Christians started going on pilgrimages not long after the death and resurrection of Jesus. The first recorded Christian pilgrimage was by Bishop Alexander, a Cappadocian bishop who travelled to Jerusalem in the year 212, less than 200 years after Jesus was crucified.
But it was Empress Helena who popularized the practice with her 4th century pilgrimage to the Holy Land where she is credited with discovering the true cross and fueling the construction of churches at holy sites.
So what’s the big deal about traveling to a religious site that even an emperor’s wife did it?
What You'll Learn Today
A Pilgrimage is a spiritual journey
A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey that’s embodied in the physical journey. It’s not just traveling to a particular place to view some religious relics or historical sites; it’s about relieving the history of those places and recognizing their significance in the church.
By partaking in a physical journey, we experience a spiritual transformation that, hopefully, lasts long after we’ve gone back home.
Pope Benedict XVI said this about pilgrimages,
“To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of ourselves in order to encounter God where he has revealed himself, where his grace has shone with particular splendour and produced rich fruits of conversion and holiness among those who believe.”
That’s the gist of it, but there are many more specific reasons why Catholics go on pilgrimage. Here are a few, and remember you can have your own unique reason to undertake a pilgrimage. For instance, it can be a way to get through a difficult time in your life like the death of a loved one.
7 reasons why catholics go on pilgrimage
1. To experience stories of faith
I don’t know about you, but whenever I visit a famous historical site, whether it’s the Alamo in Texas or the Colosseum in Rome, I find myself relieving history and imagining what that place was like centuries ago. It creates a vivid connection to the past that gives more meaning to my visit.
A lot of Catholics experience the same feeling when they go on pilgrimages to Bethlehem, Sea of Galilee, Santiago de Compostela and other historical sites. Stories of Jesus, apostles, saints come alive and we feel the impact of God’s work more powerfully.
2. To connect with God and renew faith
The Catholic Church is big on symbolism to represent beliefs and practices. These symbols, whether it’s the crucifix, the Crossed Keys, or the Sacred Heart, are there to remind us of our union with God and to help us maintain our devotion and faith.
Pilgrimage sites are also symbols of faith. The same way you can feel God’s presence powerfully when in church, is the same way that visiting where Jesus walked or an apostle was buried can be a spiritual amplifier.
It can help you strengthen your connection to God and experience a powerful renewal of faith. Many people who go on pilgrimages come back more devout and stronger in faith.
3. To seek healing and transformation
Certain pilgrimages are known for their healing miracles, with the most famous one being the Lourdes pilgrimage. Thousands of Catholics visit it to experience the healing waters of the spring.
There are also several other saints’ shrines that people visit in the hope of being cured.
But it’s not just physical healing that pushes Catholics to travel far from home; a lot of people are also seeking spiritual healing and transformation. The good news is that any pilgrimage can give you that.
The journey itself, the sacrifices you take, the people you meet, and the spiritual experience of being at a place of religious significance can heal emotional and spiritual wounds.
4. To seek community with fellow pilgrims
You can go on a solo pilgrimage, but most Catholics opt to go as a group. But even if you leave home on your own, you will certainly meet fellow believers at the site. You can walk around together or partake in mass and other religious ceremonies with other people.
This fellowship with other Christians can be a powerful boost to your faith and help you find the spiritual transformation you seek.
For a lot of Catholics, the people they meet on their journey becomes one of the most memorable and important aspects of their pilgrimage.
5. To seek penance
The idea of going on pilgrimage for penance has somewhat dark origins. In medieval times, criminals were sometimes sentenced to a pilgrimage as a way of paying for their sins.
While modern faith has abandoned that concept, the idea of physical sacrifice in the form of a long journey as a symbol of repentance is still powerful. It’s an opportunity to reflect on your life, ask God for forgiveness, and forgive yourself as well.
6. To honor saints or relics
You can also go on a pilgrimage simply to honor a particular saint or relics associated with Jesus, an apostle or another important figure.
For example, many people visit Saint Peter’s Basilica to honor the burial site of Saint Peter, the Santiago de Compostela to honour the apostle James, and the Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico to honor the appearance of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego.
Final Thoughts
A key difference between ancient and modern pilgrimages is that you no longer have to go on a long arduous journey to experience spiritual transformation.
A visit to a local sacred site, like a church, also counts as pilgrimage. What matters is doing it with intention.
