Pilgrimage Jan 2009

PilgrimageFr. Simon Rundell SCP

S. Thomas the Apostle, Elson

Outline

• Why make pilgrimage?• Where?• What happens?• Why it is special for me.

Official Story of Walsingham

The way we told it…

Pilgrimage

• Religious

Pilgrimage

• Secular Pilgrimage

Think for a moment ofspecial locations for you

what made them special?

Pilgrimage is associatedwith the sacredness of

space

Sacred Space

Incarnation

• Christianity is concerned with incarnation – God made flesh

• Physicality• Sacraments

Sacraments

“An outward physical sign ofan inward spiritual grace”

Major Sites of Christian Pilgrimage

• Jerusalem– Way of the Cross or Via Dolorosa

Major Sites of Christian Pilgrimage

• Santiago de Compostela

…and of course…

• Walsingham

The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham

• From March to October, Parishes and Individuals travel to North Norfolk

• Major events include:– Youth Pilgrimage (12-

18s)– Children’s Pilgrimage (7-

11s)– National Pilgrimage

Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham

What happens in Pilgrimage?

• The journey is as important as the destination

• Time out of usual activities

• Rest and recuperation• Socialising and

relaxing• Prayer and Meditation• Recall Chaucer’s

Canterbury Tales

Archbishop Rowan Williamsspeaking on Walsingham

A Paradoxical Experience

• Communal and yet Private• Balance of Corporate Worship and

Private Devotion• Balance of Religious and Secular

Life• More than simply a holiday

Rituals

• Stations of the Cross

• Sprinkling• Mass at the Holy

House• Intercessions• Healing &

Annointing

What do I get out of Pilgrimage?

• Christianity is both an interior and exterior faith (St Theresa of Avila)

• External works (such as social action) are the outpouring of internal faith

• “By their fruits they will be known”– Matthew 7:16

Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

Why Pilgrimage?

• By deepening my inner journey…• I am better equipped

– Spiritually– Psychologically

• …to build the Kingdom of God

What is the point of being a Christian?

Jesus said,

“God's Spirit is on me;       he's chosen me to preach the

message of good news to the poor,    Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and       recovery of sight to the blind,    To set the burdened and battered free,       to announce, "This is God's year to act!"

Luke 4:18-19

• It is through God’s love, that we seek to make the world a better place

What is the point of being a Christian?

Questions

Thank you