Going to Pilgrim Mass

I go to mass whenever there is mass offered in a town and I am there. Over the past weeks I have experienced many variations of the ritual.

- Holy Week mass before a procession in Burgos

- Sunday mass in the community oh Hospital de Obrigo

- Festival day mass for the patron Saint Toribio of Astorga

- weekday evening mass in the small town of Mansilla de las Mulas

- community mass in a small chapel that is part of the massive gothic cathedral de Leon

- evening mass in the nuns monastery in Leon

- pilgrims mass in the chapels at O Cebreiro 

-pilgrim mass at Triacastela 

The most intimate and touching for me was the pilgrim mass at Triacastela. The older Spanish priest called all up to sit around the altar.

There were 14 of us speaking English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Korean. 

The priest was warm and gruff. Giving orders and making jokes- since we are all pilgrims with tired feet he said 'you can sit. We won't be doing any gymnastics during the service- besides they were all sitting at the last supper.'

The gospel reading was about Jesus appearing to the disciples and walking with them on the road to Emaus,talking about the events in Jerusalem. The story has a whole new resonance when you've been walking with strangers. The passage was read in each language by one of us. An experience of the common story and the 'universal church'

The priest gave explicit instruction that the passing of the peace was not to be an indifferent handshake but a firm embrace that you mean.

Then for the Lord's Prayer we all stood and held hands and said it together in our own languages.

Amen