The Time Grows Short: A Liturgy for Leaving

Next Sunday, May 13, I will seek the blessings of my church before I leave.  The time grows short.  I pulled together a liturgy for a service of blessing.  I sewed together modern beatitudes, material of my own, an older pilgrim's prayer, and some material for the Codex Calixtinus.  Book V of the Codex was composed in the 12th century by a scholar from Cluny in France, Aymeric Picaud.  He had made pilgrimage from what we call France to Santiago and left sort of a travel log: where to sleep, where you may be robbed, the character of the people of the Basque region, the quality of the drinking water, and the like.  It is a fascinating peek into a world long past.  Yet, as I read those old words I think I too will ask, "Where can a man find a drink?" or "Are these people who I will encounter, welcoming or stand-offish?"  The time grows short.

Here is the Liturgy for next week, 11:15, Stony Creek United Methodist Church, be there or be square: 

Opening Reading:  From Psalm 84

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

Whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baka,

                They make it a place of springs;

                The autumn rains also cover it with pools.

They go from strength to strength,

                Till each appears before God in Zion.    

Why Pilgrimage? Comments from the Peregrino

A Reading from the 12^th Century Pilgrim’s Guide: The Codex Calixtinus

From Book V

“After this land (the land of the Basque and Navarrese), one traverses the forest of Oca, to be sure in the direction of Burgos.  There follows the land of the Spaniards, that is to say, Castilla and Campos.  This country is full of treasures of gold and silver, it abounds in fodder and in vigorous horses, and it has plenty of bread, wine, meat, fish, milk, and honey.  On the other hand, it is poor in wood and full of evil and vicious people.

Thence, having crossed the territory of Leon and cleared the passes of Mount Irago and Mount Cebrero, one arrives in the land of the Galicians. . . .The Galicians, ahead of the other uncouth nations of Spain, are those who best agree in their habits with our French people; but they are irascible and contentious. . .  .Pilgrims, whether poor or rich, who return from or proceed to Santiago, must be received charitably and respectfully by all.  For he who welcomes them and provides them diligently with lodging will have as his guest not merely the Blessed James, but the Lord Himself, who in His Gospels said, “He who welcomes you welcomes me.”  

Blessing of the Pilgrim and His Equipment

Participants are asked to select a piece of equipment, bring it over to my pack  and put it in or lay it beside , lay hand(s) on and recite one of these modern Beatitudes for Pilgrims.

1. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if you find that the Camino opens your eyes to the unseen.
2. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if what concerns you most is not arriving, but arriving with others.
3. Blessed are you, pilgrim, when you contemplate the sights of the Camino and find them full of names and of new dawns.
4. Blessed are you, pilgrim, because you have discovered that the true Camino begins at its end.
5. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if your backpack empties of things as your heart doesn’t know how to fit so many blessings.
6. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if you discover that a step backwards to help another is more valuable than a hundred forward without awareness of those at your side.
7. Blessed are you, pilgrim, when you have no words to give thanks for all the wonders in every nook of the Camino.
8. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if you search for the truth and make of your Camino a life, and of your life a Camino, after Him who is the Way, the Truth and the life.
9. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if on the Camino you meet yourself and make yourself a gift of time without hurry, so that you may not neglect the image of your heart.
10. Blessed are you, pilgrim, if you find that the Camino is rich with silence and the silence is rich with prayer and the prayers are encounters with the Father that awaits you.

Words of Hope and Blessing from Stony Creek

At this time if you have any words of wishes, hopes, or blessing, please feel free.

Blessing of the Prayers Carried to Spain (unison)

Blessed are you, oh Lord our God, ruler of the universe, who has created us with hearts full of longing and hope.  Who hears our dreads and calms our fears.  Who heals our illness and restores us to strength.  Who created us to live together and share each others’ burdens and dreams.  Hear these prayers now and on the day in Spain when they rise again from our hearts to Your ear. 

Final Blessing and the Sending (all lay hands)

Traditional Prayer for the Camino Pilgrim recited at the end of Pilgrim Mass along the road to Santiago

Lord, you called your servant Abraham out of the town of Ur in Chaldea
and watched over him during all his wanderings;

You guided Your people, Abraham’s children and Jacob’s offspring, across the desert;

We pray for You to protect your servants Peter and Peter, who
for the love of Your name make a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

Be for them
a companion on the journey
direction at the crossroads,
strength in their fatigue
their shelter in danger
their welcoming hostel on their travels
a cool shade in the heat
their light in the darkness
their consolation in times of loneliness and dejection
and the power in their intention.

so that they, with Your guidance, safely and unhurt, may reach the end of their journey,
and strengthened with gratitude and power, secure and hearts filled with great joy,
they may return to their homes and those they love so dearly, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen.

Apostle James, pray for us
Holy Virgin, pray for us

Saints along the Way, find us and help us

God, we seek you, have mercy

Christ, we seek you, have mercy

Spirit, we seek you, have mercy