Dear Friends:

Please remember in your prayers the Lenten Pilgrims of the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, who today begin a trip which will last 8 days and cover 400 km.

The men will walk all around the Island, visit most of the churches and shrines, while constantly praying and singing.

Over the long history of the Pilgrimage (nearly 400 years) the people have greatly benefited from the prayers and sacrifices of its participants.

The Pilgrimages started in the sixteenth century after a mountain peak broke loose and destroyed the then capital of the Azores, Villa Franca, killing most of the inhabitants.

During a period of almost three years thereafter a series of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions followed the city's destruction, and people believed that the world was going to end.

Today's pilgrims live on what they carry and on what is offered to them in charity on the way.

They are usually received into people's homes at night, but there have been many times when the men have slept in churches, halls, and even huddled outside in the cold.

The Pilgrims suffer physically from shear exhaustion, blistered feet, colds, soreness of joints etc.

On a number of occasions there have even been deaths.

The last time I went, I have done the trip 5 times, a brother from another troop died of a heart attack, he was 43 years of age.

So please pray for my troop, that they may have a safe and blessed journey and through their personal sacrifices, that God may concede innumerable blessings to the people of my Islands and the world.

defreitas

PS.
For those curious enough, a picture of the Pilgrims is posted on my profile page.

May the Lord bless all those who seek Him.

God be with them as they journey giving witness to Him who made them

Anhelyna