From the desk of the Tar Heel disciple:
July 30, 2026 (#120)
The Camino of Saint James
July 25th, according to the General Roman Calendar of the Catholic Church, is the feast day of Saint James “the Great,” apostle. In 2027, the feast will fall on a Sunday, making it a “Holy Year” for Spain. This custom was begun by Pope Calixtus II (1065-1124). This is a distinct observance from that of a “Holy Years” celebrated from the beginning of the 14th century in Rome and which are now generally celebrated every 25 years. If recent history is any indication, this coming Compostelan Holy Year might see more pilgrims walking to the shrine than ever before. In 2024, nearly half a million pilgrims received the traditional certificate from the Pilgrims Office at the famous shrine in Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain, where the relics of Saint James are venerated.
The Compostela is a document of the cathedral chapter, given to those who have completed at least 100 kilometers, walking, or 200 kilometers by bicycle, and have undertaken the journey for religious reasons. Indulgences are granted for this pious practice during the holy years. The journey can begin anywhere, and there are numerous traditional routes that have become popular, beginning at various points not only on the Iberian Peninsula, but throughout Europe. Perhaps the most well-known route it is the “French Route” (El Camino Francés). Many thousands of pilgrims begin each year on the French side of the border with Spain, in the town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, high in the Pyrenees mountain range. From this location the distance to Santiago de Compostela is about 800 kilometers (500 miles). This route is probably the most popular one, and was clearly documented by the Codex Calixtinus, which was published about 1140.
Pilgrims carry a document called the credencial, which is a kind of pilgrim’s passport. Official (ink) stamps of each town, church, hostel, etc. are obtained along the journey, indicating the individual pilgrim's route. The completed document serves as proof for the Pilgrims Office at the shrine. The most popular routes are well supplied with pilgrim hostels, known as albergues in Spain. These facilities are run by private groups, individuals, parishes, municipalities, etc. Some of these also serve a simple meal, with minimal fees. The credencial also serves as a form of testimony at many Spanish restaurants along “The Way,” securing for the pilgrim a modestly priced pilgrim's menu.
Tradition maintains that the body of Saint James, the first apostle to be martyred (by Herod, according to the Acts of the Apostles), was transported in a rudderless ship, from Jerusalem to the Iberian Peninsula, where he was subsequently buried in what is now known as the city of Santiago de Compostela. At some time in the early 9th century, the bishop of the region claimed to have rediscovered the remains of this great apostle. In the centuries that followed, the shrine attracted pilgrims from throughout Europe, rivalling only the great pilgrimage centers of Rome and Jerusalem. Many of these medieval pilgrims undertook took the journey as a penance imposed on them. Others, like Saint Francis, St. Bridget of Sweden, and many other saints, did so out of religious devotion. Today, many pilgrims make the journey for decidedly secular reasons and/or in search of meaning in their lives. But there are still pilgrims who embrace “The Way” and approach the tomb of Saint James because of their deep Catholic faith.
Resource for Adults: The Way of Saint James - Come Along on the Pilgrimage of a Lifetime DVD
For Children: On the Way to Santiago de Compostela
