tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429933274851330842.post2236771152775282499..comments2023-08-28T10:18:07.810+01:00Comments on Pilgrim patch: We are all pilgrims.Pilgrims Patchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516793997372696058noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429933274851330842.post-21595480490360708252009-10-07T17:43:19.151+01:002009-10-07T17:43:19.151+01:00Hi Ian,
This is an interesting discussion and one ...Hi Ian,<br />This is an interesting discussion and one that I suspect will continue for some time. In the west of Ireland where I am from there are many sites of pilgrimage some small and very local others, like Croagh Patrick, attracting pilgrims from a wide area. <br />In Ireland due to the size of the island distance in itself (the journey) was never going to be a significant pilgrim challenge. However many of our pilgrimage sites seem to have a physical aspect/challenge such as climbing a significant peak (Mount Brandon/Croagh Patrick) in bare feet or going without food for 3 days (Lough Derg) built into the pilgrimage ritual. This could be seen as a sort of condensed version of the physical hardship of the more orthodox pilgrimage journey-and one that could be attempted within the physical restraints of the site(s). Sometimes these pilgrim tasks can be a simple 'pattern' of walking a designated path to/and or around a site a number of times others can be more extreme. In my experience there is generally if not an expectation at least an explicit opportunity to choose to undergo some physical hardship as part of your pilgrimage experience. Therefore a dicotomy between the journey/ hardship and destination/site makes me a little uneasy and doesn't 'fit' my own West of Ireland pilgrim expectations. However I think "hardcore pilgrims" to often focus on the more obvious manifestations of hardship e.g. distance in kms walked/and in what time, weight of pack etc when in fact spiritual, emotional and less overt physical issues can be equally if not more challenging for some pilgrims. <br />I remember as a youngster the special praise one received for climbing Mount Brandon in bare feet-we all had feet like hobbits and prefered to go barefoot so it was not that much of an effort for us! But what was clear to me then was that the efforts of the old ladies who attempted the climb, even if they kept their shoes on and had to be helped up the last stage, were actually much greater than our youthful endeavours. <br />One can never know the weight of anothers cross, what fears, doubts or physical incapacities they have battled with to reach the site. In that context its impossible to judge anothers pilgrimage even if one wanted to and quite frankly I don't.Nellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429933274851330842.post-47169897217306709082009-10-07T10:49:29.263+01:002009-10-07T10:49:29.263+01:00There are five times as much people doing the Cami...There are five times as much people doing the Camino as those who receive the Compostela, I am in the late sixties and walked and stayed in a free and easy manner. As Sillydoll says, staying in an albergue does not make a pilgrim.<br /><br />And what is the "proper way"? and what is a "real pilgrim?" Sillydoll suggested that the forum could be divided into the spiritual and practical aspects of the Camino, let each do it as one wishes and do not be judgemental. I finished the Camino having completed one of my wishes, no one can say that he or she is a better pilgrim than I, I did not feel the need to queue to get a Compostela, I felt I achieved a great feat and felt very much at ease spiritually, no-one will take this away from me.Grandpa Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14332705366228508787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1429933274851330842.post-35222808821049212522009-10-06T20:21:27.102+01:002009-10-06T20:21:27.102+01:00Thanks Ian for this post. I spent sometime agonisi...Thanks Ian for this post. I spent sometime agonising over whether I was a pilgrim or 'just' a long distance walker. In the end I decided that it wasn't really an important question for me, but undeniably, the walk from Le Puy to Santiago has been an important part of my lifetime journey. <br />I did walk quite often with someone who occasionally took taxis or buses, as she suffered from serious knee problems. She was viciously attacked one day by someone who saw her climbing out of a taxi, and this 'pilgrim' told her in no uncertain terms that she was 'not a real pilgrim'. But that day my friend had walked 10km before the pain had become excruciating. Her husband had called a cab for her, then he walked on to their day's destination. This friend had a serious purpose as part of her journey. She was carrying medals from a friend of hers who had terminal cancer. She carried them all the way from Cahors, then placed them by the Saint's tomb. The medals were imbued with every prayer my friend had prayed for her friend along the way, heartfelt prayers. She failed to walk perhaps about 80km of the distance between Cahors and Santiago, but there is absolutely no doubt she was a 'true pilgrim'.Kiwi Nomadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13351034705766073667noreply@blogger.com