You Can Visit Relics All Over France and Spain

Santiago Relics

Without relics there probably wouldn’t have been any shrines, and without shrines there wouldn’t have been any pilgrims, and without a relic in a reliquary casket in Santiago de Compostela, there wouldn’t have been a Camino de Santiago pilgrimage!

Luckily for us, relics became popular from about the 5th century and by the time of Charlemagne (8th century) no church could be consecrated without a relic.

You can visit relics all over France and Spain.

What are relics?

Classes of relics

Holy Years

St James’ feast days and Holy Years

Earning the indulgence

Statistics

Translation of the Compostela

Santiago de Compostela

What are relics?

Relics have been described as a revered object, notably a body part or clothes belonging to a saint. In most Catholic churches you will find a relic of a saint, be it a piece of bone, a hand, an arm (sometimes a head!) or even a whole body. The most valuable and significant relic was a piece of the true cross.

Spain has a number of these important relics and two of the three of the Holy Cities in Spain contain a piece of the cross.

‘… the demand for bones and body parts was so great that the practice of exhuming, dismembering, and distributing the bodies of saints became widely accepted. Amputated fingers, hands, feet, a few heads and, of course, bones circulated throughout Europe. With increase in demand, supply became a problem, and a profitable but dubious market in relics emerged. Pilgrims to the shrines did not seem to care whether the relics were genuine or not.’

Mark C. Taylor, Sacred Bones
What did the church say about the veneration of relics?

St Jerome said: (ca. A.D. 340–420)
‘... we honour the martyrs’ relics, so that thereby we give honour to Him whose [witness] they are: we honour the servants that the honour shown to them may reflect on their Master...’

In the Middle Ages the church taught that life in this world was merely a preparation for the next, be it heaven or hell. Christians were indoctrinated from an early age with the urgency to obtain divine forgiveness for their sins and the purification of their souls or face eternal damnation and an afterlife in purgatory.

Purgatory was depicted as a sort of half-way horror house, with terrifying demons waiting to suck the soul from your sinful body and send you to everlasting hell – it was a place so terrifying that people were prepared to make incredible sacrifices to ensure a shorter stay and their place in heaven. Indulgences for the remission of time spent in purgatory were introduced around 1095. One of the surest ways to obtain indulgences for the remission of time sins was by contact with the saints who could intercede on your behalf.

The church encouraged the veneration of saints, and the relics of saints were believed to hold great power. If the saint was a martyr, so much the better and if he was a martyred Apostle, better still. And so people from all over the Christian world sought out the intercession of saintly relics in churches and cathedrals all over Europe.

What can the modern pilgrims to Santiago see in the way of relics as they walk across Spain to the tomb of St James that lie in his silver casket in the crypt of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela?

Classes of relics

There are different classes of relics – some holier than others.

First class: part of the Saint (bone, hair, etc.) and the instruments of Christ’s passion.

Second class: something owned by the saint or instruments of torture used against a martyr.

Third class: something that has been touched by a first or second class relic. You can make your own third class relics facilitating the touching of an object to a first or second class relic, including the tomb of a saint.

Although hundreds of metal relics in Spain were melted down and turned into coins to pay the troops that fought against Napoleon, many survived and can be seen in Reliquary Chapels in most of the great churches and cathedrals of Spain.

The list is far from complete. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other relics – fragments of bone, wood, fabric, hair, thorns, nails, bread crumbs, etc. tucked away in capillas, reliquaries and altars in the churches and cathedrals of Spain.

San Juan de la Pena:

Gilded silver urn contains the relics of San Indelcio

Relics of St Felix and St Voto

(San Juan used to house the Holy Grail – now in Valencia)

Roncesvalles:

14th century Gothic reliquary that contains bones from more than 30 saints.

15th century reliquary carved to look like a saint’s arm.

16th century gold reliquary with two thorns from Jesus’ crown of thorns.

