La Compostela
La Compostela is a document for religiously motivated pilgrims , which certifies that they have visited the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and thus the end of their pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago .
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The certificate is written in Latin . The name of the pilgrim is entered as a Latin variant. The German translation of the certificate reads:
“ The chapter of this blessing Apostle and Metropolitan Church of Compostela, guardian of the seal of the altar of the Blessed Apostle James, makes, in accordance with his intention, all believers and pilgrims who come from all over the world out of pious inclination or to fulfill a vow on the threshold of our apostle , of the patron and patron saint of the Spanish lands, Saint James, come together to issue a valid document confirming their visit, hereby announcing to everyone who will inspect this document that Mr. / Ms. ... [first name and surname of Pilgrims] has reverently visited this venerable place of worship out of piety. To certify this, I present him / her with this document, stamped with the seal of the above-mentioned holy church.
Issued in Compostela on the… day of the month… in the… year of the Lord [possibly still Annus Sanctus - holy year] "
history
Forerunners of the Compostela were so-called credentials , which were issued to pilgrims since the 13th century to certify that they had completed the journey. The previously accepted evidence, such as the scallop shell , had proven to be insufficiently forgery-proof.
Those who were able to show the Compostela were originally entitled to three days free of charge in a 16th century hostel of a royal foundation, the Hospital de los Reyes Católicos next to the cathedral, to recover from the exertions of the journey. This hospital was later converted into a municipal hospital and in 1954 a Parador . Because the Catholic Monarchs had decreed charity as a foundation purpose in the founding charter, as a relic of this decree, 10 pilgrims are fed with breakfast, lunch and dinner every day in the pilgrims' dining room of the hotel.
The “Compostela” today
To get the Compostela today, you have to have covered at least the last 100 km on foot or the last 200 km by bike or on horseback. A pilgrim pass (Spanish: Credencial de peregrino) serves as proof of this . Two stamps must be collected per day: If possible from religious institutions or hostels, but alternatively also from town halls or cafés. The Compostela is issued free of charge in the pilgrims' office of the cathedral chapter of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela . In addition, a certificate of the distance covered can be issued for a fee.
The Compostelan cathedral chapter issues a certificate to pilgrims who have not made a pilgrimage to Santiago for religious reasons, certifying that they have made a “cultural pilgrimage”.
Certificate of indulgence
Contrary to popular belief, the Compostela document is not a certificate of indulgence. For a plenary indulgence granted in the Compostelan Holy Years , the way of arrival is irrelevant. Rather, the prerequisite is the reception of the sacrament of penance and St. Communion and the intention to obtain indulgence in the shrine of James. The indulgence is therefore reserved for Catholics, while the Compostela can be issued to any pilgrim.