The Role of Pilgrimage in the Life of a Christian

The Role of Pilgrimage in the Life of a Christian

Christians go on pilgrimage for many reasons.

Most pilgrims go on pilgrimage to show their faith in God, to pray and

get close to him. Visitors to the Holy Land want to visit the places

described in the Bible which they believe are sacred, where Jesus

lived and carried out his ministry. Visiting these places helps them

to stay close to God, partly because they are devoting some of their

time to God.

Although Christians can pray to God in any place and at any time, some

feel that being in a place of pilgrimage can help them in their

prayer. They go on pilgrimages to pay homage to God and to pray,

possibly for others who are ill or for friends or relatives who do not

believe in God.

Some Christians go on pilgrimages to 'pay back' God for answering

their prayers. This was more common in the Middle Ages when people

would pray for God to grant them something, and promise to go on a

pilgrimage if the wish was granted.

Some sites of pilgrimage, such as Lourdes in France, have a history

for healing physical disorders. Some people visit these places in the

hope that they will be healed, or that the experience will help them

come to terms with their illness and accept it. In a similar way,

Christians who feel far from God might go on pilgrimages for spiritual

healing.

Although pilgrimage is strictly different from a holiday, some

Christians who are thinking of going on holiday instead visit a place

of pilgrimage, for example the Holy Land. There they enjoy themselves

but also meet with other Christians and worship God.

Although the pilgrimage in Rome doesn't have a hisotry for healing

physical disorders like Lourdes it doesn't mean it's any less

important. Rome is important as a place of pilgrimage because theres

the Vatican which is the Head of the Roman Catholic Church and the

pope lives there who is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.