Why Pilgrimage?

I wanted to post some information about the purpose of pilgrimage.  Why are we doing it?  How is it different from a vacation?  What is the history of Christian pilgrimage?

Jonathan Edwards called the Christian pilgrimage, "the true Christian's life journey toward Heaven."  If this is a life journey then why should we go all the way to Israel? 

Pilgrimage is an important part of spiritual life for many Christians. Christians see life itself as a journey, coming from God and returning to God. The pilgrim seeks to separate himself from the everyday concerns of the world, and to spend time in the presence of God as he travels to a place of special meaning. A pilgrimage is a symbol that is acted out.

Back in the Middle Ages pilgrimages were very popular. Pilgrimage was long and very dangerous - not at all like a holiday! It may have taken many years. The pilgrims would usually travel in groups, and stay in monasteries or inns overnight.

People went on pilgrimage for many reasons - perhaps to say sorry to God for something they had done wrong (penance), or because they were ill and wanted God to heal them.
Text taken from here.

A great article on the history and purpose of Christian pilgrimages is found here.  It states, "The key thing about a pilgrimage is that the pilgrim prays and meditates on the Word of God the whole way there - indeed, before they leave, in order to prepare the soul. And while they are there, and the whole way back. Hopefully, a hunger for prayer and the Word grows from what the pilgrim learns."

Our salvation does not depend on taking a pilgrimage, but it is still a unique opportunity to explore our faith in a deeper way.  When we see the land where Jesus walked, or where the Epistles were sent and apostles journeyed, we learn to read the Bible in a new way.  After literally walk in Jesus' footsteps, we will have mental images and memories of where Bible stories take place. 

"The pilgrim who is open to God's grace will be deeply enriched in the Faith, for the mind will be filled with the awesome wonder of so many sacred shrines and this will be cemented in the heart never to fade."  (William Johnston)

We will be taking a journey to the very source of Christianity, to the very place where "the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us."  What are you doing to prepare?