What does a pilgrimage mean to me ?
What does a pilgrimage mean to me ? Walking a contemplative pilgrim road prayerfully. My diary pictures for online bible study for women on pilgrimage journeys
Bible Dictionary - What is a Pilgrimage Church - P for Pilgrimage
- Saint Helena Holy Sepulchre Pilgrimage Church in Jerusalem , Calvary, Golgotha
- Calvary / Golgotha meaning the place of the skull
- the spot near Jerusalem where Jesus Christ was crucified
- scripture reference in the gospel of Matthew, Gospel off Mark 15: 22, Gospel of Luke and Gospel of John
- Here jesus was placed in the sepulchre
- Saint Helena erected the church of the Holy Sepulchre at this place which became one of the earliest christian pilgrimage churches
- and these were the beginnings of Pilgrimages to the Holy Land
- Christian pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, Europe, to honor the shrine of St James the Greater and catholic pilgrimages to Rome followed
What is a pilgrimage Definition ?
Lets look up pilgrimage thesaurus definitions
What does a Pilgrimage Mean?
various definitions of a pilgrimage exist depending on particular religious context, folk traditions and modern adventure travel pilgrimages. Here I will focus on contemplative prayer pilgrim journeys
What is a Pilgrimage Road ?
So what does a pilgrimage mean to me ?
I have always been a visual learner seeking tactile experiences and presence of place to find out what is "real" for me.
How to study the bible is a very personal experience, there are so many different styles of learning, from kinaesthetic and auditory to visual.
I started with bible verse journaling, the act of writing it down somehow embodied the meaning in the moment. Carrying a notebook is second nature now but over time I have found that I gravitate towards certain supplies again and again, especially when travelling on a pilgrimage road.
But what does Pilgrimage Road mean ? Or mean to me would be a better way of phrasing it.
The intention is to walk whilst consciously and constantly practicing to face GOD, or as Brother Lawrence puts it in his book " Practicing His presence"
I jotted down the words "continually, establish ourselves & sense" as they all resonated with the way I view the idea of a lifelong pilgrimage road.
Here in this space however , I would like to particularly focus on recording and visually responding to the holy places I travel to, the church stained glass windows depicting bible stories I encounter and find myself in personal dialogue with. Some speak to me, others don't, or maybe not today.
The pilgrim on HolyGround for me is an archetype, a choice and intention to be present, present to GOD.
The challenge lies in the noticing, the transforming of oneself away from self and more and more, every moment, every situation, every chance I get to become aware of which direction I am facing. The first step is awareness, the second gratitude, the third " press repeat"
What does a pilgrimage mean to me ?
What is A Pilgrimage Church ?
Churches for Pilgrimages in England
- in the olden days they often held a relic or revered sacred item of a martyr or saint, many times with certain healing miracles attributed to them
- The expectation of a blessing, a favour or a healing encouraged many to travel to be in the vicinity of the venerated item
- Shrines and pilgrimage churches developed for particular saints and destinations of religious biblical events
- Through worship, confession and contemplative prayer the inner connection to God is sought after in these liminal places
- particularly in pilgrimage cathedrals the architecture served to inspire awe, veneration and a sense of transcendence
- What is a pilgrimage church in England. Major cathedrals such as Canterbury cathedral with the shrine of Thomas Becket, Winchester Cathedral with the shrine of Saint David and Durham cathedral honoring Saint Cuthbert are but a few. Pilgrim's ways with varying starting points developed over time and many a pilgrim prayed his way along the many winding journeys taken.
- Cathedrals are also home to the bishops seat of a particular christian diocese , and their art, venerated relics and stained glass filled chapels invite reflection and contemplative prayer along the pilgrimage road.
- For me sacred travel, immersive pilgrimage with contemplative prayer and a slowing down to experiences God's presence in place keeps me centered and firmly facing GOD as I walk my path. Knowing that I am standing on Holyground , where countless other feet have taken off their " proverbial" sandals to encounter God in prayer is at certain times deeply palpable.
- So for me the question of what is a pilgrimage church is answered by the way I sense holyground that is cared for, walked upon and blessed with His grace. How one encounters it, whether hiking , walking, wheelchairing or riding a horse is a deeply personal decision, it becomes pilgrimage when the heart faces GOD at all forward motion.
The Pilgrims Way
Winchester to Canterbury
My diary pictures, contemplative prayer reflections and church stained glass windows from the pilgrimage road
What does Pilgrimage Mean to me ?
Prayers for Pilgrims
I will be adding a collection of pilgrim's prayers , blessings and prayers for pilgrimage destinations. Do you have a favourite St James Prayer ? THere have been many historic blessings and prayers for pilgrim's and I will be adding those I find here as I discover them .
===> My St James Prayer and Pilgrims Blessings Collection
Return from What does a pilgrimage mean to me to Winchester Pilgrims way ? Walking a contemplative pilgrim road prayerfully. My diary pictures for online bible study for women on pilgrimage journeys
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" A Pilgrims Margin"
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