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Introduction

A01: Lourdes is one of the most famous centres of Christian Pilgrimage. Describe and Explain why Christians go there. Pilgrimage, meaning a journey to a holy place, is a trip many people of many faiths take often. It can be compulsory or through your own choice but it is always to do with faith and traditions. Many religious people don't go on pilgrimage and this doesn't mean they are not close to God, it may be for expense problems or they don't feel it will help them. Pilgrimage is often to a place where events have happened, relevant to what pilgrims believe, in the past and can alter someone's thoughts, beliefs or physical/mental being. Many centuries ago a pilgrimage used to be a long and dangerous journey that was a challenge to a person's faith and only the fittest survived. ...read more.

Middle

and Lourdes for the Christians. These are important for different reasons. In this case I am going to focus on the main Christian place Lourdes and why so many people are attracted there. There are many important places for Christians; Walsingham, Jerusalem, Bethlehem each of which are important for their own reasons but Lourdes has the fastest growing population of visitors. In this small town at the foot of the Pyrenees many people gather overseeing their faith and showing their belief for God in the way they think right. Lourdes is a popular place of worship because in 1858 the 'Immaculate Conception' or the Virgin Mary appeared to a young girl. This girl, called Bernadette Soubirous had not one but 15 images of our Lady appear to her. ...read more.

Conclusion

Many Pilgrims pray at the grotto using their rosaries and light a candle. Many Pilgrims also go to a place of bathing, which is fed by the stream, where you can either bathe in the water or take a small sip. This 'Holy Water' is said to bring healing to all those who bathe in it, whether it be emotional or physical healing. There are also Stations of the Cross you may visit in Lourdes village where you can make your own pilgrimage through Jesus' life recognising how he died and saved our civilisation. On a daily basis people would go to a mass to hear the word of their God and see many of the attraction of Lourdes. Each one would be an emotional experience bringing a person's faith to light. These are the things that attract most people to Lourdes. ?? ?? ?? ?? Laura Corcoran 10V 1 RE: Draft 1 ...read more.

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Pilgrimage section.