Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain EOP 2007
Sanford, NC
In Session III we examined a small sample of pilgrimages in a variety of religious traditions other than Christianity. Session IV looks at pilgrimages practiced by Christians in a number of places where that tradition is dominant. While pilgrimages in the Roman Catholic tradition will be emphasized, we shall also look briefly at pilgrimages made by members of other Christian groups.
I. Some preliminary considerations.
A. The divisions of Christianity.
1. Very early groups (Nestorians, Coptics, etc.).
2. The major early groups.
a. Eastern Rite (Orthodox).
b. Western Rite (Roman Catholic).
3. The first Protestants (Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican, etc.).
4. Post Reformation offshoots (mostly late 19th and 20th century creations--Quakers, Seventh Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, Evangelicals, Mormons, Unification Church, etc.).
B. Pilgrimage eras.
1. Early Christian era to about 800 AD, few pilgrimages mostly to the Holy Land.
2. The great Age of Pilgrimage: 800-1500AD.
a. The Crusades as pilgrimage.
b. The Reconquista as pilgrimage.
c. Heresy and pilgrimage.
3. The Decline of pilgrimage: 1500 to late 19th Century.
a. Pilgrimage and indulgences.
b. The reformation.
i. Anti-indulgence reactions.
ii. Dissolution of monasteries.
iii. The counter reformation and the Jesuits.
b. Pilgrimage as an internal journey not travel (Bunyan).
4. The revival of pilgrimage: late 19th century to present.
a. Apparitions.
b. Communications.
II. Roman Catholic pilgrimages.
A. Some Characteristics of the Great Age of Pilgrimage.
1. The Western Church was united.
a. Devotions were standardized.
b. Theology and liturgy were agreed upon.
c. Monasticism.
2. Western Europe was Christianized.
a. Heresy was brought under control.
b. Last non-Christian areas (Scandinavia, Poland, etc.) were Christianized.
3. The threat of Islam.
a. Palestine.
b. Iberia.
B. Evolution of specific "devotions" (cults).
1. Saints.
a. Martyrs.
b. Founders of church institutions.
c. Popes and princes of the Church.
d. Emperors, kinds and other secular leaders.
e. Other holy persons.
2. Mary: Events in Mary's life.
a. Annunciation.
b. Childhood of Christ.
c. Death and resurrection of Christ.
d. Assumption of Mary.
3. Relics and icons.
a. Many shrines to Saints and to Mary have relics and icons!
b. Relics related to the Christian story (holy grail)
c. Relics related to Church history.
4. Replica Pilgrimages.
a. Copies of important places in the Christian story (Walsingham).
b. Copies of relics and icons located elsewhere (Esquipulas and Chimayo).
III. Pilgrimage destinations.
A. Most pilgrimages over fairly short distances.
1. Local saints and Romerias.
2. National saints and their shrines.
B. The 3 Great pilgrimages of Roman Catholicism.
1. Palestine.
2. Rome.
3. Santiago de Compostela (to be discussed in detail in Session VII).
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