Saint James 7/25

On the Camino de Santiago there was an albergue sponsored by an Italian group, the confraternity of San Jacopo (St. James). I didn't stay in that albergue because it was only halfway to the next destination, but I did stop in. The same Confraternità di San Jacopo sponsors three places of refuge for pilgrims along the Via Francigena: here at Abbadia Isola, later at Radicofani, and finally at Roma.

We were told that the was a foot washing ceremony at 7:00 and dinner at 8:00. Not many places provide dinner, but here there was even a brief prayer and foot washing ceremony to welcome the pilgrims (reference to the Gospel of John at the Last Supper). The two volunteers working there that week took a pitcher and a basin and poured a little water on eah pilgrims foot and dried them with a towel. We had already all showered, so yes, it was symbolic but still a very Christ like welcome. Sergio, with his zest for life, went right ahead and put both feet over the basin; a very different, and perhaps a better one, than Peter at the Last Supper. It did make us all laugh together.