What is the difference between a journey and a pilgrimage

Some of the most common reasons include the following:. Every pilgrimage has its own set of experiences and atmospheres. Yet, regardless of the difference in religious focus, it is the embarking on a journey, whether physical or otherwise, that truly makes pilgrimages so significant. They offer hope and healing and a reminder that, in the rich and colorful human family, we are all travelers. Have you gone on a pilgrimage or journey to discover yourself,seek a better connection with God, or connect with your ancestry and heritage?

FamilySearch Blog. During the early centuries of the Church this was the primary understanding of the term. As Christian pilgrimage to places considered especially holy developed in the fourth century see The Development of Christian Holy Places , peregrinus took on a further sense within Christian thought, describing a traveller with a particular religious goal.

Peregrinatio was used of the journey undertaken. This web resource can be navigated using the links in the left-hand navigation menu. The menu will expand to show all 'Pilgrimage Resources' once you enter this section.

Search: Text-Only Version. Introduction What is Pilgrimage? Pilgrimage to holy places has deeply influenced the spiritual and physical landscapes of England and many other countries. Ancient pilgrimage destinations remain key heritage sites today. Differing interpretations of, and attitudes to, pilgrimage can cause considerable controversy and even conflict.

Why is pilgrimage important? Pilgrimage has fired the imaginations of writers and artists for centuries. The means or motivations in undertaking a pilgrimage might vary, but the act, however performed, blends the physical and the spiritual into a unified experience.

The origins of pilgrimage are difficult to determine, but deliberately visiting powerful sites is a practice that predates antiquity. Pilgrimages have long been a common feature of many world religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Shinto.

A believer might undertake a pilgrimage in fulfilment of a vow, as atonement for sins, as a gesture of thanks for positive events, or as a means of intercession, among other reasons. Prior to the age of exploration in Europe, pilgrimage was a primary impetus for travel, especially among non-elites, and played a significant role in local economies and the transmission of culture.

In the Christian pilgrimage tradition, the practice revolves around visiting either sites significant in the Bible — particularly those concerning the life of Christ — or in the lives of saints, or paying reverence to holy relics.

The three main destinations of Christian pilgrimage are Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela, and for most pilgrims throughout history reaching these sites was a prolonged and possibly dangerous endeavour.

However, smaller and more local pilgrimage sites — such as Canterbury Cathedral in England or the Holy House of Loreto in Italy — also enjoyed great popularity. Although the twelfth century is largely considered to have been the golden age of Christian pilgrimage, it remained a devotional practice throughout the following centuries. Evidence of pilgrimages throughout history still surrounds us, if one knows where and how to look.

In art, pilgrims are often recognizable by their attributes: staff, cloak, large-brimmed hat, small satchel a "scrip" , flask, worn boots, and the scallop shell.

The modern pilgrimage, while still a strictly religious exercise for many, has also been embraced as a more fluidly spiritual experience, open to all participants, regardless of their beliefs. Others take a more indirect route, circling around the outside of the sacred place, transforming the physical journey into a spiritual path of contemplation. The Encounter: After all the toil and trouble, after all the sunburn and swelling, after all the anticipation and expectation comes the approach, the sighting.

The encounter is the climax of the journey, the moment when the traveler attempts to slide through a thin membrane in the universe and return to the Garden of Origin, where humans lived in concert with the Creator. The Completion and Return: At the culmination of the journey, the pilgrim returns home only to discover that meaning they sought lies in the familiar of one's own world.

In this landmark six-part series, Michael Wood embarks on a dazzling and exciting journey through today's India. Join Bruce Feiler on an epic, ten thousand mile odyssey to explore the greatest stories ever told, in the settings where they occurred. Narrated by Richard Gere, this documentary tells the story of the Buddha's life, a journey especially relevant to our own bewildering times of violent change and spiritual confusion.

The Hajj.