What do you do on pilgrimages?

Answer 1

The Answer is not so much of "what do you do?" as if it were a mere activity, but rather "How should I be disposed during a Catholic pilgrimage?" or any religious pilgrimage for that matter. Pilgrimage is about the journey of the soul and the desire to be open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The great places of pilgrimage throughout the world are places of prayer, and have often been places of healing, both physical and spiritual. If you are desiring to go on a pilgrimage, you should be preparing yourself spiritually for the journey. It is not merely a tourist destination. During the time of pilgrimage you should pray often, if not constantly. The purpose of being a pilgrim is lived out particularly in the path you take. A great example is the pilgrimage to St. James de Compestello in Spain. This place of pilgrimage has been the destination of hundreds of thousands over the centuries. Pilgrims travel 200kms along various routes to this beautiful place. The entire journey is a journey of faith, cleansing and spiritual growth. Many other places, such as Lourdes, renowned for physical healings, are place one goes to petition for healing, but be aware, it is according to God's will, not ours. Healing my be spiritual rather than physical, even though you may suffer from a physical ailment. The grace you receive may be the grace to endure with humility and not necessarily the grace of physical renewal. Thus, pilgrimage calls us to faith, trust, hope and life in the Lord.