The Eve of the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila.
We pilgrims love to judge each other. You’re not a “true” pilgrim unless you stay at the dorm-style albergues; or if you don’t carry your backpack but have it shipped periodically; or if you take a bus or , God forbid, a taxi, when you get lost to get back on track ; or if you eat a regular meal deemed too sumptuous.
We all have different reasons for making this journey. Some are quite old and suffer from arthritis; some are living with other chronic illnesses; some are diabetic; some even have a particular physical handicap. We shouldn’t judge until we walk in the other’s shoe…or boot.
In today’s gospel , Jesus , himself, is probably having a sumptuous dinner at one of the Pharisees , which I guess makes him a bad pilgrim. Jesus senses that the Pharisee is making judgements on his demeanor since he is not observing the proper ritual washing before the meal. They are too concerned with the externals of the Law so jesus reminds them, and us, to first clean the INSIDE before worrying about external observances.
Making judgements is a normal part of life and we all make them on a daily basis. It is when the judging becomes judgmental that we get into trouble. We all have a lot of inner work to do on cleaning the inside, our hearts, where Christ dwells. Too often, he dwells in clutter and bitter judgments on the very people he loves.
Jesus ends today’s gospel with one remedy: to give alms, let go of our money and possessions , and allow charity to cleanse the inner chamber of the heart.
When we breath our last, as we all must , all we bring with us is love, our love of God and our love of neighbor. Faith and hope are not necessary in the Kingdom for we will live and breath and love in the very object of faith and hope : GOD. This is beautiful but sobering.
A question for all of us : how am
I judgmental in my own life ?

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila. May she guide your journey to the One who will make your journey safe. “God ALONE suffices.”
Buen Camino. Fr. Frank

I came to a juncture on the Camino to Burgos and I chose the path that brought me through an ugly industrial park. The other choice was the one of beauty and peace. I was alone almost the entire time with no sign if the yellow arrows or shells. I kept walking and hoping and walking…until I spotted two bulky pilgrims in the distance ahead of me. I picked up the pace and within an hour I caught up with them, a lovely couple from Japan who spoke no English but made it clear this WAS the Camino.
Relieved , I thanked them, and walked on feeling more confident and less alone.
Getting lost is a constant theme on the Camino because it is easy to miss the signs. But in the end ,I really wasn’t lost at all, just uncertain if I was on the right path.
It is so easy to get lost in life. We discover that perhaps we took a wrong detour or are on a particular “path” we didn’t plan. In my feeling lost , I turned to Jesus who just kept walking with me leading me on paths not planned or predicted. There is a wonderful verse in one of the Psalms: “I will lead the blind on paths unknown and will turn the darkness into light ,not letting them stumble.”
God is leading you on paths that are unknown to you but will always lead to life and light. Let yourself be led by God and be surprised at what He has in store just for you. For me, I was led to a kind couple from Japan who spoke no English but spoke comfort to me. I entered Burgos quite confident, bathing in the experience of being found by two strangers.
Buen camino. Fr. Frank

When Emilio esteves wrote and produced the movie, The Way, he loosely based the premise of the film on the classic story, The Wizard of Oz.
Somehow, Martin Sheen in ruby slippers is a bit of a stretch but one I’m willing to ponder. I need a good laugh!
We are all on our own “yellow brick road,” trying to find the right path to Oz, or santiago , or a marriage , or A career, the list goes on and on. We all have a destination that we think will end our restless spirits. But every destination in this life is a temporary stop along the Way of Christ Who IS the Way, leading us all through many stops and hellos and goodbyes into the ultimate Destination: the Kingdom.
We can’t cling to anyone or any thing, for in our clinging we will be disappointed.
The Camino teaches us pilgrims that life is moving quickly with people and places entering and leaving the journey. I am facing my own sadness in that the people I came with are gone. Yes, new people have already welcomed me on their journey ,forging new friendships that will be fleeting.
I truly hate goodbyes and have never been good at saying them or living them.
In my own sadness, Christ enters. The One, the only One , who NEVER says goodbye. The tears welling up in my eyes will be transformed into joy as they wash away the sadness. I’m sitting in a 12th century church trying to hear the hushed voices of the people, God’s people, who graced these walls and sacred space. People who have entered the Place of final destination, waiting for you and me to join them around the table in the Kingdom…a table that resembles an ancient door… Into the Heart of Christ and his Mother.
In the first reading at today’s Mass, the prophet Isaiah speaks of this final destination as a mountain in which all his people will gather strong this table , tears washed away, living together in joy. This is one of the most beautiful images in all of scripture. But to gain entrance into this feast, we have to have the proper garments. We must be clothed with humility and mercy, the two virtues that open us to the other. We can’t find a place at table with closed and selfish hearts.
With open hearts and an open mission, we the people of St. Teresa of Avila, are called to go into the neighborhoods and on the streets of Chicago and beyond to invite people to this feast of Eucharist…a foretaste of that Feast on the Mountain and in the Kingdom.
Buen camino. Fr. Frank

