Pilgrimage

• Why do Christians go on pilgrimage?

  ✓ To become closer to God and show dedication to their religion

  ✓ They may hope for a cure eg Lourdes

  ✓ To visit places associated with the religion’s history

  ✓ Because Jesus went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem himself

  Catholics may be more inclined to visits shrines and sites of relics whereas Protestants may focus more on an opportunity to reflect and carry out peaceful prayer. You will need to revise the different attitudes towards pilgrimage between the different denominations
• Where do Christians go on pilgrimage?

  Jerusalem, Walsingham, Iona, Taize
• Christians may go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem because:

  They can visit sites of importance from the last week of Jesus’ life including;

  • The cenacle – the upper room where the Last Supper took place

  • The Via Dolorosa – the route Jesus was forced to walk to his execution

  • Church of the Holy Sepulchre – marks the site where Jesus was crucified and where he was buried and resurrected.
• Christians may go on pilgrimage to Walsingham because:

  ✓ It has been a place of pilgrimage since the lady of the manor had a vision of the Virgin Mary in 1061.

  ✓ They may go in the hope that they will be healed of an illness.

  ✓ Many travel to Walsingham because it is local to them and is therefore more affordable than travelling abroad for pilgrimage.
• Christians may go on pilgrimage to Iona because:

  ✓ Iona offers Christians a chance to reflect on their faith in a remote and beautiful setting.

  ✓ It is the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland and is where Saint Columba lived in the 6th Century.

  ✓ It gives Christians the opportunity to live in a community with other Christians.
• Christians may go on pilgrimage to Taize because:

  ✓ It offers an opportunity for quiet contemplation and prayer.

  ✓ Young people visit and are able to share their religion with each other.

  ✓ Young people can discuss current issues which the Church faces and how these may be dealt with.

  ✓ Christians can reflect of the Bible during study and prayer groups