“Welcome is section of hospitality, the essential worth of the Saint-Jacques routes”, clarifies Sylvain Penna, vice president of the Compostelle 28 affiliation, and passionate about the heritage of Saint Jacques.
you Latin hospitality, which translates the act of getting as a visitor, hospitality is a benefit that previously existed in antiquity. “The Greeks and Romans already practiced it”, remembers Sylvain Penna. For them, getting shelter and protection with any individual was basically a appropriate.
“The Middle Ages noticed the visual appeal of locations dedicated to welcoming pilgrims. Reception was then one particular of the seven works of mercy [actions que chaque chrétien doit se faire un devoir d’accomplir]. These sites were hospices, run by monks. »There was nevertheless no procedure there, only later on some would turn into” hospitals “where by the religious would exercise medication. “Also, for significantly of the 20th century, numerous hospitals were being run by religious! “Remembers the vice president.
How was the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela lived and knowledgeable?
Currently there are some lodges managed by Hospitallers who donate what they gained on the street to Compostela, but also lay associations, these types of as Compostela 28.
It is Denys Faurie who is accountable for the relationship involving the pilgrim and his visitor.
“The pilgrim calls me, asks me exactly where he can rest and relying on the geographical placement exactly where he wants to remain, I contact the guests who are not significantly from this sector of the Eurelian paths. If he is obtainable to welcome, I give these coordinates to the pilgrim ”, she clarifies. In Eure-et-Loir, 55 welcoming men and women line the pilgrimage routes. Resorts that offer the holders of the credential, passport of this pilgrim, preferential charges spiritual lodgings, but also several people and two municipal lodgings: in Cloyes-sur-le-Loir and in Châteaudun.
“To welcome is also to notify”
“It is not generally quick, specifically when the pilgrims halt above at 19:00 to get food stuff and lodging for the evening. But most anticipate. And then one person, it can be uncomplicated to accommodate, but at times they come up to 4 … or 32! laughs Denys Faurie.
“Many pilgrims ask for accommodation in Donativo [de don nativo : don qui fait naître, soit une libre participation aux frais] and to be welcomed by persons. It is a lot more convivial ”, smiles all those who host pilgrims from time to time. “Since 2009 I have hosted 10. At times, we occur across persons who are a minor out of the common. So I transpired to see a barefoot man get there and he have to not have eaten for 3 times. I had to give him my plate, ”he recollects with a laugh.
On the road to Compostela: Saint Jacques marked the Eure-et-Loir
There are also corners with no lodging, especially in Chartres alone, and other people, on the opposite, not very well-known simply because they are way too considerably from the phase. “Pilgrims inquire earlier mentioned all to be hosted in Chartres. Due to the fact this yr we have established up a caravan at the campsite, wherever the vacationer office of Chartres Métropole has supplied us a pitch. Alan and Christine, the camp managers, kindly welcome the pilgrims, as effectively as all the hosts. “
Since April, the campsite has registered sixty-just one stays in the caravan. German, French, Belgian, but previously mentioned all Dutch pilgrims, all enthusiastic about this “hut on the way”, as the views published in the visitor guide exhibit.
“To welcome also indicates to notify. We help individuals get ready for their pilgrimage, we chat to them about our working experience on the paths and warn them that they will not encounter the same issue. Each and every of us has our own temperament, we do not knowledge the journey in the identical way ”, concluded Denys Faurie, his everlasting smile on his lips.
Follow. Further details and contacts on the association’s site: www.compostelle28.org or 06.52.43.66.62
Matthieu Carluccio
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