I walked into an old hotel in Santo Domingo and saw a great way to use a beautiful, old door. Mount a solid piece of glass over the entire door on four pillars so that there is a six inch space between the door and glass. Then create four legs to mount the glass/ door creating a table.

We eat to be nourished to live the gospel. Every meal whether alone , as a couple, with family or friends can become a door that opens into a world outside of ourselves. I usually eat alone but my awareness of Christ present with me opens the doorway of gratitude for my food and home. In my solitude I can become more aware of those who are truly lonely. Solitude is not loneliness but being alone with the Other. But I would much rather eat with others, even strangers.
Jesus opened many doors through meals: the disciples on road to Emmaus; the feeding of the 5,000; the dinner at the Pharisee ‘s home with the “unwelcome woman” who bathed the feet of Jesus ; most importantly, the Eucharist with Jesus washing the feet of the apostles. The Eucharist is the meal that opens the door into the Heart of Christ.
When I get back into Chicago , who wants to help me find a beautiful , simple old door and create a table? The creative process ,itself, may very well open the door to Mystery.
Buen camino. Fr. Frank

This is probably the only cathedral in the world with a rooster coop perched above a side altar …. With live roosters inside !!! The story of how they got there, centuries ago, is too long and bizarre to explain in this blog. I would suggest you google the title of this blog and see for yourself. It’s a cute but strange story that gives people a reason to smile/laugh at Catholicism.
Coming into this beautiful town brought us on a path in which the Earth never looked so beautiful. The rolling, red hills gently enveloped us with a tranquil blanket of peace.
The earth is Mother bringing forth life in countless ways: plants, trees, vines, flowers , fruits, vegetables…not to forget worms and other earthly critters. And of course Humankind.

How terribly we treat this grand Mother of creation. Mary has been a constant companion of mine on this journey , a Mother who received her humanity from Mother Earth and gave us her Son, the Son of God, to All humanity. In a church visited yesterday in Najera, the church of Santa Maria Real , an image of Jesus with his arms stretched out on the cross, embraced us gazing up at him. His living gaze enveloped us like the earth as we walked into the village of Santo Domingo.
Directly underneath Jesus on the cross rested an image of Mary holding the child Jesus in her lap. She is the Mother, like earth, who keeps bringing new life into the world, for she is the gift Jesus gave to the world on the very cross of unconditional Love. We are her sons and daughters and she, too, envelops each one of us on our journeys.
We are surrounded, enveloped , by earth, creation , Mary, the Saints and Jesus. He gave his life on the cross not simply out of ransom, but unconditional Love. I believe if there never was Original Sin, Jesus would still have died on the cross just to witness to his unconditional love. Perhaps I’m entering heresy. So be it. In every heresy there has to be a kernel of truth. Yes, he died to heal and forgive us of our sins but the mystery is much deeper than even this truth. Mary, who was conceived WITHOUT original sin still experienced the redemption of the Cross.
Mary is leading us to express Truths that have become tired and rote in new and creative ways.
As I walk the way with so many young people , who have chosen to distance themselves from any religion, I have a desire to think about ancient Truths in ways that they can receive. I want them to have an experience of the Church as Mother enveloping them with meaning, purpose and mission. We have to start speaking our faith in new “languages” that may seem
like heresy but may very well be the same Mystery spoken anew. My mission is to try and reach the young, the future of our Church and Faith. And I have NO doubt whatsoever that this Church will be in better hands.
Buen Camimo. Fr. Frank

