Publisher Description

The Pilgrim Journey tells the story of pilgrimage in the Western world over the course of two millennia: how pilgrimage was born and grew in antiquity, how it blossomed in the Middle Ages, how it faltered over subsequent centuries only to reemerge stronger than before in modern times. From the legendary journey of the Magi all the way to pilgrimages in the Americas—Chimayó in New Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Canada—the book describes the pilgrim routes and sacred destinations, the pilgrims, the many hazards of travel, and the spiritual motivations and rewards.

Author Biography

JAMES HARPUR is a Cambridge-educated author whose books include The Atlas of Sacred Places, Revelations: The Medieval World, Love Burning in the Soul, and The Gospel of Joseph of Arimathea. He is also an award-winning poet. A passionate walker and traveler to sacred sites, he lives in the west of Ireland.

Table of Contents

Contents Introduction 1 1. What is Pilgrimage? 5 2. Sacred Journeys in Ancient Times 11 3. Early Paths 21 4. The Age of Constantine 29 5. Celts and Anglo-Saxons 37 6. Decline and Revival 51 7. The New Millennium 59 8. Pilgrimage, Relics, and the Afterlife 65 9. On the Road 75 10. Rome 89 11. Santiago de Compostela 97 12. Canterbury 105 13. Jerusalem and the Holy Land 113 14. Changing Attitudes 119 15. From Reformation to Romanticism 125 16. Orthodox Pilgrimage 137 17. Modern Shrines 145 18. Sanctuaries in the Americas 161 19. Reviving the Past 169 Afterword 183 Notes 188 Bibliography 191 Index 196 Acknowledgments 202

Review

"This book provides an engrossing read. We share in the joys and tribulations of pilgrims far and near and are enriched in mind and heart. The author shows much skill in weaving together a rich crisscross of narratives about what it meant to undertake adventurous journeys in premodern times, and about the benefits of pilgrimage today. I highly recommend this inspiring account."
--URSULA KING, author of The Search for Spirituality "Interest in going on pilgrimage is on the rise. The Pilgrim Journey is a fine resource for both the new and the seasoned pilgrim. James Harpur tells a good story, full of earthy details that make this an engaging read. An excellent book."
--LAURA SWAN, author of The Wisdom of the Beguines

Long Description

Pilgrimage in the Western world is enjoying a growing popularity today, perhaps more so than at any time since the Middle Ages. Paths, trails, and roads once again greet spiritual travelers on the move who seek out grand cathedrals and roadside chapels, mountain shrines and ancient abbeys, sacred wells and holy islands. Pilgrim destinations across Europe and in the Americas--including Rome and Santiago de Compostela, Canterbury and Lourdes, Croagh Patrick in Ireland and Iona in Scotland, the basilicas of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupr

Review Quote

"This book provides an engrossing read. We share in the joys and tribulations of pilgrims far and near and are enriched in mind and heart. The author shows much skill in weaving together a rich crisscross of narratives about what it meant to undertake adventurous journeys in premodern times, and about the benefits of pilgrimage today. I highly recommend this inspiring account." --URSULA KING, author of The Search for Spirituality "Interest in going on pilgrimage is on the rise. The Pilgrim Journey is a fine resource for both the new and the seasoned pilgrim. James Harpur tells a good story, full of earthy details that make this an engaging read. An excellent book." --LAURA SWAN, author of The Wisdom of the Beguines

Excerpt from Book

INTRODUCTION In the early twenty-first century, pilgrimage in the West is enjoying a boom, perhaps more so than at any time since the Middle Ages. Shrines such as Lourdes in France, Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and the basilicas of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico and Sainte- Anne-de-Beaupr

Description for Sales People

EVERGROWING INTEREST TODAY IN PILGRIMAGE:Pilgrimage, certainly in the Western world, is a growing phenomenon. Santiago de Compostela in Spain and its Camino pilgrim path are a good example: 2016 saw a new record number of pilgrims (almost 280,000) receiving their "pilgrim certificate" upon arrival in Santiago. What was one of the great medieval pilgrimages declined at the end of the Middle Ages and in early modern times but was revived in the late twentieth century. The Camino received extensive road makeovers and new signposts; and hostels, hotels, shops, and restaurants along it have sprung up or gained a new lease of life. Whole villages have been revived. In 1985 about seven hundred pilgrims made their way to Compostela. The year 1993,drew almost a hundred thousand pilgrims. In the Holy Year of 2010 more than 270,000 pilgrims made the journey. The Pilgrimage by bestselling author Paulo Coelho and the movie The Way also did much to rekindle the fascination with pilgrimage. POTENTIAL BUYERS:--spiritual seekers interested in the history of pilgrimage and how they, too, can become pilgrims today. --history buffs interested in various aspects of western civilization, antiquity and the Middle Ages, and the history of one of the major expressions of popular faith worldwide--pilgrimage. --travelers interested in going on a sacred journey as well as armchair travelers.

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