Jeannine Warcollier

Among the founders and personalities who contributed to the influence of the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, Jeannine Warcollier defended the values of the Chemins de Saint-Jacques in France and Europe throughout her life. She was General Secretary of the Société des Amis de Saint-Jacques in Paris from 1958 until her death in April 2016. She passed away at the age of 92, having remained active in the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques right up to the end. In Santiago de Compostela, a room at the Bureau d’accueil des pèlerins francophones bears her name.

To pay tribute to her work, the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle has created the Prix Jeannine Warcollier to honor a French or foreign pilgrimage association whose work on behalf of pilgrims, the roads to Santiago and the pilgrimage to Compostela is particularly noteworthy.

A life at the service of the road and its pilgrims

Jeannine Warcollier’s name is closely linked to the Compostelle pilgrimage. Born in Reims (Marne), Jeannine Warcollier is a dedicated woman who has devoted her entire life to raising the profile of the Compostelle pilgrimage and the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle. A paradox that amused her greatly: she had never made the pilgrimage on foot to the tomb of the Apostle Saint James, but devoted her life to the renaissance and promotion of the roads to Santiago and their pilgrims. Pilgrims who frequented the rue des Canettes, then the rue Jean Bart, knew the indefatigable general secretary well.

She was known and recognized far beyond the capital for her work and conferences. She came to the Way through the example of her brother, who in 1958 set off with a group of nine Parisian students from Parthenay to Compostela. Polio prevented the young Michel Warcollier from walking, so he made the pilgrimage in a cart pulled by a mare: Rosalie. Parthenay had been chosen as the starting point because the family of one of the young organizers came from this Poitou town, and he had heard of AimeryPicaud de Parthenay-le-Vieux, known as the compiler of the “Pilgrim’s Guide” in the 12th century. When these nine young people set out for Compostela, there was nothing on the way: no accommodation, no signposting, no walkers, no map and no “credencial” yet… Shortly afterwards, at the request of pilgrims who had been arrested for vagrancy, the “Credencial”, heir to the credentials issued by religious authorities to pilgrims in the Middle Ages, was created in France by the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. In 1960, Jeannine Warcollier joined the Society, founded in 1950 under the impetus of Louis Bourdon, Jeanne Vieillard and René de La Coste-Messelière. From that moment on, she dedicated herself to serving the path and its pilgrims, providing invaluable advice on their peregrinations. Responsible for publishing the Society’s newsletter (l’Écho des chemins de Saint-Jacques), she answers letters and writes numerous articles. She also corrects and proof-reads articles for the Centre d’Études Compostellanes (CEC), a scholarly and erudite journal run and directed by Adeline Rucquoi for many years: “Compostelle”.

Pilgrimage on foot to Compostela enjoyed a major revival in the jubilee year of 1965. At that time, Spain put a great deal of effort into developing the pilgrimage routes and creating places of welcome.

Jeannine Warcollier contributes to the organization of a large number of exhibitions. Starting with the 1967 exhibition at the Cadillac-sur-Garonne psychiatric hospital, founded in the 17th century by the Duc d’Épernon on condition that six beds be set aside to provide free accommodation for Compostela pilgrims. Jeannine Warcollier “kept in mind all the recent history of the pilgrimage”, recalled the President of the Société des Amis de Saint-Jacques in her tribute, “She served the Apostle and his pilgrims to the very end”.

A Catholic and Dame of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, Jeannine Warcollier was also instrumental in refounding, in Chartres in 1994, a Santiago de Compostela brotherhood founded in 1506 in Paris, which brings together pilgrims wishing to maintain their devotion to the apostle and accompany future pilgrims in their spiritual preparation.

Jeannine Warcollier was the driving force behind the creation of numerous pilgrimage associations in France, Belgium, Germany and even Spain. The prize that bears her name is awarded to a pilgrimage association that has helped pilgrims by providing practical solutions (signposting, reception, magazines, specific assistance, etc.), or has contributed to making the paths known and accessible to as many people as possible, or has increased historical knowledge of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The prize is awarded by a jury under the aegis of the President of the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques.