Pilgrimages
How to Be a Good Pilgrim
Father Patrick Briscoe Comments Off on How to Be a Good Pilgrim
I didn’t go on pilgrimage until I entered the Dominican order. I went to Mass every Sunday and received fantastic formation from my parents and the Catholic schools I attended, but we weren’t pilgrimage types. Most Americans aren’t. The superior of the community where I had been assigned as a seminarian during my first summer Read More
The Directive Power of Pilgrimage in a Priest’s Life
Susan Muto Comments Off on The Directive Power of Pilgrimage in a Priest’s Life
Whether priests lead pilgrimages or travel to sacred sites for their own edification, memorable events like heartfelt confirmation of their own vocation can frequently occur. As a complement to their parish service and celebration of the Eucharist, their prayer life often takes a fresh turn. New insights — liturgical, sacramental and ecclesial — come to Read More
Mary and Our Pilgrimage to Heaven
Robert Fastiggi Comments Off on Mary and Our Pilgrimage to Heaven
The Second Vatican Council (1962–65) describes the life of faith as a pilgrimage toward heaven. The Church on earth is a “pilgrim Church” (Lumen Gentium, Nos. 48 and 50) as she travels through time to eternal life in the heavenly kingdom. The council teaches that those “who have died with him and risen with him, Read More
Finding Pilgrimage Opportunities
Paul Senz Comments Off on Finding Pilgrimage Opportunities
On the one hand, it is only common sense that priests, just like anyone else, need their rest and opportunities for recuperation. On the other hand, sometimes even common sense needs to be legislated. The Code of Canon Law states that priests “are equally bound to make time for spiritual retreats according to prescripts of Read More
The Way: Pilgrimages in Biblical Perspective
Father Ronald D. Witherup Comments Off on The Way: Pilgrimages in Biblical Perspective
During my 14-year sojourn in France, I was impressed with the number of individuals who passed through our Sulpician house in central Paris to undertake, or continue, their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. This is one of the most celebrated pilgrimages, well-trod since the Middle Ages. Part of the main road (El Read More
The Priest on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
Father Mario DiCicco Comments Off on The Priest on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
God was the first to go on pilgrimage. Before time began God planned to come on a pilgrimage of love to this earth to visit his people (cf. Lk 1:68). God commanded Abraham (our father in faith ) to go on pilgrimage to a land which was to become the Holy Land. And Read More
In the Footsteps of the Curé of Ars
Father Ronald D. Witherup Comments Off on In the Footsteps of the Curé of Ars
The ancient practice of pilgrimages has retained its attraction in modern times, despite challenges like those imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely limited travel. One can still find advertisements for pilgrimages to Lourdes, Fátima, Rome, the Holy Land, Santiago de Compostela, and so on. For a priest, one such pilgrimage might include a visit Read More
The Power of Pilgrimage
Father Felix Just Comments Off on The Power of Pilgrimage
Over the past 10 years, I have had the good fortune of co-leading three pilgrimages to the Holy Land (Israel, Palestine and Jordan), one to Turkey and one to Greece, with more planned for the coming years. I have also taught in a summer program in Jerusalem and served as chaplain for pilgrimages to Rome, Read More