The first time I heard about Saint James was most likely in Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. When I got the double album of this famous rock opera for my twelfth birthday, I translated the lyrics word for word by looking them up in a dictionary. I still remember the long afternoons in my room, listening to Deep Purple's Ian Gillan as Jesus on my small (and bright seventies-orange) pick-up player. Not only was it my first introduction to learning English, but it also formed my view of the New Testament.
What a lovely surprise to wake up to. Very interesting read.
I can just see you sitting at your desk translating those lyrics - I did the same. English and Italian lyrics for me. Fun times. Loved Jesus Christ Superstar - very powerful music. I had the CDs.
I was just chatting with a friend about how the music we grow up with shapes our thinking, our world view, our life ...
I don't think I realized all this influence St. James had and still has. I guess it's the different names the churches were given as well as the name James (or Jacob/Jakob) being so frequent. Thank you for bringing all this together in this newsletter. And your pictures tell a story as well. This one I'm gonna have to read again. I also want to look up some things that came to mind. I love when that happens. Thank you for that as well.
With all those Santiago connections in your life - you just had to walk the camino. That sign outside the church in Renesse says it all really. That could be your next starting point. Have a wonderful day!
Why are millions of Pilgrams walking to Santiago de Compostela? And why have I become a convert to the mystique that is El Camino? Through your writings I have begun to understand. It is I feel a belief in something bigger than myself.
A Martyr Saint. An Apostle of Jesus inner circle, of low accord; a fisherman whose message was mercy. Mercy for the orphan, the widow, the impoverished. Preaching "For one who does not practice mercy will have his judgement without mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement." That's powerful.
And to learn the backstory of his journey is even more compelling. Whether his remains lie within the Cathedral or not, I am in.
You mention Jesus's distress in The Garden. "Stay here and keep watch". I read scholars suggest the reason James and John were asleep was sorrowful exhaustion. I think the Pilgrims on The Camino can relate. I know I can. In America I find we are all so polarized and angry right now. We are full of sorrowful exhaustion.
I salute you for making this journey. I thank you for writing about it and giving inspiration to those who want to attempt this undertaking. I needed a reason bigger than myself. I have it. Que la luz ilumine tu camino.
Your introduction to St James and how the pilgrimage began in ancient times is a fascinating account well told. How even now 2000 years later it draws modern day pilgrims is a testament to its magnetic power. It’s been thrilling to experience it with you.
I especially loved reading the importance of Jesus Christ Superstar in your young life. I can imagine your young self diligently work through each word to translate and thereby teach yourself English. The curiosity and thirst for learning in that young man was a prologue to the man you would become. A lovely story.
I was captivated by this writing and I think it’s one of your best. Of course, the photos are lagniappe as always.
Awesome, awesome pilgrim!! I love this story about Saint James, and how the name Camino Santiago de Compostela describes his name. And how his burial place was picked by Oxen a nice thought. I would like that for myself someday (-:
As always, I enjoy your writing and passed this story on to a couple of my friends here . . .
Such a meaningful narrative that highlights some of the synchronicities that took you on El Camino—thank you for sharing. I'm sure that there are many other moments of insight and private reflection, probably that you will still be "unpacking" for weeks or months. I'm glad that you are continuing to relish your experiences, and not jumping back to work and worldly problems just yet. :)
Read again this post about St. James and how he ultimately came to rest in two places, one chosen by an oxen! Your inspiring interest in so many aspects of this life is a great encouragement to continue to read and learn about a variety of topics; it’s good to get away from the horrors of the converging crises of (03/2023) bank failures, divisive political theater in the USA, the war in Ukraine, the coming indictments of the former president, the looming debt ceiling negotiations, did I leave out the Climate Armageddon? Emigration and resulting immigration, hunger across the 🌍 globe, floods, droughts, and fires. This is not all inclusive, just what comes to mind at a moment’s thought. No wonder you needed a very long, “restful to the soul” walk on the Camino. I imagine another to at least pick up the 95 Kms. avoided due to wildfires is on your “do list” if you can get away. Thank you for this refresher; I’ve forgotten some of the concerns I had earlier today; such a blessing. Thank you for all your stories about whatever you like. I do love the musical references as well! And I most admire your present ability to focus on the foremost crisis this next week, water!💦💦💦
You have answered my question on another post. It seems you needed a “break from bad news” and the pilgrimage to the Cathedral in Santiago was accomplished before I found your wisdom and pleas for engagement in the fight for our planet 🌎 on Substack. I hope you are refreshed, free some of the time from the sadness and despair that surely accompany your activism. We must move forward as you suggest with our governments, our voices and votes to be louder, stronger, more urgent than ever to salvage what we can of this beautiful Earth 🌍, our home. Thank you for your continued voice, posts, leadership. 😊
What a really fascinating story... which intersects with so many other stories, legends and traditions!
Once again, thank you very much Alex for this story... which must have taken a lot of research!!👏👏🙌
And this first name is also surprising as there are so many of famous “Saint Jacques” : Christian saints, or biblical characters… but indeed the most famous being the apostle « Jacques de Zébedée ».
But it is also this name that is at the origin of one of the emblems of the pilgrims: the "scallop shell" (a delicious mollusc...)
The "Coquille Saint Jacques" (in french) is reputed to have a protective power over all the pilgrims of Compostela … Because a legend, in Spain, speaks of the miraculous rescue of a horseman by the companions who transported the remains of apostle Saint James by boat …The rider would have come out of the sea covered with these shells !
Unrelated…( although…😉) : Every year in France (in Normandy), the « Saint-Jacques shell » is celebrated around July 25, the date of the feast of this apostle !
