Nájera to Grañón, 32.1 kilometers
Today, I would like to begin the day with warm wishes for my beautiful wife, Kelly Pitre, on our 26th anniversary of Holy Matrimony. Thanks for accompanying me on this journey of life.
Nájera to Grañón, 32.1 kilometers
A powerful sun and straight path. Since Logroño, we have entered the meseta, the high plains of central Spain, which is identified with wheat fields, vineyards, and a dry, hot atmosphere. It is strongly advised to travel the meseta during summer between the early morning and no later than 2 pm. The scenery is very monotonous: gravel trail connecting to gravel trail; vineyard yeilding to wheat; wheat yeilding to fresh plowed land; and finally, plowed land yeilding back to vineyard.
The terrain provides no interruption to contemplation, visits with fellow pilgrims, or opportunities to share a story while walking with your child. As we approach Santo Domingo de la Calzada, I share the story, translated by Google and polished by me (regrets), of the life and legend of a very important Saint to the Camino:
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
From its beginnings Santo Domingo de la Calzada has always been linked to The Pilgrimage of St. James..
Its founder, Domingo García, was born in Viloria de Rioja (Burgos) in 1019. He decided to devote his life to God and tried to enter the monasteries of San Millán and Valvanera but was not accepted.
Around the year 1040 he became a hermit in the forests which occupied the site on which this city now stands. From his home he was able to see how difficult the pilgrimage was for those undertaking it and he began to work to help them by building a bridge to cross the Oja River, a hospital where pilgrims could seek refuge, roads communicating Nájera and Redecilla del Camino (Burgos) and a little church.
Domingo received approval from Alfonso VI de Castilla who provided the piece of land where Domingo built the first church completed in 1106, but which sadly no longer exists.
When he died, on 12th May 1109, he was buried in the middle of the Pilgrimage, which he had designed. His followers maintained the little village which later took his name and they continued his work, creating a confraternity, which nowadays works keeping his memories, traditions and beliefs alive by working with pilgrims in the Hostel.
Legend:
Tradition says that a German couple, making the pilgrimage, arrived at the Cathedral here with their eighteen year old son named Hugonell, from Ad Sanctos (Xanten in the diocese of Münster, but until 1821 from the Archbishopric of Cologne)
The girl in the inn where they stayed fell in love with the young Hugonell, but before the boy's indifference, she decided to take revenge. She put a silver cup in the young man's luggage and when the pilgrims went on their way, the girl denounced the robbery to the Corregidor.
The laws then (Law of Alfonso X the Wise) punished with death penalty the crime of theft and once was caught and tried, the innocent pilgrim was hanged.
When his parents left for Santiago de Compostela, they went to see their son hanged and when they arrived at the place where he was, they heard the son's voice announcing that Santo Domingo de la Calzada had kept his life. They went immediately to the Town Hall and told him the prodigy.
Incredulous, the Corregidor answered that their son was as alive as the rooster and hen that he was preparing to eat.
At that precise moment the rooster and the chicken jumping from the plate began to sing.
And from this moment the famous verses are said:
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
where the hen sang after roasting
In memory of this event, a rooster and a hen live in the Cathedral throughout the year. They are always white and come from donations of devotees of the Saint, changing couples every month. The rest of the time it remains in a chicken coop that the Brotherhood of Santo Domingo maintains in its registered office.
posted by Lance | 11:28 AM
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