Picture a twelve-year-old, curly, brown-headed girl on a bus of individuals and married couples over the ages of forty, fifty, sixty, and maybe even seventy.

That was me on my first pilgrimage, and would you believe it when I say, “I loved every minute of it!”? (This may or may not be because of the Jameson and Guinness I got to try!) In all seriousness, though, pilgrimages have been significant and important experiences ever since this first one to Ireland.  

A year or two later, when I visited the nearby Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio, I learned that you don’t have to leave the country or even your state to make a pilgrimage.

There are Catholic pilgrimage sites in almost every state of the U.S. So, nothing should hold us back, right? We can eliminate the excuse that we must travel worldwide to make a pilgrimage.

Here are a few other reasons why I would encourage everyone to make an annual pilgrimage (without mistaking it for an annual vacation). While reading through these, keep in mind that they are not exhaustive, especially because our desires for making pilgrimages are often very personal and inspired by God.

The Yearning for More

Oh, how we all long for something more! Have you heard C.S. Lewis’s quote: “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world”?

Pilgrimages are truly a journey in pursuit of something, or rather someone, who is beyond this life—God! We go on pilgrimages to encounter the living God and give Him the opportunity to renew us in His love. We are seeking a taste of Heaven in the here and now.

Getting Away to Allow Ourselves to Hear and See 

Why do we need to go away to encounter God? Isn’t that why we attend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and pray at home and throughout our day, whatever we’re doing?

While Mass and Eucharistic Adoration are the highest forms of prayer, a pilgrimage offers an additional opportunity. It allows us to step out of our everyday routines and distractions, creating a sacred space where we can focus on God even more intentionally. Pilgrimages ought to include Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, enriching the experience and providing the intimacy with God that both offer. We can give God our undivided attention by distancing ourselves from the noise, anxieties, responsibilities, and familiar surroundings.

If you’re looking to deepen your prayer life, I invite you to consider spiritual direction. Should you feel prompted to pursue spiritual direction with me as your director, we will journey together to strengthen and energize your prayer life.

A Time To Listen 

The main goal of a pilgrimage is to entrust ourselves to the Lord. Many pilgrims choose this sacred journey to renew their baptismal promises; I’ve done this on several pilgrimages myself. It’s a time to surrender once again, allowing the Lord to hold us and show us His love. This requires letting Him speak, which we achieve by quieting ourselves—a task that may be the most challenging part of the pilgrimage! As Mother Teresa wisely said, ‘In the silence of the heart, God speaks.’

Give yourself permission to set aside periods each day as no-tech times. Let your spouse and kids know that you’ll be unavailable during these moments. Do yourself a huge favor by saying goodbye to social media for the entire pilgrimage. The peace and freedom that come from logging out of your apps will greatly enhance your ability to listen to the Lord.

There are no “Accidents” on a Pilgrimage 

A dear friend of mine, Father Bob, always says that every encounter, missed road, found holy card, closed coffee shop, and more should be considered a gift or even providential—opportunities to be challenged by and learn from.

These events can signify God’s guidance, offering lessons in patience, trust, introspection, and a greater awareness of God. They invite us to reflect on our journey, deepen our faith, and recognize divine providence. These incidents may be so profound that they warrant extended discernment, prayer, and discussion with your spiritual director, helping us grow closer to Christ and the Church.

Your Next Pilgrimage Does Not Count as Your Vacation

Many of us are overburdened, or more bluntly, burnt out, ladies! A pilgrimage provides an opportunity for rest, peace, affirmation, healing, consolation, and even new life direction.

Pilgrimages can also offer the chance to thank God for an answered prayer or to present Him with a particular intention. Personally, I have found pilgrimages to be a time for profound self-discovery and a deeper self-awareness of my needs and how I interact with others. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely needed!

However, the purpose of a pilgrimage may not be clear to you when you set out and might not become clear for months or even years. This is not the goal of vacations and certainly not how the typical person plans their next getaway.

When I picture a vacation, I think of sand volleyball, kayaking, margaritas, shopping, and silly shenanigans with family and friends—all of which I also think are essential for health and sanity! Pilgrimages provide something deeper and longer-lasting, though. Do you see my point?

Time with others is another distinguishing factor in these necessary rest times. While the focus of a pilgrimage is your relationship with God (even if you go with others), the focus of a vacation is often the relationship with the people who accompany you.

To learn more about the purpose of pilgrimage, its history, and age-old insights into where to make a pilgrimage, consider reading David Baldwin’s “Why Pilgrimage?”