After tending to the Compostela paperwork on Wednesday afternoon--there was a line but it moved right along--and tons of educational stuff yesterday, today we got down to the whole reason for the pilgrimage. We visited the tomb of the Apostle and went to Mass. Your blogger also got into the line for the traditional embrace of the Apostle's bust, and spent some precious moments in the Capilla del Sanctissimo, adoring and giving thanks. (Not even thought of in various guide books, but highly recommended.)
While in line to embrace the bust, a longer line than to reverence the Apostle's remains, your blogger happened to notice glass windows in the elaborate structure of the altar. One appears to show the top of the tomb chamber. Unfortunately the line was moving just a little too fast to use the tablet for a photo, so that picture is not in this post.
Instead, a picture of the cross above the Holy Door, which is shaped just like the Cross of Victory from Covadonga. The cross on the roof of the Cathedral above the tomb is also this same, distinctive shape.
The Cathedral has Masses running at frequent times, in an assortment of common pilgrims' languages. We went to the English language Mass. It came just after the Italian and possibly the French. (With all those side chapels they can do that.) I saw a sign advising pilgrims of a German Mass in the evenings, too.
There are a number of confessionals along the side walls, too. They are all of the enclosed seat for the priest, open kneeler for the penitent variety. Often the priest has a sign posted giving the languages he is able to hear penitents' confessions in.
It is said that arriving in Santiago is not the end of the Camino, but the beginning of the rest of the Camino, which the pilgrim enters when departing for home. Certainly the pilgrim who looks at himself will find he has growth to continue.
Ultreia.
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