What is the credential?

Due to the revitalization of The Way during the last years we have a new and official model of credential for pilgrims

Made on cardboard, has 14 pages on accordion design. First and last one are the ones on the left at the screen.  The second one is at the figure below. It consists on a presentation letter to be filled on a parish, cristian association, abbey…At the bottom once finished the pilgrimage The Pilgrims office may put a Stamp and date when giving the Compostela.

The third page and the next five, are to introduce the stamps during the different stages (is compulsory to have at least two stamps each day with their dates) to certificate the pass trough the hostels, parishes etc… At the reverse page you Will find some maps of the different Ways.  Finally one of the pages gives instructions like this:

Considerations needed

This credential is only for walking, by bike or by horse pilgrims who want to do the pilgrimage with a Christian purpose. The credential goal is to identify the pilgrims because of that the representative institution should be a parish or Christian association. The credential does not provide rights to pilgrim. It has two purposes:

1. Access tho the Christian Charity hostels during The Way.

2. To request the Compostela at the Cathedral, the certificate of having done the pilgrimage. The Compostela is just given to the ones who did the Way with a Christian purpose “devotionis affectu, voti vel pietatis causa”. Besides it is only gived to the ones who do the pilgrimage untill the Apostol thomb at least 100 kilometers walking or 200 kilometers by bike or horse.

The pilgrims credential then, can be only obtained at a christian institution.

The bearer of the Compostela accept this conditions. Finish the page with the next blessing from the Codex Calixtinus, written at the XII century.

Blessing:

“On the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, receive this backpack habit of your pilgrimage so that punished and amended you hurry to get to the feet of Santiago, where you long to arrive, and so that after making the trip you return to our side with joy, with the help of God, who lives and reigns for all ages Amen. Receive this staff that is as support for the march and work, for the path of your pilgrimage, so that you can overcome the enemies’ catervas and arrive safely at the foot of Santiago and after the trip, return with us joy, with the consent of the same God, who lives and reigns for ever and ever Amen”

Source: Pilgrims office