WHAT?
Idente online pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela through 12 stages.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Testimony of Ernesto Vilasante
One of the Pilgrims of the first Idente Way of Saint James that took place in 1988
“Being companions on the Way of Saint James unites us forever”.
Hello to all of you,
Who was going to tell me, who inaugurated the first Way of Saint James of in 1988, organized by Idente Youth, that after 34 years I would be addressing more than 1800 virtual pilgrims!
In 1988, I was living in the Canary Islands. I was walking around with my heart a little shrunken and a scattered mind, when I heard on the radio that a religious group called Idente Youth, which I had never heard of, was organizing The Way of Saint James, from Astorga to Santiago de Compostela. I immediately thought it was a good opportunity to take a break, meet people and clear my head. The curious thing about all this was that, when I spoke to the people in charge of Idente Youth in the Canary Islands, they told me that they had not paid for any radio advertising. So, it was Providence, which in some cases I call the scriptwriter, who wanted me to be informed about the Route, and finally I signed up to do it.
Each experience of The Way of Saint James is different, but that one was even more so. I had to find where to sleep, where to eat, where to hold seminars and celebrate the Eucharist. Every day was a challenge, even though Gabriel had planned everything very well.
There were twelve stages of journey, of reflection, of conversations and above all of feeling part of the Idente Family. A special moment was when we arrived at my home, in Melide, where I was able to introduce Gabriel to my father and my brothers. Since that first year, the stop at my house, to have some delicious sweets typical of the village is mandatory. We tell each other how the year has gone; Gabriel tells us about the group participating and shares with us some anecdotes.
The scriptwriter (Providence) wanted again to have a great gesture with us: on July 21, 2013, just when the Idente Way of Saint James arrived in Melide, we buried my father. You can’t even imagine what it meant for the whole family that his funeral was celebrated by Gabriel Córdoba. We are all convinced that my father wanted it that way!
I want to say goodbye to all of you with a phrase. The one that my pilgrimage brother, Luis Casasús, always tells me: “Being companions on the Way of Saint James unites us forever”, and that is my wish for the more than the 1800 pilgrims that this year have walked together with me on this online Way of Saint James. I hope that the magic rope that has kept me united to the Idente Family will also give you strength and keep you all united!
Fellow pilgrims, thank you very much and “¡Buen Camino!”
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
My name is María Docmac Leal, and I am Chilean. I was born in the city of Valdivia in 1920, which as you see, makes me 100 years old. I have wanted to make this journey because I had learned about it years ago, and as I will never be able to personally go for myself, I wanted to give thanks to God for allowing me to make this spiritual journey, and to find myself among who knows how many brothers and sisters who will make the journey and learn the path too. One can live 100 years and not find themselves prepared to leave for the final journey.
So, my heart always yearns more for the Lord, and this is my intention.
I think we should all make this journey, which is also the way of our Lord, Our Lord. Don’t ever turn away from him, because he said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Where do we find Jesus? We find him in one another, we find him in….the Tabernacle. There he is permanently waiting for us, waiting for his children to come and see Him…he is in the word, in the New Testament, in His Word. Where else is Jesus? In prayer. Following in His footsteps and following his advice, we will one day find ourselves at the gates of heaven. We hope that God will help us to reach His divine presence, because I believe that this is our end—Heaven.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
The Jiménez Albarrán Family
Testimony of their Family Pilgrimage along the Idente On-line Way of Saint James
Are you going to make an inner journey?
Juan Carlos: Hello, we, María, Ana Paula, Janeth and Juan Carlos, are the Jiménez Albarrán Family, from Mexico. For me The Way of Saint James implies a process of reflection and encounter. A walk with the heart to encounter Christ.
Janeth: For me The Way to Saint James has always been a dream that now through technology I have been able to do. We are enjoying it very much and, well, life is like a road; sometimes we are far away like the Prodigal Son who decides to be far from the Father, and it is then that we have to decide to make an inner journey. Like the son who says: “I will get up and go to my father’s house and tell him I do not deserve Him!” The Father is waiting for us and wants to put on us, sandals, a ring and a tunic, and have a party, and I think we all have to embark on that road to conversion, to meet the Lord and be close to Him.
Ana Paula: I am really enjoying “the Camino” because it feels like walking with Jesus. He gives us the strength to leave our sins on the road, and by leaving them behind and being able to walk together with Him, we renew ourselves.
María: For me The Way, now that we are not doing it physically, still feels like it, for there are times when in life you say that you cannot take even one more step, as in the day to day. Sometimes I feel that I cannot take one more step and, well, here the task is to ask Christ for that strength, to help us to keep walking, to leave behind everything that weighs us down, and to carry our cross along the way, to offer it to Him.
Janeth: Thank you very much and thank you for the opportunity to experience The Way to Saint James in a virtual way and we encourage all pilgrims to enter into that dwelling place, into their heart to be able to meet Christ. Thank you!
“THE PILGRIMAGE TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA IS NOT DONE WITH THE FEET, IT IS DONE WITH THE HEART”
DO YOU KNOW THAT THIS YEAR 2021 IS JACOBEAN?
It is a very special date. The Jacobean (or Xacobeo) year, also known as the Holy Year or Jubilee Year, is celebrated every year in which the Day of the Apostle Santiago (July 25) falls on a Sunday , as established by Pope Callisto II in the year 1126, coinciding with the laying of the last stone of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This fact allows the pilgrims who visit the tomb of the Apostle in the Cathedral of Santiago to obtain the plenary indulgence or the forgiveness of all sins .
As a curiosity, the Jacobean year is usually celebrated about 14 times each century. This occasion will also be a unique opportunity… Why? Due to the pandemic, for the first time, the Jacobean Year 2021 is also extended until 2022, as announced by Pope Francis after the opening of the Holy Door. Do you join us?