10/31/2019, 18:00
Two days ago, the surprise was finally sprung: Fr. Joe Totton, a seminary classmate of Fr. Tony and a priest in our diocese, joined us in O Cebreiro. Fr. Tony was totally unaware until Fr. Joe walked into the hostel. Additionally, two of my friends from Kansas City, Marius Hubbell and Joe Griggs, have joined us for the last 160km (100 miles) into Santiago de Compostela. After a welcome dinner and a good night’s sleep in O Cebreiro we started our 13-mile walk to Triacastela in a pre-dawn fog.
Kate (USA) and Charlotte (UK) left our little band today since they are both under more strict time constraints and need to get to Santiago before us. We are grateful for the time that we were able to spend with them and all of the other members of our original Camino family. Buen Camino to all!
Local tradition holds that the chalice in the reliquary (above) is the Holy Grail, the chalice from the Last Supper, which was hidden away in O Cebreiro. In the year 1300A.D., a faithful parishioner trudged through a snowstorm to receive communion at Mass. The priest mocked the man for going to such trouble for just a bit of bread and wine. At that moment, the bread and wine miraculously transformed into real flesh and blood. The Virgin in the statue of the Virgin and Child (above) is said to have turned her head to have a better look at such a miraculous event!
The hamlet of O Cebreiro is among my favorites on the whole Camino.
Jim Olshefski
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