What is a Pilgrimage?
A pilgrimage is a journey of a person or persons to a shrine or holy place. It is usually to ask for a favor or to thank God for blessings in their lives.
Who is a Pilgrim?
A Pilgrim is a wanderer, a wayfarer; one who travels from home to visit a holy place.
For generations Native American Indians, the Hispanics of the Southwest and people who have faith in Pilgrimage have traveled to El Santuario de Chimayo, located in Northern New Mexico, to ask for a healing for themselves, for others, and to offer prayers of petition or prayers of thanksgiving for favors received.
Santuario means Santuary and El Santuario has been called, "The Lourdes of America" because of the many healings that have taken place there. People traditionally traveled there by themselves or as a family or group.
Text by Sister Emilia Atencio, OP.
