El Camino de Santiago, or aka El Camino, began in as early as the 9th century. That means the 800’s. Yes people, we are talking OLD.
Back in the days when Catholism was the only ism and there was indulgences where you had to actually PAY for your sins.
Say you live in Central France in the 11th century. You have sinned and you would like to be forgiven. And I mean like majorly forgiven. You have reallllllly sinned. OR maybe you have a really mean Aunt Charlotte who has died, and the only way to get that evil, old woman out of purgatory and into heaven is to do some major act of indulgence on her part. Usually that meant money, but another way was to make a lonely pilgrimage to a holy place. You had to leave your home and family for what could be a year long journey. On your journey, there were churches along the way that were obligated to give you shelter on your pilgrimage. In Europe, the most popular Holy place was a place in Western Spain reported to have some remains of St James (known as Santiago in Spain).
Most people congregated at certain places and went the same routes. The #1 route known as The Camino of Frances is from a certain point in French Pyrenees on the Spanish border that will take you along the North of Spain to St James supposed resting place and get your Compostela, which is your PROOF that you have been to the holy site and undergone whatever religious rites they require for either partial or absolute absolution. That means either you or Aunt Charlotte, whichever you choose, will be forgiven of all sins and given the clean slate to allow you into heaven immediately. That was and is given on Holy Years, while the other years, partial indulgence is granted.
Who cares, you ask?
All old art is religious art!
I am an art major.
Follow a path set by religious pilgrims since before we knew there were places beyond Europe and you will get the best of the most. To me that means more than religious absolution.
I want the cultural feel of the pilgrim of ye old. I want to know why anyone then AND now get the blisters and bed bugs and headaches of leaving their home in Spain, France, England, or Norway to walk or boat across water to get to this place that will offer nothing but a stamp on a piece of paper.
I also major in culture. That of 10 centuries ago or that of now.
There is only one way to know for sure and that is to walk the steps, see the sites, get the blisters.
Back in the days when Catholism was the only ism and there was indulgences where you had to actually PAY for your sins.
Say you live in Central France in the 11th century. You have sinned and you would like to be forgiven. And I mean like majorly forgiven. You have reallllllly sinned. OR maybe you have a really mean Aunt Charlotte who has died, and the only way to get that evil, old woman out of purgatory and into heaven is to do some major act of indulgence on her part. Usually that meant money, but another way was to make a lonely pilgrimage to a holy place. You had to leave your home and family for what could be a year long journey. On your journey, there were churches along the way that were obligated to give you shelter on your pilgrimage. In Europe, the most popular Holy place was a place in Western Spain reported to have some remains of St James (known as Santiago in Spain).
Most people congregated at certain places and went the same routes. The #1 route known as The Camino of Frances is from a certain point in French Pyrenees on the Spanish border that will take you along the North of Spain to St James supposed resting place and get your Compostela, which is your PROOF that you have been to the holy site and undergone whatever religious rites they require for either partial or absolute absolution. That means either you or Aunt Charlotte, whichever you choose, will be forgiven of all sins and given the clean slate to allow you into heaven immediately. That was and is given on Holy Years, while the other years, partial indulgence is granted.
Who cares, you ask?
All old art is religious art!
I am an art major.
Follow a path set by religious pilgrims since before we knew there were places beyond Europe and you will get the best of the most. To me that means more than religious absolution.
I want the cultural feel of the pilgrim of ye old. I want to know why anyone then AND now get the blisters and bed bugs and headaches of leaving their home in Spain, France, England, or Norway to walk or boat across water to get to this place that will offer nothing but a stamp on a piece of paper.
I also major in culture. That of 10 centuries ago or that of now.
There is only one way to know for sure and that is to walk the steps, see the sites, get the blisters.
It is known that you cannot go on this amazing trip and not emerge a changed person- big or small. I want to know which it will be for me.
Click HERE to see the site that gives you all the info El Camino.
Click HERE to read an essay on the spirit and possibly the deteriation of El Camino due to the increased popularity.
