Camino Day 1: Ponte de Lima

Stats for Day one:

Start: Ponte de Lima (its famous avenue of plane trees - having greeted pilgrims for centuries - is pictured to the left)

Destination: San Pedro de Rubiaes

Length: 17 kilometers (10 1/2 miles)

Description: At times a damp track which follows streams and climbs through the forest to mountain of Portela Grande at 433 m (1300 ft.) before descending to Rubiaes.

This is the first day of pilgrimage. What is the purpose of going on pilgrimage? There is one for the pilgrim himself, and one for the Church. The Second Vatican Council teaches us that the Church is on a pilgrimage. We often forget this, and this is why the Council reminded us this teaching is actually very ancient.

If we keep in mind that all of us are on a pilgrimage - the ultimate pilgrimage to our true home in heaven. If we forget this profound truth, we will too often think that this world is heaven - and treat it as heaven. While this world is beautiful and wonderful, it is not heaven. If we try to find heaven here, we will ultimately be frustrated.

So the pilgrim becomes a fertile symbol of this reality - and reminds us of it.

Please pray for me.