Today’s pictures can be viewed here. Today’s prayer intentions: Mary Curtis Daly special intentions.

Thursday, October 27th – Today’s reflection is by Lisa Ferris:

Sometimes it isn’t until the day after a battle that you feel the toll that it has taken… and so it was this Thursday.

After a wonderful night’s sleep, the owner of the hostel we stayed at prepared breakfast for us this morning. It was delicious, with scrambled eggs, large coffees, rye bread toast… some of our favorites! We thanked him for his hospitality, and he responded with, “My wife and I believe that pilgrims need aid.” And that we did.

As we took those first few steps down the path we let out a small chuckle, our calves and quads were making it known we had pushed them a bit too far yesterday. We prayed at the steps of St Nicholas Church and asked for strength and grace to walk, thankful for a day of little elevation change.

We walked through Ponferrada, had a chance to see the amazing fortress there. Walking past it we came across some religious sisters who wished us a “Buen Camino!” They stopped to chat with us for a moment, their joy spread like wildfire, we both felt our spirits lifted after a few moments with them.

We stopped to pray the ángelus in the cathedral, and a lady who helps at Masses there asked us if we would like a stamp for our pilgrim’s credential. We had wanted one, so we said yes. She took us to the sacristy near the altar and stamped our credential, she then asked for our prayers… what a gift!

We passed through the rest of the city with its rivers and monuments, most of the day we walked on sidewalks or roads. Towards the last 4 miles we walked on a really beautiful path through the woods.

We only have two-three days worth of clothes that we wash (in case you were wondering why we are wearing the same clothes in all the pictures), so every 2nd or 3rd day is laundry day. Today the laundromat was right across the street from a church, that was open. I was so thankful to be able to spend some time in prayer and silence, because indeed, “Pilgrims need aid.”

Sometimes it’s a well cooked breakfast, other times it’s help finding the path, other times it’s silence sitting at the feet of the Savior.

Buen Camino 🙏❤️ — Lisa

Today’s pictures can be viewed here. Today’s prayer intentions: Mary Curtis Daly special intentions.