Looking up the word pilgrimage in the dictionary will get you something like the following:
1. a journey of a pilgrim, especially one to a shrine or sacred place
2. the course of life on earth
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilgrimage
This definition helps us understand what John and I aim to do with our pilgrimages, past and present. For example, not long ago, I did a year of pilgrimages to Catholic shrines and holy sites all around our state of Florida. With friends old and new, I journeyed across the state, setting aside a couple of hours, a morning, or an entire day to various places. The goal was to discover a beautiful church, venerate the relics of a saint, walk amidst peaceful ruins that had been created for love, or pray where others have prayed. The drive there and the traditions that came about over time were as important as arriving at the destination. (You can read about that year of pilgrimages here.) As for our current endeavors, we strive to go even deeper than a local or regional pilgrimage with the “all-in” aspects of overseas travel and long days of walking. We will imitate the millions of steps of over a thousand years of Christian pilgrimages throughout Europe as well as the pilgrimages of the faithful of other religious traditions. The roots of pilgrimage are deep and go far back, even to Old Testament times. The excellent article below explains some of the history and importance of pilgrimage.
According to the dictionary definition, a pilgrimage can also describe one’s life journey. As practicing Catholics, we believe our earthly journey ends at Heaven, and until we take our last step here, pilgrimages can help us to become the people God wants us to be and to begin to have the heart of God. “He must increase and I must decrease,” as St. John the Baptist so succinctly put it. (John 3:30) Among these and other things, our pilgrimages are a way to get out of ourselves, be silent and listen to God, enjoy creation, focus on others, learn from fellow travelers and the new cultures encountered, increase our trust in God and each other as we overcome obstacles along the way, pray at holy sites, imitate saints and holy people, and dedicate time to praying for others. Lofty goals? Yes, and the ones that we hope will lead us from this life to our Heavenly home.
Prayer Requests
Do you have a prayer request? Please let us know and we will pray for you on our next pilgrimage.