Today has been an exceptional day so before leaving Santiago I felt I needed to tell you what happened.
When I entered the monasterio de San Pelayo the nun gave me a card with schedules. I noticed besides the time for meals and closer times which she emphasized listed was a time for morning prayer. Being an early riser I asked if I might participate through the help of an interpeter. Not being familiar with Catholic ways I didn´t know the seriousness of my request. The nun quickly replied that was not possible.
Well last night they said this morning the nun from Belgium and I could join their morning prayer session. We would meet in the dinning room at 7:45am next day before breakfast.
In the morning we were lead outside by the nun who has been serving us our meals. She however did not come with us. I was surprised so I asked about that. Marie Theresa,the Belgium nun,said of yes,but she will enter a different way from us. Once outside the building we entered through another door which had to be openned for us. We entered a chapel and sat down,but was quickly led to another room. There were nuns already there. No one talked. It was very solomn(spl)More nuns game filing in. We never see these nuns so I hace no idea there were so many. The chairs were high back wooden chairs with arms too high to put your arms on. Later I realized the arms were for the books. There were two rows-double level-arranged in U shape against the wall only one side of the room. On the back wall was a statue of Jesus. On the oposite side a huge black iron net covered the wall. Through it I could make out another chapel beyond with lots of gold figures and ornaments. On the walls of the room we were in protruded pipes (organ)vertically and horizontally. Later in the Cathedral I saw organ pipes like it except more and bigger. I thought about Ruth. I never saw horizontal pipes just like these.
The ceiling was curved and covered with 3 different desgn patterns in circles repeated across the entire ceiling.
The whole half hour was done in singing with short readings in between with organ accompaniment. Beautiful singing. They sounded like angels. The acoustic sounded so good.
The monastery was started between 1100-1200. It was first occuppied by monks followers of Apostle James. It is now occupied by nuns, except the Chaplin Jose who has been having breakfast with us every morning. It was he who told us of this special happening at 3pm this afternoon at the Cathedral. This Cathedral has one the huggiest Botafumeiro,the incense holder the priest swings. Today they were testing it. It is quite a fete. The rope hangs down from the high ceiling. I was told several months ago they replaced the old rope. The Cathedral has a very very high ceiling. A man had to climb up to the top. Lots of preparation. It was scary. And when they finally had the botafumeiro tied and started swinging it almost the lenght of the Cathedral it was scary and unbelieveable. Anyway I am told it is only used at very very special ocassions so this was a rare event.
I have been blessed with many special and rare happenings. This in Santiago and seeing Prince or King Juan Carlos in Madrid. He lives outside of Madrid and only comes to the Palace in Madrid for special ocassions like when a foreign dignitary is in Spain.
I must get back to the monastary beore I am locked out. Tonight dinner is served extra early. This begins a special time for the nuns. They have added meetings.
This is extra long,but I wanted you to share in this very very experiences.
I leave tomorrow for Pontevedra which I understand is nearer to the sea. I think the monasteri that I will be going to is less formal....Santa Maria de Armenteira.
Aloha and Adios, Joanne
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