Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Pamplona (Agenzia Fides) - “Announcing God’s Love” is the slogan of the traditional Javieradas Pilgrimages 2007 to Javier Castle organised in the Spanish region of Navarra from Sunday 4 March to 4 Saturday 10 March. The theme is drawn from Pope Benedict XVI encyclical Deus Caritas est. These annual pilgrimages always coincide with a Novena of Grace leading to celebrations to mark the anniversary of the canonisation of Saint Francis Xavier on 12th March 1622. Various initiatives are organised all over the diocese of Pamplona-Navarra.
The week will open with the first Javierada pilgrimage to the Castle of Javier on Sunday March 4 starting at 8.30. The closing pilgrimage on Saturday 10 March, usually the most crowded, will move from Sangüesa at 3pm for a two hour walk to reach Javier for a special Mass at 5pm.. Both events will be presided by Archbishop Fernando Sebastián Aguilar of Pamplona.
Javieradas diocesan delegate Angel Echauri explained that the Javieradas are more than just a cultural or sports event, they are real pilgrimages, lived with deep religious devotion. The aim is to honour the local patron Saint at his birthplace Javier Castle, visited every year by an average 30,000 people. The people walk on foot and pray, especially the Stations of the Cross from Sangüesa to Javier. Given the large crowds of pilgrims these pilgrimage are held during a period of two weeks.
In a Letter for the Javieradas 2007 Bishop Fernando Sebastián, speaking of the passion with which Saint Francis Xavier devoted himself to the mission to announce Jesus Christ, said "by helping our friends to know Jesus, to accept what He taught about the love of the Father, we help them to discover this fact which illuminates life and to focus life on Him". In his Letter for the event the rector of the Shrine of Javier Fr Ricardo Sada SJ, recalled that Saint Francis Xavier as one who obeyed Christ’s command to
