Tag: Travel

One Pilgrimage Can Bring Us Closer to Becoming Humans Who Project Peace  

Have you ever asked yourself, what can you do to decrease the agitation you feel?

Or for the chaotic thoughts in your mind to stop?

You are not alone. 

And this is potentially not a surprise to you, since you’ve noticed agitation in other people whom you know well, interact with at work, and even barely know.

It’s easy to get into a pattern of blaming that uneasy feeling on our surroundings: The place you live, the stress of work or lack thereof, opposing views of family members, personalities we consider ‘difficult’ to be around, people who drive differently than we do, the list can go on.

Then the thought might enter: If only I could get away for a week, have some quiet time, escape this place/person/issue I’m dealing with, I would feel so much better.

Many can and choose to go on vacation to escape the agitation, hoping to return renewed. The anticipation of that vacation can even create an illusion of happiness and potential peace.

But what happened next? After taking that vacation or weekend ‘break,’ did you find peace? Or did you end up realizing that something else caused you agitation? Then one has to wonder, could the effective solution not be to escape our ‘problematic’ surrounding/person/issue, but in confronting the reality that unless there is a change within ourselves, there is no escaping that uneasy feeling that creeps up.

Why is a Pilgrimage the Start of a Journey Towards Healing and Peace?

If taking the approach of a ‘perfect vacation’ and the ‘perfect getaway plans’ has failed at bringing you peace, why not try the approach of a pilgrimage? Not a trip to fulfill our self-centered needs that never end up getting fulfilled, but a pilgrimage, a paced trip to a holy place, with the intent to connect with God, community, and His plan in your life, thereby starting a path towards peace, not perfect situations, but peace.

True peace is strong because it can’t be shaken by the chaotic world we are called to face. It’s not about finding the perfect moment that will never come in our time on earth; it’s about having the determination to be in the present for others, with the goal of providing hope and solutions to the daily struggles of their life. 

So if you are interested in taking this journey of hope, allow me to provide you with a little insight. A pilgrimage is not a trip where you become a tourist and attempt to reach as many places as possible; it is about analyzing the time you have been given, during this break from responsibilities, to choose a journey of quality, not quantity. Therefore, the places you visit depend on the time available and the responsibilities you have in the present moment. Many times, going to fewer places can create a richer experience, since it allows pilgrims time to focus on evaluating their behavior, their connection with God, and a healthy interaction with others, whether it be with those in your life or whom you will have a brief encounter in the future.

A pilgrim benefits from having time for individual quiet prayer, meaning internal conversations with God to request guidance, strength, wisdom in struggles, and a truthful self-analysis that leads to a positive change.

Part of a pilgrimage is also partaking in community prayer, to be energized with others who also seek a positive change that leads to a peaceful union with God, inner organization, and respectful interaction with others.

So, where can one go for a pilgrimage? Although there are many holy places, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes will be used as an example.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, in France, is equipped with all the aid a pilgrim needs for a full pilgrimage experience, without needing to travel to other places. Besides having space for three Basilicas (houses of God), the Sanctuary also provides the visiting pilgrims with space for solitude prayer (quiet prayer) in its Adoration Chapel. This serene setting allows pilgrims to better connect with God, reflect on lessons learned from experiences, and consider how to cooperate with God’s plan for us. For more information, click on the embedded links.

A pilgrim can also connect with God through His creation. The Sanctuary provides for many places on its grounds where pilgrims can connect with their Creator and self-reflect: The nature in Lourdes is spectacular, and the Sanctuary has many sitting areas around the Gave de Pau river, which passes through it; also, there are many grounds, enhancing a connection with God through His nature. In the Grotto, the holy place where God allowed the Virgin Mary to appear to Saint Bernadette in the 19th century, you can silently pray and ask the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, to intercede for you before her Son, Jesus, so that He sends you His Spirit and guides you through your life journey of transformation.

Can’t wait to experience it? Then, take a look live at https://www.lourdes-france.com/en/lourdesplus/

The Sanctuary also provides pilgrims with the opportunity to connect with God through community prayer, allowing visitors to feel energized and supported by others, and as a reminder that we are called to aid each other in prayer and action. There, you can join the many rosaries prayed at the Grotto in different languages, the famous torchlight rosary-procession at night, Eucharistic procession, Mass at the several basilicas and chapels, Stations of the Cross (meditation on the passion of Jesus Christ to be reminded of His love for us and our call to unite our sufferings to His, to give them the fruitful purpose, such as the conversion of others and ourself), volunteer to help the sick (active prayer), and so much more.

If you decide to also have this experience yourself, don’t forget to partake in confession (which is provided in different languages), the water gesture requested by the Virgin Mary (recommended after confession – to wash ourselves physically and spiritually), and Mass (with several locations, times, and languages available within the Sanctuary).

For more information on all the activities and everything they offer, visit their information center, where you will find helpers ready to aid pilgrims in different languages. Besides what is sacred, which is always free (such as Holy Mass, Confession, the water gesture, Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic and rosary pilgrimage) the following activities that the Sanctuary offers are free: the movie explaining the message of Our Lady of Lourdes, walking guided tour of the places that affected St. Bernadette and her family (the saint to whom the Virgin Mary relayed the message of conversion and our need to pray for others – for more information about the apparitions click on the embedded link), maps, Museum of Miracles (take a look at how God has acted in other people’s lives for them to be a light for others), the Way of the Jubilee, and prayer intentions.

The Sanctuary is accessible and welcoming to pilgrims with disabilities: https://www.lourdes-france.com/en/lourdes-un-sanctuaire-accessible-a-tous/

By investing in a life-changing experience, you can start a journey of healing by saying ‘yes’ to God’s call in your life.

Cooperate with God in bringing hope and peace to others, not just in the charitable organization you plan on volunteering for on the weekends, but in your day-to-day life. How can you bring hope and light into their worrisome day? Sometimes it’s a simple smile, restriction from making a comment, connecting eye-to-eye on a ‘hectic’ day as a silent gesture that you are present and listening to them. Sometimes, even a little humor can be an act of hope and charity (love) to someone carrying a heavy cross.

Being a true pilgrim means bringing your pilgrimage home by sharing your experience with others, known and unknown, not in words that annoy most, but in actions of altruistic love.

And as time goes by, in our daily at-home pilgrimage, with the grace of God, we may be transformed into strong instruments of peace. After a short time, imagine the type of neighbors, friends, leaders, thinkers, workers, and members of the community we could become. Daily interactions in the world would bring us peace by bringing peace to others. 

My new aim is to bring hope and solutions to the unpredictable chaos of life. 

Will you allow yourself to be transformed into a gift of peace?

Heal by being a light in other people’s lives.

Disclaimer: The suggestions shared on this article and or website are not a substitute for professional psychological or psychiatric care, nor a promise of healing. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact a professional or emergency services immediately. NOT MEDICAL, MENTAL, OR HEALTH ADVICE: I am not, nor am I holding myself out to be a doctor/physician, nurse, physician’s assistant, advanced practice nurse, or any other medical professional (“Medical Provider”), psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, counselor, or social worker (“Mental Health Provider”), registered dietician or licensed nutritionist, or member of the clergy. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:  You acknowledge that you are participating voluntarily in using my Website and that you are solely and personally responsible for your choices, actions and results, now and in the future. You accept full responsibility for the consequences of your use, or non-use, of any information provided on or through this Website, and you agree to use your own judgment and due diligence before implementing any idea, suggestion, or recommendation from my Website to your life, family or business.