I realized something important after this pilgrimage, apart from how exhausted I could be. Partly because of the difficulties we experienced but mostly because of what P. Etienne said: The similarity between living life and being a pilgrim. We are all pilgrims walking on the path of life. A pilgrimage has a goal and our lives have a goal. And the seven keys are as important in life as while we are walking on a short pilgrimage. I am a pilgrim learning and experiencing life, growing in faith. I am the same person as I have always been, but still I have changed the last years. We are walking towards the same goal: to come home to God. Maybe we get lost and cannot find the right path at the moment. The pilgrim can get lost, experience bad weather and sore feet. We sometimes need to take a break and look around. Try to listen to God. Look up to the mountains and ask for help and try to find the right path again. Much like our pilgrimage, one could say. Remembering the seven keys also in life, not to get frustrated but trying to find a solution and relocate.
We started our pilgrimage Saturday morning at 7.30 by celebrating Mass in St. Olav Church. After the blessing of the pilgrims we got time to eat some breakfast. The train left from the trainstation at 9.10 and we arrived at Verdal about 11.00. The trip by train was nice and we got time to talk and get to know each other better. It was a four km walk from Verdal to Stiklestad, and we had some time for silence and prayer in the Chapel of St Olav. P Etienne told us about why Stiklestad is important in Norwegian history and who St. Olav was. We discovered after one hour walk from Stiklestad that the map leaded us the wrong way. When we stood there at the riverbank, looking to the other side of the river, we had to realize that we could not come to the other side. We could only enjoy the beautiful riverbank and surroundings while eating lunch. Lightheartedness and simplicity became important to remember at his moment.
After walking on the asphalt for some hours we were happy to follow the way next to the river. It was a bit frustrating to discover that we had walked in a circle and that we were back at Stiklestad. We needed a moment to find a solution. It was too late for us to walk to Munkeby from Stiklestad. The solution became to take the train to Levanger and from there to walk to Munkeby. Walking from Levanger to Munkeby we were praying silent in the rainy weather. The group was relieved when arriving at Munkeby. We ate dinner and afterwards we had a half an hour for evening prayer and singing. Before we went to bed, we had some time to drink tea, talk, stretch out and sing.
Sunday morning we woke up at 7 after a good night’s sleep. We had a morning prayer and ate breakfast afterwards. Inger, our host, showed us the way to Munkeby monastery ruins. The monastery, located on the banks of river Levanger, was founded in the middle of the 12th century by Cistercian monks from England. However the monastery at Munkeby soon fell in disuse and was placed under the administration of the monastery at Tautra, which had been established in 1207. Fru Inger had prepared hot chocolate and waffles for us. It was still raining, but we got to see the ruins of the church and the beautiful surroundings. We had some time to stand around the old altar and sing songs to the Lord. After walking up to the kindergarten from the monastery, we started the wandering down to Levanger. As planned, we took the train from Levanger to Vikhammer. The time was used to sleeping, eating or reading.
After one hour on the train, we came to Vikhammer. From there we started walking towards Nidaros (Trondheim). All the time it was raining and raining, and we found shelter next to Ranheim School so we could eat lunch. We passed Ranheim Church, Grilstad and Rotvoll. St. Olavs road followed the path at Lade (Ladestien) for a while and we wandered through Ringve botaniske hage. In search of a toilet we stopped at a gas station. There we found some time to pray before the last walk in to Nidaros. Despite of the weather, Trondheim seemed beautiful. And the church bells of St. Olav and Nidarosdomen was ringing. Everyone got to drink from the spring of St. Olav before we celebrated Mass in the Church.
It was a challenging pilgrimage, but still very nice. My feet were very sore and I needed a good restitution afterwards. I think all my fellow pilgrims kept their lightheartedness and simplicity during the wandering. The trøndersk autumn is in a way venturous and wet, but now you at least got to experience it! And though we got lost at Stiklestad, we got to see the place. I hope all the pilgrims enjoyed and learned something from the pilgrimage. Do not forget the seven keys in your daily life as students, they can become useful. One last thing, since I am the only trønder: Be proud of yourselves, you survived a pilgrimage in wet and venturous Trøndelag! Not many would keep on walking in the weather we experienced on the pilgrimage, I can say.
- Karoline
