Santiago de Compostela

"You are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God. You form a building that rises on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is fitted together and takes shape as a holy temple in the Lord; in him you are being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-20

Approaching the city with excitement. Eleven of us left the albergue very early, 5:30 or so. After seeing another of our pilgrim friends also starting early, we made it an "apostolic twelve." The intent was to view the stars - as Compostela is thought to  be a translation  of the Latin "campus stellam" - "field of stars". We didn't see many stars, but even the city lights of Pedrouza couldn't dim the brightness of the full moon that we walked towards. Only the Galician forests could hide that light. Around mid morning from Monte do Gozo we caught a glimpse of the city of Santiago. 

Just before entering the city I had asked if anyone remembered Saint Jean Pied de Port. One comment was a memory of beginning the journey, "Is this all we do - just start walking?" We did just that every day for over a month and over five hundred miles.

Four things brought me to tears on July 23, 2013. First, hearing the cathedral bells after coming close enough to see the details of the spires. Second, reaching the cathedral plaza with the companions who had traveled together since Sarria. Even before Sarria we had all traveled pieces of the journey with various members at different stages, but not all together like this.

Third, receiving communion at the Pilgrims' Mass at 12:00. Last, seeing the Butafumeiro fly upward as if ascending to heaven with our prayers.

How appropriate the photo of the companions (or "my Camino family" as one person put it) seen in line with the base of the structure as the cathedral towers above.  

Now we begin as Pilgrims continuing our journeys. This path to heaven has been cleared and laid out for us with self sacrificing love by One greater than us - just as the entire Camino has been forged (and painted with yellow arrows) by ones before us. All we have to do is walk.