- From catholicculture.org
A pilgrimage is a journey taken to a place of religious significance. Pilgrimages are performed for many reasons ranging from venerating a particular saint to seeking a cure for an illness or as an act of penance. Pilgrimages have been performed by Christians from the earliest days of Christianity, especially to places in the Holy Land associated with the life of Christ. In this way, they recall the annual pilgrimages the Jewish people would make to Jerusalem for important feast days. Unlike a vacation, it is expected that a pilgrimage will involve some measure of sacrifice and that the pilgrim will be pushed outside of his or her comfort zone. In this way, pilgrimages serve as an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. While pilgrimages are often made to many of the famous shrines throughout the world, a pilgrimage can be made to any place that has a religious meaning. Consider taking the time with your family to make a pilgrimage to some of the important churches in our Archdiocese. You won’t regret it.