A Pilgrimage of Thoughts

By Susan Flansburg

I listened to a wonderful podcast recently on Sister Storylab, a project of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. They are a community of Catholic Sisters in Southern California, where they do meaningful work for underserved people. I’ve been privileged to write for them.

This podcast was on pilgrimage, a topic near to my heart. I wrote about it last spring for the Benedictine Sisters, mostly to share ways to go on pilgrimage from – or even at – home.

Sister Jayne Helmlinger, CSJ – General Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange and now president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious – began her segment of the podcast by defining pilgrimage.

“It’s different from regular travel or a vacation, because pilgrimage has an intention to it,” she said.

She then quoted from a short book called The Art of Pilgrimage:

“Before setting out, remind yourself of the purpose of your journey. From now on, there is no such thing as a neutral act. An empty thought. An aimless day.” 

She’s so right!

Pilgrimage wakes you up to your life. It engages you to be present to your life, in all its moments.

It sparks awareness and gratitude.

Indeed, pilgrimage is how to travel every part of our lives, whether on the Camino or walking the dog.

Or sitting, writing to you, at the computer.