Mass

Mass in Santiago is a BIG deal.

This photo shows the line up to hug James bust from the doorway back to the van. Then from the van across the back of the photo and around the other side of the cathedral is the queue to get into mass.

I wanted to leave in plenty of time but only just got in. This line behind me was almost certainly turned away.

I managed to wedge myself in beside a pillar in a small side chapel so most photos are taken with my arm in the air not really being able to see what I was taking.

First off there was practising of hymns. This priest was our conductor.

Then there was a long silence as we waited for 12 noon start time. I found this the best time of all. It gave me the opportunity to reflect on all that I had been through and then to allower my mind to linger  on each of my friends and family individually, acknowledging who they were for me and offering up this mass for them. I felt so fortunate to have such a collection of very bright lights in my life so thank you all.

Then all too quickly it was on with the show. In came a veritable army of priests and the service began. You could tell it was a moving experience for all the Catholics that had come from around Spain on their holy year pilgrimages. Even if they hadn't walked the Camino they had driven from all over (other countries too, not just Spain) to be here. Santiago is the third great location for Christian pilgrimage after Jerusalem and Rome because it is the only place other than St Peter's where there is a tomb of an apostle.

The communion was something to behold. The army of priests marched out to all corners of the cathedral so that the thousands of people were processed ery quickly. I would estimate at least 30 communion stations!

And then the benediction. Wow.

None of this hand held thing they use in the Cathedrals and churches in NZ. This thing was a beast and took nine people to control it.

Here it is hanging during the service

Then at benediction they bring it forward.

The easiest way to see what happens from there is to look at this youtube clipsomeone posted a couple of years ago (someone who was in a better spot and in a less crowded mass!) Unreal! People say that it has always been huge because they needed to knock out the smell of stinky pilgrims arriving at mass.

At the end there were a lot of church groups going up and making offerings and singing hymns of various kinds and then the priests and bishop filed out. In all there were 100mins of service not counting waiting time.