A Pilgrimage Can Change Your Life

By Author: Gordan Zovko
Total Articles: 21
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On a pilgrimage, the devout experience spiritual enlightenment along with forging strong relationships with people from other cultures. Being a pilgrim is an ancient practice and natural urge of human beings. In modern times too, sacred tours are undertaken by individuals and groups to seek the divine. Catholic tours are one such means for Christians and people of other faiths, to discover the miracles of divine blessing.

The religious and the devout, spend their entire lives in search of divine presence and intervention. Since ancient times, those who seek blessings or wish to do penance, have been taking arduous pilgrimages to holy places. A pilgrimage is an act of devotion to God, where divinity is experienced through the people, the places and the different situations, that a pilgrim encounters. Any sacred voyage combines the physical journey with spiritual revelation and soul-searching. In this way, a pilgrimage becomes a spiritual journey which takes the faithful closer to God.

A pilgrim experiences the enrichment of not only the soul, but also the mind as he/she gains appreciation of other people’s ...
... culture, history and way of life. By taking part in a pilgrimage, the devout sees how other people pray, live, eat and drink. A pilgrimage also brings together people of similar faith. The shared interests lead to forming friendships that sometimes last long after the pilgrimage is over.

A very long and respected history precedes the modern day pilgrimages of all religions. Believers, whether they be Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus or from other faiths, have since earlier times sought the broadening experience of a pilgrimage. This tradition has been carried forward by the devout in modern times in much the same way, an example of which are the many Catholic tours organized for pilgrims. These customized tours take pilgrims from around the world on a sacred trip to revered Catholic shrines in Europe and elsewhere. You can tour holyland, Italy, Poland, Croatia, Portugal, Irelan and revered sites in other countries. The Czech Republic, Ireland, France, Austria, Jordan, Russia, Egypt, Scotland, England and Germany form some of the other popular destinations. These pilgrimage destinations include historical locations associated with Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Catholic saints, Marian Shrines in Medjugorje, Fatima and Lourdes, the sites of relics of Christ or a saint, Catholic sanctuaries and the locations of miraculous statues, Eucharistic miracles and apparitions of Our Lady. Whether it is the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem or Domine Quo Vadis in Rome or it is House of the Virgin in Ephesus or the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, whatever your sacred destination may be, you can undertake the journey with like-minded people, in a well-organized tour and in keeping with your budget.

Whether it is a parish on a mystical journey or a priest or a pilgrim in search of the divine, these sacred tours offer the personal touch in planning the pilgrimage. A chance to meet local people and mingle with them is part and parcel of these customized tours. Apart from planning the visits to holy sites, needs like transportation, accommodation, meals and other requirements are well-looked after at competitive prices. So, what are you waiting for? Take a spiritual journey and experience the miracle that can change your life forever.

The author of this article is associated with Blue Heart Travel LLC which is renowned for its holyland catholic pilgrimage, apart from its other catholic tours. The writer is a devout Christian who believes that a pilgrimage helps people to shed prejudices and enrich themselves with new ideas. After each of his many tours, the author felt invigorated, filled with spiritual zest for life and found his soul cleansed from doubt.