Pilgrimages have great significance for Catholics, as it is an act of faith and piety. Pilgrims take a journey to a holy place, accompanied by prayer and a search for renewal of faith, repentance of sins, seeking conversion, and closeness with God. A pilgrim demonstrates a sacrificial spirit by venturing on a journey forsaking the comfort of his life. In the past, pilgrims endured great hardship on their journey by travelling on foot, passing through rugged terrain, begging for food, and some becoming ill on their journey.

These days pilgrimages have become easier and comfortable for those who can afford to stay in luxury hotels, taste the local cuisine, take guided tours and flights. A pilgrimage is a joyful experience; however, we receive graces from having a sacrificial spirit and contemplating on the entire experience in the light of the gospel instead of just going on a vacation to a holy place. The attitude we have as pilgrims on our journey will determine the level of our conversion. Some pilgrims return with a deeper conversion, others return empty.

A pilgrimage does not necessarily need to be a journey to a faraway holy place. Some people cannot afford to travel to distant places. A pilgrimage can be to a local shrine, or a place where you can receive your sacraments and get right with God. A pilgrimage can be an inner journey of prayer, penance, and sanctification.

Holy places have their significance and the graces one receives by visiting these places are very beneficial for our soul. As Catholics, our entire life is a pilgrimage, as we journey towards eternity. We can see earth as our exile and heaven as our eternal dwelling. We long to be in heaven, however, we must first complete our pilgrimage on earth. Our journey on earth is not just an exile but it is also a privilege that God has given us, and we must make the best of it, by doing good works and fulfilling the will of God for our lives.

Our earthly journey is not perfect, however, in heaven everything is perfect. The sufferings we endure on earth will sanctify us and make us holy. As St Paul states that for him “to live is Jesus Christ”. This life we live is for Christ, we are not perfect, but we imitate Christ who is perfect.

Death is the end of man’s earthly pilgrimage, of the time of grace and mercy which God offers him to work out his earthly life in keeping with the divine plan, and to decide his ultimate destiny. When “the single course of our earthly life” is completed, we shall not return to other earthly lives: “It is appointed for men to die once.” There is no “reincarnation” after death (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1013).

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