Pilgrim Mass

Today we attended the 12:00 Noon Pilgrim Mass at the Cathedral - it was very special with the Cathedral filled with pilgrims from yesterday and those just arriving today. There were about eight priests at the Mass - at the end of Mass the Botafumeiro was used - the Santiago de Compostela Botafumeiro is one of the largest censers in the world - weighing 80 kg - measuring 1.60 m in height. It is normally on exhibition in the library of the cathedral - during certain important religious occasions it is brought to the floor of the Catedral and attached to ropes hung from the pulley mechanism. It takes a team of eight men to properly get the censer moving. It is an awesome sight to see - the congregation applauding when it is finished.

                                  Arriving at Catedral for Holy Mass for Pilgrims

               Outside the Catedral - always crowds of pilgrims and tourists

                                              Getting Ready for Mass

                                         The Botafumerio - Silver censer

                                               Getting Ready to Swing

Holy Mass at the Catedral at Santiago was the crowning point of our Camino - marking the official journey to Santiago. Now we have the add- ons - then we return for home.

Buen Camino

Dale and Arlene