May 31 – Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This day is called the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary because on it, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, whom, as the angel had told her, God had blessed with a son in her old age.
- Patron Saint Index
Zep 3:14-16
Lk 1:39-56
…he will dance with shouts of joy for you…
For 3 weeks last year, I walked the Camino de Santiago. Starting from St Jean Pied de Port in France, I climbed the Pyrenees and walked into Pamplona (taking three days), before crossing over to Bilbao (by bus) and meeting a friend to continue onto the Camino Primitivo from Oviedo into Santiago de Compostela. The first day I arrived in St Jean from Pamplona by bus, I met 3 pilgrims. One, a Brazilian called Luis; the other two were Szilvia from Hungary and Lena from Germany (who lived in Canada). We walked into town in the evening and chatted over some drinks, getting to know each other, as well as other ‘peregrinos’ (Spanish for pilgrims) from Italy.
The next morning, I set off with Szilvia and Lena before 6am, in the dark, as we wanted to get to the first rest point, Refuge Orisson, for breakfast. It was a cold, foggy morning and I had my fully-laden backpack, as did Szilvia. We made great progress up the mountain via the Napoleon Route towards Orisson, covering the 8km in about 2 hours. Elated, we sat down to have coffee and pastries and decided to take a short break.
As we left Orisson for Roncesvalles (where stage 1 usually ends), I started to feel a cramp in my right calf. Brushing it aside, I slowed down and did some simple stretches. However, as we climbed the mountain, I could feel my leg cramping up ever so often. Both Szilvia and Lena noticed that I had slowed down and they kept checking on me. Realising that I was slowing them down considerably, I waved them on and said I would be alright. The combination of cold weather, a backpack that was too heavy (about 15kg) and the continuous ascent was seriously hampering my progress.
About an hour later, I came across a statue of Our Lady on a rocky outcrop overlooking the valley below. Our Lady of Biakorri, patroness and protector of shepherds and their sheep stands at the highest point of the route (about 1350m up from SJPdP). I put down my backpack, went over to her to rest my legs and prayed to her, clutching onto my rosary. I prayed specifically for help and for her to sustain my strength over the remaining 17kms into Roncesvalles.
Just as I was preparing to set off again, I bumped into Luis. He had left St Jean only after sunrise, about an hour and a half after we did. He came up to me, smiling and in a joyful voice, asked me, “How are you doing my friend?” I told him about my predicament and how I was making slow but painful progress. Without missing a beat, he said, “Come, I will walk with you!”
In the end, Luis accompanied me for 3 days, all the way into Pamplona. Along the route, he kept pointing out ‘dangerous’ spots (“Danger! Danger!”) and telling me to take the descents slowly. We chatted a lot, he in Portuguese with limited English and me in broken Spanish and simple English. But we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves singing songs – ‘Easy’ (by Lionel Richie) whenever Luis told me to take it slow; the theme song to ‘Rocky’ (whenever we ‘conquered’ an ascent or a mountain); ‘Let’s Twist Again’ (by Chubby Checker) whenever I said I was careful not to twist my ankles on treacherous descents; and a whole lot of other songs from the 80s.
When we arrived in Pamplona after 3 days of walking together, we met up with Szilvia, Lena and the Italians on the first evening. Though sheer coincidence, Luis moved to the same albergue I was staying in on his 2nd night. While I only had 2 nights before leaving for Bilbao, he had planned to stay 3 nights. The day I left Pamplona, Luis and I had breakfast together before parting ways. Till today, Luis has kept in touch via WhatsApp and sent me pictures when he eventually reached Santiago more than a week ago.
Brothers and sisters, I truly believe that Mother Mary interceded for me and sent me Luis, to watch over me and walk with me along the Camino Frances. I know I could never have made it through those 3 days in the Pyrenees without the joy, warmth and care of a 57-year old pilgrim from Brazil.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Desmond Soon)
Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for Mother Mary and for giving her to us as our divine intercessor and protector.
Thanksgiving: Thank you dear Mother Mary, for always looking out for each and everyone of us.
OXYGEN 
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