On Being a Pilgrim: Part One, First Steps

A pilgrim can mean different things to different people. You can hop on one of the big, package pilgrimage tours that most dioceses offer and although I’ve never been on one, I’m certain you will be better for having gone. Perhaps, like us, your current situation won’t allow you to partake in such endeavors. I’m going to explore how the idea of individual or family pilgrimages have worked in my life and ultimately helped my family to center ourselves more directly on God’s presence in and around our travels. If you’ve been thinking about making a pilgrimage but were dissuaded for any number of reasons, I hope you can find something here that will help you take the first step and I pray that your faith, as mine has, will grow abundantly because of it.

Open your mind and heart

My first official pilgrimage was to a small area of Eastern Europe in 2004. My aunt wanted to visit relatives that lived in that area and I had recently quit my job to relocate after being married so it seemed like a good time. Along with the visits to family, I was introduced to a local Marian Shrine and told of the miracles that were associated with a spring that ran nearby. Being of “advanced age” and not having conceived in the 7 months post-marriage, they urged me to partake of the water. I did and, just to cover all the bases, a nun said a prayer over my stomach which loosely translated as “come back in 9 months with your baby.”

I liked the faith of the people and the experience. I had hope that it was true but it didn’t reach my heart at that moment or even 7 months later when I did, in fact, conceive our first child. I suppose the Blessed Mother worked on me during the next 6+ years because, as we approached our 10^th wedding anniversary, I felt called to make a rather wild suggestion to my husband who, instead of telling me I was crazy, actually agreed. We would revisit the Marian Shrine with our five children, aged 8-18mo, to give thanks to Our Lady for her unfailing help in beseeching the Author of Life on our behalf.

Be intentional when praying for the Holy Spirit’s companionship and rejoice when He is present!

In my experience, the depth of a pilgrimage grows when you are open and intentional about seeking the Holy Spirit along the way. A few years ago I took the kids on a multi-state pilgrimage to pray at churches for our dear friend who would soon be ordained a Transitional Deacon. We were delayed in traffic and missed our first planned stop so I had to look up another church in the area that would fit our timeline. When we walked through the door it was clear that Mass, complete with several priests and many seminarians, had just concluded. I was asked to take a picture of all the seminarians and priests as they stood outside the church after which a seminarian (the one with the camera) asked about our being there and then called a priest over to offer us a blessing. When I recounted the reason of our pilgrimage to the priest, he inquired where we were from and then asked the soon-to-be-deacon’s name. I told him and he smiled…he had studied with our friend a few years prior when they were both in Rome!

When the kids and I got back into the car, we talked about how most people might see that wonderful story as a coincidence. We all agreed that the unplanned stop, the familiar priest, and all the parts that were required for the story could only be the Holy Spirit’s gentle smile on us as we began a journey. This pilgrimage covered seven more states and was not always bathed in grace but what a gift to have this encounter to look back on when we were enduring a difficulty.

The Holy Spirit can also work through others along your journey if you take the time to share your story. During our most recent pilgrimage, I was talking about our “Holy Door Tour” with a woman after Mass. She told me about a relic that happened to be touring the area and would be leaving the next day. My short discussion with her opened a new opportunity for us to encounter God’s grace; one that we would have totally missed otherwise.

How/Where/When?

If you’re thinking, “Yes, this is great but how do I begin?” it’s actually easier than you think. Pick somewhere you’d like to go or somewhere you’re already headed and start there. Going on vacation? Great! Wherever you are headed, God is there too!

Go to Masstimes.org and look for churches in the area. Open your heart to the movement of the Holy Spirit; what names jump out at you, what Saints would you like to know more about? Look at the church web pages and work Confession and Mass into your travel schedule. Look online for relic tours or other religious events or type “Catholic shrines” into your search engine. Sometimes church bulletins will list these as well. If you’re out of ideas and want to start with something known, head for Stockbridge, Massachusetts or Hanceville, Alabama. We have been to both, several times, and never failed to come away inspired by our journey.

When you actually start out, begin with a rosary. Every time we get into the car, that’s the first thing we do. It helps me travel more peacefully and Our Lady will be happy to join you as you head out to meet her Son and the Saints. Be patient with yourself. A pilgrimage often involves its share of trial. Every journey we take is not full of amazing experiences but there are almost always a few to reflect on when we return. If you open your heart and mind to seek God, He will be there as He always is, seeking you in return.