Pilgrimage is an important part of Christian life

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Victoria Porter 11B R.E Coursework

Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place or a long journey or spiritual search, especially one of great purpose and religious significance.

For some pilgrimages this means traveling a mile or less to a different part of the town. For others this could mean traveling to a neighbouring town or village or even to a different part of the world, lasting a week or more! On some pilgrimages programs are carried out; programs to raise awareness, or expose realities or just to get their messages across. For example a program called ‘The Journey of Hope and Life’ was carried out in the US and Mexico to raise awareness of the deaths of many across the border of the two countries. On their pilgrimages they took part in community gatherings and prayed and ate with residents from the border regions.

When pilgrims arrive at their destination, they often perform rituals and worship together. For many, part of it is just being with people who share the same beliefs as them. Others may choose to mediate or pray quietly. Many spend years saving up to go on a pilgrimage in a foreign country.

People could take part in a pilgrimage simply for a new faith experience, or to explore a new country and its faith, or they may even be working their way round a lot of pilgrimages in lots of countries to see how they differ. People go to enrich or deepen their faith, too.

Since ancient time, the idea of pilgrimage has changed. Years ago, near the fourth century not many people would take long journeys to sacred places; lots would go to visit Christ’s Tomb, where he was buried, but it was as if the idea of pilgrimage wasn’t given much thought. Since then the meaning of pilgrimage has expanded into so much more, creating beautiful places so that people can take part in pilgrimages in lots of places round the globe.

Evesham

Evesham is in Worcestershire, standing on the River Avon, is 5 miles north of the Cotswold Hills, 15 miles south east of Worcester – and 30 miles south of the Diocesan Cathedral in Birmingham.

Historically, Evesham is renowned for:

The Vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Battle

The land of Evesham’s abbey was founded around the year 702AD and after that was the vision of the Virgin Mary.

A vision came to a swineherd called Eof, just as he was tending his pigs on the River Avon banks (This is where the town gets it name – as they called it Eovesham in Eof’s time). After this event, Eof told Bishop Egwin he saw the vision himself, and the bishop resolved that it should be the site of as great church. When Egwin died in 717AD, his tomb became famous for miracles, and pilgrims from all over the land flocked to the Abbey.

Many appreciated the beautiful, large abbey but when Henry VIII was king, he knocked most of the wonderful abbey, down.

Living in Evesham, I see the remains everyday, three parts of it being the Bell Tower (picture1), thought to have been spared because townspeople bought it. Also the Almonry, now a museum and the carefully carved arch (picture2)

Picture 1 Picture 2

Nowadays, still many people come from all over the Archdiocese of Birmingham to participate in the pilgrimage. The pilgrimage that takes place in Evesham is for everyone to join in with and gain whatever they can out of their experience.

Here is a newspaper article, from June 1979, reporting on how the pilgrimage went in that particular year:

‘3000 people on a Sunday, from all over the country went to the Birmingham Archdiocesan Pilgrimage in honour of Our Lady. After that Sunday’s success, plans were announced for the pilgrimage to be held every year on every 2nd Sunday of June. The Pope said: “As we come to honour our Blessed Lady after some years since a pilgrimage was last held there. By having it every year all those who have shared in it will take away in their hearts some drop of the love Our Lady felt for her son.” A statue of Our Lady (picture3) was also brought and crowned and made the pilgrimage somewhat more worth while.’

The same success happened on a Sunday in June in 1982.

Picture 3

On the back of this page there is a great view of what the High Street, Port Street and Town Square would look like if the abbey were intact today.

Lourdes

Lourdes is a small town situated in France at the foothills of the Pyrenees. Although the town has just 17 000 inhabitants, 5 million pilgrims go there every year.

The pilgrimages at Lourdes are for all, but there are also different pilgrimages for different people. For example, apart from general pilgrimages for all, there is:

A ‘Sick and Disabled’ pilgrimage, held at The Accueil Notre-Dame which is exclusively reserved for the sick and disabled pilgrims as well as those who accompany them. It is there to remind us that, in Lourdes, everyone is cared for and made welcome.
There is a pilgrimage especially for young people. It’s the pilgrimage of the ‘Youth Service’, which is there for lots of reasons, some being to help younger people understand the needs of others, organize their own pilgrimage and concentrate more on their prayer.
There is a pilgrimage for organized groups such as the Youth Service, but also different groups like clubs and associations, tour operators from all over the world (about 70 countries) and by parishes that do not come with their own diocesan pilgrimages. Groups normally contain about 50 people.

