Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle La plus ancienne de toutes les associations jacquaires – depuis 1950

The Cathedral

The Way leads pilgrims to the northern door, but they must walk around the church to reach the main façade, the Obradoiro. On entering the church, he is greeted by the “Portal of Glory”, a masterpiece of Romanesque art depicting the story of Salvation. On the left, the expectation of Christ’s coming, symbolized by four Old Testament prophets. On the right, the proclamation of Christ by four Apostles; this is the New Testament. In the middle is the Lord, surrounded by his glory. At his feet, on the central column, the trumeau, Saint James, the Apostle, the witness, the messenger of Christ, welcomes his pilgrim.

Above the high altar is the statue of the Apostle who presides over the church. Pilgrims enter from the right to embrace the one they have come to visit, sometimes from afar.

Beneath the altar is the crypt, with the walls of the original tomb and, in the center, the shrine containing the Apostle’s remains.

As you leave the cathedral through the southern door, the Porte de Platerías, don’t forget to look at the façade: on the trumeau, between the arches of the two doors, is a Chrism, symbol of Christ. But the letters are upside down: Alfa has become Omega, and vice versa. The end becomes the beginning. The goal of the Chemin is now the beginning of another path, of the new life that now awaits the pilgrim.

Masses

Masses in French are generally celebrated in the chapel of Saint-Sauveur, known as “du roi de France” (behind the main altar).

Masses in German, English, Italian, French and Portuguese are said daily between June and September (sometimes longer) in various cathedral chapels, and confessions are also held.

Schedules are announced in the sacristy and on the gates of the chapels where they take place:

Stained glass window in the Chapel of France (donated by SFASJC)
  • 7:30h Santísimo chapel
  • 8:00h Santísimo Chapel
  • 9:00h Master Altar
  • 9:00h Santísimo Chapel (Saturday, Sunday and holidays)
  • 9:40am Lauds in Latin (Saturday, Sunday and Feasts)
  • 10:00h Santísimo Chapel
  • 11:00h Chapelle de La Corticela
  • 12:00h Main Altar Pilgrim Mass
  • 1:15h Master Altar
  • 6:00 pm Master Altar (Sundays and holidays)
  • 7:30 pm Master Altar

Around the Cathedral

Compostela Cathedral has treasures and sights not to be missed. Access is via the Reception Center, located in the crypt of the Obradoiro square, beneath the Portal of Glory:

  • the Cathedral Museum
  • the cathedral roofs
  • grandstands inside the church
  • the Portal of Glory
  • archaeological digs under the pavement

A reduced rate is available for pilgrims.

The Pilgrims’ Office

For several years now, volunteers from the American Pilgrims on the Camino, the UK Confraternity of St. James, the Irish Society of the Friends of St. James and the Dutch association Het NederlandsGenootschap van Sint Jacob have been on hand at the Santiago de Compostela Pilgrim’s Office to issue the “compostela” and provide information to pilgrims.

Compostela Cathedral is calling on all former pilgrims in France to join those welcoming pilgrims on their arrival.

It offers

  • The possibility of volunteering to welcome pilgrims at the Compostela Pilgrim’s Office, in shifts of at least 15 days.
  • Training (in French) for this task, which will also enable you to volunteer in any of the ACC (Accueil Chrétien du Chemin) gîtes.
  • The support and friendship of managers in international teams
  • Free accommodation in suitable facilities, with maintenance and travel paid for by the volunteer.

She asks

  • Experience: having made the journey at least once, to understand what pilgrims go through.
  • Sufficient knowledge of the history of Santiago de Compostela, Compostellan traditions, the history of the Way and its recent evolution.
  • Ability to work as part of a team, good communication skills, ability to listen and empathy.
  • A spiritual sensitivity to the values of the Way
  • A minimum level of Spanish is required to answer questions and provide simple information (the stay can be used to improve knowledge of the language) and proficiency in another European language: French, English, Italian, German…

What to do?

Volunteers can also choose to work as hospitaliers in one of the ACC (Accueil Chrétien du Chemin) centers in Spain: in Carrión de los Condes, León, Foncebadón, Ponferrada or El Acebo.

To apply, please contact the Pilgrims Office directly.

French-speaking welcome in Santiago

Since 2015, at the initiative of the Church of France and thanks to the support and resources provided by the Archbishop of Santiago, a welcome for French-speaking pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela has been set up by the Webcompostella teams. This site of practical advice and spiritual insights, set up in 2003, is one of the main tools for linking Christian halts on pilgrimage routes in France.

The mission of Accueillants, rather than Hospitaliers, is to listen and to serve: every morning, a mass is celebrated in French, followed by the sacrament of reconciliation for pilgrims who so wish. Every afternoon, a time of sharing offers pilgrims the chance to re-read their Way, recharge their batteries and discover places close to home where they can continue their spiritual journey if they wish. Individual meetings are also available…

In 2021, L’Accueil will be open from May 15 to October 31. Of course, at the time of writing, both these dates and the terms and conditions of the Welcome event, as well as the preliminary training weekend, are subject to compliance with the anti-covid sanitary conditions then in force.

Carers sign up for two weeks (1st to 15th or 16th to 31st of each month).

A few details:

  • Host groups will be made up of a priest and 3 hosts.
  • A recruitment committee (chaired by René Fernandez, Agnès Rebut and Daniel Ragot) will review each application.
  • A training course is planned for hosts on the weekend of March 12 to 14, 2021, probably in Conques (confirmation of the venue will be given at a later date). This training is compulsory and will be provided under the responsibility of the Webcompostella Team in charge of organizing the Santiago Welcome.
  • The mission program and a host’s charter are currently being drawn up: hosts will undertake to carry out the mission in accordance with this charter.
  • Reception center: The French-speaking reception center is located at the Maison des Pèlerins, Rua Carretas in Santiago (where the Compostela is issued). Accommodation will be in an apartment at 27 Rua da Republica Arxentina (about a 20-minute walk).
  • Accommodation and lunch are financed by Webcompostella’s donation drive. The host will be responsible for his or her own transport, breakfast (which can be shared in the apartment kitchen) and evening meal (idem).

If you’d like to share in this rich and beautiful mission, you can apply before January 31, 2021, by filling in the online questionnaire, indicating your preferred fortnights.