Pilgrimage to the Lands of Dominic - 1985
By: Barbara Cooper

Encountering a beggar on the street disturbed me. I didn't know how to respond! Why???

We start out at 9 a.m. for Carcasonne and Prouille. Carcassone is a walled city, with narrow winding streets of cobblestone. There is no place to change my money into francs so I experience first hand what it is to be a mendicant and in community. I have to borrow money in order to have lunch! And I don't get to buy one of the little ceramic pigs that are for sale....

The story is that one of the neighboring towns laid siege to Carcasonne. In the battle, the mayor was killed and his wife took leadership. She ordered all the remaining pigs to be stuffed with corn and thrown over the wall at the enemy. (No Humane Society in those days!) The enemy saw the beseiged city throwing food at them, concluded the city was well stocked and not liable to be starved out, so they left.

We went to the Cathedral where Dominic had preached. Walking these streets and being on this pilgrimage make me aware again of his presence. Dominic is becoming, not a plaster saint, but a living, breathing human being.

Approximately 5 p.m. we arrive at Prouille and stay with the nuns. The convents seems to me to be an integral part of the town. We pray Vespers and Compline together.