Upon entering Logrono , there was a beautiful bed of light pink/peach colored roses. A plaque in front of these roses stated that this particular variety of rose cam from a hybrid of one road from each of the main towns and cities across the Comp. The rose was “baptized” in September of 2012, just one week before I arrived in Logrono on October 7 of 2012. Somehow, I missed this beautiful new rose, bringing together in one magnificent flower the various cultures and language nuances across the Camino, from the Basque Country to Celtic Galicia.
We, as the human family , are much like this beautiful rose: a coming together of many cultures, nations, languages,colors and religions , only to form a flower of many petals of shapes and sizes. The stem that unites us is the God of all creation , who gave us his only Son, born of the Virgin Mary, to become the center of this beautiful flower of humanity.
In Christ, when we honor and celebrate our differences, refusing to demand a uniformity of shape and color , we give off the ” scent of holiness. ” Like this special rose, humanity has been “baptized” by the Passionate Love of the One sent by the Father to call us to the “glory that had made us a chosen race.” Our vocation is to see the beauty in the other and in every other. It is God’s creative force that nourishes the flower of humanity with his Grace.
Buen Camino. Fr. Frank

Walking through the hills of Navarre, one can’t help but notice all the vineyards. One of my fellow pilgrims gave me a small dark, purple grape that was as sweet as candy. This is what is known as “nature’s candy,” which is the best and nutritious kind. It is through these grapes that we have the wine that graces our kitchen table and dining room table and bar table and, most importantly, the altar table. As we pray in the Liturgy, ” Blessed are you Lord God of all relation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.”
After Navarre comes the meseta, the fields of wheat grown that give us the bread we eat at all the various tables in our lives, especially the table of the altar. Once again we pray at the Liturgy, “Blessed are you Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you, fruit of the earth and work of human hands. It will become for us the bread of life.”
From the earth that God created comes the seed that is planted and once it dies to itself new life is born through a shoot, a stem, a trunk , branches and in the case of grapes, vines. From these is born the fruit of the earth that nourishes us and gladdens our hearts. From this very earth, the grapes and wheat that are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ for our spiritual nourishment.
From this very earth was born the human family…we come from the very earth we walk on…the very earth we must come to respect and venerate more than we do now. Mary, the Mother of God, gave our Lord his flesh and blood. The humanity of Christ is rooted in the earth, the same we have received our bodies. When Christ was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, all creation was blessed. Christ is the Pinnacle of ALL Creation. Through him the entire human race and the entire Cosmos are united in one symphony of praise.

A bike rider on the Camino lost an invaluable small , metal part of the bike that allowed him to carry belongings. He was looking everywhere on the ground for this little bolt, which I immediately thought of the proverbial “needle in a haystack.” We left him with our eyes peeled to the ground.
Later that day we heard that someone , probably a stranger,found the little part and kept it until he heard about the man and his search. We were amazed that this man and his little bolt were reunited, making the trek for him a possibility.

The gospel for today was the parable of the Good Samaritan in which Jesus teaches us that we are neighbor to each other. Every human being is our neighbor and west become the one who finds AND the one who receives. We must ourselves become the one who receives the love and care if the others. Gospel living transforms all of us into neighbors.
There is a saying along this journey: ” the camino will take care of you,” and it does. Something happens to the human heart on this pilgrimage in which we are all united on the journey. People of all races, cultures and religions , and those of no particular faith tradition , become open to the other in care and compassion.
In all of our journeys we CAN develop this openness to caring about the needs of the other. The stranger can become neighbor. Each one if us is a stranger to countless people we meet. Simply become aware of the other transforms that nameless human being into a person just like ourselves , struggling to connect.
This way of living demands a change in our patterns of how we are present in the world. We need to let go of our screens and phones and ear plugs and reconnect with the world. Even if the others we meet have no interest in making eye contact and living in the present moment. We can pray for that person ; prayer connects us with the other even when they are disinterested.
Being neighbor or becoming one is the heart of discipleship. The camino lends itself to such living but it is still a challenge. Most of us have our phones, I Pads and mini pads and Wi Fi exists in many places along the way.
It’s just as easy to become absorbed in our worlds in such a way that we become disconnected with the very people with whom we are walking.
Finding that little metal part and connecting it with the owner transformed two people into neighbors. These small acts of kindness are what change the world.
How can we all be better neighbors ?
Buen camino. Fr. Frank

