Friday 20 September 2013

Day 19, Thursday 19th September. Zaragoza - Fuentes de Ebro (27kms)

Having caught a local bus to the outskirts of the city we set the theme of our day's prayer and sang our pilgrim song as we set off on yet another adventure!


It is proposed that we choose one of the beatitudes as a mantra for the day. I chose: "Blessed are those who mourn, they shall be comforted."

I carry in my heart today those prayers entrusted to me that contain grief and mourning. I am especially mindful of the grief and mourning of victims of sexual assault and their loved ones, and pray that the Lord gift me and my church with greater empathy in being able to mourn with and gently hold the grief of those afflicted; thus may they be comforted.

 

 

We are reaching the end of the Ebro river valley soon to enter the 'desert'.

 

Many kilometres of punishing stones ahead. What are the stones along our pathway of life and how do we cope with them?

Streams of life still accompany us but not for much longer. From where we will then draw our water?


We take every opportunity for relief for the feet by walking in the recently cut lucerne.


 

.....or on ploughed ground as with Amanda, and Sandra and her umbrella - today the sun is searing.


The smallest shade is seized upon in the heat, for a few minutes rest as we regroup.


Thankfully, our leader, Fr Michael is back walking after a few days with stressed shins - although with some pain and difficulty. We often have to bear the pain in life, step by step, but never alone.

 

All smiles as we near our destination for the day.

 

We celebrated Eucharist in the evening as is our custom, in the beautiful 16th century church of San Miguel.

 

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