Preparing for Your First Catholic Pilgrimage: A Complete Guide
Everything you need to know to prepare spiritually and practically for your first Catholic pilgrimage. From discernment to packing, we cover it all.
Michael Kovnick
Key Takeaways
- Pilgrimage is a spiritual journey that requires both interior and exterior preparation
- Choose a destination that resonates with your spiritual needs and devotional life
- Begin spiritual preparation at least one month before departure
- Practical preparation includes documentation, health considerations, and proper packing
- The journey itself is as important as the destination
What Is Pilgrimage?
Pilgrimage is one of the oldest and most powerful practices in our Catholic tradition. From the earliest days of the Church, the faithful have traveled to sacred places—to venerate relics, to seek healing, to deepen their faith, and to walk where the saints have walked.
But pilgrimage is more than travel to a holy place. It is a physical expression of a spiritual journey. The exterior movement mirrors an interior one: the pilgrim leaves behind the familiar, enters into the unknown, and opens themselves to transformation by grace.
As Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “Pilgrimage is a journey of faith and, at the same time, a physical journey: walking, traveling, covering a distance, all this is an image of our inner life.”
Discerning Your Pilgrimage
Before you book a single flight or reserve a hotel, the most important preparation is interior. Spend time in prayer discerning:
Why do you feel called to pilgrimage? The answer might be clear—devotion to a particular saint, gratitude for a grace received, a need for healing or clarity. Or it might be simply a gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit. Both are valid.
Where are you being called? Some pilgrims feel drawn to particular places: Rome, the center of our Catholic faith; the Holy Land, where our Lord walked; Marian shrines like Lourdes or Fatima. Others may be called to the tomb of a particular saint whose intercession they seek.
When is the right time? Pilgrimage requires setting aside the normal rhythms of life. Consider your work and family obligations. Think about liturgical seasons—Holy Week in Jerusalem, a Marian feast day at Lourdes. Plan far enough ahead to prepare well.
Spiritual Preparation
The most transformative pilgrimages begin weeks or months before departure. This interior preparation opens the heart to receive the graces that await.
Begin With Confession
Before departing, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pilgrimage is a journey of conversion, and we prepare best when we begin with clean hearts. Consider making a thorough examination of conscience, perhaps reviewing a longer period of your life.
Prayer and Fasting
Intensify your prayer life in the weeks before departure. If you’re traveling to a Marian shrine, pray the Rosary daily. If visiting the tomb of a saint, read their writings and pray their devotions. Consider adding fasting—perhaps on Wednesdays and Fridays—as a form of penitential preparation.
Study and Reading
Learn about your destination. Read the history of the shrine, the lives of saints associated with it, the approved apparitions if visiting a Marian site. This is not mere tourism research; it is forming your heart to receive what you will encounter.
Set Your Intentions
What graces are you seeking? Physical healing? Spiritual direction? Deeper conversion? Write these intentions down. Share them with your spiritual director or confessor. You will carry these intentions in your heart throughout the journey.
Practical Preparation
While spiritual preparation is primary, practical preparation enables the pilgrimage to unfold without unnecessary stress.
Documentation
- Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your return date
- Check visa requirements for all countries you’ll visit
- Make copies of all important documents and store them separately from originals
- Register with your country’s embassy if traveling to sensitive regions
Health Considerations
- Consult your doctor about travel health, especially for the Holy Land or developing regions
- Carry sufficient prescription medications, plus copies of prescriptions
- Consider travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation
- Check if any vaccinations are recommended or required
What to Pack
Pack light—pilgrims carry only what they need. Essential items include:
- Comfortable walking shoes (broken in before you travel)
- Modest, layered clothing suitable for churches and shrines
- A head covering for women visiting certain churches
- A small prayer book or devotional
- A journal for recording graces and insights
- Rosary beads and any devotional items you wish to have blessed
Financial Preparation
- Notify your bank of travel dates and destinations
- Carry some local currency for small purchases
- Know the tipping customs of your destination
- Budget for offerings at shrines and churches
The Journey Itself
Remember that pilgrimage begins the moment you leave home, not when you arrive at the shrine. The journey itself is part of the spiritual experience.
Traveling as a Pilgrim
- Begin each day with prayer
- Offer the discomforts of travel as small penances
- Remain interiorly recollected, even in airports and train stations
- Be charitable to fellow travelers
At Sacred Sites
- Approach each holy place with reverence and silence
- Participate fully in the liturgies offered
- Take time for personal prayer, not just sightseeing
- Light candles and offer petitions for those who asked for your prayers
- Be open to unexpected graces
Community
If traveling with a group, embrace the community aspect of pilgrimage. Pray with your fellow pilgrims. Share your spiritual experiences (as appropriate). Support those who struggle with the physical demands. This is the Church on the road together.
Returning Home
The pilgrimage does not end when you return home. In many ways, integration of the graces received is the most important phase.
Continued Prayer
- Complete any promises made at shrines
- Continue devotions begun during the pilgrimage
- Pray for your fellow pilgrims
Sharing the Grace
- Share your experience with family and faith community
- Distribute blessed items you brought home
- Offer any sacramentals received (holy water, medals) to those who requested them
Living Differently
The ultimate fruit of pilgrimage is conversion of life. What has changed in you? What habits of prayer will you maintain? How has your encounter with the sacred transformed how you live?
Choosing Your First Destination
For first-time pilgrims, certain destinations offer particularly accessible introductions to pilgrimage:
Rome: The heart of Catholicism, with major basilicas, centuries of Christian history, and the tombs of SS. Peter and Paul. Ideal for those seeking connection with the universal Church.
The Holy Land: Walking where Jesus walked transforms how you read Scripture forever. Best suited for those with some pilgrimage experience or traveling with a well-organized group.
Lourdes, France: Accessible, well-organized, and profoundly healing. Especially recommended for those seeking physical or spiritual healing.
Fatima, Portugal: Smaller and more intimate than Lourdes, with a powerful message of prayer and penance. Good for those drawn to Marian devotion.
Assisi, Italy: The town of St. Francis offers a gentle introduction to pilgrimage in a beautiful Umbrian setting.
Final Thoughts
Pilgrimage is not vacation. It is not tourism. It is a sacred journey undertaken with faith, hope, and love. Prepared well, it can be among the most transformative experiences of your spiritual life.
Begin now. Set your intention. Open your heart. And trust that the God who called you to pilgrimage will provide every grace you need for the journey.
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” — Psalm 84:5