Places of Pilgrimage for Christians (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

Lourdes as a place of pilgrimage for Christians

• Lourdes, in France, is one of the most popular sites of pilgrimage for Catholic Christians

  • It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary

• In 1858, a 14-year-old girl named Bernadette Soubirous saw 18 visions of the Virgin Mary

  • In the visions, Mary told Bernadette to dig in the ground, and a spring appeared

  • Bernadette’s friend is believed to have been healed in the waters of the spring

• A number of unexpected healings and cures have taken place since that time, and several have been called miracles

• Pilgrims visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and pray at the grotto where the vision of Mary is said to have taken place

• Pilgrims also participate in a torchlight procession that takes place each evening, before Mass is celebrated in the grotto 

• Many pilgrims also confess their sins at the chapel of reconciliation 

The importance of pilgrimage to Lourdes for some Christians

• The waters from the spring at Lourdes are said to have healing properties

  • In the hope of being healed, many sick people visit Lourdes each year

• Although they may not be physically healed, many people say that they feel strengthened and have a deeper faith in God after their pilgrimage to Lourdes

• Prayers and services at Lourdes are considered to bring real blessings to the pilgrim

• Many people take the chance to confess their sins and feel spiritually cleansed

• Visiting Lourdes helps Catholics to understand more about the Virgin Mary and her message of peace 

• They also have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Bernadette, who was declared a saint in 1933 by Pope Pius XI

Rome as a place of pilgrimage for Christians

• Rome, in Italy, is the centre of the Catholic Church 

• Vatican City, within Rome, is the home of the Pope and the headquarters of the Catholic Church

• St Peter went to Rome to preach the faith in the early days of the Christian Church after Jesus had given him the authority to become the first leader of the Church

  • All popes are direct successors to St Peter

• St Peter was crucified and died in Rome

  • His burial place is there, on a hill where the Vatican now stands

• The spot is marked by St Peter’s Basilica

• Rome also contains many other relics, holy buildings and sites connected with the history of the faith

• Rome is a place of great historical importance for Catholics worldwide

The importance of pilgrimage to Rome for some Christians

• Catholics visit Rome on pilgrimage to pray at the holy sites

• They do this to show their unity with the Pope and the worldwide community of believers

• They visit the tomb of St Peter in St Peter’s Basilica and reflect on the martyrdom of St Peter

  • This may deepen their faith

• They may also visit the cathedral of St John Lateran, which is the Pope’s cathedral and considered the most important of all Catholic churches

• They may attend an audience (address) given by the Pope in St Peter’s Square

  • The Pope makes regular appearances, and believers can receive blessings at these events

_{Rome, Vatican, Italy, St Peter’s Square by Vyacheslav Argenberg is licensed under CC BY 4.0}

St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Rome

Bethlehem as a place of pilgrimage for Christians

• Bethlehem is the place where Christians believe Jesus was born 

• The most important site in Bethlehem is the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square

  • Inside this is the Grotto of the Nativity, which is said to mark the exact place where Jesus was born

  • Nearby is the Chapel of the Manger, which marks the place where Mary laid Jesus after he was born

• Bethlehem is also the place where Christians believe Jesus was visited by the shepherds and the Magi (wise men) shortly after his birth

  • Both sets of visitors brought gifts that symbolised the significance of Jesus and his role as Messiah

• Therefore, Bethlehem is seen as a site of great historical importance, as the place where the Incarnation happened

The importance of pilgrimage to Bethlehem for some Christians

• Christians make a pilgrimage to Bethlehem to:

  • Walk in the footsteps of Mary and Joseph, who had to travel there for a census to be taken

  • See the sites associated with their Saviour’s birth

• They attend services in the Church of the Nativity and visit the Grotto of the Nativity and the Chapel of the Manger. Often, they do this at Christmas

• They can pray and focus on the events associated with the Incarnation in the place where it happened, which can deepen their faith and their relationship with God

• Visiting Bethlehem from all over the world helps Christians to share their faith with other believers from different countries. It is a place of unity for Christians from many different denominations

• Even though the exact spots marked as Jesus’ birthplace cannot be proven to be the correct locations, they are still seen as part of this most significant event in Christian history

Nazareth as a place of pilgrimage for Christians

• Nazareth is recorded as the place where Jesus spent his childhood

• Christians from all denominations visit places in Nazareth that are said to mark sites of importance to Jesus’ family

• There are several places of historical importance that pilgrims can visit in Nazareth, including:

  • The Church of the Annunciation, which marks the site of the home of Mary, the mother of Jesus

    • Many Christians believe that this is where Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel, who told her that she would give birth to a son whom she should name Jesus

  • The Church of Saint Joseph, which marks the location where Mary’s fiancé, Joseph, had a carpentry shop

The importance of pilgrimage to Nazareth for some Christians

• Christians have similar reasons for making the pilgrimage to both Nazareth and Bethlehem

• Both places are of significant historical importance in the birth and early life of Jesus; therefore, visiting these sites allows believers to walk in the footsteps of Mary and Joseph and dwell on the events of the Incarnation

• Some pilgrims walk between Nazareth and Bethlehem as part of their pilgrimage

  • This is to follow in the footsteps of Mary and Joseph, who travelled to Bethlehem shortly before Mary gave birth to Jesus 

• At Nazareth, pilgrims have the opportunity to pray in the church that marks the place of the Angel Gabriel’s promise to Mary

• Being in this location helps them to reflect on the faith Mary showed in saying “yes” to God and taking on the responsibility of giving birth to the Son of God

• This can deepen their devotion to Mary, the Holy Family and the Incarnation, and it can increase their faith in God and their understanding of the significant historical events of their faith

• Visiting Nazareth helps to unite Christians with believers from different countries. Like Bethlehem, Nazareth is a place of unity for Christians from many different denominations

Jerusalem as a place of pilgrimage for Christians

• Jerusalem is a holy city for all Christians because it is where Jesus was crucified

• Christians may travel to Jerusalem on pilgrimage to visit the places where Jesus walked and remember the key events in the last week before Jesus’ crucifixion, known as Holy Week

• Significant locations in Jerusalem that Christians may visit include:

  • The Garden of Gethsemane, which is where Jesus prayed after the Last Supper with his disciples

    • This is where he was arrested by the Romans and taken to trial; Christians may visit here to pray and reflect on these events

  • The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is built at Golgotha

    • This is the site where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and buried

  • The Garden Tomb, just outside Jerusalem’s city walls, is an alternative site marking the death and burial of Jesus

  • Via Dolorosa, which is the street through which Jesus carried his cross on the way to his crucifixion

    • Christians follow this route and walk the very path that Jesus walked to his death in the hope that they will follow him to heaven

  • Church of the Ascension, which marks the site of the Ascension 

    • A stone inside the Church is believed to contain the imprint of Jesus’ footstep

The importance of pilgrimage to Jerusalem for some Christians

• As with Bethlehem and Nazareth, Jerusalem is an important site of pilgrimage for Christians of all denominations 

  • Visiting allows them to feel closer to Jesus through walking in the same places where he lived his life

• The significance of Jerusalem is associated with the events of the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Jesus

  • These are the most important events to all Christians

• Therefore, Christians visit Jerusalem and its sacred sites to share in Jesus’ life and suffering and to understand what he experienced in the events leading to his death

• This is a way to develop and deepen their faith and strengthen their relationship with God

• From Jerusalem, it is also possible to visit other locations in the Holy Land where Jesus lived and taught