What places can you think of that are considered ‘special’ for Christians? Why? Thursday, 14 May 2020 What is a pilgrimage? Key term: Pilgramage BRIDGES: Open-mindedness Lesson objective: - Explore the history of pilgrimage, Church teachings about pilgrimage and explain why pilgrimage is important for Christians today Copy the keywords into your glossary Pilgrimage: a journey by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons; pilgrimage is itself an act of worship and devotion Lourdes: is a town in southwestern France, a major Roman Catholic pilgrimage site. Iona: is a small island in the Inner Hebrides on the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Gaelic monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquillity and natural beauty. Lindisfarne: the Holy Island of Lindisfarne is located off the Northumberland coast. Saint Cuthbert's remains were removed from the island in 875, and were finally transferred to Durham Cathedral in 1104 Walsingham: is in the County of Norfolk. The village is famed for its religious shrines in honour of the Virgin Mary and is a major pilgrimage centre Subtitle: What is pilgrimage? (Make notes from this information into neat books) • A pilgrimage is a journey to a place regarded as holy for the believer. This journey may be made alone or with others. • The believer makes a physical journey but people feel a sense of spirituality and that they are closer to God. The places of pilgrimage are usually linked to Jesus or a saint or to events of religious significance or to healings that are seen to be miraculous (inexplicable by science). • The pilgrimage gives many opportunities for prayer or worship, and is itself an act of worship as believers show devotion to God by choosing to go. Subtitle: What is Christian pilgrimage? (Make notes from this information into neat books) • Pilgrimage has always played an important role in the history of Christianity, though it is not a compulsory duty and many Christians today do not go on pilgrimage. • Christianity has many places of pilgrimage. Some are very ancient eg. The Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, the place of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection and where Christianity began. • • Other places have become pilgrimage sites for Christians within a specific country, for example Canterbury, Walsingham and Lindisfarne in England, Iona in Scotland and Knock in Eire. They link to a key person in the history of Christianity in that place. • Lourdes in France and more recently, Medjugorje in Bosnia Herzogovinia, have become places of pilgrimage due to visions of the Virgin Mary. Subtitle: What is the role and importance of pilgrimage? (Make notes from this information into neat books) Christians go on pilgrimage to: • Grow closer to God and strengthen their faith • Express sorrow for sin and be forgiven • Take time out from stressful every day lives and return refreshed and renewed to cope with the demands of life • Reflect on their lives, particularly when facing a crisis or a big decision • Pray for something special or to thank God for a blessing • Seek a cure for an illness • Help other pilgrims who are disabled or ill • Experience a holy place associated with Jesus, Virgin Mary or holy men and women to gain inspiration and encouragement to lead Christian lives • Meet Christians from different backgrounds and cultures who share their faith. Subtitle: Different views on pilgrimage? (Make notes from this information into neat books) It is not compulsory to go on pilgrimage but it can play an important role in a Christians spiritual life. Some Christians and non-Christians do not think pilgrimage has any value. Some reasons include: • It is often costly and shows poor stewardship, as the money could be put to better use; • It is not necessary, as spiritual development can be gained through regular attendance at church and through daily Bible reading and prayer. • Reading about Jesus and about great Christians of the past gives the same insights as pilgrimage. • Any spiritual ‘high’ may well be temporary and the effects may soon wear off when everyday life kicks in again. Task: Research Lourdes and Iona – see next slide for more detail For this topic you will need to know about two specific, contrasting examples of Christian pilgrimage – Lourdes in France and Iona in Scotland. • Lourdes • Iona Task: Research Lourdes and Iona You will produce the research in the form of a fact file aimed at Christians who want to go on pilgrimage to that place. In your leaflet you will need to include (research these online): • Where Lourdes or Iona are located; • Who are the individuals associated with these places of pilgrimage? • How Lourdes or Iona become a place of pilgrimage; • Why Lourdes or Iona have