Compostela

[David and Theresa]

I have often wondered what it costs the church for each compostela?
Thanks for any info
David

 

[SYates]

I would say that it's only a few cents per Compostela as they order them in bulk and their paid staff is heavily supported by volunteers.
BC SY

 

[David and Theresa]

Ok, thanks, I thought it might be more,

 

[wisepilgrim]

Pennies. And tax free ones at that.

Fun fact, they are printed at the same small family printer that I use for my books. It’s just down the road from a church that appears in The Way, just off the Camino to Finisterre.

 

[OldWisePilgrim]

Please keep in mind that the Camino was for hundreds of years, and still is, a form of religious devotion. To ignore that is silly. The Catholic Church does not need to provide Compostelas, regardless of cost. That being said, to think that the issuance of Compostelas does not involve some material costs is ignorant. The hope of the Catholic Church (as well as the volunteers, many of whom are religious) is that the Camino leads to spiritual growth in the pilgrim. The Compostela in part reads “[the pilgrim] devoutly visited this most holy temple for reasons of piety.” That is why pilgrims are encouraged to pray, attend the pilgrims’ Mass, and aspire to lead a better life, and if Catholic, “re-convert” if necessary, maybe go to confession and pray the Rosary. If a pilgrim does not intend to use the Camino as a spiritual exercise, that is fine; but a pilgrim should not culturally appropriate the Camino and view it as something it is not.

 

[David and Theresa]

The reason I was wondering about the cost to the church, has to do with the massive numbers of pilgrims getting the compostela, the heavy weight paper, printer ink, and printer maintenance itself, I was just wondering,

 

[Blister Bill]

The reason I was wondering about the cost to the church, has to do with the massive numbers of pilgrims getting the compostela, the heavy weight paper, printer ink, and printer maintenance itself, I was just wondering,

Well the cost can't be close to the price charged for the distance certificate (which I don't begrudge in the slightest) that is now smaller and I think lesser quality paper. I kind of felt that, given the volumes, the distant cert would be defraying a lot of the costs of the operation. 500k x €3 is not a piddling sum!

 

[Tincatinker]

That’s the trouble with “wondering” isn’t it. For centuries we’ve all been encouraged to be overwhelmed by the wonder of it all. To regard all those miracles; all that majesty; all that tragedy; all that joy; all that comfort. We might have wondered whether the church had too much power or insufficient influence. We could even have wondered whether that glittering casket truly held the bones of one who once stood with the divine.

And now we wonder about the unit cost of the Pilgrim Sufficiency Certificate.

I wonder if perhaps each time my tribe gathers to make smoke and spill wine for the departed we should wonder at the cost of the wood and the vintage of the wine.

I offer no offence but will understand if it is taken

 

[kuhawkhead]

Please keep in mind that the Camino was for hundreds of years, and still is, a form of religious devotion. To ignore that is silly. The Catholic Church does not need to provide Compostelas, regardless of cost. That being said, to think that the issuance of Compostelas does not involve some material costs is ignorant. The hope of the Catholic Church (as well as the volunteers, many of whom are religious) is that the Camino leads to spiritual growth in the pilgrim. The Compostela in part reads “[the pilgrim] devoutly visited this most holy temple for reasons of piety.” That is why pilgrims are encouraged to pray, attend the pilgrims’ Mass, and aspire to lead a better life, and if Catholic, “re-convert” if necessary, maybe go to confession and pray the Rosary. If a pilgrim does not intend to use the Camino as a spiritual exercise, that is fine; but a pilgrim should not culturally appropriate the Camino and view it as something it is not.

I’m on the Camino Portuguese coastal route right now. We are doing this Camino to celebrate my wife being cured of cancer. While not overly religious, more a spiritual kind of person, I expected very little as far as faith building. While on the route today (day 4) I started having bursitis in my left hip. I put in my headphones to listen to music to keep my mind off it, and suddenly I started openly weeping…. My brain was swimming with memories of lost pets and loved ones and I swear I smelled things I hasn’t since childhood. After this 10 minutes was up, I was convinced that THERE IS MORE TO THIS THAN JUST A WALK.

Buen Camino!!!!!!

 

[David and Theresa]

That’s the trouble with “wondering” isn’t it. For centuries we’ve all been encouraged to be overwhelmed by the wonder of it all. To regard all those miracles; all that majesty; all that tragedy; all that joy; all that comfort. We might have wondered whether the church had too much power or insufficient influence. We could even have wondered whether that glittering casket truly held the bones of one who once stood with the divine.

And now we wonder about the unit cost of the Pilgrim Sufficiency Certificate.

I wonder if perhaps each time my tribe gathers to make smoke and spill wine for the departed we should wonder at the cost of the wood and the vintage of the wine.

I offer no offence but will understand if it is taken

None taken,
I think maybe , I should have explained ,my wondering, a bit more in depth,
But I'll refrain from that, as it may come across as judgemental, and I will most humbly say that is not the case
Been Camino, and God bless

 

[RobinGore]

The reason I was wondering about the cost to the church, has to do with the massive numbers of pilgrims getting the compostela, the heavy weight paper, printer ink, and printer maintenance itself, I was just wondering,

It's a good question ... no harm in asking.