Best known as a place for such Divine intervention, Lourdes is, in fact, a source of far greater and more frequent spiritual renewal and strengthening than the occasional supernatural cure. The first sighting of the Blessed Virgin Mary was to Bernadette Soubirous born on 7th. January 1844. She saw the Blessed Mary in the grotto, a total of eighteen times. At Lourdes’ grotto there is a statue of the Blessed Mary, reminding us all of Bernadette’s experience.

Since Bernadette’s sighting only 65 certifiable miracles have been attributed to the ...

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Since Bernadette’s sighting only 65 certifiable miracles have been attributed to the intervention of Our Lady of Lourdes.

However, day after day, year after year, decade after decade, millions of pilgrims have been touched and healed by visits to this spiritual place.

As I have already mentioned there is a wide range of different pilgrimages for different pilgrims. I have found an itinerary for a general day of pilgrimage at Lourdes:

Celebrations:

6.00 to 10.45 = Five Masses are celebrated in different languages according to the pilgrims present in the Sanctuary on a particular day.

The last two Masses at 8.30 and 9.45 are usually masses with sick pilgrims and are often celebrated on the podium across the Gave from the Grotto.

11.00-14.00 = During the early afternoon sick pilgrims are given an opportunity to pass through the Grotto to touch the rock and see the spring.

15.30 = Radio transmission of the Rosary followed by the Blessing of Children.

17.00 = The Blessed Sacrament pass along the Gave going from the Tent of Adoration to the Underground Basilica of St. Pius X for the Blessing of the Sick.

20.45 = Pilgrims begin to gather for the Torchlight Marian Procession.

23.00 = Mass in French. Sometimes it is celebrated in Italian (normally Fridays).

As you can see, visiting Lourdes and Evesham for a pilgrimage would be very different experiences. Not only the location change but also the sights, celebrations, pilgrims…everything!

Pilgrimage is an important part of Christian life.

Depending on where people go for a pilgrimage, they will gain different affects and take them elsewhere with them.

Since Bernadette’s vision Lourdes has since become one of the most famous shrines, attracting more than a million pilgrims each year. There have been thousands of unofficial miraculous cures at this shrine.

Lourdes Miracle:

One of the most famous miracles that has happened at Lourdes was named ‘The Story of Gabriel Gargam’. He was thrown from a train, paralyzed from the waist down, barely alive when he was taken to hospital. His mother insisted they take the journey to Lourdes even though Gabriel was still in this very critical condition.

Arrived at Lourdes, he went to confession and received Holy Communion and still no change in his condition. He was taken to the miraculous pool and placed in its waters but no effect. Instead, a bad result and he lay on the ground, apparently dead. He was wheeled out but just as he was a procession stopped the people and they had to let it by. A cloth was over Gabriel face. Soon there was movement from under the covering. The body raised itself to a sitting posture. Gargam said in a full, strong voice, “ I want to get up”. He got up, stood, walked a few paces and said that he was cured! People fell on their knees and thanked God for this new sign of His power at the Shrine of His Blessed Mother. He was pronounced entirely cured.

Gargam, out of gratitude to God in the Holy Eucharist and His Blessed Mother, consecrated himself to the service of the invalids at Lourdes. He sat up a small business and married a pious lady who aided him in his apostolate for the greater knowledge of Mary Immaculate. For over fifty years he returned annually to Lourdes and worked as a brancardier.

The Evesham miracle was a little different:

Evesham Miracle:

Egwin became archbishop of Canterbury and appealed to Rome but before going was said to have locked his feet in fetters and to have thrown the key into the Avon River. Miraculously, this key appeared in the belly of a fish he bought at a market in Rome (no one says how he was able to get around the market with his feet shackled). Because of this miracle, the Pope supported Egwin and he was reinstated.

This caused him to found the pilgrimage to Rome. Also to found the Evesham Abbey and the Evesham pilgrimage.

These miracles cause more pilgrims to come to shrines like these and go to more pilgrimages as it strengthens their beliefs.