become important places of Christian pilgrimage; • When did Christians started to go on pilgrimage to that place; • What pilgrims do when they get there? Please do not just copy and paste! This needs to be • Relevant pictures and images. researched and in your own words. Independent Learning/stretch: Find out about a place of pilgrimage in England: • Holy Island or Lindisfarne in Northumbria – associated with Saint Cuthbert • Walsingham in Norfolk, associated with apparitions of the Virgin Mary • Cathedrals of Canterbury, Winchester or St Alban’s, or Bury St Edmund’s Abbey – associated with early saints • Lourdes Lourdes is in south west France and is a site of pilgrimage dedicated to the Virgin Iona – an ancient centre of Christianity Mary. In 1858, a young girl called Bernadette Soubirous had visions of Mary in a grotto (cave) near the river. Bernadette was born in Lourdes in 1844. Her early Iona is a small island off the west coast of Scotland and is known as ‘the childhood was happy but she found learning difficult and was illiterate. In 1854, her cradle of Christianity in Scotland’. In 563CE Columba, an Irish monk, father suffered an accident was which plunged the family into poverty and caused the family to live in a tiny dark room. As a result, Bernadette suffered from asthma settled there. He had left Ireland because of his part in a family feud that and cholera. killed 3,000 people. The Gaelic rulers gave Iona to Columba so that he On 11th February 1858, while she and a friend were by the cave on the banks of the could build a monastery. The monks went out from Iona in small groups, River Gave, Bernadette had the first of her eighteen visions, the last being on 16th July. In one vision, she was told to dig away the growth clogging up the spring and to living amongst pagan people they came across, caring for them and drink the water which became clear. Soon after, a friend with a dislocated arm preaching the Gospel as far as north-eastern Scotland. dipped it into the water and was healed. At first the authorities doubted Bernadette’s claims but the priest was convinced. Bernadette had claimed the woman she saw was Columba had a close friendship with the king as advisor and a diplomat the ‘Immaculate Conception’ – a phrase that Bernadette would not have known, let and he travelled to neighbouring countries on the king’s behalf. The alone linked it to the Virgin Mary. Crowds accompanied Bernadette on her visits to ruler’s sons were educated in his monastery. In return for this, the the grotto. From 18858 to 1862 the bishop carried out an enquiry into Bernadette’s claims. He monastery was given land and protection. concluded that the visions were genuine and that several inexplicable healings had Columba died in 597CE but the monastery’s influence continued, leading taken place to some of those who drank the water or who had bathed in it. Over time, pilgrim numbers increased. Bernadette entered a convent, dying in 1879. to the foundation of new monasteries in Ireland and at Lindisfarne, an Pilgrimage to Lourdes island off the Northumbrian coast. Many cam e on pilgrimage and a series • Each year, pilgrims travel in their tens of thousands from all over the world to: of Celtic crosses and processional roads were built for the • visit the churches of Lourdes, pilgrims. The Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of • take part in the candle lit processions and services, the Gospels was produced there. Repeated Viking • touch the walls of the grotto invasions, beginning in 794ce ended Iona’s influence. • to light candles • to drink and bathe in the spring’s waters. Columba’s remains were removed in 849CE and divided Many pilgrims will take home Lourdes water and souvenirs of the Virgin Mary sold in between Scotland and Ireland as religious relics across a the shops of Lourdes. number of churches. In the UK, Roman Catholic churches organise pilgrimages for the sick or disabled, their families and volunteer helpers. Special provision is made for the needs of the sick in purpose built accommodation that has full medical facilities. The volunteers The Book of Kells accompany the sick and look after them in their rooms and help them to participate In the early Middle Ages, Iona again became a centre of pilgrimage when in the processions. Every Easter a pilgrimage takes place involving 1,000 children who are sick or who Benedictine monks built a monastery with a beautiful abbey church. have special needs, accompanied by their volunteer helpers. Pilgrims did a circuit of all sites, culminating in arriving at St. Columba’s Healings at Lourdes shrine, and from there they went into a crypt beneath the abbey church Since the first cure in 1858 there have been 69 recognised healings that have been to view relics of the saint.