Different Aspects of Christian Pilgrimage

Different Aspects of Christian Pilgrimage

In this piece of coursework I intend to research different aspects of

Christian pilgrimage. I have looked at 3 different places of Christian

pilgrimage, as well as why Christians go on pilgrimages and the

effects pilgrimage can have on Christians.

As a product of taking part in a pilgrimage to Walsingham I have

learnt a lot about it's history and origins.

This is how Walsingham becoming a place of pilgrimage came about:

"God sent the angel Gabriel to a city of Galilee called Nazareth,

where a Virgin dwelt, betrothed to a man of David's lineage; his name

was Joseph, and the Virgin's name was Mary. Into her presence the

angel came, and said, 'Hail, thou who art full of grace; the Lord is

with thee; blessed art thou among women."

1,000 later a widow, and also Lady of the Manor, named Richeldis de

Faverches was said to have encountered a vision. Richeldis believed

that The Virgin Mary appeared to her on three incidents, seen in the

setting of the house in Nazareth. Richeldis told of the exact

dimensions of the house and commanded it to be built in the village.

Straight away, she set her builders and carpenters to work on the

important task. However, their hopeless effort on that day, presented

an insufficient start to the job.

That very night, Richeldis was having difficulty sleeping, when all of

a sudden she heard singing, that seemed to be emerging from the

unfinished construction. As she approached the site she was amazed to

see angels leaving the completed structure. To her further surprise,

the building had been moved 200 or more feet. The next morning, the

workmen agree...

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...re could be two possible

outcomes;

They could feel a sense of spiritual growth and could feel closer to

God, or they could be disappointed with what they see in that area,

e.g. poverty, and they may doubt their belief in God questioning if

God would let people live that way in such a holy place.

There could also be two possible outcomes if a Christian may become a

pilgrim in order to ask God for a favour for himself or herself, or a

friend or family member. They may pray for help with something such as

a mental or physical disability. If their prayer is answered and what

they asked for happens, then obviously they will feel closer to God

and their faith will be strengthened. However, if they do not overcome

what they prayed about, then they will feel let down by God, and might

start to doubt their faith in God.