Curiosity is a big factor in a pilgrimage for most people; this is because people are curious to why other people go and to what happened at that particular destination. Also another reason is that people want to relax and get away from their home life whether that is to do with stress or any other reasons. But they could also go not to get away from their home life, but to ask for support from God or a saint. People can just go there for simple fact of reassurance in there faith and to give thanks.
One of the most popular destinations people visit on a pilgrimage is Lourdes in France. This destination is so popular because it is said to have spring water that runs down the mountains and has the ability to heal the sick or wounded. There are also other reasons people visit Lourdes whether it be curiosity, a desire for a physical cure. But also people don’t just go to Lourdes for personal gain, but some people go there to help others and to be of service to those that are suffering.
Going on a pilgrimage can affect different people in different ways, whether it’s a positive or negative reaction to the pilgrimage. The reason people go on a pilgrimage can be a cause of how they will be affected after the pilgrimage. For instance someone could go to Lourdes to be healed of a certain disability and then come back with a sense of disappointment if they were not healed, this could also make the person doubt their faith and question their God’s. Also people could be disappointed with the outcome of a pilgrimage because they wanted to go on a pilgrimage to relax, but instead kept being irritated by the surrounding tourists. This could be perceived as a wasted journey therefore creating stress or more stress in some cases especially if the pilgrim is in financial trouble and the journey has cost them another sum if debt. Other pilgrims could also get slightly offended at certain destinations, for example Lourdes has become quite commercialised and religious pilgrims could get upset at the fact people have forgotten it is a holy place and not just a tourist attraction.
Positive outcomes of a pilgrimage can include feeling closer to God, having a different perspective on life or have got rid of their doubt in their faith. People can gain a new perspective on life by going on a pilgrimage by maybe experiencing a revelation of some kind or physically being cured, restoring your faith in their religion. The people that do not go to be healed or to think about their home life, but to simply help those that are suffering also get a satisfactory feel from the pilgrimage because they are able to help those that might not have anyone else to help them. Also pilgrims can be spiritually satisfied after a pilgrimage if the reason is that they wanted forgiveness or to repent their sins, and the outcome of repenting or asking for forgiveness is that the pilgrim might not feel guilty anymore for their sins.
There are many different factors that can affect someone after they go on a pilgrimage. It could be to do with age, attitude, religion or reason for the pilgrimage. But including these factors, whether it is long term or short term, physically or spiritually, I think that all pilgrims get some positive result out of a pilgrimage.
