Pilgrimage Flashcards
What is a Pilgrimage?
A pilgrimage is a journey of personal or religious significance. Generally, it is a journey to a holy site or other location of importance to a person’s beliefs and faith. Many religions attach spiritual importance to particular places: the place of birth or death of founders or saints, or to the place of their “calling” or spiritual awakening, or of their connection (visual or verbal) with the divine, to locations where miracles were performed or witnessed, or locations where a deity is said to live or be “housed,” or any site that is seen to have special spiritual powers. Such sites may be commemorated with shrines or temples that devotees are encouraged to visit for their own spiritual benefit: to be healed or have questions answered or to achieve some other spiritual benefit.
Why do people go on a pilgrimage?
People go on a pilgrimage usually with the intention of enhancing their spirituality, engaging themselves into a new culture or finding themselves within the confines of their religion.
Why, where and what do Christians do on pilgrimage?
Christian pilgrimage was first made to sites connected with the birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Aside from the early example of Origen, in the mid second century, surviving descriptions of Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land date from the 4th century, when pilgrimage was encouraged by church fathers like Saint Jerome and established by Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great. Pilgrimages also began to be made to Rome and other sites associated with the Apostles, saints and Christian martyrs, as well as to places where there have been apparitions of the Virgin Mary. A popular pilgrimage site in the past and today is Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, Spain, in reference to the Apostle St. James, The Great. Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales recounts the tales told by pilgrims on their way to Canterbury and the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket.
Why, where and what do Muslims do on pilgrimage?
The pilgrimage to Mecca (the Hajj) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It should be attempted at least once in the lifetime of all able-bodied Muslims who can afford to do so. It is the most important of all Muslim pilgrimages, and is the largest pilgrimage for Muslims. Another important place for Muslims is the city of Medina, the second holiest place in Islam, in Saudi Arabia, where Muhammad rests in Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet). The ihram (white robes of pilgrimage) is meant to show equality of all pilgrims in the eyes of Allah: that there is no difference between a prince and a pauper. Ihram is also symbolic for holy virtue and pardon from all past sins. While wearing the ihram in Mecca, a pilgrim may not shave, clip their nails, wear perfume, swear or quarrel, hunt, kill any creature, uproot or damage plants, cover the head for men or the face and hands for women, marry, wear shoes over the ankles, perform any dishonest acts or carry weapons. If they do any of these their pilgrimage is invalid.
Why, where and what do Buddhists do on pilgrimage?
The most important places of pilgrimage in Buddhism are located in the Gangetic plains of Northern India and Southern Nepal, in the area between New Delhi and Rajgir. This is the area where Gautama Buddha lived and taught, and the main sites connected to his life are now important places of pilgrimage for both Buddhists and Hindus. However, many countries that are or were predominantly Buddhist have shrines and places which can be visited as a pilgrimage.
Why, where and what do Hindus do on pilgrimage?
In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or shrine of importance to a naat faith. Members of every major religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim.
Unlike some other religions, Hindus are not required to undertake pilgrimages during their lifetime. However, most Hindus go on such journeys to numerous iconic sites including those below
Why, where and what do Jews on pilgrimage?
The Temple in Jerusalem was the centre of the Jewish religion until its destruction in 70 CE, and all adult men who were able were required to visit and offer sacrifices (korbanot), particularly during Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.
Following the destruction of the Second Temple and the onset of the diaspora, the centrality of pilgrimage to Jerusalem in Judaism was discontinued. In its place came prayers and rituals hoping for a return to Zion and the accompanying restoration of regular pilgrimages.
The western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, known as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall, remains in the Old City of Jerusalem and this has been the most sacred site for religious Jews. Pilgrimage to this area was off-limits from 1948 to 1967, when East Jerusalem was controlled by Jordan.
There are numerous lesser Jewish pilgrimage sites, mainly tombs of tzadikim, throughout the Land of Israel and all over the world, including: Hebron; Bethlehem; Mt. Meron; Netivot; Uman, Ukraine; Silistra, Bulgaria; Damanhur, Egypt; and many others.
Why, where and what do Sikhs do on pilgrimage?
The Sikh religion does not place great importance on pilgrimage. Guru Nanak Dev was asked “Should I go and bathe at pilgrimage places?” and replied: “God’s name is the real pilgrimage place which consists of contemplation of the word of God, and the cultivation of inner knowledge.”
Eventually, however, Amritsar and Harmandir Saheb (the Golden Temple) became the centre of the Sikh faith, and if a Sikh goes on pilgrimage it is usually to this place considered the spiritual and cultural centre of Sikhs rather than a pilgrimage.
What do pilgrims do at Lourdes?
Lourdes is a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees, famous for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes said to have occurred in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous. At that time, the most prominent feature of the town was the fortified castle that rises up from a rocky escarpment at its centre.
Following the reports that Our Lady of Lourdes did appear to Bernadette Soubirous on a total of eighteen occasions, Lourdes has become a major place of Roman Catholic pilgrimage and of miraculous healings. The 150th Jubilee of the first apparition took place on 11 February 2008 with an outdoor mass attended by approximately 45,000 pilgrims.
There are a number of things that pilgrims do when they are in Lourdes.
