Hey Deacon

Earlier this month, I went on a “pilgrimage” with Beth and 36 others to Ireland and Scotland – a religious journey to visit sacred sites. While there were moments that I felt God’s quiet presence when visiting some of the beautiful, holy places; there were other aspects of this trip that had a more touristy flavor, like a vacation.  In retrospect, I suppose my travel was closer to a ‘holy vacation”.  The word “pilgrim” comes from the Latin word “peregrinum” which conveys the idea of wandering over a distance.

 A pilgrimage is not purposeless wandering. It is a journey with a higher purpose and that purpose is to honor God. Pilgrimages are steeped in religious history. It all started around 957 BC when the temple was built at Jerusalem and, all Jewish men were obliged to present themselves there for three major feasts: the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles.  Like our Jewish ancestors, pilgrimages became a significant part of the Catholic tradition beginning in the 4th Century when Emperor Constantine ended the persecution of Christians. This made it possible for Christians to safely travel to different places that were part of Jesus’ life and to the tombs of martyrs and saints.  

A pilgrimage has moral and spiritual significance. It typically involves embarking on a journey to a shrine or site that the pilgrim considers important in light of faith and religious convictions. There is much to see, discover and learn.  There is also a rich, inner transformation that can be obtained from a pilgrimage.  A pilgrimage allows us to immerse ourselves in the cultural, historical and spiritual aspects of the life of Jesus and the saints. Today, more and more people are using vacation time for pilgrimages.While individual reasons for doing so vary, the overriding act serves as a deep expression of faith and personal reverence for God. Here are a few places from my holy-cation:

Clonmacnoise Monastery is one of the most famous monastic sites in Ireland. Founded by Saint Ciaran in the 6th century. St. John Paul II celebrated Mass there in September 1979. It is one of Europe’s oldest and most important early Christian communities.

Our Lady of Knock (Shrine and Basilica) is in the village of Knock, Ireland, where 15 locals witnessed an apparition in 1879 of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint John the Evangelist, angels, and Jesus Christ (as the Lamb of God). 

The Cliffs of Moher tower over the rugged west Clare coast. One of God’s wonderous creations overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Aran Islands. The Cliffs’ natural beauty has inspired artists, musicians, poets and tourists/pilgrims for generations.

  St. Patrick Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.  It is not a Roman Catholic Cathedral. It refers to itself as a House of Prayer for All Nations.  

Stained glass windows display biblical stories within St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. The church where John Knox preached the Reformation.
 St. Giles is the mother church of the Church of Scotland and informally of world Presbyterianism. 

The tower of Glasgow University,  the fourth oldest university, in Europe, was the inspiration for Hogwarts of  Harry Potter fame.

Deacon Dan having a cold one at Sean’s Pub, the oldest pub in Ireland dating back to 900 AD.



Author Bio:
 Deacon Dan Vaughn