THE SHELL OF SAINT JAMES

"There are some fish in the sea of Blessed James, which the people call veras, having two shields, one on either side, between which the fish is covered as if between two shells in the likeness of an oyster. These shells, of course, are shaped like the fingers of a hand, and the Provençals call them nidulas and the French call them crusillas, and the pilgrims returning from the threshold of Blessed James sew them on their capes, and they wear them back to their own country with great exultation in honor of the apostle and in his memory and as a sign of such a great journey. Therefore, the two shields with which the fish is protected, one on either side, represent the two laws of charity with which the bearer must truly protect his life: that is, to love God above all things and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. A person who loves God is one who keeps His commandments. A person who loves one’s neighbor as one loves oneself is one who does not do to anyone else what he does not want done to himself and who does to others what he would justly want done for himself. The shields, however, which are modified in the shape of fingers, signify good works in which the bearer of this sign must persevere; and good works are beautifully signified by fingers, since we work through them when we do something. Therefore, just as the pilgrim bears the shell as long as he is in the course of this present life, he must also carry the yoke of the Lord, that is, submit to His commandments." (Codex Calixtinus "Venerada dies").