Italy
(by Anna Maria Federico – Umbria)
The proposal was challenging: a diocesan pilgrimage along the final stretch of the French Way starting from Sarria, covering 118 km towards Santiago de Compostela. Alongside a large group of young people and educators from the diocese of Perugia – 420 in total – a gentler itinerary was offered to adults. We decided to take up the challenge, embarking from July 24th to August 1st on a truly unique experience…
We adults traveled by plane, unlike the young people who journeyed by coach. During the six stages of our journey, averaging 20 km each day, we had the support of coaches that transported our luggage to the towns where we spent the night: Sarria, Portomarín, Palas de Rei, Melide, Arzúa, O Pino.
Setting off early every morning around 6:00–6:30 AM (when the morning air is pleasantly cool, between 15 and 18 degrees) seemed demanding at first, but this «moving towards» helped us rediscover the true meaning of the journey. Among our families, about twenty in all, were younger and older adults alike: the initial feeling for some was the fear of not being able to complete the whole route, especially during the first two days, with stages of 22 and 25 km.
Inner rhythm and the strength of prayer
Yet gradually, each person looked inward and found their own pace. I cannot say what my companions felt, but my husband Francesco and I felt called to keep walking by focusing not on the difficulties, but on the opportunities; and that was the turning point that helped me above all, as someone who does not particularly love walking and tends to be sedentary.
Looking back, I immediately began to reflect deeply and bring order to what was in my heart: first, a prayer of thanksgiving to God who sustained me in recent years through health challenges. Then, the intention of offering this pilgrimage to ask the Lord’s support for the needs of many relatives and friends who had requested prayers. And finally, the desire to open my heart to the world.
Encounters on the path and a universal Church
The Camino de Santiago possesses a wonderful quality: it introduces you to people from all over the world, where a smile, a kind word, or a heartfelt «buen camino» uplifts and encourages you through every stage… I did not know what to expect, but on the way, you truly understand that the Church is universal and filled with hope.
Not all the people we met were believers, yet they paused respectfully whenever they heard the Rosary being recited. Even at rest stops, an atmosphere of respect and solidarity prevailed. I had the chance to speak with an Argentinian youth who shared his mate, two girls from Colombia and Venezuela proudly carrying their flags, and a Portuguese family whom we kept meeting along subsequent stages as if by divine arrangement.
It might seem impossible, but by opening ourselves to others and to personal and communal prayer (we celebrated Holy Mass every day), I realized that our strength came directly from Him… Having this inner wellspring makes you forget the aches, the blisters on our feet, minor ailments, and fatigue.
Arriving in Santiago and the call to be a neighbor
You discover that you are capable of achieving things you never thought possible; gratitude grows within you toward God, toward your brothers and sisters, toward the pilgrimage, and toward Saint James who called you to this journey. This culminates upon reaching the great Plaza del Obradoiro; in front of the Cathedral of Santiago, you see pilgrims kneeling, embracing, and singing together in profound emotion, realizing that from this calling a true mission must begin…
In Santiago, lives and stories intertwine, showing us that on this path we are all called to become a neighbor to the person walking beside us. One cannot help but pray and remember the suffering of so many brothers and sisters from countries afflicted by civil war, violence, earthquakes, and famine. We are called to stand alongside those we meet, even for a short stretch of the road, through prayer, kind words, and the support of the Holy Spirit who works through humble and pure hearts…
Being mindful of this is a great gift that strengthens us and allows us to experience the beauty of walking together… A network of pilgrims, much like our missionaries who over the years have traveled across the world, listening, smiling, standing beside their brothers and sisters even in the face of hardship, always placing love first.
Our gratitude goes to all who walk the roads of the world, now and always moving forward…
Photo by Anna Maria Federico
