The credencial, or Pilgrim Record
The credencial, a distant successor to the safe-conducts issued to medieval pilgrims, is a document printed and issued by the cathedral authorities in Santiago, and made available to bona fide pilgrims at points along the route - e.g. at Roncesvalles, and at some churches and refugios - and through the Spanish associations. It presupposes that the bearer is making the pilgrimage for spiritual reasons. This does not necessarily mean Roman Catholic and pilgrims will not be asked about their denomination, or even whether they are Christian, although of course historically the pilgrimage itself has meant Christian pilgrimage. Today and in practice, however, the credencial covers anyone making the pilgrimage in a frame of mind that is open and searching.
The Pilgrim Record is a similar document, accepted as proof of bona fide pilgrim status, and issued by pilgrim asociations outside Spain. The Confraternity of Saint James's Pilgrim Record is available to members only (NOT to non-members) who plan to walk or cycle or go on horseback to Santiago. No charge is made. Records are numbered and a register kept. They are not usually given to those making the pilgrimage with vehicular back-up. Confraternity members planning a pilgrimage should apply to the Pilgrim Records Secretary in good time.
General advice on getting a credencial is given here.
To prevent abuse of the 1000-year old spirit of hospitality of the pilgrimage, access to the refugios is restricted to those carrying such evidence of their pilgrim status. The refugios are mainly run on a voluntary basis, and most depend on donations: pilgrims are asked to respect the facilities and services which are offered to them. If the warden (hospitalero) feels that any pilgrim's behaviour is out of keeping with the spirit of the pilgrimage, or such as to distress other pilgrims, he or she is entitled to withdraw the credencial or Pilgrim Record.
You should have your credencial or Record stamped daily at the refugio, a church, town hall (ayuntamiento) or the local office - cuartel - of the Guardia Civil, to make a record of your pilgrimage. At Santiago you present your Record at the Pilgrim Office close to the Cathedral and you will generally be given a Compostela certificate (the traditional document, in Latin, confirming the completion of the pilgrimage). Walkers and pilgrims on horseback must have completed at least the last 100km and cyclists the last 200 km, in one stretch, to qualify.
In 2002 the Pilgrim Office in Santiago started asking pilgrims to
get two stamps per day in their credenciales or Pilgrim Records.
We asked for confirmation and clarification of this new request, and
here is their reply:
"Last year we started to control a little bit more the credentials and the stamps, in order to differenciate pilgrims on foot, horse or by bicycle from those who are using other means of transport to come to Santiago. The Cathedral of Saint James wants to be fair with those who are doing the pilgrimage by giving them, and only them, the "Compostela". That is the reason why we ask for two stamps per day. However, we understand that if a pilgrim starts the Way in a far away point, it is enough to get only one stamp. Otherwise, they would need several credentials. We specially apply the rule of the two stamps per day to pilgrims starting from Galicia. We really appreciate your interest on the matter, and will be very grateful if you would give that piece of information to the pilgrims addressing the Confraternity."So, be prepared, if you're starting from anywhere west of say Ponferrada (or picking up a pilgrimage made in stages), to get two stamps a day, and get hold of another credencial if you need room for the extra stamps. However, if you've come from outside Galicia, one stamp a day within Galicia is still enough. (This advice was confirmed by the Pilgrim Office in June 2006.) |