pilgrimage

• what is pilgrimage?

  a religious journey to a holy site/sacred place, it is an act of worship and devotion
• explain the context behind christians visiting lourdes, france

  during a vision, mary told bernadette to drink water of a spring- there was no spring so bernadette dug. a day later water started to flow from where she dug. the water still flows today with a reputation for healing. during other visions, mary told bernadette that a chapel should be built on site and that people should attend processions.
• what do people do at lourdes?

  people will visit and pray in the Sanctuary of Our Lady Lourdes. they will take part in a torchlight procession each evening, attend mass in the grotto where the vision occured, drink water from the spring or collect some to take home, and spend time in prayer and reflection.
• what is lourdes like today?

  today, 5 million pilgrims visit lourdes every year, seeking cleansing from sins and healing- over 200 million have visited since bernadette experienced the visions.
• how many healings are said to have been 'recognised'?

  70 since 1858.
• explain the context behind christians visiting iona, scotland

  it is where saints are believed to have lived and prayers have been answered. it is dedicated to virgin mary and was once home to st columba, who founded an abbey on the island. iona has a long monastic history and is considered to be a deeply spiritual place.
• how many pilgrims visit iona annually?

  130,000
• what do pilgrims do at iona?

  spend time in reflection and prayer, join the 'pilgrimage walk' which happens every week around the island, stopping at places of historical and religious significance such as st martin's cross and the nunnery. pilgrims worship in the abbey church on the island.