Before leaving Chicago , I needed to find just the right jacket: light, zippered pockets, a hood. I went to a number of stores trying to find the perfect jacket off the camimo. I finally found one, made by North Face that fit the bill. Just after landing in Barcelona , my fellow pilgrims and I got a taxi for the eastward trek into France. Of course, I left that “perfect jacket ” in the taxi. Now I had no jacket. Upon arriving in St. Jean Pied de Porte I went looking for a men’s clothing store, which
I immediately found. I entered , found the “perfect jacket” with the zippers in the right place and a hood …and in bright red!! It took less than 10 minutes to find the store, enter and find the right jacket. The only problem: the zipper zips up on the wrong side, maybe for those who are left handed. A minor inconvenience.
This jacket is a great reminder of the waste of time trying to find the right piece of clothing , the right car, the right shoes or stylish eye frames. My new red jacket had done the job and then some. I used it last night to keep warm in a rather cool pension.
On this Feast of St. Francis, I can see how I’m getting by with so few possessions. Francis teaches us wisely that possessions always end up possessing us. In the gospel for the Feast, Jesus teaches that what God has “hidden from the wise and learned he has revealed to the merest of children .” We who are sophisticated
and cultured think that what we wear determines our worth and status.
On this pilgrim journey , we all have just the bare necessity of clothes and they are washed by hand in sinks and tubs usually to dry naturally. Ironing is a luxury, for an iron us too heavy to put in any backpack and one would look ridiculous trying to iron. No one is impressed by anyone’s wardrobe which us so freeing. It is enough to have clean teeth and not smell. Although we all smell just a bit. On second thought , some of us smell worse than the cattle.
Francis walks with all of us, urging us to let go with our preoccupation with buying, buying and buying. It never makes us happy. He is walking with you….
800 years ago, in 1214, Francis walked the camino. I hope to get certificate in honor of the 800th anniversary of his pilgrimage. I’m certain he just walked with what he had on. Meanwhile , I am looking in my backpack deciding what to let go of. The mini I Pad weighs a little over a pound but I’m not yet ready to ship it to santiago. Maybe in Burgos. Maybe not.
One thing’s for sure : the red jacket is staying.
Buen camino. Fr. Frank

The walk today was spectacular but challenging. It was uphill most of the way with no places to get coffee or a bite to eat. We were struggling up one of the many hills when anmarie, a fellow pilgrim, said God would somehow get us through this by reminding us that he is watching over us. No sooner had she said this than we turned a little bend in the road and there was a meg shift stand serving wonderful coffee, hard booked eggs , water, juice and some sweets.
It was our oasis where a human angel named Sabastian treated us so beautifully.
Yes, God is watching out for you and you just never know when you turn around and are embraced with the warmth of an angel disguised as a human being. God invaded our lives constantly with signs of his presence and love. He created the Angels as spiritual beings to love and serve him by guiding us, the pinnacle of creation. In Christ’s humanity we are ALL united with a common purpose : to give birth and life to the kingdom.
Today is the feast of the Angels and the pilgrims will gather tonight in the ancient church in Roncesvalles and celebrate the Mass in honor of the Angels. After the Mass we will receive a pilgrim’s blessing and prayer to guide us on our journey to santiago. I pray that you who read this will become more attuned to how God is trying to get through to you in your own unique life.
The Angels not only help us but we help them “get their wings ” when we treat each other with compassion and dignity. The Angels want us to recognize their presence and purpose : to help us realize that God is caring for us on our journeys and we are to extend his care to those we meet, especially the lonely and sick and poor. The Angels help us and we are called to return the favor.
Buen camino. Fr. Frank