Rabanal

Posted on by Pete Schloss

Written June 12, 2026 

Dear Followers, Friends, Family, and Christine.

Astorga Cathedral at Dawn
A Telephoto shot of the Pilgrim statue standing atop the cathedral on the far right. 

Today began with some challenges to my peace.

But how would one know the blessing of peace unless they had also experienced discord to compare it with?

Early in today’s walk there were three pilgrims listening to loud music on a very large bluetooth speaker. It was at maximum volume and audible for a radius of over 100 feet. Their pace seemed to mirror ours and the cacophony was inescapable.

Finally, out of frustration I approached the holder of the speaker. I said, “It is said that everyone walks their own Camino, but sir you are forcing everyone around you to walk your Camino.“

He was offended, but he turned the music down until eventually his small group was separated from the small group that I walked with.

Unfortunately, the stress of the moment lingered with me longer than the music.

Later in the day, Charlie and I checked into our room in a casa that is hundreds of years old.

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Christine, you know how special this village is to me, and how meaningfully my experience was at the ancient church here in 2013.

We attended portions of the liturgy of the hours, presented at 7pm and 9:20 pm by Benedictine monks here in Rabanal.

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Between Vespers and Compine we enjoyed a great meal, wonderful company and I the restoration of Peace.

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Love to you Christine

Peace Everyone and Buen Camino. Pete.

This is a little church outside of Astorga where it is said that in the 15th century a mother and her child were walking the Camino. The little boy fell down a well and would’ve drowned, except that the mother‘s prayers caused water to bubble up from the bottom of the wall and spill out the top, depositing the boy at his mother’s feet. The well is still visible under glass that is beneath the holy water fountain seen inside the church. 
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Progress! 
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Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey! 
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These are three women from South Africa. The ribbons they carry on the back of their packs, our prayer intentions that they have brought with them from their home country.
A monument to a fallen pilgrim 

3 thoughts on “Rabanal”

  2. Dan Ryan says:

    I was astonished to hear about golfers using loud bluetooth speakers, but I never DREAMED of pilgrims doing it. Please assure me they were rocking out to songs from the hymnal! 😉

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