Today was day 17 of the Camino. Our destination for the day was the town of Ledigos (14 miles). The morning was somewhat chilly but by mid-afternoon the sun had warmed the day. The flat lands that we are walking seem much longer and more difficult than the terrain we walked the week before. We had to walk 10 miles before we arrived at the first town. My feet and legs were tired, and I wanted to stop walking. Then all of a sudden, the pilgrims that were walking in front of us started disappearing. I assumed that there must be a valley ahead of us and that the pilgrims had begun their descent into it. I turned to Fr. Benjamin and said, "Please God, let there be a valley ahead of us, and let there be a town and restaurant in it." Low and behold when we arrived at the spot where the pilgrims were disappearing, there before us was a valley with a town and restaurant. I said, "God, you are so good to me. Thank You." I was so happy just to sit down and relax. At the restaurant we met up with some of the pilgrims we had seen or talked to along the way. It's always nice to see them again and catch up with our stories about the Camino.
This past week I met a woman on the Camino who was from Belgium. I had just finished praying the rosary when she was passing me by. Having seen my rosary in my hand, she commented that the Camino doesn't seem to be a spiritual journey for the people who walk it these days. She said that most people walk it for the physical challenge or for some other reason other than spiritual. Her comment led to a discussion about our Catholic faith (she was Catholic, too!). I told her that I was a priest and that I used to work with two religious women, Mary Lou and Simone, who had come to the States from Belgium. She said she knew of their order but did not know Mary Lou or Simone. We then shared personal information about ourselves and our families. She asked prayers for a dear friend of hers who had recently died. She wore a red ribbon around her wrist that she said symbolized life and love, but on this particular day it symbolized the hurt and pain she felt from the death of her friend. I then spoke to her about my Camino experience and told her that I had been asking God to reveal to me what it was that I needed to learn from this pilgrimage. She responded by saying that God is not going to outright tell me His plan but that I needed to figure it out as I walked. She said everyone needs to decide for themselves why they walk the Camino. As we arrived at the next little town, my guide was waiting on the side of the Camino to give me a bottle of water. I said goodbye to the lady and told her that I would see her later on down the road. I told her I would pray for her and for the soul of her friend Francine who had died. She also asked me to pray for Pierre, Francine's husband. I then asked her her name and she said, "Gabrielle." I paused and thought to myself, could I have been visited by an angel? Is this the Gabriel that the Scripture speaks about? I don't think so but I do know that the advice she gave me about the Camino has had mind and heart discerning more about my reason for this walk. By the way, I've yet to run into Gabrielle again on the Camino.
My prayers and walk today were dedicated to a greater respect and understanding of the Social Teachings of the Catholic Church. The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities lists the following information about Catholic Social Teachings on their website.
Catholic Social Teaching is central to our faith. It is rooted in our commitment to the poor and vulnerable and is founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ. Catholic Social Teaching is about building a society based on justice and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of society.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
The first social teaching proclaims the respect for human life, one of the most fundamental needs in a world distorted by greed and selfishness. The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation for all the social teachings. This theme challenges the issues of abortion, assisted suicide, human cloning and the death penalty. The Catholic Church holds the belief that every human life is precious and is a gift from God, and that every institution is measured by whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
The first social teaching proclaims the respect for human life, one of the most fundamental needs in a world distorted by greed and selfishness. The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation for all the social teachings. This theme challenges the issues of abortion, assisted suicide, human cloning and the death penalty. The Catholic Church holds the belief that every human life is precious and is a gift from God, and that every institution is measured by whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
The second social teaching proclaims that the human person is not only sacred, but also social. It stresses that how we organize society in economics, politics, and law or policy directly affects human dignity and community. Society often proclaims the importance of individualism, but Catholic social teaching argues that human beings are fulfilled in community and family. The Catholic Church believes we have the responsibility to participate in society and to promote the common good, especially for the poor and vulnerable.
The second social teaching proclaims that the human person is not only sacred, but also social. It stresses that how we organize society in economics, politics, and law or policy directly affects human dignity and community. Society often proclaims the importance of individualism, but Catholic social teaching argues that human beings are fulfilled in community and family. The Catholic Church believes we have the responsibility to participate in society and to promote the common good, especially for the poor and vulnerable.
Rights and Responsibilities
Human dignity can only be protected if all human rights are protected and responsibilities of all human beings are met. Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to the basic needs of life. The Catholic Church teaches that every person has a duty and responsibility to help fulfill these rights for one another, for our families, and for the larger society. Public debate in our nation is often divided between those who focus on personal responsibilities and those who focus on social responsibilities, but the Catholic tradition insists that both are necessary to respond to the basic and fundamental rights of every human being.
Human dignity can only be protected if all human rights are protected and responsibilities of all human beings are met. Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to the basic needs of life. The Catholic Church teaches that every person has a duty and responsibility to help fulfill these rights for one another, for our families, and for the larger society. Public debate in our nation is often divided between those who focus on personal responsibilities and those who focus on social responsibilities, but the Catholic tradition insists that both are necessary to respond to the basic and fundamental rights of every human being.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
This world is shaped by the division between growing prosperity for some and poverty for others. The Catholic Church proclaims that the basic moral test of a society is how the most vulnerable members are faring. Our society is marred by a deepening division between rich and poor. From the Last Judgment reading (Mt 25:31-46), all people are instructed by God to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
This world is shaped by the division between growing prosperity for some and poverty for others. The Catholic Church proclaims that the basic moral test of a society is how the most vulnerable members are faring. Our society is marred by a deepening division between rich and poor. From the Last Judgment reading (Mt 25:31-46), all people are instructed by God to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
The Catholic Church teaches that the economy must serve the people. Too often the marketplace takes precedence over the rights of workers. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation. The rights to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative are all part of protecting the dignity of work by protecting the rights of the workers. Respecting these rights promotes an economy that protects human life, defends human rights, and advances the well-being of all.
The Catholic Church teaches that the economy must serve the people. Too often the marketplace takes precedence over the rights of workers. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation. The rights to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative are all part of protecting the dignity of work by protecting the rights of the workers. Respecting these rights promotes an economy that protects human life, defends human rights, and advances the well-being of all.
Solidarity
Our society often stresses individualism, indifference and sometimes isolationism in the face of international responsibilities. The Catholic Church proclaims that every human being has a responsibility to our brothers and sisters, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. Solidarity is about loving our neighbors locally, nationally, as well as internationally. This virtue is described by John Paul II as "a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all" (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, no. 38).
Our society often stresses individualism, indifference and sometimes isolationism in the face of international responsibilities. The Catholic Church proclaims that every human being has a responsibility to our brothers and sisters, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. Solidarity is about loving our neighbors locally, nationally, as well as internationally. This virtue is described by John Paul II as "a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all" (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, no. 38).
Care for God's Creation
The Catholic tradition insists that every human being show respect for the Creator by our stewardship of His creation. We are called to protect people and the planet by living our faith with respect for God’s creation. In a society with controversy over environmental issues, the Catholic Church believes it is a fundamental moral and ethical challenge that cannot be ignored.
The Catholic tradition insists that every human being show respect for the Creator by our stewardship of His creation. We are called to protect people and the planet by living our faith with respect for God’s creation. In a society with controversy over environmental issues, the Catholic Church believes it is a fundamental moral and ethical challenge that cannot be ignored.
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Pictures from the day's walk.
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