Pamplona:

14th century reliquary with a fragment of the cross sent to Carlos 111 en Noble from Paris in 1401. In 1400 Emperor Manuel Palæologus gave to the Church of Pamplona a particle of the wood of the true cross and another of the reputed blue vestment of Our Lord and the Holy Sepulchre; these relics are preserved in the cathedral.

Estella:

Iglesia de San Pedro de la Rua: Fragment of the true cross and a shoulder bone of San Andrés.

Santo Domingo del Calzada:

Numerous reliquaries containing fragments of bone, cloth, etc.

Logroño:

A chest bearing the relics of San Millán (11th century), decorated with ivory plaques, gold and precious stones, and the chest of San Felices (11th century), with Romanesque bas reliefs carved in ivory.

Burgos:

Capilla de las reliquias – Burgos

Capilla de la relquias – bones from most of the apostles and many other saints.

The Black Christ by Nicodemus. ‘Santo Cristo de Burgos’, an image of Christ crucified, from the 14th century.

Five small relics of the Holy Cross of Christ, brought from Santo Toribio de Liébana in Cantabria.

A shrine of the Apostle Santiago, as well as many other relics of saints and santas.

Leon:

San Isidoro’s 11th century wood and silver plate reliquary.

Urn reliquary with the remains of St Isidoro.

Plateresque silver chest San Froilan’s relics.

Enamelled reliquaries with fragment of the true cross.

Santiago:

Cathedral: Tomb and relics of St James.

Chapel of San Fernando: Reliquary containing the skull of James the Less.

Capilla del Relicario: Two thorns from the crown of thorns.

Camino del Norte y Primitivo

Holy Years

Five Holy Cities

In Catholic Christianity there are five Holy Cities that celebrate a Jubilee or Holy Year – three of these are in Spain. The Holy Cities are Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostela, Liebana, and the youngest, Caravaca de la Cruz (Town of the Cross).

The origin of the Christian Jubilee

This goes back to biblical times. The Law of Moses prescribed a special year for the Jewish people: ‘You shall hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim the liberty throughout the land, to all its inhabitants; it shall be a Jubilee for you when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his family. This fiftieth year is to be a Jubilee year for you: you will not sow, you will not harvest the un-gathered corn; you will not gather the untrimmed vine. The Jubilee is to be a holy thing to you; you will eat what comes from the fields.’ (TheBook of Leviticus 25:10–14)

The trumpet with which this particular year was announced was a goat’s horn called Yobel in Hebrew, and the origin of the word jubilee. The celebration of this year also included the restitution of land to the original owners, the remission of debts, the liberation of slaves and the land was left fallow. In the New Testament, Jesus presents himself as the One who brings the old Jubilee to completion, because he has come to ‘preach the year of the Lord’s favour’ (Isaiah 61:1–2).

ST JAMES’ FEAST DAYS

In the early Middle Ages the 30 December was St James’ feast day, based on the old Hispanic (Mozarabic) rite.

In the 11th century King Alfonso VI abolished the Hispanic rite in favour of the Roman rite and 25 July became the principal feast day to commemorate the martyrdom of St James.

30 December was incorporated into the present liturgical calendar as the Feast of the Translation of his relics.

And, just to confuse matters further, although we celebrate his feast day on 25 July using the Roman Rite calendar, it was formerly on 5 August on the Tridentine Rite calendar.

Whenever St James’ day – 25 July – falls on a Sunday, the cathedral declares a Holy or Jubilee Year. With leap years, a Holy Year falls every 6, 5, 6 and 11 years: the most recent ones were 1982, 1993, 1999, 2004 and 2010.

The Puerta Santa (Holy Door), which gives access to the cathedral from the Plaza de la Quintana is opened on 31 December on the eve of each Holy Year, and walled up again a year later. As in the past, pilgrims reaching Santiago during a Holy Year, and fulfilling the conditions for it, are granted a plenary indulgence.

