Dear Confreres and Consoeurs  
                                                  
The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela is one of the only three pilgrimages in which you may earn plenary indulgence, the other two being Rome and Jerusalem. All through the middle ages pilgrims made their way to the shrine of St. James the Apostle creating a tradition that united believers from all Europe who came to Santiago de Compostela by different routes (The way of Saint James) by land and sea, as in the case of the pilgrims from The British Isles. The spiritual seclusion obtained during the travelling to Compostela is intense; and so is the experience of meeting other pilgrims and exchanging thoughts.  During next year, 2010, is a special year being Holy Year in Compostela; this occurs when the feast day of Saint James falls on a Sunday, and will not happen again until 2021.

So, I invite all members of our beloved Order, with whoever wishes to accompany us, to make this pilgrimage to Compostela symbol of spiritual unity. I have reserved the 21st to the 23rd of May 2010 for this event where I hope we may be together and pray together. On Saturday the 22nd the Order will make the traditional offering to the Apostle at the cathedral in a ceremony which will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Santiago. In the evening we will have a gala dinner after an Investiture. It is my wish, that taking advantage of the occasion we hold a meeting of Heads of Jurisdictions and that, since Sunday is Whitsun, we all receive the influence of the Holy Spirit to help us in the decision we take then and in the future. The Grand Priory of Spain, as host country will organize the event and inform of the details.

I hope to see as many of you as possible in Santiago de Compostela, so please remember to put these days in your agendas.

Atavis et Armis 

Carlos Gereda de Bourbon

Marquis de Almazan

Magnus XLIX Magister citra et ultra maria, Praeceptor Boignaci