Definition
A journey to a place recognized as sacred or significant, accomplished to pray, honor, ask, thank or transform.
The pilgrimage combines displacement, rules, stories and encounters. It can also become tourism; the border depends on the intention, the conduct and the relationship to the local communities.
To be retained
- Prepare body and documents
- Know the rules of the sanctuary
- Respecting the people and the environment
- Do not confuse path and therapy
Origin of the term and context
Pilgrim comes from the Latin peregrinus, "foreigner, traveller". Pilgrimages vary from religious obligation to contemporary personal path.
Why does it matter?
The march, the break of the daily life and the support of the group can encourage reflection and feeling of belonging. They do not guarantee any healing or lasting transformation.
- Prepare body and documents
- Know the rules of the sanctuary
- Respecting the people and the environment
- Do not confuse path and therapy
How can it be explored or practised?
- Select a suitable distance
- Read the history of the place before leaving
- Insurance, water and rest
- After the return, translate an intention into a concrete commitment
Misconceptions and points of caution
- Some places are reserved for the faithful.
- Fatigue and altitude are at risk.
- The inhabitants are not a spiritual setting.
Perspectives from different traditions
- Islam: hajj, a regulated obligation for those who can.
- Christianity: paths to shrines, relics or biblical places.
- Hinduisms: tīrtha, passages and baths in sacred geographies.
To go further
- Pilgrimage — anthropological studies
- Historical stories of the Compostela Roads