Why Go On A Pilgrimage?

People go on pilgrimages for many different reasons. Some being: They may be searching for the real them inside them, possible they are lost and don’t quite know who they are anymore. A pilgrimage could help lift them, guide them back to reality.

Non-religious people may go to explore the faith or Christians, or as a general holiday. People may also go to rebuild connections with God. This goes on to when someone feels they have done something wrong; even if they reconcile and God forgives them, they are still really sorry and wish to do more to make amends.

Many elderly or dying people go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in order seek God in the forthcoming spiritual journey that is the afterlife.

On the other hand it may be they have been taken there to see more of God, to be healed inside and think more of God and God’s ways. When pilgrims go to be healed, this experience will remind us that God can help and does help in our everyday lives, as he watches over us.

What Can You Gain From Going On A Pilgrimage?

Other than the benefits I have mentioned in the section above, pilgrims also gain a feeling of peace after they have been to a pilgrimage, they gain reconciliation and healing too. Pilgrims’ eyes are opened and they realise what they need to do to make a better go of life, they become more grateful for things and more aware of the actual connection they have with God. Pilgrims also gain new emotions from their adventure; if they meet new friends they will all share their emotions and learn about each others, taking on new ones themselves. Pope John Paul II, in the quotation to come, even mentions that he hoped that all the trials and difficulties would not weaken people’s Christianity, but make it more powerful.

No one leaves Lourdes without a gain in faith. Moral and spiritual cures are more marvelous than physical cures. Some go to Lourdes with lifetime prejudices, yet their minds are cleared in a sudden manner. Frequently scepticism gives way to faith; coldness and antagonism become wholehearted love of God. Again and again those who are not cured of bodily pain receive an increase of faith and resignation? True, peace of the soul.

Pilgrimage – Affect on Christian Life

Pilgrimages can have a dramatic effect on people’s lives. Christians going on pilgrimage come back refreshed, feeling close to God and ready to preach his word to others. They may feel, after they have been on a pilgrimage that their faith has been restored, their faith has been united and all barriers have been removed. Learning the truth about pilgrimage and what really goes on will strengthen the pilgrims’ faith, as they are experiencing this for themselves.

Going to Masses in places like Lourdes will possibly be different to a Mass someone may go to at home. Bringing in new ways of going about the Mass may inspire pilgrims to take home these new ways, and present them in a Mass at home. For example someone may become more involved in the spiritual experience like reading out a prayer, taking up gifts, or something similar. Being more involved will strengthen their understanding and see more deeply into how the Mass is a very important part of the Christian faith, the focal point. The involvement could inspire them to be more like this in their own church.

People may feel that prayers are just words that we say when we ‘are told to’. Going to a different place, and experiencing prayer in a different way may open people’s eyes as to what prayer really is about. It is much more important than some think it is; we are speaking, talking to God, as he is listening and answering. People will learn to pray with a purpose. They will take these experiences home, and hopefully teach others to, as the word of God can be spread throughout the world.

People may have had doubts about their faith or religion and so coming on a pilgrimage may solve this problem, revive their faith in God and in Christianity. Pilgrims will be assured that they do not need to question their faith and God will be there to remind us to "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved" (Acts 16: 31)

Going on a pilgrimage can also teach others to teach others! If they go a pilgrimage and come back to tell other people it may convince these others to go as well, maybe for the same reasons but maybe not.

If a group of pilgrims go to specific place for a pilgrimage, they will get to know each other better. It could improve each of them as individuals and as group members; it will make them more confident with others and themselves. New friends can also be made from different groups they may be going on the pilgrimage with or even people from other countries. Pilgrims from all over the world joining together, uniting, makes the church universal, as one body, in the name of God.

If an English person went to Lourdes then it would be getting to know about the Christian Church in another part of the world, France. In this way it will help them, as Christians, understand God better.

The ones who have certain disabilities are known as the ‘VIP’s’ and are as important as any other person on a pilgrimage. They are seen to be even closer to Christ because they share his suffering, the last hope that he too felt. In all honesty, it will do the people who are not disabled, good, because we can see how God has not weighted us with disabilities and we can be thankful to Him that he has been good to us. Thinking this way will help many to sort out their priorities. More will see how God has not loaded us with a burden, and so rearrange their lives to show their gratitude. For example many may begin to give up what they feel like doing, that may cause pain to others and to God, and begin new starts, new things that God will be proud of…give to charity, help whenever possible, make sacrifices.

