3.3.3

Pilgrimage

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Pilgrimages

A pilgrimage is a journey to a place closely associated with a person’s religion.

Jesus' pilgrimage

Jesus' pilgrimage

  • Luke tells us in his Gospel that Jesus went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem when he was a child:
    • ‘Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.’ [Luke 2:41 NIV].
Hardships of pilgrimages

Hardships of pilgrimages

  • Sometimes, travel on pilgrimage can involve effort and hardship, and this can be understood as part of the spiritual commitment involved in making the journey.
  • Before travel was as easy as it is today, pilgrimages took much longer and could be dangerous, requiring strong faith to make the journey.
Benefits of pilgrimages

Benefits of pilgrimages

  • Many Catholics believe that being present in the holy places brings them a form of spiritual renewal, bringing them closer to God.
    • ‘Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey towards heaven.’ [CCC 2691]
  • Often pilgrimages are shared with other Catholics, and this coming together can help to strengthen a person’s faith.
  • Some places of pilgrimage, such as the Holy Land and Walsingham, are shared with other Christians and can help to unite believers.
Reasons for not going on pilgrimage

Reasons for not going on pilgrimage

  • Some Christians would say they do not need to travel on pilgrimages because it is the inner journey towards God that is important.
  • Some people may not be able to go on pilgrimage for personal reasons, and so it is not considered an essential part of the Christian spiritual life.

Examples of Pilgrimages

There are many places of pilgrimage for Catholics both in the UK and abroad. Some examples are:

Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Pilgrimage to Lourdes

  • Lourdes is a town in South-West France where Catholics believe Mary appeared in the 19th Century.
  • Catholics also believe this to be a place of healing because of a spring of water that Mary said had healing power.
  • Many who take part find that it is an occasion of spiritual renewal.
What happens during the Lourdes pilgrimage?

What happens during the Lourdes pilgrimage?

  • Many pilgrims at Lourdes are people who are sick and hope for a cure, often by bathing in the water from the spring.
  • They take part in Mass, processions (sometimes at night with torchlight), and other forms of devotion and prayer.
Pilgrimage to Rome

Pilgrimage to Rome

  • Rome, the Capital of Italy, also contains the Vatican City, which is where the Pope lives and is the site of St Peter’s Basilica.
  • Catholics from all over the world come together in Rome and often say that this strengthens their awareness of the Church being a family of people from all nations.
What happens during the Rome pilgrimage?

What happens during the Rome pilgrimage?

  • Many Catholics travel to Rome to visit where both St Peter and St Paul were martyred, which they find deepens their faith.
  • Often, Catholics will also attend an audience given by the Pope in St Peter’s Square.
  • Many pilgrims visit the catacombs, which are underground burial places where many early Christians were buried in secret.
The Holy Land pilgrimage

The Holy Land pilgrimage

  • The Holy Land is between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
  • The Holy Land is generally considered to be biblical Israel and historical Palestine and in the present day corresponds to the state of Israel and Palestinian territories, as well as parts of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
  • The Holy Land is considered holy by Christianity, Judaism and Islam and is an important place of pilgrimage as the scene of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Jump to other topics
1

Buddhism

1.1

Key Beliefs

1.1.1The Dhamma1.1.2The Five Skandhas1.1.3Aspects of Human Life1.1.4The Buddha1.1.5The Ascetic & Enlightened Life1.1.6Dhukka1.1.7Samudaya1.1.8Nirodha1.1.9Magga1.1.10The Wheel of Life1.1.11End of Topic Test - Buddhism Key Beliefs
1.2

Practices

1.2.1Places of Worship1.2.2Objects of Worship1.2.3Puja1.2.4Meditation1.2.5Death1.2.6Festivals1.2.7End of Topic Test - Buddhism Practices
1.3

Ethics

1.3.1Kamma1.3.2Five Moral Precepts1.3.3End of Topic Test - Buddhism Ethics
2

Christianity

2.1

Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God2.1.2The Problem of Evil2.1.3Monotheism2.1.4Creation2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation2.1.6The Trinity and Creation2.1.7Afterlife2.1.8Heaven and Hell2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs
2.2

Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human2.2.3The Crucifixion2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension2.2.6Sin2.2.7Original Sin2.2.8Punishment2.2.9The Means of Salvation2.2.10Achieving Salvation2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation2.2.13Theories of Salvation2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.3

Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship2.3.2Prayer2.3.3Sacrament2.3.4Baptism2.3.5Other Sacraments2.3.6Eucharist2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations2.3.8Christmas & Easter2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals
2.4

Community

2.4.1Local Community2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth2.4.3Worldwide Church2.4.4Reconciliation2.4.5Persecution2.4.6Caring for Those in Need2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices
3

Catholicism (Christianity)

3.1

Key Beliefs

3.1.1The Trinity3.1.2Creation3.1.3Incarnation3.1.4Redemption3.1.5Life After Death3.1.6Heaven and Hell3.1.7End of Topic Test - Catholic Key Beliefs
3.2

The Seven Sacraments

3.2.1Meaning & Significance3.2.2Baptism3.2.3Confirmation3.2.4Reconciliation3.2.5Anointing of the Sick3.2.6Marriage3.2.7Holy Orders3.2.8The Eucharist3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Seven Sacraments
3.3

Practices

3.3.1Prayer3.3.2Popular Piety3.3.3Pilgrimage3.3.4Pilgrimages HyperLearning3.3.5Funeral Rites3.3.6The Duty to Love Our Neighbour3.3.7Catholic Agencies3.3.8Catholic Social Teaching3.3.9Justice3.3.10War3.3.11Mission & Evangelism3.3.12End of Topic Test - Catholic Practices
4

Islam

4.1

Key Beliefs

4.1.1Oneness of God4.1.2Six Articles of Faith4.1.3Five Roots of Usul4.1.4The Nature of God4.1.5Angels4.1.6Freedom4.1.7Life After Death4.1.8Human Responsibility4.1.9End of Topic Test - Muslim Key Beliefs
4.2

Authority

4.2.1Prophethood4.2.2The Holy Books4.2.3The Imamate4.2.4End of Topic Test - Muslim Authority
4.3

Practices

4.3.1Worship4.3.2Ten Obligatory Acts4.3.3Shahadah4.3.4Salah & Its Significance4.3.5Mosques4.3.6Rak'ahs4.3.7Sawm4.3.8Zakah4.3.9Hajj4.3.10Jihad4.3.11Festivals & Commemorations4.3.12End of Topic Test - Muslim Practices4.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Muslim Practices
5

Judaism

5.1

Key Beliefs

5.1.1The Nature of God5.1.2God as One5.1.3God's Name5.1.4God as Creator5.1.5Free Will5.1.6God as Law Giver and Judge5.1.7The Divine Presence & Beliefs5.1.8Role of the Messiah5.1.9End of Topic Test - Jewish Key Beliefs5.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Jewish Beliefs
5.2

Covenant & The Mitzvot

5.2.1The Promised Land5.2.2Abraham5.2.3The Covenant5.2.4The Covenant at Sinai5.2.5The Covenant at Sinai 25.2.6Key Moral Principles5.2.7End of Topic Test - Covenant & The Mitzvot
5.3

The Synagogue & Worship

5.3.1The Synagogue & Its Importance5.3.2Public Acts of Worship5.3.3Shabbat5.3.4Worship & Law5.3.5End of Topic Test - Synagogue & Worship

Practice questions on Pilgrimage

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Complete these quotes about Christian pilgrimage:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Which of these is NOT a place of Christian pilgrimage?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    According to Luke's Gospel, where did Jesus go on pilgrimage as a child?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Possible reasons for NOT going on pilgrimage:True / false
  5. 5
    Benefits of Catholic pilgrimages:Fill in the list
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Popular Piety

Pilgrimages HyperLearning