Faith Matters: The purpose of pilgrimage
The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally went on a six day pilgrimage from St Paul’s Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral before her installation. It was an important part of her preparation for the role. Many people undertake a pilgrimage as part of their spiritual development. Faith is often likened to a journey and time spent walking, sometimes with others, and is a good way to reflect on where you have come from in your earlier life and where you want to aim for.
Pilgrimages are a feature of several faith traditions. Rome, Mecca, and Jerusalem are all well known destinations. But there are thousands of others considered holy and used as destinations for a pilgrimage, such as Whitby Abbey. But what makes somewhere holy ? And is the journeying itself as important, or even more important, than the destination ?
Often it is an event associated with a place that makes people regard it as sacred. The birth and death of Jesus, the site of the Jewish temple, or an appearance of a saint in a vision, all have become places for pilgrimage. But even springs of water have become regarded as ‘holy wells’, and remote places such as mountain tops, deserts, islands have also been used as sites for meditation, and spiritual reflection. The crew of the Artemis II were deep,y moved when they saw the earth from space. So is the earth itself holy ?
In his account of a pilgrimage from Scotland to Rome, ‘In Search of a Way’, Gerard W Hughes reflects on the outward physical and inner spiritual struggles that the journey demands. The Camino de Santiago is another long distance pilgrimage which requires stamina. But it is also well known for the community it creates along the way, with hospitality offered at many points on the route.
Each day of our lives can be a pilgrimage, a journey of discovery, and a spiritual experience of renewed hope.