Today, a 33 km stage. After yesterday, we’re fitter. This morning, as we left the sports centre where we were sleeping, a very special guest was waiting for us: Auxiliary Bishop Javier Vilanova, who had got in touch with the group because he wanted to walk a day with us. What a surprise and what a joy for everyone!
The first hour, as always, in prayerful silence. Although some call it the sleepy hour.
Today we’ve had to battle the wind on the Tarragona coast. It was so windy that caps were flying off people’s heads. At the midday get-together they told us that even one pilgrim’s glasses went flying (don’t worry, he got them back). It was quite a sight: all the pilgrims battling the wind, but determined, following our sherpa Jose Gomar. The pace was pretty fast all morning.
We’ve crossed quite a few beaches: what scenery we get to see! Watching the sunrise for 40 days is a reward the pilgrimage timetable gives us. At that hour some are only just starting to wake up. Later, on reaching a beach, we saw some security guards: it seems it was a campsite’s private beach. They escorted us to the end of it; it was 5 in the morning and they asked us to keep quiet. Though some pilgrims are very chatty at that hour, and we were told to hush.
The breakfast stop was a real comfort, because the sandwich team had made us Nutella sandwiches. They vanished: some go into hoover mode at breakfast. At that point we did the spiritual reading, in which the book keeps encouraging us towards this constant closeness with the Lord so that our heart may be like the heart of Jesus. And, above all, to ask for faith, hope and charity, which are the pillars of all spiritual life. Sometimes we may think we don’t pray well, but God doesn’t want you to grade how your prayer went, but to be with Him.
On reaching L’Ametlla we went to a housing estate where Carmen looked after us brilliantly at her home. How wonderful, what a little paradise! There was a swimming pool near the church, where we were able to have a swim and lunch.
The bishop brought us dessert from the cardinal! Lovely ice creams for everyone; we could even have seconds. Thank you so much, Cardinal, and the auxiliary bishops of Barcelona.
We promised him we would pray for them during these days of pilgrimage.
Bishop Javier presided at Mass, and the homily was full of energy! He encouraged us not to settle, not to be Christians who just tick the box, but to really seek God; to want a sincere life with Him; to ask ourselves what He wants of each of us; to see the love God has for us every day of our lives. He told us this pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, because of the time, the circumstances and, above all, because this group of people will never come together again. That we should thank God for being here and ask ourselves how I give myself to the Lord. He told lots of stories about young people he works with in Barcelona. And he said to us: “The Church in Barcelona, whatever they may say, is very much alive. You only have to look at you!”, doing this mad thing of going to the WYD gathering. He told us the WYD encounter is with Christ, and that we have this chance of having 40 days to prepare for it. Thank you, Bishop, for your words. He also preached about the leper Jesus heals in the Gospel, who cannot stop telling what has happened to him. And that we must tell it too: this personal encounter with Christ that we are going to live these days needs to be told. Speaking about Christ without fear, speaking about the life Christ gives and the eternity He promises us and that has been given to us.
What a beautiful Mass we had, in a little country chapel surrounded by pine trees, with the breeze blowing. All together, meeting the Lord in this great mystery of our faith. How mad to walk for 40 days, but madder still that You stay with us every day in the Eucharist. Sometimes we fail to see this madness. Maybe because we’ve got used to it? How grateful we are to be able to have Mass every day at 5 pm and that the parish priest opens the church for the celebration. We give thanks to Fr Ferran, the parish priest for the area and the chapel, who also came to celebrate with us.
To end the day we had dinner at Carmen and Jose Maria’s wonderful house. What a joy to see everyone helping to get everything ready for tomorrow. What a great family! Everything belongs to everyone: the time one person helps is time we all gain. Whatever I help with, even if it isn’t my job, is good because it makes everything go faster.
The evening get-together was hilarious: everyone was talking about things that had happened and stories from the road.
We’ll be back tomorrow with more to tell you. Now we’re off to bed, because tomorrow is a long stage, 37 km!
With God’s help, we’ll make it!
Good night, parents!