Life is interesting. Mine has been blessed with opportunity, something I sometimes take for granted and even neglect at times. As a cradle Catholic, I have been blessed with a strong network of family and friends who share my faith and have helped to nurture it. My mom is a cradle Catholic. My dad is … Read More
The Journey to Christmas
It was late when my plane touched down in Tel Aviv, but after years of anticipation, I had finally made it – I was in the land of Jesus and the Gospels! It was dark as our bus worked its way through the hill country of Israel on its way to our first stop: Bethlehem. … Read More
I Saw the Sign
This phrase brings back more than just an amazing song from my youth. They remind me of one of the most poignant and memorable aspects of walking the Camino de Santiago – seeing the signs along The Way that helped direct me on the path towards Santiago. I, like all Camino pilgrims, watched eagerly for … Read More
Moses: Pilgrimage to the Promised Land
excerpted from “Great Pilgrims of the Old Testament” Many years after the death of Joseph, the new kings had no appreciation of how Joseph had saved Egypt from the great famine. The Hebrew people had become so numerous, that the pharaoh began to fear them and decreed that all male Hebrew babies must be drowned … Read More
How a Pilgrimage to My Ancestors’ Homeland Restored My Faith
My adult faith had never been lower than the first time I set my big, wide Irish feet on actual Irish soil. My beloved grandmother had passed away a few months before the trip. I’d inherited her rosary, the one on which each bead represented to her one member of her family of nine children … Read More
Packing Like a True Pilgrim
When preparing for a pilgrimage, packing your bag for the journey ahead can err on the side of intimidating. If you are an experienced traveler, you may be in possession of that special grace that allows you to perform this task with ease. If this your first rodeo however, don’t worry, I’m here to help. … Read More
5 Ways to Make Your Pilgrimage an Act of Faith
A dear friend and I were talking about our upcoming summer travels. She was taking a mission trip to Africa. I was traveling to the decidedly first-world locations of England, France and Ireland. “It’s a pilgrimage,” I explained, “like an old-fashioned, medieval pilgrimage—but, well, with planes.” She gave me a very gracious but confused smile, … Read More
When All the Candles Go Out: Our Family’s Lourdes Lesson
By Erin McCole Cupp “You’re going to Lourdes? Oh, the Candlelight Rosary Procession—it’s so beautiful! You’ll love it.” I heard this from many corners as we prepared for our family’s pilgrimage. As the summer approached, our family read books about Lourdes, poured over the Lourdes website, and watched videos and documentaries. I remember the five … Read More
Our Lady of Silence: A Pilgrimage to Knock
By Erin McCole Cupp “Uncomfortable silence” is a phrase that has taken on multiple meanings of late. We can’t drive without the radio playing. We can’t sit anywhere without the buzzing of this text or that notification. We can’t even let our minds be quiet for more than thirty seconds before we pull out the … Read More
How Pilgrimage Changes Lives
As Pilgrim Relationship Coordinator, I have the privilege of interacting with hundreds of pilgrims each year, both before and after their transformational pilgrimage experiences. Through these encounters – on the phone or via e-mail – I know it is not an exaggeration to say a pilgrimage is a life-changing event in the faith life of … Read More
5 Ways to Keep the Spirit of Pilgrimage Alive When You Return
Pilgrimage changes people. It enriches their lives, brings them closer to each other, and – most importantly – closer to God. When they return home, it’s with a renewed sense of self, a renewed purpose, and a strong desire to grow Christ’s kingdom in their own communities. Having experienced God in such a profound and … Read More
The Concrete Jungle of Barcelona: Exploring the Sagrada Familia Part 3
When I first stepped foot inside the Sagrada Familia almost four years ago I was more than a little offended when a fellow art student commented that this iconic structure was “ugly.” In last week’s article, I explored the two completed facades and how they encapsulate the fullness and depth of the Catholic faith. Read More…
The Concrete Jungle of Barcelona: Exploring the Sagrada Familia Part 2
The Barcelona skyline isn’t really that impressive. All of the buildings tend to blend together; they share the same brown color and none of them soar higher then 3 or 4 stories tall. So when your eye wanders upon the vast Sagrada Familia in the distance, it seems even greater in size. Read More…
The Concrete Jungle of Barcelona: Exploring the Sagrada Familia Part 1
When I first walked through the doors of the Sagrada Familia, I entered as a study abroad art student, not a pilgrim. My breath was immediately taken away by the magnificent dancing colors of the grand windows and the columns that seemed to branch up into the sky for miles. Read More
10 Things You’ll Wish You Brought on Pilgrimage
Preparing to go on a pilgrimage is a very exciting experience. We know it can be difficult when you’re preparing to go into the unknown, so we’ve compiled suggestions from a former pilgrim of a few things you might overlook that will help you make the most of your journey:
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