May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And the rain fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May you be held in the palm of God’s hand.
Old Irish Blessing
Thirdly, by its very nature, since it is a journey away from the familiar toward the unfamiliar, the pilgrimage is an adventure. Yet the pilgrim must be on guard lest the adventure of the pilgrimage steal his attention away from the “inner-venture”, the inner journey of the Spirit that every person in this world is making towards God. Thus it is necessary that the goals of the journey be always kept in mind so that the temptation to turn the vocation of a pilgrim into the vacation of the pilgrim is realistically faced. A good pilgrimage allows for prayerful attention – to be aware of the movements of the “inner-venture.” (Hays, Edward, Pray All Ways, 2007 p. 75)
Word of God: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
Reflection: What is the difference between the “vocation of the pilgrim” and the “vacation of the pilgrim”?