John and I originally wanted to make El Camino Frances in the Holy year of 2010. After some research, we are not wanting to be in such a crowd. However, the alternate route from Seville is much longer, and the one from the Pyrenees is already a month long. John can only get so much time off from work. Also, el Camino will take some training and getting into shape before 2010 will be difficult. I do not want o go in winter as that presents a whole new set of problems.
Please play along the site and tell me what you think of the crazy pilgrimage started before years were 4 digits long.
Click HERE to see the site that gives you all the info El Camino.
Click HERE to read an essay on the spirit and possibly the deteriation of El Camino due to the increased popularity.
John and I originally wanted to make El Camino Frances in the Holy year of 2010. After some research, we are not wanting to be in such a crowd. However, the alternate route from Seville is much longer, and the one from the Pyrenees is already a month long. John can only get so much time off from work. Also, el Camino will take some training and getting into shape before 2010 will be difficult. I do not want o go in winter as that presents a whole new set of problems.
Please play along the site and tell me what you think of the crazy pilgrimage started before years were 4 digits long.
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2 comments:
The camino will wait for you and when the time is right, you will walk the ancient paths and find rest for your souls!
Just a few corrections Jenn (hope you don't mind. I tried to find an email address but couldn't so here goes!)
El Camino de Santiago, or aka El Camino, began in as early as the 9th century. That means the 800’s. Yes people, we are talking OLD.
Back in the days when Catholism (Catholicism) was the only ism and there was a dreaded thing known as (Purgatory) and a (wonderful) thing known as an indulgence, (given so that you could pay for your sins) you had to actually PAY for your sins.
Say you live in Central France (anywhere in the known world) in the 11th century. You have sinned and you would like to be forgiven. And I mean like majorly forgiven. You have reallllllly sinned. OR maybe you have a really mean Aunt Charlotte who has died, and the only way to get that evil, old woman out of purgatory and into heaven is to do some major act of ( repentance) indulgence on her part. Usually that meant money, but another way was to make a lonely pilgrimage to a holy place. You had to leave your home and family for what could be a year long journey. On your journey, there were churches along the way that were obligated to give you shelter on your pilgrimage. In Europe, the most popular Holy place was a place in Western Spain reported to have some remains of St James (known as Santiago in Spain).
Most people congregated at certain places and went the same routes. The #1 route known as The Camino of St Frances (nothing to do with the saint) (The Camino Frances - meaning that it came from France) is from a (anywhere in France) certain point in French Pyrenees on the Spanish border that will take you along the North of Spain to St James’ supposed resting place and get your Compostela, which is your PROOF that you have been to the holy site and undergone whatever religious rites they require for either partial or absolute absolution. That means either you or Aunt Charlotte, whichever you choose, will be forgiven of all sins and given the lean slate to allow you into heaven immediately. (Plenary indulgences are only given in a Holy Year. At other times only partial forgiveness is given)
Who cares?
All old art is religious art!
I am an art major.
Follow a path set by religious pilgrims since before we knew there were places beyond Europe and you will get the best of the most. To me that means more than religious absolution.
I want the cultural feel of the pilgrim of ye old. I want to know why anyone then AND now get the blisters and bed bugs and headaches of leaving their home in Spain, France, England, or Norway to walk or boat across water to get to this place that will offer nothing but a stamp on a piece of paper.
I also major in culture. That of 10 centuries ago or that of now.
There is only one way to know for sure and that is to walk the steps, see the sites, get the blisters.
Click HERE to see the site that gives you all the info El Camino.
Click HERE to read an essay on the spirit and possibly the deterioration of El Camino due to the increased popularity.
John and I originally wanted to make El Camino (Frances) St Frances in the Holy year of 2010. After some research, we are not wanting to be in such a crowd. However, the alternate route from Seville is much longer, and the one from the Pyrenees is already a month long. John can only get so much time off from work. Also, el Camino will take some training and getting into shape before 2010 will be difficult. I do not want o go in winter as that presents a whole new set of problems.
You might enjoy this website:
http://peregrinations.kenyon.edu/
Pilgrim hugs,
Pilgrim Hugs. that is awesome.
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