The plenary indulgence is given, not only in Holy Years, but also in ordinary years on Easter Sunday; 21 April (the anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral); and on St James’ three feast days (25 July, 30 December and 23 May).

On the eve of St James’ day (24 July) a magnificent firework display is held on the Orbradoiro facade of the cathedral called the ‘Fuego Del Apostol’. An impressive statue of St James as a warrior is taken from the cathedral and carried through the streets. Further celebrations are held to commemorate the removal of the remains to Spain on 30 December.

The first Santiago Holy Year

It was thought that the first Holy Jacobean Year was in 1179. However, there is now some dispute and academics are not in agreement about this date.

‘The so-called grant of a Jubilee to Compostela by Pope Callistus II in the year 1119, ratified in 1179 by Pope Alexander III to confirm this as a perpetual bull by Regis Aeterni, has been put in quarantine by some historians. They propose a later origin suggesting that the Jubilee in Santiago did not start until the first half of the 15th century. They argue that this Jubilee Holy Year was born imitating the successful Roman Holy Year which was celebrated for first time in 1300 as a response to Pope Boniface VIII spontaneous demand that special thanks be given to the thousands and thousands of pilgrims who visited Rome in that landmark year at the change of the century.

There are essentially two positions on the origin of Compostela Jubilee Years. They are summarized through the work of two of the few experts who have been concerned with this issue, trying to throw light on it, though from differing viewpoints

Jesus Precedo Lafuente is former Dean of the Cathedral of Santiago, and was responsible for leading the organization of several Holy Years in Compostela in the second half of the 20th century. He argues that Aeterni Regis, following the Bull (1179) of Pope Alexander III, the first Jubilee was held in Santiago in 1182.

He defends well, which maintained from the time this celebration in the years that in accordance with the bull, agreed Sunday celebration of martyrdom in Palestine St James – 25 Julio, that usually happens every 6, 5, 6, 11 years.

(Jesus Precedo Lafuente, Origin and Significance of the Year Santae Compostela: Pilgrim’s Guide Calixtino Salamanca, Fundación Caixa Galicia, A Coruña, 1993, p. 20)

Fernando López Alsina, Compostela professor and the historian who has studied this question more thoroughly, suggests a later origin, positing that the first Compostela Holy Year was not held until 1428 or 1434. ‘Only since 1434, and throughout the rest of the 15th century, can we follow the regular celebration of the Compostela Holy Year at planned intervals of 6, 5, 6, 11 years.’
(Fernando Lopez Alsi, ‘Romans and Holy Years, Compostela Holy Years in Santigo, Rome, Jerusalem’ Proceedings of the Third Congress Jacobean-International Studies Caucci, Paolo, ed. Xunta de Galicia, Santigo de Compostela, 1999, p. 235)

The truth is that only since the 15th century can we follow the ceremony of the Jubilees regularly in Compostela. They have occurred since that period, with characteristics close to those present when the festival of the apostle James the Great, falls on a Sundays. In this case, reference to the Holy Year of 1434, the first of which there is a strong historical record, means that up to the year 2000 a total of 82 Compostela Jubilees have been celebrated.

Those who advocate an earlier Jubilee based on the bull Aetterni Regis have at least 1119 Holy Years up to 2010. The next Holy Year will be in 2021. This will be the 120th Jubilee Year and the third of this century.

In 1885 and 1886, two consecutive years Holy Years were held after an extraordinary decision by Pope Leo XII to celebrate the confirmation of the authenticity of the remains of St James, which were rediscovered after being ‘misplaced’ for 300 years.

The Holy Year of 1937 was extended to 1938 as a result of the division in Ireland between Catholics during the Civil War.

Holy Years since 1604

1604170018021909200421002202

1610170618131915201021062213

1621171718191920202121172219

1627172318241926202721232224

1632172818301937203221282230

1638173418411943203821342241

1649174518471948204921452247

1655175118521954205521512252

1660175618581965206021562258

1666176218691971206621622269

1677177318751976207721732275

1683177918801982208321792280

1688178418861993208821842286

1694179018971999209421902297

Earning the indulgence

Obtaining a plenary indulgence became a dominant motivation for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Most pilgrims went in the Holy Years.

