Almost certainly it would have to be to Walsingham, Medjugorje and Fatima.
Absolutely! Last year I went with a few friends to Italy. We drove through beautiful countryside and visited Pietrelcina, Padre Pio’s birthplace and the chapel of San Francesco. Then we went on to Monte Cassino and then to Nettuno to visit the shrine of St Maria Goretti. Then we continued to Rome and the Vatican and everything else that Rome has to offer the pilgrim. Afterwards we drove to Abruzzo to see the Holy Face of Manoppello, then on to visit the relics of the Eucharistic miracle at Lanciano before heading to Loreto to see the Holy House. On the way back we visited the home of St Rita of Cascia – a great saint to pray to for family difficulties. That was an amazing pilgrimage, quite a bit more than stopping off!
It would have to be friends. I don’t mind which ones, really, and I’d take pot luck. But you need like-minded people with you on pilgrimage or it won’t work. If everyone’s coming for the same reason then you’re already united before you’ve begun.
As romantic as camping out sounds, I think I’d prefer to find a nice hotel or B&B to stay in – or perhaps a monastery or convent. It doesn’t have to be luxurious, but anything would be better than a tent.
One would have to be The Way of a Pilgrim, which is the English version of the 19th-century story of a pilgrim who journeys through Russia and Eastern Europe, praying as he goes. Another would be María de Ágreda’s remarkable Mystical City of God.
They’d have to be the old staples; the ones I can remember. “Jesus, I adore you”, the Hail Mary and the Our Father.
Always the Lourdes Hymn – the one with the great chorus “Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!” between each verse. The tune is simple and if people don’t know the words, they can just join in with the chorus each time it comes round. It’s so uplifting.
Chocolate and my dog. I know that’s two things, and Lila wouldn’t fit into my bag, but she’s my faithful companion and ever so biddable and loyal. Besides, she doesn’t like being left out of things so I couldn’t just leave her behind.
My home, if I’m honest, and all its comforts. But I suppose that going on pilgrimage is at least partly about leaving those things behind for a bit.
I want to learn how to fast properly, in a spiritual as well as physical sense. I’m terrible at it at the moment and Lent is coming up.
Almost certainly it would have to be to Walsingham, Medjugorje and Fatima.
Absolutely! Last year I went with a few friends to Italy. We drove through beautiful countryside and visited Pietrelcina, Padre Pio’s birthplace and the chapel of San Francesco. Then we went on to Monte Cassino and then to Nettuno to visit the shrine of St Maria Goretti. Then we continued to Rome and the Vatican and everything else that Rome has to offer the pilgrim. Afterwards we drove to Abruzzo to see the Holy Face of Manoppello, then on to visit the relics of the Eucharistic miracle at Lanciano before heading to Loreto to see the Holy House. On the way back we visited the home of St Rita of Cascia – a great saint to pray to for family difficulties. That was an amazing pilgrimage, quite a bit more than stopping off!
It would have to be friends. I don’t mind which ones, really, and I’d take pot luck. But you need like-minded people with you on pilgrimage or it won’t work. If everyone’s coming for the same reason then you’re already united before you’ve begun.
As romantic as camping out sounds, I think I’d prefer to find a nice hotel or B&B to stay in – or perhaps a monastery or convent. It doesn’t have to be luxurious, but anything would be better than a tent.
One would have to be The Way of a Pilgrim, which is the English version of the 19th-century story of a pilgrim who journeys through Russia and Eastern Europe, praying as he goes. Another would be María de Ágreda’s remarkable Mystical City of God.
They’d have to be the old staples; the ones I can remember. “Jesus, I adore you”, the Hail Mary and the Our Father.
Always the Lourdes Hymn – the one with the great chorus “Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!” between each verse. The tune is simple and if people don’t know the words, they can just join in with the chorus each time it comes round. It’s so uplifting.
Chocolate and my dog. I know that’s two things, and Lila wouldn’t fit into my bag, but she’s my faithful companion and ever so biddable and loyal. Besides, she doesn’t like being left out of things so I couldn’t just leave her behind.
My home, if I’m honest, and all its comforts. But I suppose that going on pilgrimage is at least partly about leaving those things behind for a bit.
I want to learn how to fast properly, in a spiritual as well as physical sense. I’m terrible at it at the moment and Lent is coming up.
