rules" (not that I know they have, but the 2 stamps/day
would
<br>indicate to me that they are trying to cut down on the frivolous tourists
<br>(or the non-walking "cheaters")).
<p>Your note fascinated me...
<br>Maryjane
<p>> Kind souls,
<br>> first of all, I am of Jewish heritage. I do not go to church,
belong to a
<br>> parish or a synagogue for that matter. I am planning this journey
for a
<br>> truly spiritual reason, which has nothing to do with organized religion.
<br>> Will I be denied a credencial in St Jean or Roncevalles? Are
<br>> these "rules"
<br>> becoming more strict that they were in all the books i have read
<br>> so far about
<br>> this pilgrimage?
<br>> thank you
<br>> lisa
<br>></blockquote>
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