Pilgrims find their way along the historic camino

You might say that a recent Legatus pilgrimage walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain left pilgrims with a new “Way” of looking at life.

“The Camino is a great filter,” according to David Burleigh, reflecting on his experience on the historic pilgrimage route also known as the Way of St. James this past spring.

“It helps to focus on what is important and what needs to be done,” Burleigh said of the Legatus pilgrimage, which took place April 25-May 3. “You realize much of what people talk about, worry about, and spend time on in the course of a typical day is actually not that important. Every day is important, but you can’t appreciate the truly important when you’re mired in distractions.”

David and his wife, Chris, members of the Cincinnati Chapter, were among the 11 pilgrims and their Portuguese guide who hiked the 72 miles of rugged Spanish countryside from Sarria to their destination, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where it is said reside the remains of the apostle St. James the Greater.

STEEPED IN TRADITION

According to tradition, James evangelized that region of Spain before returning to Jerusalem, where he was martyred about A.D. 44 (Acts 12:2).

Nine hundred years later, a shepherd discovered a grave in a field, and the local bishop proclaimed the remains to be those of James. Thus, the name of the area was called Santiago de Compostela: loosely, “the burial ground of St. James.” Legends of James’ remains being transported by boat across the Mediterranean and discovered by his converts in Padrón attempt to explain how the apostle wound up buried in Spain.

Clearing distractions to grow closer to God through prayer and sacrifice is at the heart of the Camino, which became a major pilgrimage route of medieval Christianity from the 10th century onward. In modern times, there was a resurgence of pilgrims from Latin America after the publication of Brazilian author Paula Cuelho’s novel the Pilgrimage in 1987, and a further increase in interest after the release ofThe Way, a 2010 film starring Martin Sheen.

Today there are more than 200,000 pilgrims in a typical year, although the pandemic brought some down years: from some 340,000 pilgrims in 2019, the numbers dwindled to 50,000 in 2020 before rising again to nearly 177,000 last year.

There are six main routes starting variously from France, Portugal, and Spain ranging from 514 miles to the minimum 62 miles required to earn a compostela (the name also given to the “pilgrim’s certificate”) acknowledging completion of the Camino. The Legatus pilgrims logged 72 miles over five days, averaging six to eight hours of hiking each day.

A JOURNEY LIKE LIFE ITSELF

John and Jenny Warford from the Bismarck Chapter chose this pilgrimage specifically for its physical challenges. “It was a pilgrimage, not a vacation,” John said. The Warfords explained that every morning the group started their walk praying the rosary together. Father Eric Cadin, chaplain of Legatus’ Boston Chapter, accompanied the pilgrims and celebrated Mass for them each evening.

“It was more than we even thought it would be,” said Jenny. “I was so enriched by the graces I received. I learned to trust in Jesus, persevering every day.” The highlight, she said, was traveling with like-minded people from Legatus. “I learned so much, and the companionship was astounding.”

John likened the Camino to life itself. “When on the trail, you need true grit to get through and have to keep on going, and then God will help you to get through,” he said. “That can apply to life with all its trials and tribulations.”

John said that coming over the last hill and seeing the square of Compostela with the spires of the church brought tears to his eyes. “There’s not a lot of things you can do in this world where you can come back with a better faith, but this is one of them,” he said. John said that two of his prayer intentions on the Camino have been answered.

Sheila and Chris Casselberry of the Baton Rouge Chapter brought along Chris’s sister Antoinette from Nevada.

Experiencing sore feet and little sleep after the first day, Sheila feared it would be too hard to walk the next morning. “But overnight, miraculously, I felt much better,” she said. “My sore feet made me reflect on how much Jesus must have suered, especially when they drove nails through his feet. Now, when I see a crucifix, I glance at His feet and say a little prayer.”

Antoinette credited the trip with bringing her closer to God. “I came back with a peace that I have not had in a long time,” she said. “I got so much joy.”

A PART OF HISTORY

Deacon Joe Knapke from the Columbus Chapter said the steep hills were a challenge, but he got through by oering up the diffculty for others and saying many Our Fathers and Hail Marys. A prayer he often repeated to himself along the way was: “Jesus, help me to preach the gospel by the way I love and serve my neighbor.”

Standing before the crypt of St. James and gazing at the immense statues in the cathedral, Joe reflected upon those who had been there before him

“I thought of being part of a group that for centuries has been coming to get graces from this,” he said. “It brings you to appreciate the power and wonder of God.”

CHAPLAIN ON THE WAY

Traveling the Way of St. James alongside Legatus pilgrims was a unique experience for Fr. Eric Cadin, chaplain of the Boston Chapter.

Although accustomed to being physically active, Fr. Cadin found walking the Camino was more challenging than he had anticipated. “Walking that much is not an ordinary thing,” he said. “You get tired. But once you realize your body can do this, it’s mental. I enjoyed it.”

A walking pilgrimage has a very different dynamic compared to excursions that involve group projects or sightseeing, he said.

“The fact that we were walking the whole time allowed for really wonderful, deep conversations that would happen over a period of hours and days,” he said.

He compared it to the story of the two disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, discussing the passion and death of Jesus without realizing He was in their midst (Luke 24:13-32).

“There are ongoing conversations that you can return to later,” Fr. Cadin explained. “You can be quiet for a while, stop for a bit, speed up and slow down, and so much time to pray and talk to one another.”