Bare footed pilgrims

A happier pilgrimage story as tens of thousands of the faithful made their way up Croagh Patrick - Ireland's holiest and highest mountain - yesterday in bright sunshine for Reek Sunday.

This is not for the fair weather pilgrim though. It's a steep and craggy climb and having been made to scale it twice I know the dangers of the loose slates during the descent. One more ascent could send me straight to heaven apparently. But, as I did it with my feet firmly shod in walking boots rather than with bare soles like true pilgrims, I doubt it.

Pilgrimages in general are having something of a resurgence this year. Last week Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor welcomed the news of an increase in pilgrims from the Westminster diocese setting off to Lourdes. And news that Romano Prodi, the Italian PM, has vowed to reopen the Via Francigena the pilgrims' route from Canterbury to Rome taken by Chaucer's Wife of Bath.

Send us your pilgrimage stories.

Comments

[Colonel Bain]

Hello Readers,
Pilgrimages are a part of life with the spanish speaking people of de West. Some how it feels good to walk up a hill to a church or cross an view the Almightie's TV.
One thing for certain there are no reruns on Thou TV!
Giddup... Slow Light'n

[Bill Petro]

Thanks for referencing my article at www.billpetro.com. I also have 2 other articles there on the Location and Tradition surrounding this Pilgrimage associated with St. Patrick.

[6 String Stu]

I'm sure Thou TV has more then one channel too.
"I dreamed I was there, In Hillbilly Heaven. Oh what a beautiful sight"

[Robin Bather]

PLEASE BRING YOUR LITTER HOME ?

No, no, no!

PLEASE TAKE YOUR LITTER HOME.