Such a nice story and fact sharing. And you were also in The Hague and shared the story about the "Grote Kerk". Thank you, Alex!
What a lovely surprise to wake up to. Very interesting read.
I can just see you sitting at your desk translating those lyrics - I did the same. English and Italian lyrics for me. Fun times. Loved Jesus Christ Superstar - very powerful music. I had the CDs.
I was just chatting with a friend about how the music we grow up with shapes our thinking, our world view, our life ...
I don't think I realized all this influence St. James had and still has. I guess it's the different names the churches were given as well as the name James (or Jacob/Jakob) being so frequent. Thank you for bringing all this together in this newsletter. And your pictures tell a story as well. This one I'm gonna have to read again. I also want to look up some things that came to mind. I love when that happens. Thank you for that as well.
With all those Santiago connections in your life - you just had to walk the camino. That sign outside the church in Renesse says it all really. That could be your next starting point. Have a wonderful day!
Why are millions of Pilgrams walking to Santiago de Compostela? And why have I become a convert to the mystique that is El Camino? Through your writings I have begun to understand. It is I feel a belief in something bigger than myself.
A Martyr Saint. An Apostle of Jesus inner circle, of low accord; a fisherman whose message was mercy. Mercy for the orphan, the widow, the impoverished. Preaching "For one who does not practice mercy will have his judgement without mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement." That's powerful.
And to learn the backstory of his journey is even more compelling. Whether his remains lie within the Cathedral or not, I am in.
You mention Jesus's distress in The Garden. "Stay here and keep watch". I read scholars suggest the reason James and John were asleep was sorrowful exhaustion. I think the Pilgrims on The Camino can relate. I know I can. In America I find we are all so polarized and angry right now. We are full of sorrowful exhaustion.
I salute you for making this journey. I thank you for writing about it and giving inspiration to those who want to attempt this undertaking. I needed a reason bigger than myself. I have it. Que la luz ilumine tu camino.
I loved reading this article, every word.
Your introduction to St James and how the pilgrimage began in ancient times is a fascinating account well told. How even now 2000 years later it draws modern day pilgrims is a testament to its magnetic power. It’s been thrilling to experience it with you.
I especially loved reading the importance of Jesus Christ Superstar in your young life. I can imagine your young self diligently work through each word to translate and thereby teach yourself English. The curiosity and thirst for learning in that young man was a prologue to the man you would become. A lovely story.
I was captivated by this writing and I think it’s one of your best. Of course, the photos are lagniappe as always.
Thanks for this one, well done!
This is an interesting read ! Thanks.
🌻 🚶♂️⛪
Awesome, awesome pilgrim!! I love this story about Saint James, and how the name Camino Santiago de Compostela describes his name. And how his burial place was picked by Oxen a nice thought. I would like that for myself someday (-:
As always, I enjoy your writing and passed this story on to a couple of my friends here . . .
Such a meaningful narrative that highlights some of the synchronicities that took you on El Camino—thank you for sharing. I'm sure that there are many other moments of insight and private reflection, probably that you will still be "unpacking" for weeks or months. I'm glad that you are continuing to relish your experiences, and not jumping back to work and worldly problems just yet. :)
Read again this post about St. James and how he ultimately came to rest in two places, one chosen by an oxen! Your inspiring interest in so many aspects of this life is a great encouragement to continue to read and learn about a variety of topics; it’s good to get away from the horrors of the converging crises of (03/2023) bank failures, divisive political theater in the USA, the war in Ukraine, the coming indictments of the former president, the looming debt ceiling negotiations, did I leave out the Climate Armageddon? Emigration and resulting immigration, hunger across the 🌍 globe, floods, droughts, and fires. This is not all inclusive, just what comes to mind at a moment’s thought. No wonder you needed a very long, “restful to the soul” walk on the Camino. I imagine another to at least pick up the 95 Kms. avoided due to wildfires is on your “do list” if you can get away. Thank you for this refresher; I’ve forgotten some of the concerns I had earlier today; such a blessing. Thank you for all your stories about whatever you like. I do love the musical references as well! And I most admire your present ability to focus on the foremost crisis this next week, water!💦💦💦
You have answered my question on another post. It seems you needed a “break from bad news” and the pilgrimage to the Cathedral in Santiago was accomplished before I found your wisdom and pleas for engagement in the fight for our planet 🌎 on Substack. I hope you are refreshed, free some of the time from the sadness and despair that surely accompany your activism. We must move forward as you suggest with our governments, our voices and votes to be louder, stronger, more urgent than ever to salvage what we can of this beautiful Earth 🌍, our home. Thank you for your continued voice, posts, leadership. 😊
What a really fascinating story... which intersects with so many other stories, legends and traditions!
Once again, thank you very much Alex for this story... which must have taken a lot of research!!👏👏🙌
And this first name is also surprising as there are so many of famous “Saint Jacques” : Christian saints, or biblical characters… but indeed the most famous being the apostle « Jacques de Zébedée ».
But it is also this name that is at the origin of one of the emblems of the pilgrims: the "scallop shell" (a delicious mollusc...)
The "Coquille Saint Jacques" (in french) is reputed to have a protective power over all the pilgrims of Compostela … Because a legend, in Spain, speaks of the miraculous rescue of a horseman by the companions who transported the remains of apostle Saint James by boat …The rider would have come out of the sea covered with these shells !
Unrelated…( although…😉) : Every year in France (in Normandy), the « Saint-Jacques shell » is celebrated around July 25, the date of the feast of this apostle !
But it's more of a « pagan » feast !!