In Spain there is a pilgrim trail from Pyrenees to Santiago Compestela. This is called the Way of St. James or the Comino Santiago Compestela. For centuries Christian pilgrims have traveled this road to Compestela Spain to visit the shrine and cathedral of St. James the Apostle. There in the cathedral is the preported bones of the disciple of Jesus who died for his faith in Jesus. Pilgrims are given a sea shell which in ancient times for Christian represented resurrection and eternal life, and a passport which is stamped at each station on the way to St. James Cathedral in Spain. On this journey many pilgrims experience community and their cares being addressed by Christ. Many secular people have started the pilgrimage finding its spiritual and social aspects appealing. But the Camino was pilgrimage for Christians. Back in Middle Ages and in Modern Catholicism there is concept called Penance or Penitential, which means a Christian must merit holiness through harming their bodies, this is also called asceticism and is rebuked by the Apostle Paul (Colossians 2:23).
However, being pilgrim need not be about penance. It can be to seek answers on a long walk to a holy site. The Camino and other trails like it can be transformative, for the Apostle Peter said, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul," (1 Peter 2:11) and the Camino is a chance to get away from world of hustle and bustle, the rat race, and learn a rhyme that is beneficial to our spiritual walk in Christ. Pilgrimage is a chance to purge oneself of the burdens, heart ache, pains, and hurt in our hearts, through Jesus but in a way that is both very physical and emotional, as well as social and spiritual. The Pilgrimage is like confession, but to God on a long walk, for it is written, "God walked with Adam in Garden," (Genesis 3:8) and so a walk like Camino is a chance to talk to Christ in setting that removes the technology, and troubles that tend to distract us in life. The Pilgrim trail is a Wilderness for Christians to seek God and battle the devil as Jesus did (Matthew 4:1). In fact, the Holy Spirit often leads people on the Way of St. James, even unbelievers, who need to find Jesus, but for us believers it is a chance to share the True Faith on the road and make disciples (Matthew 28:19), but deep down this is about discipleship with Christ, denying ourselves and picking up our cross not for penitential reasons, but rather to purge our weary hearts and to put ourselves in a place spiritually to hear from God and to talk with him in a way that is less about requests, and more of deep dialogue of soul with the Savior.
The Camino has become famous again thanks to Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez who made a film called "The Way." The film is nice snapshot of the modern experience of St. James, but in truth it has objectionable content such as pot smoking, and shows how secular people are corrupting the Camino experience even though I do not object to them seeking on the path. The Camino has fastly become a road for all religions and people, but it was invented for Christian pilgrims and the benefits that even secular people find should draw their minds to think, this entire experience is owed to Christian monks and pilgrims in Middle Ages, and those wonderful yellow arrows were made by Christians to help pilgrims. I must warn anyone who goes on Camino will not be without the world nipping at your heart, for there are people who use the experience to match make, get laid, and get drunk (so devil is on Camino, Matthew 4:1). A sensible believer can avoid the riffraff, but it is disheartening that there is a lack of reverence and abuse of the pilgrimage which is meant to sooth the spirit of pilgrims and make people contemplate, ponder, reflect, and introspect.
The Camino is a community based experience. Christians put pilgrims up in their homes, feed them, and cloth them even, which they do because it is unto Christ (Matthew 25:36-40) and we know Chirst lives in every Christian (Colossians 1:27). It is a paradise of how earlier Church behaved, and for that reason alone it is worthy of walking the Way of St. James. However, as aforementioned there are those who abuse this kindness, and while brokenness can be opportunity to share Christ, beware that they do not try to sink you, "Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals." (1 Corinthians 15:33). The Way to Santiago is chance to experience Christian hospitality, and travel back in time to how Church should be behaving (Acts 2-4). On pilgrim road one will find people who are in a raw place, and life long friendships can develop. Just beware of those who are exploiting this expedition for their own evil desires, and seek Emmanuel's help in getting the most out of Camino de Santiago.
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