<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" LANG="0">Hello you all,<BR>
I arrived at Santiago last night. At about 9:00 p.m. I reached the Obradoiro, still illuminated by daylight. The Cathedral was closed, of course, but the plaza was full of people milling about, or sitting/lying on the floor, and street entertainers, musicians and youngsters playing were all about. There were also impromptu theatrical and musical performances in Platerias It did not get night-dark for another hour or so.<BR>
This morning I went to the Cathedral where some things have changed. The Cathedral now opens at 10:15 a.m. and it closes the main door at 11:30 a.m. in preparation for the Pilgrims' Mass, until 2:00 p.m. While the church may be entered through the side doors, silence is imposed and movement within the Cathedral is restricted during services.<BR>
There is now a barrier around the Portico de Gloria and Maestro Mateo's kneeling likeness, and while those who wish to do so can still place their hand(s) on the hollowed finger marks and butt foreheads with the Maestro, they need now enter the barrier single file and in a manner far more orderly than before.<BR>
At the beginning of the Pilgrims' Mass the officiating priest now makes a more extensive allusion to pilgrims, listing where they come from, how many started their pilgrimage where, whether they walked or bicycled, etc. The priest also makes special reference to given groups. As before, the readings from the Apostles' Acts are done by a pilgrim, as are the general and special prayers; additionally two or three pilgrims, representing a group either here or in their own country, may give special thanks and prayers in their own language from the altar. Some Scottish and German pilgrims did so today.<BR>
The Cathedral is getting ready to receive the mortal remains of Ste. Therese of Lisiuex which will be honored at the Cathedral on the 7th, 8th and 9th of this month. I myself do not understand it, but it would appear that the thousands-of-years-old fascination with Saints' relics continues unabated.<BR>
The homily was given by a French priest and I was infinitely moved. He articulated precisely the feelings that I, and most pilgrims, I should think, have sensed wordlessly when venturing forth in the Pilgrimage. <BR>
The priest said that our lives are an amalgam of mind and spirit, and that overwhelmed as we have become with material stimuli and distractions, a certain spiritual hunger appears to be rising in search for a livable equilibrium. He noted the rise in religiosity among so many young people and he said, simply, that the Camino offers the means of investing the body to free the spirit. He remarked upon the oneness of pilgrims demonstrated by the fact that although some of them may be totally unprepared for the physical demands of the Camino they unhesitatingly will turn to support one another....."as one".<BR>
He said that Santiago the place itself is not as important as the spiritual inspiration leading us there because life is a Camino walking to God. He recalled Jesus' answer when some of His apostles asked Him how they would know what Camino to take.<BR>
And on, and on. Most movingly.<BR>
I guess we all know that French eloquence impelled by inspiration and sincerity is unsurpassable.<BR>
Many of you from this listservs have sent me repeated messages of encouragement and offered prayers on my behalf. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Although I did traverse most of the Camino by car I walked from O Cebreiro, all on my own. <BR>
A little more than one year ago I suffered four fractures throughout my body, shattered my right-hand wrist and broke the bones of my right arm. For months I could not brush my teeth, sit, stand, bathe or do anything without assistance; I couldn't even hold a cup of coffee until about six months ago. The operations that I underwent, and the harrowing and long-lasting ensuing pain debilitated and scared me; I thought, at times, that I wouldn't be able to venture outside of my house alone. My self-confidence was as shattered as the bones in my wrist.<BR>
That, now in my sixties, after such terrible and serious injuries, I was able to go back to the Camino, totally by myself, and that I was able to walk to Santiago from O Cebreiro entirely alone, could only happen because of the generosity and the love that Sweet Jesus and our Blessed Mother have bestowed upon me. I am humbled and immensely grateful for such blessings.<BR>
Life and health are a divine gift. I can only hope that I can use mine in a manner that will be pleasing to my beloved Jesus and Mary. <BR>
I'll be going home next Wednesday,.... to begin preparing for next year.<BR>
Warm and heartfelt greetings to you all.<BR>
Rosina</FONT></HTML>