The Way an Emilio Estevez Film HISTORY and HERITAGE

The Way an Emilio Estevez Film HISTORY AND HERITAGE For over a thousand years, the Camino de the presence of one of Christ’s closest Santiago has led travelers to the shrine and friends and the first apostle to be martyred. relics of St. James the Apostle in Galicia, They also came to beg for cures for the northwest corner of Spain. The crypt of illness or affliction, to ensure blessings for the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, their families or communities, to repent titled for James’s common Spanish name their sins, and to overcome their doubts (Sanctus Jacobus, Sancti Yagüe, Santiago), and stumbling faith. A rosary of sublime has long been one of Christianity’s premier monuments, folksy secondary shrines, and pilgrimage sites. While Rome and the Holy hospitable monasteries and refuges were Land surpassed it in popularity during the created to welcome vulnerable travelers. In Middle Ages, Santiago outstripped them return, these seekers gave their good will, in forging myriad mythic trails such as the artistry and labor to the Camino as they Camino francés (the French Route from passed by. the Pyrenees), the Ruta mozárabe (the Mozarabic Route that skims the north of Pilgrimage fell from favor in the early Portugal) and the Vía de la Plata (the Silver modern period in the face of stiffening Route that starts in Seville). The cry of national identities and borders and new “Ultreya” or “Go beyond” rang out along a conceptions of faith. Protestant reformers thousand highways of hope. pointedly denounced the abuses of casual pilgrimage and its often carnivalesque During the height of its popularity from trappings. Even the once choked roads the twelfth through the fifteenth centuries, to Santiago lapsed into silence. Lonely the trek to Santiago attracted perhaps as travelers made their own shelter in many as a hundred thousand pilgrims a increasingly abandoned structures where year. Travelers sought a chance to pray in the footsteps of aged guardians echoed along crumbling corridors. The Route of St. Thousands more come from Brazil, Canada, James became a trail smudged by time. Mexico, the United States, South Africa, But in the late twentieth century, for reasons Israel and Japan to reenact the rites of that remain unclear, spiritual seekers and pilgrimage. scholars began to thread their way along the nearly forgotten byways to Santiago Associations of Friends of the Camino once again. Spain undertook the mission of in nearly every Spanish province, and in recovering the Camino as part of its national England, France, Norway and the United heritage, publicizing the ancient routes States produce magazines, newsletters, and investing in a simple infrastructure of and websites. The success of the Spanish well marked scenic trails. Town councils, Camino phenomenon has excited the parishes and local associations of Friends emulation, even the envy, of neighboring of the Camino equipped modest refuges states. Hungary boasts its own circuit of (albergues or refugios) to provide a night’s shine sites, and Norway has a consecrated shelter at minimal cost. The goal was to trail from Oslo to Trondheim in honor of St. provide safe passage for those hoping to Olaf. Italian authorities are attempting to breathe the same air, experience the same reestablish travelers’ itineraries connecting landscapes, and rest in the same cool Rome with Santiago. As internal tourism churches that inspired an age of faith. grows within the European Union and national borders have become porous, The tide of modern pilgrims now approaches pilgrimage once more is performing its a quarter million per year who undertake former function of blurring local loyalties and at least portions of the various Caminos making them look petty. in Spain, starting from their homes within Iberia, or trekking from lsewhere in Europe. THE WHY AND HOW OF MODERN PILGRIMAGE Pilgrimage is travel for transformation. This Camino covers nearly 800 kilometers Those who believe in the transcendent (some 500 miles) traversing an idyllic, rolling universally believe in humankind’s potential Spanish countryside. By following the yellow to approach the sacred on its own turf. arrows painted along the trails, a pilgrim Modern pilgrims are often uncertain about can expect to walk 15-25 km (10-15 miles) the depth of their faith. Though hesitant to a day to reach his next night’s shelter and declare themselves best examples of any welcome. At this pace, a pilgrim can reach one church or tradition, many do sense the the Cathedral de Santiago in 6 to 8 weeks to potential of travel to spark change from attend one of the several Pilgrims’ Masses within as well as to expose them to new held at the cathedral in Santiago each day. cultures, creeds, and foods. In an age of jet travel, the rhythms of walking make Along the way travelers encounter charitable pilgrimage a refreshing experience, body or family operated shelters