pilgrimage jan 2009
DESCRIPTION
Teaching on Pilgrimage for Years 10 and 11 RE GCSE CourseTRANSCRIPT
PilgrimageFr. Simon Rundell SCP
S. Thomas the Apostle, Elson
Outline
• Why make pilgrimage?• Where?• What happens?• Why it is special for me.
Official Story of Walsingham
The way we told it…
Pilgrimage
• Religious
Pilgrimage
• Secular Pilgrimage
Think for a moment ofspecial locations for you
what made them special?
Pilgrimage is associatedwith the sacredness of
space
Sacred Space
Incarnation
• Christianity is concerned with incarnation – God made flesh
• Physicality• Sacraments
Sacraments
“An outward physical sign ofan inward spiritual grace”
Major Sites of Christian Pilgrimage
• Jerusalem– Way of the Cross or Via Dolorosa
Major Sites of Christian Pilgrimage
• Santiago de Compostela
…and of course…
• Walsingham
The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
• From March to October, Parishes and Individuals travel to North Norfolk
• Major events include:– Youth Pilgrimage (12-
18s)– Children’s Pilgrimage (7-
11s)– National Pilgrimage
Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
What happens in Pilgrimage?
• The journey is as important as the destination
• Time out of usual activities
• Rest and recuperation• Socialising and
relaxing• Prayer and Meditation• Recall Chaucer’s
Canterbury Tales
Archbishop Rowan Williamsspeaking on Walsingham
A Paradoxical Experience
• Communal and yet Private• Balance of Corporate Worship and
Private Devotion• Balance of Religious and Secular
Life• More than simply a holiday
Rituals
• Stations of the Cross
• Sprinkling• Mass at the Holy
House• Intercessions• Healing &
Annointing
What do I get out of Pilgrimage?
• Christianity is both an interior and exterior faith (St Theresa of Avila)
• External works (such as social action) are the outpouring of internal faith
• “By their fruits they will be known”– Matthew 7:16
Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
Why Pilgrimage?
• By deepening my inner journey…• I am better equipped
– Spiritually– Psychologically
• …to build the Kingdom of God
What is the point of being a Christian?
Jesus said,
“God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the
message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, "This is God's year to act!"
Luke 4:18-19
• It is through God’s love, that we seek to make the world a better place
What is the point of being a Christian?
Questions
Thank you