Pilgrimage Explained for Beginners

Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages

Even today, pilgrimages hold a certain allure for some people, offering paths that have been crossed by Christians and non-Christians for centuries. Destinations remain the same as in the Middle Ages—Jerusalem, Rome, or Santiago de Compostela. While journeys today are more comfortable and shorter, they still pursue the same goal. By travelling to a site of significance, such as the grave or place of activity of a saint or Jesus, one could deepen their faith and feel a special closeness to the worshipped figure.

A distinction must be made between the terms “Wallfahrt”, which usually involves a group travelling to a specific place and “Pilgerfahrt”, where the journey itself is regarded as a spiritual experience and goal. Additionally, there were distinctions between long-distance pilgrimages and shorter / regional journeys that lasted only a few days.

The term “pilgrim” is a loan word from the Latin adjective peregrinus, meaning foreign, strange, or unknown. As a pilgrim, one becomes a stranger embarking on a process of discovery. Pilgrimages were not exclusively a Christian practice but are also documented in other religions, such as Judaism and Islam.

There were various reasons to undertake a pilgrimage. One was to ensure the salvation of one’s soul or seek forgiveness for sins. Additionally, there were thanksgiving and penance journeys, hopes for relief or healing from illnesses, or the promise of intercession by a saint. A pilgrimage could also be undertaken on behalf of another person or as penance for a committed crime. However, pilgrimages were not always solely motivated by religion; they could also be tied to business interests, allowing participants to establish networks and conduct trade.

Information about pilgrimages could be found in so-called pilgrimage guides or pilgrimage reports. The oldest accounts of Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land date back to the 4th century. Pilgrimages were undertaken by all social classes, including women. However, journeys to the Holy Land, especially to Jerusalem, were considered particularly exclusive due to the high costs.

The navel of the world?

The Holy Land, which today encompasses parts of modern Israel and Palestine, was regarded in the Middle Ages as the birthplace and site of Jesus’ ministry and Christian teaching. A special attraction was the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem in the first half of the 4th century. Even after Jerusalem’s conquest by the Arab caliph Omar in 638 C.E., its significance for the Christian world remained, often depicted on maps as the “navel of the world.”

Since early Christian times, sites of Jesus Christ’s ministry have been important destinations for pilgrims. In addition to purely religiously motivated pilgrimages, the Crusades emerged from the late 10th century onward. These movements, which combined religious and political motives, were carried out with military force and understood themselves as a kind of armed pilgrimage aimed at liberating the Holy Sepulcher from “infidels.” The Crusades led to an increased influx of pilgrims and stimulated trade, resulting in an economic boom.

The peak of pilgrimages occurred in the late Middle Ages, partly due to improvements in travel. Transportation routes were expanded and improved, and travel times were reduced. The adoration of saints and relics, as well as the trade in indulgences, reached their height during this time and attracted many. Indulgences absolved sinners of their sins and could be obtained in the late Middle Ages at sites housing relics.

Pilgrims were not allowed to carry weapons during their journey and travelled under a so-called special peace. Nevertheless, travel was not without danger. Pilgrims faced physical risks from external dangers and spiritual temptations. After the fall of Acre in 1291 C.E., journeys to Jerusalem increasingly took place by sea. Muslim rulers became more accommodating to pilgrims from the mid-14th century, leading to a significant increase in pilgrimages.

The usual starting point for a journey to the Holy Land was Venice, where one could “book” a package tour to Jerusalem. In the early 14th century, a pilgrimage cost roughly the same as a stately house. Those unable to afford this could travel as a servant of a wealthy person or at the church’s expense as a cleric. Faster ships, called galleys, could make the crossing in about four weeks, while slower vessels could take up to six months.

In Jerusalem, pious travellers could find accommodation at the Hospital of the Knights of St. John, which was managed by Franciscans living on Mount Zion. To be recognized as a pilgrim in foreign lands, various pilgrimage badges were used; the badge of Jerusalem pilgrims was the palm. These badges served as identifiers and protective symbols. It was common to bring home a souvenir after visiting a pilgrimage site. From the Holy Land, these might include oil from the lamps of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, water from the Jordan River, or the famous Roses of Jericho. Relics were also highly sought after but often difficult to obtain. After completing a successful pilgrimage, these souvenirs could be displayed at home as a memory of the journey.

Pious people in the Middle Ages took on difficult and hard journeys for their religion in the hope of obtaining salvation and redemption.

Author: Katharina Wehl

Source:
Dorninger, Maria E. Pilgerreisen im Mittelalter. Christliche Fernpilgerziele am Beispiel von Jerusalem und Santiago de Compostela. Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg, https://www.plus.ac.at/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/549750.pdf, viewed 15.01.2025.