The most important is to visit the Grotto where Bernadette saw visions of the Virgin Mary. Pilgrims today walk through the Grotto touching the rock walls (which are now shiny smooth from millions of hands), look at the water spring that Bernadette dug, and pray in front of the niche where Mary appeared.
Mary told Bernadette to dig for and drink from the spring, and to wash in the water. This water is now piped to many taps near the Grotto for people to drink and wash in. Many people fill bottles with this water to take home, or to take to their relatives who are staying in the Lourdes hospitals.
There are also private baths, filled with this water, where volunteers dip pilgrims into the water.
There are two processions in Lourdes: the Eucharistic Procession every afternoon, where the Blessed Sacrament is processed around the Grotto to the Underground Basilica; and the Rosary Procession in the evening, where thousands of pilgrims, holding candles, process from the Grotto around the grounds of the Sanctuaries, and then to the front of the Basilicas. With the thousands of candles, this is a beautiful sight.
While Lourdes is famous for miracles, and many of the sick who visit still hope for a miracle, the main purpose today is to give the sick strength and hope to bear their sufferings.
What do pilgrims do at Mecca?
Once a year, Muslims of every ethnic group, colour, social status, and culture gather together in Mecca and stand before the Kaaba praising Allah together
It is a ritual that is designed to promote the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood by showing that everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah.
The Hajj makes Muslims feel real importance of life here on earth, and the afterlife, by stripping away all markers of social status, wealth, and pride. In the Hajj all are truly equal
The Hajjis or pilgrims wear simple white clothes called Ihram. During the Hajj the Pilgrims perform acts of worship and they renew their sense of purpose in the world
Mecca is a place that is holy to all Muslims. It is so holy that no non-Muslim is allowed to enter
For Muslims, the Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It occurs in the month of Dhul Hijjah which is the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the journey that every sane adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it and are physically able.
What are the stages of Hajj, and what happens?
Day One
The Muslim begins her or his spiritual journey by reciting their intention to perform Hajj. She or he then enters a spiritual state called Ihraam where the Muslim will refrain from things such as cutting their nails and hair, making marriage proposals, hunting or killing animals, sex, and wearing perfume. The Muslim then makes their initial tawaf (circle) around the Kab’ ah. Afterwards, Muslims run between the hills of Safa and Marwa, symbolic of Hajar, wife of Ibrahim, searching for water for their son, Ismail. It is here that water appeared from a well (the well of Zamzam) below Ismail’s feet. The pilgrims then travel to the nearby town of Mina.
Day Two
Pilgrims travel to Arafah after Morning Prayer. Once there, the pilgrims pray and repent for their sins on Mount Rahma (Mountain of Mercy). After this, the pilgrim travels to Mudalifah and collects seventy pea-sized pebbles, which will be used the following day for throwing.
Day Three
Pilgrims travel to Mina and throw stones at the Jamarat, which is the symbol of all the evil in the world. These ceremonial actions represent our continuous battle against evil. While throwing the pebbles, pilgrims recite “God is great” and “in the name of God.” Pilgrims may then sacrifice an animal, consuming one third of the meat, giving one third to friends and family, and giving one third to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha. Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated all over the world. It is a joyous day for all Muslims. Pilgrims then return to Mecca and circle (tawaf) around the Kabaa’.
Day Four
Pilgrims then leave Mecca and return to Medina where they once again stone the Jamarat Pillars, this time stoning three instead of just one. Once again, the pilgrims recite “God is great” and “in the name of God.”
Day Five
Pilgrims stone the Jamarat once again and return to Mecca. Once in Mecca, they once again tawaf around the Kabaa’. This is the “farewell” tawaf. This is an emotional time for the pilgrims because this is the last time they will see the Kab’ ah. This completes the Holy Pilgrimage.
Who was Malcom X, what did he do, and how did pilgrimage change him?
Malcolm X was an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of blacks, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans; detractors accused him of preaching racism and violence. He has been called one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history.
At the age of six Malcolm’s father, a Baptist minister, died in mysterious circumstances, possibly at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan. Eight years later, his mother was committed to an asylum, and Malcolm and his siblings were farmed out to various foster parents and homes.
Malcolm fell into a life of petty crime and in 1946 was jailed for seven years for his part in a robbery. Whilst incarcerated he converted to Islam and became a member of the Nation of Islam, or the Black Muslims. Founded by Elijah Muhammad, the Black Muslims rejected Christianity as a white man’s religion and preached separation of the races.
On his release Malcolm founded the Nation’s newspaper, Muhammad Speaks, which espoused racially controversial views about the natural superiority of blacks. Malcolm, having shed his “slave name”, advocated black separatism and the use of violence, if necessary, to achieve it. His preaching drew new converts and his charismatic style appealed to much of the American black youth.
On February 21,1965, Malcolm was shot sixteen times and killed as he was about to deliver a lecture at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem. He was three months short of his fortieth birthday. Three of Elijah Muhammad’s (The leader of the “nation of Islam”, a black supremacist group Malcolm once was part of) followers were later found guilty of his murder.
Malcolm X, before his trip to Mecca, believed in violence and drastic measures to obtain what he and his people desired. During his religious pilgrimage to Mecca, he saw people of all colors, shapes, and sizes worshiping Allah, their God, together. After this experience, he began to think that all people are the same, and started to believe in nonviolence and brotherhood.