that cater centered and soul centering. specifically to the thousands of pilgrims of all ages who make the journey each The Camino de Santiago or the Way of Saint year, immersing themselves in regional James is a spiritual journey that pilgrims of cuisines, architecture and landscapes. diverse spiritualities and backgrounds have Some travelers choose a more reflective, traversed for a thousand years. Pilgrimage slower pace, others walk briskly from much essentially begins at one’s doorstep, but further away. Despite its solitary nature, once in Europe there are countless routes the journey to Santiago de Compostela leading to Santiago from all directions, the has always been one of rhythms. The soft most popular being the Camino francés churning of footfalls, the cadence of the which crosses the Pyrenees along the wind, the alternation of eloquent open Spanish-French border. country with holy chanting by morning THE WHY AND HOW OF MODERN PILGRIMAGE and merry conversation by night become document is officially recognized with the yardsticks of time for the wandering a special certificate at the cathedral’s pilgrim. Sometimes the very blankness of welcome center in Santiago. the countryside—in Spain one speaks of the central meseta as a terrain where “the Regardless of whether a pilgrim’s journey sky is your landscape”—invites the modern begins for religious, spiritual or cultural pilgrim as much as his or her medieval reasons, the meditative setting of the predecessors to look inward. Camino offers the perfect landscape for contemplation. Pilgrims follow the path Pilgrims still walk the Camino for a variety through villages and towns, across silent of reasons, some to fulfill promises, others rivers, over mountains and skimming seek enlightenment, and still others long for fertile valleys that have changed the lives adventure. All, however, lean forward toward of millions who have walked before them. the western sky, the Cathedral in Santiago, In 2010, designated a “holy year” because and the remains of the apostle. Most the feast of St. James fell on a Sunday, pilgrims choose to carry a scallop shell with some 300,000 individuals performed this them as a symbol of their journey in honor pilgrimage following these well-trodden of St. James, a medieval token of having footsteps of history, paving the way for the sought the farthest coast of the known millions who will surely come after them. European continent. Another, perhaps more useful symbol is a walking stick to aid a weary pilgrim on his or her journey. Pilgrims also carry a pilgrim’s credential, a sort of passport that is stamped whenever a traveler stops for rest or prayer, and this ON THE MOVIE, THE WAY Through months of thoughtful conversations, (Yorick van Wageningen), a Canadian Emilio Estévez and Martin Sheen decided (Deborah Kara Unger), and an Irish writer to create a tribute to Galicia to help others (James Nesbitt) who is suffering from a bout discoverthe land where the Estevez family of writer’s block. From the hardships they had its roots. The Camino de Santiago served experience along “The Way,” this unlikely as the perfect partner in their efforts. While quartet, each out of step with his personal Spain provided the backdrop, the film’s world, creates a powerful bond and Tom primary theme of self-discovery belongs to begins to learn what it means to be a citizen everyone from all ages and backgrounds, of humankind and the difference between, as does the Camino, which has helped “The life we live and the life we choose.” transform the lives of millions of diverse pilgrims for centuries. In the film, a father comes to understand his son’s life through his death and along Martin Sheen plays Tom, an American doctor the road finds himself as well. The true who comes to St. Jean-Pied-de-Port, France antagonist of the film is the conflict we to collect the remains of his adult son killed each confront within ourselves between in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking choosing merely walking through a life the Camino de Santiago. Driven by profound and deliberately embracing one. This sadness and a desire to understand his greater question of finding oneself is a son better, Tom decides to embark on the matter of acceptance and choice. Given historical pilgrimage leaving his “California the circumstances of our lives, how do bubble life” behind. While tracing these we understand ourselves, our family and ancient trails, Tom meets other pilgrims from our friends, and the choices we make? around the world, all broken and looking for Do we blindly go through life unaware of greater meaning in their lives: a Dutchman our actions and how they affect not only ourselves but others as well? What role Camino or Way we find ourselves. Our does our community, friendships and faith humanity toward ourselves and others, our play in our decisions? history and our future is what defines us.

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