Disabled people will often come to a place of worship to be healed, whether it be physically or mentally. Even if they come, and are not healed, they may come back because they have enjoyed their experience and also it helps them to come to terms with their illness, or disability, making them feel better about it.

In places like Lourdes and Evesham, different people will meet; with someone who is disabled, others may wish to help them, care for them while on the pilgrimage, giving the disabled, more confidence.

People who are not Christians but still choose to go may be wishing to be healed of a disability, or may be converting to the Christian faith. If they are healed then this will strengthen their belief in a religion they were not previously part of, inviting new members to come and be a part of the Christian life. Also, if the person is healed, their life will change dramatically, and may be extended by a number of years. Problems caused mentally like depression can also be cured by pilgrimage, the pilgrim seeing the joy others have in God and wanting to follow their example.

Pilgrims are right to believe that they can be healed, as Jesus Christ himself has done it many times.

For example, the bible reads:

‘Then a man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to him, knelt down before him, and said, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean”.

Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” At once the man was healed of the disease. (Matthew 8: 2-4)

‘Jesus left that place, and as he started to walk along, too blind men started following him. “Take pity on us, Son of David!” they shouted.

When Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I can heal you?”

“Yes, sir!” they answered.

Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Let it happen, then, just as you believe!” – and their sight was restored. (Matthew 9: 27-30)

Some people say that the disabled and the ones who suffer are closer to God. This is because they are suffering as Jesus did, so they need more care, more attention, more love, because they suffer…with God – “if indeed we suffer with Him in order to be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:17)

The journey of the pilgrimage will awaken people to the journey, and for the much harder one, for Christ. We should understand that our journey is worthwhile as it shines the light on what effort Jesus had to put in, and what effort we should be trying to put back in. Many may begin to understand how this is a journey within a journey. This meaning that on our journey of the pilgrimage we are also understanding all the suffering Christ went through and how again we should be grateful our journey is not as hard as His was to the Cross.

Sharing with others on a pilgrimage is something that many will definitely come to experience. New ways of sharing, new people to share with will boost people’s confidence about life. They will begin to share more, share with those they possibly don’t know, it will teach them to notice everything and everyone around them, to include everyone and work together. Again, this is a lesson that can be taken home to pass on and share with families and friends.

Christian Life In General

Christianity in itself makes all Christian believers stronger, it gives them something to believe in, something to feel for and stand up for. There are many different aspects of Christianity and it is a faith that has many different views on a number of topics, it can guide both Christians and non-Christians in doing what is right through the bible’s words of truth.

When a person’s faith slips for some reason, maybe they do something wrong and feel guilty about it, they can begin to lose their faith in God. Immediately they can feel that nothing can be done to fix their problems and they should just give up. Of course they are wrong and with events like pilgrimages they can be lifted. Some feel the need to keep ‘lifting’ their Christian faith regularly, this could involve going to Masses, holding fundraisers, reading in Mass, even becoming priests and nuns to totally devote their life to God and follow their vocation.

‘How To Be A Pilgrim’ – The Late Pope John Paul II Quotes:

∙ “Dear friends, the spiritual message echoing from the grotto of Massabielle will certainly help you to benefit more richly from the Jubilee Year, which is a privileged time of penance and "healing" for men and women in every dimension of their lives.”

∙ “Mary, Mother of pilgrim humanity, pray for us ‘now and at the hour of our death.’ Keep us ever close to Jesus, your beloved Son and our brother, the Lord of life and glory. Amen”

∙ “I hope most sincerely that difficulties and trials will not weaken your Christian witness, but help instead to make it more powerful. May the Lord sustain your dear ones, and the doctors, nurses and volunteers who are near to you.”

Archbishop Vincent Nichols (Archbishop of Birmingham) – Quote from recent event ‘For Youth’

∙"To invest in young people is always good, especially when our effort is to help young people to grow in their vision of life and in their generosity of spirit."

‘Places of pilgrimage tend to be very commercialized these days. This is bound to reduce the value of a pilgrimage for a Christian.’

