What would people take on medieval pilgrimages?

Answer 1

AnswerAnyone and everyone, they were very religious as health was poor and living conditions not good, however they were usually seriously ill, desperate, v. religious or rich people as pilgrimage was a long and hazardous journey and the dangerous events which took place on the pilgrimage could often outweigh the advantages. MoreWe read a lot about people on pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. It was a very common thing to do, and it was encouraged by the Church. It was a popular thing to do and many people, rich and poor, in health and in sickness, did it. It was a good vacation and gained religious merit. Its importance can be seen in the fact that the crusades were not originally a reaction to the fact that they Holy Land had been taken over by Muslims, as they began 400 years after that, but instead they were a reaction to ill treatment of pilgrims by Turks through whose territory they had to pass.

There is a very good written portrait of a wide variety of pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales. There is a link below to an article on the book, which contains pictures and more information.

Answer 2

Pilgrimage was important throughout the Middle Ages.

There were times of year when certain pilgrim destinations had religious festivals, and these times were preferred by many people.

People went when they were free to go, rather like we go on vacations, except it was not as a vacation but to perform a religious act. They also went if they felt guilty about some thing or were instructed to go for penance.

So I would say, they went when they could or felt a need to go.

Answer 3

Almost anyone could "take the cross" and go on a pilgrimage, but in the case of unfree peasants they needed written permission first.

Long before "Canterbury Tales" was written people were visiting the shrines of Saints across the whole of Europe; there were even maps available with details of the journey, where to stay overnight and places to avoid (much like a modern travel guide). Pilgrims were excused all tolls and charges, so they needed little money.

At Canterbury, where the shrine of Thomas Becket was the main centre of pilgrimage in England, there were several "hospitals" (meaning guest-houses) for poor pilgrims, while wealthy visitors were expected to pay for their accommodation at local inns. Each hospital had a large stone floor with straw for bedding, a refectory where meals were served and a chapel where pilgrims could pray. They would only be permitted to stay for a short time, so their places could be taken by other pilgrims.

Answer 4

Nobody kept count, so we don't know. Over the centuries it probably was at least many hundreds of thousands, because most pilgrimages were made by people to relatively nearby places and churches where for instance remains of local saints were kept. And then there were of course the tens of thousands of people who joined the Crusades and who considered that a pilgimage. Making a pilgimage to a place a few days away was something that almost any devout Catholic did at least once in his or her life.

Answer 5

Pilgrims in the middle ages were people who traveled from church to church.

Answer 6

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