Another Reason Why

Some time ago, I ruminated on why. Why do the Camino?

Here’s another answer, from the very first guide book to the Camino, the Codex Calixtinus, written some time in the XIIth Century:

The pilgrim route is a very good thing, but it is narrow. For the road which leads us to life is narrow; on the other hand, the road which leads to death is broad and spacious.

The pilgrim route is for … the thwarting of the body, the increase of virtues, pardon for sins, sorrow for the penitent, the road of the righteous, love of the saints, faith in the resurrection and the reward of the blessed, a separation from hell, the protection of the heavens.

It takes us away from luscious foods, it makes gluttonous fatness vanish, it restrains voluptuousness, constrains the appetites of the flesh which attack the fortress of the soul, cleanses the spirit, leads us to contemplation, humbles the haughty, raises up the lowly, loves poverty. It hates the reproach of those fueled by greed.

It loves, on the other hand, the person who gives to the poor. It rewards those who live simply and do good works.

(Codex Calixtinus)

My guess is that these reasons are as valid and important now as they were when they were first written, 800 or more years ago.