How important was pilgrimage to the medieval Church?
I know it provided it with money, but I don’t know why else it was important and how important
Pilgrimage was an expression of faith in the Middle Ages, and one that was quite profitable for many others aside from the Church.
Pilgrimages were difficult undertakings, and many who set out to visit various shrines didn’t make it back home. There were dangers at every turn, which is why pilgrims often traveled in large groups, as shown in Chaucer’s "Canterbury Tales."
Some of the dangers these people might encounter were thieves, unscrupulous innkeepers, bad food (or none at all), adverse weather, and, depending on their destination, shipwreck or pirates.
Many churches vied with one another for rare relics which would make them destinations for pilgrims. A place such a Rome was as popular as modern theme parks are today; the more relics to be found in a place, the better.
Of course, there were inns that catered to these "tourists," and a lively souvenir business flourished as well. Most shrines offered inexpensive reperesentations of something connected with their shrine, such as the cockleshells that were asssociated with the shrine of St. James at Compostela (in Spain), or representations of the head of St. Denis (in France). You would also find medals and other sacramentals such as rosaries in these places as well.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:57 am
It was an important as a personal and institutional affirmation [statement] of faith, of contrition, of acceptance, of repenting, of testimony, as well as providing a lot of money to the Church and a motivation for the Crusades.
References :
February 16th, 2010 at 5:17 am
Pilgrimage was an expression of faith in the Middle Ages, and one that was quite profitable for many others aside from the Church.
Pilgrimages were difficult undertakings, and many who set out to visit various shrines didn’t make it back home. There were dangers at every turn, which is why pilgrims often traveled in large groups, as shown in Chaucer’s "Canterbury Tales."
Some of the dangers these people might encounter were thieves, unscrupulous innkeepers, bad food (or none at all), adverse weather, and, depending on their destination, shipwreck or pirates.
Many churches vied with one another for rare relics which would make them destinations for pilgrims. A place such a Rome was as popular as modern theme parks are today; the more relics to be found in a place, the better.
Of course, there were inns that catered to these "tourists," and a lively souvenir business flourished as well. Most shrines offered inexpensive reperesentations of something connected with their shrine, such as the cockleshells that were asssociated with the shrine of St. James at Compostela (in Spain), or representations of the head of St. Denis (in France). You would also find medals and other sacramentals such as rosaries in these places as well.
References :
history nut who has always liked the Middle Ages