The identification of a Sea Shell with a pilgrim is of ancient origin. In the beginning the shell was never awarded or conferred on the recipient; it was instead a self chosen decoration that the pilgrim proudly pinned on his own cloak so that as he returned homeward other pilgrims trudging along would know that the wearer had made it to the place of pilgrimage. It was a bit of encouragement to those still struggling toward their goal.

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Legend has it that St. James, the apostle, had been the apostle of the Iberian Peninsula and had first brought the new good news of salvation to the people of that part of the world. He had subsequently made his way back to Palestine to die and after death his body was returned to Spain by two saintly disciples to be buried in his own mission land in the area of Galicia in Northwestern Spain in the city now called Santiago in honor of the apostle. It was not until the ninth century that the place of his burial was rediscovered and gradually became a place of pilgrimage.

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Before the first Crusade in the eleventh century no Christians were allowed by the Seljuk Turks to visit the Holy Land and Jerusalem. As a matter of fact the Crusades themselves were organized to try and right the terrible wrong so that Christians could visit the land of Our Savior. Because of this ban, however, the faithful started flowing from all parts of Europe by different routes and streams to pay homage to Our Lord at the spot where one of His apostles lay buried. Each year thousands of pilgrims visited and prayed at the tomb of Santiago. Santiago de Compostella became the most hallowed place of pilgrimage in Europe, all because the faithful could no longer travel to the Holy Land, the land of their devout dreams. In their minds it was the next best place to the Holy Land, to lay their petitions before The Lord of all.

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Since Santiago de Compostella is so close to the sea, sea shells were abundant and they became the badge of one who had made it there, through all manner of trials and hardship. Those pilgrims had walked hundreds of miles from the English Channel, from Holland, from Germany, France, even Poland to bring their petitions to the Risen Lord. These pilgrims had accomplished no mean event and they proudly pinned a shell to their clothing as they started the long walk home. On the cloak of the returning pilgrim the shell became a symbol for those who were still on their way urging them onward to their goal, to the Tomb of St. James.

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As history changed the pilgrims once again started their arduous trips to Palestine and the land of Jesus, but the Sea Shell of Santiago de Compostella had become such a sign of a successful pilgrimage that out of faith and tradition it continued to be the badge of pilgrims and remains to this day as the most coveted award to be earned by a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem who has made a prayerful pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

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The Pilgrim Shell is the choicest insignia of special distinction of the Order and may be awarded only by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. This ancient token of pilgrim consists of a scallop shell, in oxidized silver, in the center of which is placed the cross of the Order, the Cross of Jerusalem, the Cross of the five wounds of Our Lord, the Cross of Godfrey. It is in red fired enamel bordered with gold, and is usually worn with the miniature insignias, placed above all other insignias of the Order. It is the only insignia which may be worn on the outside of either the Lady's or Knight's cape positioned in the center of the Cross of Godfrey of Bouillon.

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The Pilgrim Shell can be earned by any Knight or Lady of the Order in good standing, who makes a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and prays at the Holy Sepulchre of our Risen Lord. The various Lieutenancies of the Order arrange official Pilgrimages of the Order from time to time and arrangements are always made for the Pilgrim to receive the Pilgrim Shell from His Beatitude, The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, at a most impressive and long to be remembered ceremony at the Patriarchate. However, there are some occasions when it is necessary for members of the Order to plan a private pilgrimage to the Holy Land and upon such times these members should request in advance that their Lieutenant make arrangements for His Beatitude, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to confer the Pilgrim Shell while they are in Jerusalem.

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The Pilgrim Shell testifies that the Knight or Lady of the Order who is so fortunate to have this honor has seen the results of his or her charity and knows the importance of the mission of the Order and the fulfillment of the apostolate.

It is the goal of every member.

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The Story of the Pilgrim Shell is by F. Russell Kendal, Knight of the Collar