Walking with the Saints: My First Pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago

My husband Mike and I love to travel and have been some amazing places: From Iceland to Paris; Costa Rica to Canada; from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, we have been blessed with some great opportunities. But nothing compares to my first pilgrimage in 2024. This was a whole different animal. I didn’t even know what a pilgrimage was until our neighbors invited us to walk El Camino in Spain with them. This is the last 100 kilometers of The Way (which is a movie referring to the Way of St. James, the patron of pilgrims). First, we had to understand what a pilgrim was. I soon gathered this was not about site seeing as so many previous trips had been. This was about finding yourself, seeking a relationship with your creator and honoring the saints who walked the same path to Santiago de Compostela (St. James of the Constellation) two thousand years ago. Back then they only had the stars to guide them. Today there are seashells to mark the pathway which is often very remote and difficult to find.

First, we had to train to be able to walk up to 20 miles per day, carrying a day pack with our water, food, extra shoes and clothes and rain gear.

Next, we had to pack for 3 weeks in just a carry-on suitcase and backpack. Yes, pilgrims do laundry in some interesting places, or if you got caught in the rain, maybe that would suffice.

We decided to stretch our dollars to buy the plane ticket from Denver to Europe by tacking on other trips in the area to justify the expense and time to get there. Once I knew the dates, I began searching for other holy sites we wanted to visit. Mike always wanted to go to Normandy, so that was our first stop. The cemetery, D-Day beaches, and the magnificent Mont St. Michel. This was built out of a rock island at the behest of St. Michael continually appearing to Bishop Aubert in the year 708 until he finally agreed to build it. The entire island is the castle like structure only accessible during low tide.

Next, we took a train back to Paris and a flight to Lourdes to visit the Sanctuary of

Our Lady. This is a picturesque little village in south France known for the apparition of Mary appearing to 14-year-old (now Saint) Bernadette and her two childhood friends in 1858. From the grotto healing springs provide holy water for invalids and sick people who travel from around the world to be healed, 5 to 6 million each year. This was quite an experience, especially the candle-light rosary processions every night. Despite the number of people, this was a particularly reverent site.

Then we took a train to San Sebastian to catch a flight to Madrid to meet up with our pilgrim group from Denver to walk the Camino. We were first bussed to Avila to visit St. Teresa and Segovia for St. John of the Cross to see their remains and cathedrals. We left our rocks with our intentions on them at the foot of the Iron Cross. Then we spent the next 6 days walking. Up at 6am, breakfast at 7, Mass and rosary and start walking about 15 miles each day. Three days we had rain; two days I hobbled on a sprain ankle from tripping on the hotel stairs in the dark. Mike had to carry my water and luckily, I had hiking sticks with me. We walked through beautiful forests, open fields, vineyards, farms, and medieval villages. At every stop we found a church and brought our family intentions to the altar or lit a candle.

Our spiritual director offered history of the area and each feast day for a particular saint. We communed with nature and met pilgrims from all over the world. We carried the seashell on our backpacks along with The Holy Face of Jesus for which the pilgrimage was intended. Each night we fell into bed tired but at peace. We felt the Holy Spirit was with us each step of the way.

The great culmination of seeing the massive Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela occurred in the middle of a down pour, but was spectacular, nonetheless. This was truly an amazing experience, all offered in reparation to Jesus Christ and for our family intentions.

I met an amazing woman on the journey named Patty. I told her I was praying for my children and grandchildren to know and love Jesus Christ. She was praying to have her grandson baptized. We agreed to pray for each other’s intentions and often prayed the rosary together on our walks.

The last stop on our pilgrimage was at the Shrine of our Lady of The Holy Rosary of Fatima in Portugal. Another beautiful Marion site where Mary appeared to 3 shepherd children in 1916 and 1917. Mary’s message was that prayer would lead to an end to the Great War. On October 13, 1917, Mary performed the Miracle of the Sun. Patty and I decided to ‘walk’ on our knees outdoors up to the shrine (about 600 feet)while praying the Rosary for our intentions.

This was truly a trip of a lifetime. I learned so much about my faith that I never knew. I decided that there was really nothing sacred or old in the United States. There is so much peace and reverence at these holy sites. I hope that feeling stays with me forever.