When you arrive in Santiago de Compostela after walking the Camino de Santiago, you go directly to the Pilgrim’s Office to request your Compostela, which is the certificate that has been awarded to pilgrims for the past 1000 years.
It is written in Latin and attests to the fact that you have successfully completed a religious pilgrimage. Here is the text in English. Do bear in mind that it is written in Latin, a bit like lawyers’ language.
LA COMPOSTELA
The Chapter of this Holy Apostolic and Metropolitan Church of Compostela, custodian of the seal of the altar of the Blessed Apostle Saint James, offers authenticating letters of accomplishment to all the faithful and pilgrims from all the lands of the Earth who, for devotion or by taking a vow, have come to the Church of the Apostle Santiago, Patron and Tutelary Saint of our Country Spain, and makes known to each and all who may inspect this letter that …. [NAME in Latin]…. has devoutly visited this most holy temple for reasons of piety.
In recognition of this I confer this letter, with the seal of the same Holy Church.
Dated in Compostela on the day ….. of the month …… in the Year of Our Lord …..
Buen Camino to All!
