These Holy Bones: Walking the Camino de Santiago

Send us Fan Mail At the end of a very long walk, many pilgrims have a need to talk about their pilgrimage, to process the many hours spent on the road to Santiago. In the pilgrims office where a pilgrim gets the final stamp on the credential and receives the Compostela, there is another office, the Camino Companion Office, wherein a pilgrim can go and discuss the journey that they've just completed with volunteers like Sister Mary and Margaret from Scotland. The office offers an opportunity t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I interview Danny, the owner and massage therapist of Camino Massages located in Santiago a few doors down from Camino Curry. Danny walked the Camino Norte in 2014 and knows the challenges that pilgrims face when walking day in and day out for more than thirty days. He gives tips on foot care and foot wear as well as insights on how to approach the pilgrimage to Santiago. I enjoyed speaking with Danny, and I think you'll enjoy listening to him as he shares hi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, my good friend, Steven Lighty, and I discuss the many different facets of the Camino and what it takes to prepare for the long trek across Spain. Steve and his wife, Maryann, plan on walking the pilgrimage in a few years. Their preparation is essentially underway as they consider what route to travel and what to pack for their journey. It seems the Camino has their number, and it is very difficult not to answer once you've heard the call.

Send us Fan Mail Sven is a German journalist who has traveled the Camino de Santiago five times, twice on the Norte and three times on the Camino Frances. In this interview, Sven shares his love for Spain and the outdoors. He also shares simple but important advice on how to prepare for your Camino and how to enjoy the simple pleasures of the pilgrimage. If you are interested in walking the Camino de Santiago, you will want to listen to this episode.

Send us Fan Mail I met Gabriel outside of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. He was sitting on the steps that lead down to the back entrance to the church. Although I felt self-conscious tapping him on the shoulder and asking him if he would like to be interviewed about his journey, I am so glad I did because Gabriel had a lot to share. He spoke candidly about his faith and his relationship with the Blessed Mother and his guardian angel. I think you will enjoy this one--have a listen.

Send us Fan Mail I met Marie and Giselle on the road to Santiago. It was a hot day on the Camino, and everyone was feeling the drain. We were only a few days away from the cathedral, and they agreed to be guests on the podcast once the pilgrimage was complete. Our conversation covers a lot of ground about the Camino and about life in general. Have a listen--I think you'll enjoy this episode.

Send us Fan Mail This episode of These Holy Bones is a conversation with two young men from Belgium, Yelle and Laurens, who are childhood friends. I met them in a crowded restaurant the night before this interview. They graciously invited me to sit with them for dinner. In the spirit of the Camino, we shared food, conversation and laughter. Although this interview is relatively short, it conveys the heart of the Camino--a simple walk of faith and friendship.

Send us Fan Mail In this fourth episode of season two, I interview Claude from Paris, France. She explains how she was told that her Camino family would consist of the people with whom she began her journey--she would see them all along the way: in albergues, in bars, in restaurants and on the road as she traveled toward Santiago. This is exactly how Claude experienced the coming together of her Camino family. Have a listen and meet Claude on her way across Spain--she has insights to share no...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Father John Baptist and Father Jerome, two Dominican Friars from the Province of Saint Joseph in the United States, share their expectations of the road before we actually begin our trek across the Meseta. The interview was conducted in an albergue in Burgos on August 5th. Our conversation is filled with the excitement and the uncertainties commonly faced by most pilgrims venturing out on their first Camino. Have a listen and enjoy!

Send us Fan Mail Jack Hitt's 1991 account of his Camino journey is a tale filled with quirky yet unforgettable characters. Hitt leaves a New York editing career to venture across Spain for a second time; his first pilgrimage was in 1981 after graduating from college. The book was later used by actor/writer/director Emilio Estevez for the movie The Way -- one of my all time favorites. I recommend Off The Road, especially coupled with the film, The Way for all Camino enthusiasts.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, my wife Karen and I work through a packing list identifying what we deem necessary for the pilgrimage. Are most of these items essential? If I had to listen to only one podcast before leaving for the Camino, it would be "The Packing List."

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, my pastor, Father Stephen Battey, speaks about the Jubilee Year, and how we are to make sense of it. He touches on the essence of pilgrimage and how a pilgrim can approach the trek. His insights are invaluable. Have a listen, and God bless you!

Send us Fan Mail This episode is devoted to the pack on your back. My wife, Karen, speaks about her packing experiences with specific recommendations on what to take and what to leave home. What you carry in your pack while on the Camino is an essential part of the pilgrimage. Don't underestimate this aspect of your preparation.