Why pilgrimage?
Nearly ten years ago, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast were changed forever by Hurricane Katrina. While the world watched the images on television, a familiar refrain has been voiced over and over again by visitors to the region: “I knew it was bad, but until I saw it firsthand, I had no idea it was THIS bad. Pictures just don’t do it justice.”
For those of us who live on the Gulf Coast, we know how true those words are. But, we must never forget that such a sentiment applies as much to beauty as it does to destruction. If you have ever seen the Grand Canyon, or the Statue of Liberty, you know that a postcard or a TV report simply cannot capture the sense of marvel one has when seeing it firsthand.
This is true in the most profound sense when it comes to experiencing the very roots of our Christian history. No picture, no movie, no book, can capture the experience of having your breath taken away by the immensity and history of St. Peter’s Basilica. We all know the story of St. Francis, but never will you feel as in touch with the saint as when you walk the ground he walked, kneel before the very cross that spoke to him, and pray before the incorrupt body of St. Clare, seeing her as he did.
On a CHI RHO EURO pilgrimage to Italy, you will experience the Church as the Body of Christ, unfettered by space and time:
Time: By walking through the Catacombs, you will be united to the sacrifices and dedication of the earliest Christians. You will be inspired by the witness of St. Cecilia, who proclaimed her faith in the Lord even after her death. In prayerfully ascending the Holy Stairs, you will find yourself reflecting on the Passion of the Lord in an altogether new way, knowing that He ascended these very steps on the journey to His death.
Space: At the Holy Father’s Wednesday audience, you will be united with thousands of other pilgrims, coming from every corner of the globe, speaking every language imaginable, all in celebration of the same faith in the one Lord, Jesus Christ. Celebrating Mass in the ancient churches of Rome, you will realize that every celebration of the Eucharist is truly a glimpse of the one eternal liturgy that awaits us all in the Heavenly Kingdom.
A CHI RHO EURO pilgrimage encapsulates the breadth of our Christian journey. From growing in knowledge of the faith, to spending time in contemplation before the Lord, expressing gratitude for the witnesses with which He has graced us throughout the ages, to sharing stories and feasting with your fellow pilgrims, your faith will come alive in all new ways, if you are open to the grace of Christ working in you.
Join us, and encounter the Lord in history, art, architecture, worship, and friendship!
For those of us who live on the Gulf Coast, we know how true those words are. But, we must never forget that such a sentiment applies as much to beauty as it does to destruction. If you have ever seen the Grand Canyon, or the Statue of Liberty, you know that a postcard or a TV report simply cannot capture the sense of marvel one has when seeing it firsthand.
This is true in the most profound sense when it comes to experiencing the very roots of our Christian history. No picture, no movie, no book, can capture the experience of having your breath taken away by the immensity and history of St. Peter’s Basilica. We all know the story of St. Francis, but never will you feel as in touch with the saint as when you walk the ground he walked, kneel before the very cross that spoke to him, and pray before the incorrupt body of St. Clare, seeing her as he did.
On a CHI RHO EURO pilgrimage to Italy, you will experience the Church as the Body of Christ, unfettered by space and time:
Time: By walking through the Catacombs, you will be united to the sacrifices and dedication of the earliest Christians. You will be inspired by the witness of St. Cecilia, who proclaimed her faith in the Lord even after her death. In prayerfully ascending the Holy Stairs, you will find yourself reflecting on the Passion of the Lord in an altogether new way, knowing that He ascended these very steps on the journey to His death.
Space: At the Holy Father’s Wednesday audience, you will be united with thousands of other pilgrims, coming from every corner of the globe, speaking every language imaginable, all in celebration of the same faith in the one Lord, Jesus Christ. Celebrating Mass in the ancient churches of Rome, you will realize that every celebration of the Eucharist is truly a glimpse of the one eternal liturgy that awaits us all in the Heavenly Kingdom.
A CHI RHO EURO pilgrimage encapsulates the breadth of our Christian journey. From growing in knowledge of the faith, to spending time in contemplation before the Lord, expressing gratitude for the witnesses with which He has graced us throughout the ages, to sharing stories and feasting with your fellow pilgrims, your faith will come alive in all new ways, if you are open to the grace of Christ working in you.
Join us, and encounter the Lord in history, art, architecture, worship, and friendship!
