We wake up and we have a decision to make: either to follow the N-II road, on our right or we take the road marked with orange arrows, which takes us away from the N-II. The first option meets again the second after 1 kilometres on the N-II; the second reaches the same point after a walk of 3 km. The advantage of the second option over the first is that it avoids the N-II, but we have also to walk on asphalt for 1.5 km. It is up to the pilgrim to decide.

If you follow the N-II, just go straight, being very careful of the traffic. After 1 kilometres we meet with who have taken the other way, at the junction with the road that comes from Quinto and leads to Venta de Santa Lucia.

If we follow the second option, on the dirt road, we take the road to our right that brings us away from the N-II road. We keep going ahead without any deviation, until we reach the A-1105 road, which goes to Quinto. We take a left and we turn back to the N-II.

After 50 m on the N-II, we take a dirt road on our right and continue straight on, without taking any of the intersections that cross it. If in doubt, we must continue as parallel as possible to the N-II, which serves as a guide, always on our left. We arrive at the Elf petrol station.

Leaving the petrol station, we follow the dirt road in the same direction as before. We walk parallel to the N-II, keeping it on the left. At 5 kilometres from the petrol station, our dirt road crosses the N-II and we continue parallel to it, but now with the N-II to our right. Keep on without any deviation, following the N-II as far as Bujaraloz. We take Santiago Street and arrive at the Main Square.

BUJARALOZ

Ayuntamiento . Tel: 976 173 175

Hostal El Español** . (reduced fare for pilgrims and breakfast from 6:30 am). Tel: 976 173 192 / 976 173 043.

Hostal La Parrilla Monegros II . Tel: 976 173 230.

Hostal Las Sabinas . Tel: 976 179 328. (discount for pilgrims)

VENTA DE SANTA LUCÍA

Taxi Carlos (Bujaraloz) . Tel: 608 782 616 (taxi for 5 and 8 pilgrims)
Taxi José Mª Franco (Pina de Ebro) . Tel: 618 543 767

This stage may seem rather short, but after the long journey of the previous stage, it is good to take a short rest. Erosion has made this area of Spain into a “near desert”, which people have tried to save with irrigation. Great plains welcome us along the dry walk. We will not find trees or shade to help us.

BUJARALOZ: Small population of about 1000 inhabitants. Its baroque church is dedicated to St. James, although the town’s patron is St. Augustine. It is said that at one time Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian were the patrons of Bujaraloz. But these holy patrons did nothing when a terrible plague of locusts came from Africa, so the people of Bujaraloz decided to find another patron saint who would defend them against the locusts. They put ballot papers into a box with the names of candidates for patron saints. They pulled out a ballot at random three times, and each time the name of St. Augustine came out. The odd thing is that the name of St. Augustine had not been written on any of the papers by the citizens. It is called the “capital” of the Monegros, which comprises 31 municipalities. Its services include a restaurant, supermarket, pharmacy and bank.

About 10 kilometres south of Bujaraloz we find a peculiar landscape dotted with numerous salt ponds that in summer due to the effect of evaporation become wide stretches of salt. “Laguna de la Playa” (Beach Lake) is the largest lake (an area of 2 by 3 km), on the road to Sástago.

Notes: We walk with Jesus in His ascent to the Cross. Do not neglect the “introductory prayer”: now more than ever we ask that our lives be directed to God’s will, our only source of salvation and happiness. Recall that the final colloquy is very important: we enter deeply into an inner knowledge of the suffering Jesus who strengthens our personal life commitments. We discuss all this with our “friend” in the colloquy at the end of the prayer, as well as during the day.

Grace: I ask the Father for this gift: to feel sorrow with Christ in sorrow; to experience anguish with Christ’s own anguish; and even to experience tears and deep grief because of all the afflictions Christ endures for me at the end of His life.

Reflections: After so many days walking with Jesus, we know already that His life is in danger. He knows this as well, even though people don’t understand. The Kingdom of God is fighting for survival, but the enemy is powerful. As the prophet said, our hearts are made of stone and we are not prepared to change this. Our hearts are tough to break into. In the core of our being we even feel that the tender merciful heart of God is not attractive. Jesus confronts us about this, but we don’t want to hear. Jesus feels angry but He cannot change our hearts. As His disciple I feel awkward in this situation. I don’t understand either and feel tired. Jesus sees me and asks me to go with Him and relax. Things are not going to be easier in Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem Jesus celebrates His last supper on earth with His disciples. Through a powerful, almost shocking gesture, Jesus reinforces again the servant nature of leadership in God’s kingdom. Jesus, the Lord, takes upon Himself a household servant’s task by washing the dirty feet of the supper guests. Can you imagine Jesus washing your feet? During the meal, Jesus breaks bread and shares wine with his disciples, inviting them to “do this in memory of me.” Picture in how many places and by how many varied peoples throughout history this moment of Eucharist has been repeated over the past two millennia. It is not only the manner in which Christians remember Jesus. The Eucharist also draws us into a living, intimate connection with Jesus: the bread and wine Jesus offers us is actually His own body and blood, generously give to each of us.

Recall that Ignatius invites us to pray by mentally inserting ourselves into the various scenes as they unfold, filling in the blanks of the basic gospel stories. The passion narratives especially lend themselves to this type of contemplative prayer.For example, regarding the Last Supper, Ignatius speaks to us of Jesus who, “after eating the Paschal lamb and finishing the meal, washed their feet and gave his most holy Body and Precious Blood to his disciples.” Ignatius says further: “See the persons at the supper, and then, as I reflect on myself, draw profit from them. Listen to what they are saying….see what they are doing.”

Scripture:

Mark 8:34-38. “Anyone who wants to be my follower must renounce self. Then he must take up his cross and follow me.”

Matthew 11:25-30. Only the simple can recognize the Messiah. The world can’t understand. With my heart longing for companionship and intimacy, I welcome the invitation of Jesus to share His rest as He shares my burden. I ardently desire to give myself totally to the love and service of Jesus and His people.

Matthew 26: 26-29. As they were eating, Jesus took bread and He blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples saying, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

John: 13:1-17. When He had washed their feet and taken His garments, He resumed His place and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you?”

Colloquy: As in human situations of taking care of the sick and dying, our personal presence is often more important than our faltering words or awkward actions. It is the same as we follow Jesus Christ in word and action. We previously described the colloquy as an intimate conversation between friends. Expand that description now to include the depth of feeling, love, and compassion which allows us just to be present with Jesus. Ask Him once more, as you wish, to be accepted under His banner, the standard of the Cross. End with the “Our Father.”