A pilgrimage involves a two-way journey, a journey of the heart towards God through the physical and often uncomfortable journey to a holy place.
It is amazing that young people respond so generously to this invitation to come to Lourdes. Pope John Paul II has challenged young people to join him on a particular pilgrimage to different parts of the world every two years. Taize offers a pilgrimage of simplicity and prayer which thousands of young people make each year, sacrificing much to come to meet other young people from different denominations around the world. Lourdes, World Youth Days, Taize and many other local pilgrimages demonstrate that young people are captivated by these pilgrimages which somehow help them in a dramatic way at a particular time on their faith journey. Whatever the initial motivation to make these journeys, it cannot be underestimated what a profound effect they have on them. It has not been uncommon for young people on the Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage to make life choices or to be gently nudged by the Holy Spirit in a particular direction.
The Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage is part of the ancient practice, going back to the Old Testament, of people making journeys to holy places for particular purposes. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob journeyed to Shechem and Mamre where God made a promise to them to lead them to the ‘promised land’. Sinai, where Moses received God’s covenant, became for the people a place to gather for prayer. Jerusalem became a holy city, where people would journey to prayer at the Temple of the Ark of the Covenant. Many of the psalms are songs which the Israelites would sing on entering Jerusalem on pilgrimage, ‘I rejoiced when I heard them say, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”‘ (Ps 122). It became in Judaism a requirement to go to Jerusalem on pilgrimage at the Feast of Weeks, at Passover and at Pentecost.
It is clearly shown in the life of Jesus how important pilgrimage is. Jesus made pilgrimage when he was growing up and the climax of salvation happened whilst on pilgrimage. The Holy Spirit came with great power on the apostles whilst people from many nations were gathered in Jerusalem for the pilgrimage at Pentecost.
In the fourth century Christians rediscovered pilgrimage as part of their heritage. Prior to this there was a move away from Jewish practices. Basilicas were built in Jerusalem on key places associated with Jesus. These quickly became centres of pilgrimage. Martyrs’ tombs also became places which Christians would make a prayerful journey to.
The golden era of pilgrimages was, unsurprisingly, the Middle Ages. Rome, Cologne, Santiago Compostela, Canterbury and Walsingham are but a few of the places which were not only key places of pilgrimage, but also cultural and economic centres.
During the Reformation many pilgrimage centres were destroyed, yet the idea of pilgrimage remained strong in the minds of many Christians. In Chartres Cathedral a labyrinth is detailed on the floor, on which people would make an inner journey; a pilgrimage without an arduous physical journey. At the same time the Stations of the Cross were developed for those unable to walk the actual journey Jesus made in Jerusalem. These symbolic journeys are still as powerful today with the addition of the Way of Resurrection and many other aids to prayerful inner journeys.
In the 1800s to this day pilgrimages had a massive revival. Journeys once made by foot or horse taking many months and with no certainty of return now are made in a few hours by plane, or a little longer by air-conditioned luxury coach. However the reality is the same, somehow Christians need these times to take stock, to be with other like-minded people and to draw closer to God.
An authentic pilgrimage means the pilgrimage begins many months before the day of departure. As we go to Lourdes, the time of preparing is all part of our journey. Preparation helps us to focus on our theme for the year. It helps us ask the questions ‘Why am I going (again)?’, and helps us to see our need for spiritual renewal, to thank God for something, to offer something back and to seek real forgiveness. The Youth Pilgrimage is tiring and demanding on many levels and yet it should help us to be more active Christians, more apostolic in our everyday life and more willing to serve the needs of the people we make this journey with.
The Youth Pilgrimage is a unique opportunity for us to experience real community, service that does not count the hours or days and prayer which comes from what is deepest inside us. Only by offering ourselves in service to God and to each other can we answer for ourselves ‘why pilgrimage?’
(Adapted from the Archdiocesan Youth Pilgrimage Group Leaders’ Handbook.)
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