Pilgrimage

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I have a question about making pilgrimages in today's world. Today since there are many regulations on traveling between countries and other things, how can a Catholic make a pilgrimage? Are there any pilgrimage sites in the U.S. that one can go to? How should one go about going on a pilgrimage?

-- Scott (papasquat10@hotmail.com), June 24, 2003

Answers

Go to Rome.

-- David Ortiz (cyberpunk1986@prodigy.net), June 24, 2003.

Rome's a much nicer place than hell, D.O.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), June 24, 2003.

Scott:
Three major pilgrim shrines in the world are: Rome, The Holy Land, and Santiago Compostela.

In Europe, there are Fatima. That's in Portugal. Or, Lourdes, in France. There are several other great sites

In the states, my feeling personally is:

Walk the distance on foot. Leave early in the morning, carry lunch and a drink. Don't ride.

Go to the cathedral in your town or city. Take your cap off, and go in. Stay there until lunchtime. Go back to some park around the area. Eat. Rest an hour. Then return to the cathedral. Spend a few hours praying and meditating. Kneel until you're tired, then have a seat. Say the Rosary. Speak with Our Lord, hidden in the holy tabernacle. ''Hi, Jesus. It's Me, Scott. I'm a pilgrim from across town. This is a day of pilgrimage, Lord Jesus. You used to walk long distances all the time, didn't you? I love You.''

At some hour of this day, you'll have the opportunity to assist at Holy Mass.

Holy Mass, Scott; is every bit as HOLY as all the shrines in the world. Right in your home town!!! But, make it a true pilgrimage. Stay put for an entire day. If they're about to lock up, then say Bye, and go back home on a bus. Happy as a CLAM!

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), June 24, 2003.


OK, Gene. You gave Scott the names of the greatest pilgrimage sites in Europe and Asia.
But suppose he wants to stick to the Americas?
Foremost is the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadelupe in Mexico.
But suppose he wants to stick north of the border?
Arguably the key pilgrimage site in the U.S. is the Basilican of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., the largest Catholic Church in the U.S.. Further north are the wonderful St. Joseph's in Montreal and St. Anne de Beaupre, also in Quebec province.
For shorter North American pilgrimages, there is a book about the dozens of beautiful shrines that dot the map (e.g., one honoring the Little Flower or St. Pio [Pennsylvania] or Divine Mercy [Taxachusetts] or the Infant Jesus of Prague [Oklahoma] or Mother Seton [Maryland] or Our Lady of Consolation [Ohio] or Our Lady of Snows [Illinois], etc., etc., etc.).

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), June 24, 2003.


There's a wonderful little shrine in St. Augustine, Florida. It's called the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche. I visited there before I became a Catholic, and found it difficult to leave.

-- Dee (Dee@none.sorry), June 25, 2003.


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