The Theology of Pilgrimage
A subject close to my heart, Dr. Taylor Marshall just released a series of videos in which he asks “Is there a theology of pilgrimage?”
Tag: Pilgrimage
Wise Words on Wednesday: What kind of pilgrim are you?
“We are but pilgrims in this present world, journeying to our heavenly homeland. But we have a choice: we can be like whining children, grating the ears of their parents in the front seats with cries of ‘are we there yet?’—or we can entertain our fellow pilgrims with humor and good cheer?”
– Fr. Innocent Smith O.P. in an article about Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Camino Tips: Equipment
Probably the most important thing to consider when preparing for the Camino is your pack. In assembling mine, I consulted the list of recommendations found in a companion book I had bought, as well as some other lists I found online. Here is a categorized list of everything I carried on my back along the Camino:
Walking Gear
Backpack (with rain sheet)
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trouser/pants covers
Hat (for sun/rain)
Sunglasses
Suntan lotion (SPF 30+)
Buff Headwear (great for keeping the sun off your neck)
Trainers/sneakers for exploring the town in the evenings (Optional)
Clothes
Long sleeve (quick-dry) tops x2
T-shirt (quick-dry) x1
Trousers which convert to shorts x2
Underwear x2
Socks x4
A pair of shorts to be used as pyjamas
Sleeping
Sleeping bag (liner)
Inflatable pillow
Washbag
Flip-flops for the shower
Toothpaste/Toothbrush/Floss
Nail clipper
Quick-drying towel
Laundry
Concentrated washing liquid
Scrubba (Optional, but very convenient and a great conversation starter)
Plastic Clothes Pegs
Other
First Aid Kit (Compeed, scissors, band-aids/plasters, tape)
Phone (and charger)
Camino Scallop Shell (Buy in St. Jean)
Camino Guide Book/Maps
$300 in Euros and an ATM card
I’ll be drawing particular attention to some of these items in subsequent posts.
Equipment | Before you leave home | On the road | Staying in Hostels
Returning from the ends of the earth…
Hey everyone! This is just a quick note to say that I’m safely back from pilgrimage to the Camino De Santiago in Spain. Over the last month, I walked over the Pyranees from France, all the way on foot to the Cathedral of St. James. For good measure I then walked the final three days to Finisterra and the Atlantic Ocean!
Please expect to see regular activity on this blog resume in the coming days, including a more detailed reflection of my time away on pilgrimage. Buen Camino!
Today I start walking…
Today I start walking the Camino De Santiago. As I was sorting out my paperwork in my old room at home, I came across a prayer of Thomas Merton which seems appropriate…
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it”
– Thomas Merton, Thoughts on Solitude
Catholic Bucket List #4: Go on pilgrimage
The previous bucket list task of lighting a votive candle was rather simple. This next bucket list item is a little more involved…
Bucket List Item #4: Go on pilgrimage
The Catholic Church has an extremely rich history of pilgrimage. From the earliest times Christians have travelled to places of significance for the Christian faith. The hope in visiting such places is that the pilgrim’s faith will grow and that he would be enriched by process of the journey. The journey is itself an allegory for the Christian journey through life, a pilgrimage towards Heaven.
Pope John Paul II in Jerusalem
Beginning the final leg of the pilgrimage
Yesterday Pope Benedict officially stepped down as Pope. We must continue to pray for him and for his successor…
“I am simply a pilgrim beginning the last leg of his pilgrimage on this earth.” – Pope Benedict XVI