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WAY OF ST. JAMES
Priests walk 500 miles on pilgrimage route from France to Spain
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
The medieval pilgrim- age, camino franc s, of St. James requires prayer, perseverance and a terrific pair of walking shoes.
The Rev. James M. Daprile, pastor of St. Brendan Church, and his traveling companion, the Rev. James Schutte, pastor of St. Leo Church in Cincinnati, made the 33-day and 500-mile-plus trek from St. Jean Pied dePort, France, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The trip took place Aug. 24 through Sept. 29, 2009. It was made possible by a 2008 National Clergy Renewal Program Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded to Father Daprile, who also traveled to Ireland to focus on Celtic spirituality and spent time painting in Sante Fe, N.M.
Father Daprile said the “three-pronged sabbatical” provided a time of renewal and prayer. He explained that Lilly Endowment questions applicants about “what would make your heart sing?” His response earned him the $45,000 grant.
The two priests, longtime friends since seminary days, have previously traveled together.
The men also share the namesake of James, which made the pilgrimage also known as the Way of St. James, more meaningful. Santiago de Compostela is regarded as the traditional burial site of St. James, who was martyred in the first century. This pilgrimage route is among the most traveled and been in use for some 1,000 years. It goes from the French Pyrenees across northern Spain to the final destination, Santiago de Compostela. “We followed the French trail,” Father Daprile said.
Along the way, the travelers had what is called a “credential,” a passport for the pilgrimage, which is stamped at various churches, shrines, monuments, restaurants and hostels along the way. Fathers Daprile and Schutte had the documents, now a treasured memento that sparks memories of places on the journey. The final stamp is that of the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela, which signifies the completion of the pilgrimage, and is most valued.
“There are multiple ways to go ... there are 14 pilgrimage routes,” Father Daprile said. “The one we took is one of the most popular.”
Father Daprile and Father Schutte both said they prepared for the demands of the pilgrimage by “training” in advance.
Father Daprile said parish members showed their support of his pilgrimage by walking with him in the months before the pilgrimage then continuing to walk here in Youngstown while he was on the trip.
Father Schutte said he and Father Daprile set a goal of 12-16 miles a day to accomplish the pilgrimage in 33 days. They had two rest days.
“You have to have good boots to walk in,” Father Daprile said.
“At night, I would tape ‘hot spots’ on my feet ... that was my ritual,” he said. The two priests also carried backpacks with clothing, toiletries and personal belongings.
The “tourist pilgrims” stayed nights at hostels and pensiones, which Father Daprile described as “very modest” hotels with six to 10 rooms.
“They were simple accommodations with clean sheets and showers,” he said.
The priests said that hundreds of pilgrims along the route were from young to old and hailed from many countries. The words, “buen comino,” (good way) are the greeting exchanged frequently among pilgrims.
“We met a woman from Thailand who has made the pilgrimage eight or nine times. She has found holiness in the midst of the pilgrimage,” Father Daprile said.
The route is marked with yellow arrows painted on rocks, fences, buildings and trees. “We had no GPS ... sometimes the marker was a stone in the road,” Father Daprile said.
The pilgrimage demands the practicalities of pacing oneself, getting from one destination to the next, meals and lodging. But both priests described it as a prayerful event.
“There is a depth of experience of allowing God’s love into your heart,” Father Daprile said.
“There is a deep experience of God ... the physical journey is symbolic of the spiritual,” Father Schutte said.