Day 9: Santiago de Compostela

We are at the destination!!!!!

What an amazing camino here, but now ... we're here!

Of course, St James the Greater is buried here at this church -- and the church was completed in 1211.

Pilgrims traditionally line up and go to venerate the relics of St James and then hug his statue--all of which is in the high altar. No photos are allowed in that part sadly - but it was quite moving!

The shell is the image of the camino, and as you can see, it is even etched in the walls of the cathedral. Why?  There are all the lines leading to the same spot where you hold it is one reason, but another is that the shell is the symbol of baptism

St James literally obeyed Jesus when he said in Mark 15:16:  "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news"

Matthew 28:19:  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

St James the Great was intent on going to the whole world

So on his way, he started churches - baptized souls - did Masses - heard confession - etc 

And he kept oni going 

And he would go until he reached the end of the world -- which he thought he did when he got to the Iberian Peninsula 

This is why James was one of the "special three" - St Peter, St John, and St James.  Peter, James, and John were all on the boat when Jeuss called htem They were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ transfiguration (Mark 9:2–3), and they watched Jesus raiose Jairu's daughter from the dead (Luke 8:49–56). They were also with Jesus as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–38). 

Why these three?

John - the one who would not abandon him at the Cross

Peter - the first pope

James - the one who literally obeyed Jesus 












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