In the steps of Dom Salvado - Margaret Malone sgs

Inspired by the well-known Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a group of pilgrims in 2009 undertook a journey from Perth to New Norcia. They were following the path of Dom Rosendo Salvado, a Spanish Benedictine. There are now two such journeys each year. Good Samaritan Sister, Margaret Malone, joined 23 other pilgrims last August to make the seven day journey. She tells of her travels.

In 1846 Dom Salvado made this journey as he and his companions set out to establish the New Norcia mission with a primary concern for the care of the Aborigines. This activity of the Benedictines was happening in Western Australia at around the same time as Archbishop Polding was active on the east coast, so the foundation of the community of the Good Samaritans was in the same era. Salvado often journeyed to and from Perth during the establishment of New Norcia and as near as can be known this pilgrimage followed some of the routes he took.

People have always walked pilgrimages, and no doubt there are many reasons for doing so. Some reasons may be spiritual—to remember a sacred event; some may be physical—a test of endurance; some may be simply to seek some days of quiet away from the normal busy life. For me the significance lay in the fact that the starting point of the journey was Subiaco and the end point was New Norcia, places called after ones of great significance in St Benedict’s life and hence to all Benedictines.

On the way, the countryside and the bush seemed lush after recent rains and wild flowers were blooming. Acres and acres of canola provided a yellow panorama. Certainly there was some beautiful scenery to take our minds off weary bodies and sore feet. There were paths through bushland and farmland and sometimes almost no paths at all.

For the first time since this Camino Salvado began, the route was almost completely off main roads. There was often time for quiet when we walked on our own and then time for talking and sharing at other times. It was a powerful experience to share in the stories of peoples’ lives as we walked.

In the quiet times I walked in the rhythm of a repeated phrase from a psalm or a text from the Gospel and many a time I prayed in the words of the poet ee cummings: ‘I thank you God for most this amazing day.’ When the going was tough there was always the psalm line: ‘O God come to my assistance, O God make haste to help me.’ Somehow we seemed able to begin each day with renewed strength and eagerness.

It was exciting to arrive at New Norcia, to be welcomed by the bells of the church ringing out, and then move to the Abbey Church for the final prayer. This was very moving as Abbot John greeted us, then read from the Rule of St Benedict, Chapter 53. ‘All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me …” The abbot shall pour water on the hands of the guests and the abbot and the entire community shall wash their feet.’

In fact the Abbot did wash the feet of two of the pilgrims and many of the group were moved to tears at this powerful ritual of hospitality and service. It was good to have Good Samaritan Sister, Carmel Posa, from our community there, to welcome me. We are both involved in various programs at New Norcia so have close connections to the place.

We prayed together each morning before we set out, and on the Saturday morning as we left for our final day’s walk, the prayer included the idea of reflecting on our inward journey and what this journey will mean to us as we continue our journey through life. It ended with these words: ‘We give thanks to Dom Salvado, his monks and the monastery at New Norcia and the history they created which we are sharing and celebrating in his memory’. This recalled for us again the purpose of what we were doing.

As I commenced the journey I was reminded of a phrase from the poet John O’Donohue:

When you travel
A new silence

Goes with you,
And if you listen

You will hear

What your heart would

Love to say.
A journey can become
A sacred thing.
(To Bless the Space between Us)

I did experience a new silence as I walked and for me this was indeed a sacred journey.

There will be two pilgrimages along the Camino Salvado in 2012, in August and September. For further information see www.caminosalvado.com.

Margaret Malone sgs has taught at the Australian Catholic University and Notre Dame University, Australia, in the areas of sacraments, liturgy, social justice and women’s studies. Her main field of study is the Rule of Benedict. She lives in Perth and is involved in organising and administering study programs on the Rule of Benedict and its sources as well as retreat work and formation programs at New Norcia.