Chronicle of Wednesday 20 August

Dear parents, grandparents, friends and all the rest of the pilgrims,

Today, against all odds, it didn’t rain. Providence is on our side. At 3:30 we kitted ourselves out with rain capes and big bin bags for the downpour that was on its way, but of which in the end there was no sign. So, breakfast and off we walked, meditating through our first hour in silence.

Today we climbed the biggest ascent so far, almost 1000 m. Just before reaching the stop, a very steep slope lay beneath our feet for quite a while. When we got to the stop, all sorts of things were waiting for us: juices, water, pastries, biscuits with Nutella, sweets, etc. Today, in the reading, St Francis of Assisi told us how, after papal approval, his order spread in an astonishing way. This was due to the Holy Spirit, who was acting through the simplicity of their life and the consistency between what they preached and how they lived it.

Do you remember how a few days ago Laura Perreau was so taken with a giant lizard we came across on the way? Well, today she found a snake, a small grass snake that crossed our path. She could think of nothing better than to pick it up and carry it around, offering the pilgrims the chance to stroke it. Some turned down the offer with looks of disgust, while others marvelled at the creature. It should also be said that there is a little group of pilgrims, led by Emma, who spend long stretches of the way picking all kinds of delights the land offers them, especially blackberries and figs, which Joan loved.

We reached Massa Martana around 11:30 and, after praying the Angelus and the daily shower rota, we went to rest for a while before lunch, at 14:00. Today we had some delicious pieces of chicken in sauce, with those McDonald’s Deluxe-style chips. Then, a good rest until it was time for adoration.

As usual, we had a time of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by meditation, in which we meditated on the pressing need to keep envy out of our hearts and on the fact that now is the time for each of us to really consider our role in the Lord’s vineyard and embark on whatever He asks of us. The homily at today’s Mass went along the same lines.

Around 19:00 we had a salad with fish fingers and squid for dinner, and then we had a really fun get-together. It started with a very interesting philosophical debate between Gerard Fernández and Alejandro Recolons. Then Antonio struck up his classic “C’mon, C’mon, C’mon” and we all sang “mi sueño es” at the top of our lungs. When we share these heart-warming moments among ourselves, like a great family, you can sense the presence of Jesus in our midst.

Now we’re off to bed, at peace knowing, first of all, that the biggest climb of the pilgrimage is behind us. We turn in with tired legs but with hearts full of joy at seeing how the unity among us brings us a little closer each day to the goal, which is heaven, by way of Rome first.