Some people believe that commercialisation ruins the whole religious concept and no one thus takes it seriously anymore. However, others believe that certain things help religion along the way and help more people to understand, as a result.

Examples seen as types of commercialism are: Restaurants, Cafés, Hotels, Tour Companies, Retail, Gift Shops, etc.

To begin with, and in agreement with this statement, some pilgrims wish not to visit shrines such as Evesham and Lourdes because a certain reputation has been put upon these shrines. For example Lourdes is divided into a ‘Town’ section and a ‘Sanctuary’ sections. The ‘Town’ section may have had a bigger impact on pilgrims that visited Lourdes before, and so have passed on to others the information that Lourdes is very commercialised, not noticing the religious and more meaningful side, putting pilgrims off. The home page of the Lourdes website even has separated information lists for the sanctuary and tourism parts:

This separation between retail and religion could cause many to forget instantly what they have learned. It could be that pilgrims come to a place like Lourdes and go on a pilgrimage but then as soon as they get to a gift shop they forget all about the real meaning. Whatever pilgrims see in shops and retail in the ‘town’, may disinterest them from even going to the ‘sanctuary’ part, because what they have found first, seems to be much more exciting. People will judge and so never give anyone else, or even God the time of day to teach them. They won’t want to learn or teach others, they won’t want to share, pray, or be involved in anything. It could cause such people to become selfish and unfair to others.

Restaurants offer food and this too could be a sway in the direction I have already mentioned, more and more people becoming disinterested about learning about the real meanings of pilgrimages and what there is to do in the ‘sanctuary’ part.

Selling souvenirs and gifts, food and accommodation, can be seen as a way of making money from religion. People come to eat, buy and stay in these places of worship but whoever the seller is, is gaining in pocket from the tourists’ interest.

On the other hand, not all ‘commercialism’ is bad. To reply to the ‘money from religion’ issue, it is giving the seller a source of employment, which everyone is entitled to. Also this employment is for the local community, this being a good deed and going out of their way to do something for others.

People that have lived the pilgrimage experience may wish, next, to take a wonder into the ‘commercialised’ side of the place. This could include going to restaurants, cafés, gift shops, etc. People purchasing items may wish to do so, so that have something to take away with them, a memory. This will be a token, or flavour of their experience or journey to wherever they have been. In doing this they will always be reminded of their time in a place of pilgrimage and worship. This could cause them to remember all the things they have been taught and people will begin to use them in their lives because of this reminder they have at home. For example when purchasing a cross, this will be a reminder of Jesus’ death on the cross, what he gave up for us, showing that we too have to make sacrifices sometimes.

A reminder of time spent in a shrine could encourage pilgrims to pray more often in their daily lives and "pray at all times in the Spirit" (Eph. 6:18). The reminder would act as an aid to prayer and worship to God, also reminding us He is always there.

Some may wish to buy presents for friends or family. This sign of love to another, will automatically pass on what the giver has learnt, to their relative. It will inspire them to also adjust their lives to taking the time for others and also remembering the one who gave them the gift.

To unite the ‘town’ and ‘sanctuary’ parts: A candle can be bought from the town part and taken into the sanctuary and be lit in the Grotto for whoever the person wishes it to be lit for, a relative, a friend, anyone. This connection shows that it’s hasty to call shops and retail ‘commercialising’ a place of worship, but it helps the understanding of the religion.

In my opinion I do not have a definite stand on this matter. I do not believe either side is totally right, or that either side is in any way, wrong. I believe people should not let commercialization get in the way of beliefs, or choose these things over their religion. But I do believe that these things can help, in the right way, if people let them do so.

Bibliography/Resources:

http://www.rtfcam.org/border/pilgrimage.htm
‘Evesham Abbey’ magazine from library – including Evesham pictures

http://france-hotel.org.uk/

http://olrl.org/stories/lourdes.shtml
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1230.htm
http://www.saint-mike.org/Library/Papal_Library/John_PaulII/Addresses/PilgrimGroups.html
http://www.lourdes-france.com/index.php?page=menu&texte=1&old=&langage=en
‘Good News Bible’-Catholic Edition

Candidate Name: Victoria Porter Centre Name: St. Benedict’s