What is a pilgrimage, anyway?
Someone recently asked me what exactly a pilgrimage is and what it isn't. This is an excellent thing to consider. The English word “pilgrim" is derived from the Latin peregrinum, which conveys the idea of wandering over a distance, but not aimlessly or without intention. Pilgrimage is practiced by many religions, and for those who don't believe in a religious tradition, a pilgrimage could be a way to reconnect with history or one's own past. In any context, it can provoke an inner journey. Myself, I make a twice-yearly pilgrimage to my favorite beach in Massachusetts; it has special significance in my past and always provides me with solace, no matter the season or tides. From a Catholic perspective, the primary purpose of pilgrimage is to honor God by devoting a time for going outside the purely mundane and connecting with the Eternal in places that are regarded as holy. Pilgrimage can be experienced as a communal or a solitary adventure, but even a solita...