© * 2019 - Caminhos de Santiago - Testimonies, positive thoughts/reactions 2.

***CAMINHOS DE SANTIAGO PILGRIMAGE, the first form of CATHOLIC TOURISM throughout EUROPE, since the 9th Century, and also for the ones that do not like it, ending at the CATHEDRAL of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, at the TOMB of Santiago Apostle. ***Since 1239/1242 Pilgrims have left Tavira in the Portuguese Algarve, on their Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia in Spain, walking by the Eastern Provinces of Portugal, to the North and from Castelo Rodrigo by Vila Flor, Mirandela to Chaves, crossing the Border to Spain and from Verín in Galicia by Ourense to Santiago de Compostela, to reach the Tomb of Apostle Santiago in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, to end the PILGRIMAGE over there. ***Before future Pilgrims travel to Tavira in Portugal they have to prepare well, and to assist again these Testimonies and Reactions, sent to Tavira's Association after the Pilgrimage, sometimes with photographs, Prayers or copies of Credencials or Compostela, which we are grateful for! -------------------------------------------------------------- *Reaction sent by M.P. from Cadiz(ES.),2018; -Before starting the Camino, before you start walking the Way of Saint James: The Way of Saint James is the result of the combination of different elements: Catholic Belief, history, art, nature, freedom, solidarity, respect and willpower,... but essentially it is a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience! For this reason it is possible to say that in reality there are as many "WAYS" as there are Pilgrims. Each Pilgrim has his/her own personal itinerary as the Pilgrimage is essentially an internal, spiritual experience, to encounter or reencounter oneself and life itself. The divine essence makes itself present in various forms through Providence, making it possible for people coming from the seven continents, to converge on and share this unforgettable experience walking towards their goal: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, APOSTLE SANTIAGO'S TOMB. *This centuries-old experience helps to humanize our current society, uniting people of all nations and cultures by using simple ways/methods. By walking together and living together human-beings make a tribute to coexistence, feeling part of an enormous universal heart, whose heartbeat is THE SOUL OF THE WORLD. *These simple reflections are an attempt to open up your heart on the path of life, and in particular, during thirty days, to renew the hope within you. This period of reflection can help us to become better people, committed towards a universal well-being. We all become Pilgrims for life, walking towards the same objective: LOVE THAT SUSTAINS THE SOUL OF THE WORLD.(ULTREIA SUSEIA! You can do it, go ahead, go on!). -------------------------------------------------------------- *V.J.- Vézelay, France on 25.07.2019: -(Para antes de partir; o para cuando viajes hacia el punto de partida, o para cuando comiences a caminar). -"Todo tiene su momento, y cada cosa su tiempo bajo el cielo: Su tiempo el nacer y su tiempo el morir; su tiempo el plantar y su tiempo el arrancar lo plantado, su tiempo el matar y su tiempo el sanar"(Qo 3,1-5). *Bom Caminho - Iter Stellarum. -------------------------------------------------------------