Visits to St James in Santiago also offered generous indulgences. A 13th century catalogue, echoed in 1456 by the British pilgrim William Wey, records these indulgences:

• for making the trip to Compostela: remission of a third of one’s sins; if you die on the road, total remission.
• for taking part in each religious procession in the city of Compostela: 40 days’ indulgences; if the procession is led by a mitred bishop, 200 days more.
• if the procession is that of July 24th: 600 days.
• hearing mass at which an archbishop, dean or cardinal officiates – 200 days and for hearing mass at the Monte de Gozo – 100 days.

The plenary indulgence is still granted to those who visit the cathedral and the tomb of the Apostle at any time during a Holy Year, make their confession, attend Mass, pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, and undertake some charitable work (this can include a charitable donation). The indulgence may also be gained on behalf of the dead.

Conditions are:
1) To visit the Cathedral, where the Tomb of St James the Great lies.
2) To recite a prayer (such as the Creed or the Lord’s Prayer praying for His Holiness the Pope). It is recommended to attend the Pilgrims’ Mass).
3) To receive the Sacraments of Confession (it may be 15 days before or after) and Communion. Both are responsible for the conversion and the compromise of love to Jesus and our brothers. This is the heritage of St James.

Pilgrims who walk for reasons other than religious/spiritual are given a different certificate at the Pilgrim’s Office.

The Compostela

The Compostela is not to be confused with an indulgence. Anyone who walks the last 100 km or cycles the last 200 km can earn a Compostela.

Only Catholics, complying with the conditions can earn the indulgence.

The Compostela is merely a certificate. The indulgence is proof of remission of temporal sin – sins that have already been forgiven. One does not have to walk to Santiago to earn an indulgence.

Translation of the Compostela certifcate

‘The Chapter of this Holy Apostolic Metropolitan Cathedral of St James, custodian of the seal of St James’ Altar, to all faithful and pilgrims who come from everywhere over the world as an act of devotion, under vow or promise to the Apostle’s Tomb, our Patron and Protector of Spain, witnesses in the sight of all who read this document, that: Mr………………… has visited devoutly this Sacred Church in a religious sense (pietatis causa). Witness whereof I hand this document over to him, authenticated by the seal of this Sacred Church. Given in St James de Compostela on the (day)…… (month)……...... A.D...... ………Chapter Secretary.’

1976 Compostela2010 Compostela

The other certificate The Fisterana

Pilgrim statistics

The Pilgrim Office attached to the cathedral in Santiago issues regular statistics on the number of pilgrims who are received at the office. You can read up-to-date monthly statistics and statistics from 2004 here: peregrinossantiago.es

The Patron Saint of Pilgrims

Saint Bona (1156–1207) was a nun who led travellers on pilgrimages, mainly the thousand-mile journey to Santiago. She was made an official guide by the Knights of Santiago after leading nine groups of pilgrims to Santiago. She died in 1207, shortly after making her tenth journey. Her feast day is on 29 May.

She was canonised by Pope John XXIII as patron saint of pilgrims, pilgrimages, flight attendants and couriers.

Santiago de Compostela

You made it!! The destination of all Camino trails is the tomb of Sant Iago in the town named after him. You’ve collected your Compostela, attended mass in the great cathedral, hugged the saint and paid your respects to his tomb in the crypt below the altar. Now you have a day or two to explore this wonderful, medieval city.

There is more to the cathedral than the interior. Take a tour of the roof, visit the Pilgrim museum, take a nocturnal walking tour of the old quarter including a visit to the cloisters of the Parador and experience a Queimada at midnight in a local pub!

T

ake a bus ride to Finisterre – or keep walking to the End of the World.