10th July 2011 - Camino de Santiago and the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

On this weeks show we have an interview with John McCrohan about the Camino de Santiago, our regular gospel reflection with Fr Michael, Shane and John as well as some local notices and saints of the week.

The programme is also available on podcast.

Camino de Santiago de Compestela

The Camino de Santiago is the ancient pilgrim route across Northern Spain to the tomb of St James the Apostle in Santiago at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, together with Rome and Jerusalem, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned; other major pilgrimage routes include the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 

On the programme this morning, John tells us about the Camino, its history and traditions as well as his own and his families experience of The Way. 

If you are interested in reading and learning more about the Camino and walking the Camino, some further recommendations and advice from John are:
"All the information that's need and more is to be seen in the Confraternity of St James website (which is linked below). The main thing that I'd like to say to anybody doing the Camino is that the journey, like in everything, is way more important than the destination.

• There has many churches etc, visit as many as you can but I'd strongly recommend taking time to visit the Cathedral in Burgos
• You'll find lots of places offering a Pilgrim's Menu; it's good food and reasonable. Try out other local dishes as you pass through the regions. In particular have Morcilla de Burgos in Burgos, Pulpo in Mellide, Viera in Santiago, any where you'll get them have Pimientos de Padrón, Patatas Bravas, Tortilla, Gambas a Ajillo.... the list goes on....
• No doubt you'll run into a festival or two on the way, enjoy!

Confraternity of St James

This is regarded as one the best and most informative site to date which is maintained by the Confraternity of St James. There is also an online bookshop which sells many books. The best book/guide I've seen is John Brierley's book "A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago" (Camino Guides, Findhorn, 2009 288pp) which is highly recommend that to anybody doing any part of the Camino Francés. There is also an Irish Society of St James.

Other recommended sites to have a look at:

• Pilgrimsway to Santiago
• Mundicamino
• Caminoasantiago.com
• Camino Santiago Compostela  
• The Way of St James
• Walking Through Shadows
• Pilgrims Progress 
• A Concha e o Cajado"

During the show, John McCohern mentioned "la bota fumerio" at the cathedral in Santiago. Here is a short video of it in use during the visit of Pope Benedict to Spain in 2010:

Gospel - Matthew 13:1-23

This weeks gospel is a very familiar gospel to us, one which we might be too familiar with, we have heard it so often that we don't really hear it.

It is a gospel of the exuberant abundance of love of God - the Sower. It didn't matter what was the perceived "waste" but God is still always generous in his love despite what we do or don't do in our lives. The message of this love of God for us is that we should be as generous in sharing outside the four walls of our church community even if people are being swamped by the "thorns" of the world.

At the same time, it is a gospel which gives us great hope to continue in our commitment to our christian life. The gospel reminds us that as long as we respond to the love of God to the best of our ability, even if that return is only "thirtyfold, sixtyfold or a hundred fold" it doesn't matter. The main thing is that we make the space and time to respond to the love of God in our lives.

Further reflections on this weeks gospel from:

• Deacon Greg Kandra
• Word on Fire

Saints of the Week


July 11th - St Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe
July 12th - St Veronica
July 13th - St Teresa of the Andes OCD
July 14th - St Camillus of Lellis
July 15th - St Bonaventure
July 16th - Our Lady of Mount Carmel