Chartres, France, Jun 13, 2019 / 03:01 am (CNA).- More than 14,000 Catholics walked 62 miles from Paris to Chartres Cathedral in three days in an annual Pentecost pilgrimage of prayer and penance.
Pilgrims from across the globe trekked through the French countryside June 8-10 praying the rosary, singing, and talking together, stopping only for Mass and to camp for the night.
“Each year it is a great moment because we can leave our work, leave Paris, leave everything to concentrate on our faith and prayer. I think it is the spiritual summit of our year,” 31-year-old Parisian Raphaëlle de Feydeau told CNA.
Feydeau has walked the Chartres pilgrimage together with her family over Pentecost weekend annually for the past thirty years. Her mother carried her along the way when she was an infant.
“When we walk sometimes we are in silence, sometimes we sing, we pray, and we have time to speak to each other,” Raphaelle’s mother, Sybil Feydeau, added. “It is a good place to meet Christ, and to look at one’s life and decide what I could do better … What does God want me to do with my life?”
The tradition of walking from Notre Dame to Chartres Cathedral dates back to the 12th century as a stage in the route of the Camino de Santiago. Chartres Cathedral, built between 1194 and 1220, has been an important pilgrimage destination throughout French history due to its relic of the Virgin Mary’s veil and its blue rose window depicting Mary holding Christ.
Today the Pentecost Chartres pilgrimage is the largest of its kind in Western Europe, in both number of participants and distance covered.
The pilgrimage’s opening Mass, traditionally held in Notre-Dame de Paris, was moved this year to Paris’ second largest church, San Sulpice, due to the damage caused by a fire that destroyed Notre-Dame’s spire and timber roof in April.
The pilgrimage is divided into four age groups with varying difficulty and pace, including a “family group” in which parents with children 6 and under camp and walk a portion of the route together.
Many of the pilgrimage participants were part of youth groups or Catholic scouting troops, who walked together carrying flags representing their country or region, crosses, and banners with the image of their chosen patron saint.
A 16 year-old from Ireland carried the Irish flag with babies’ feet painted on it to represent her prayer intention for the unborn after abortion was legalized in her country. An engaged couple from Portugal walked the pilgrimage together to consecrate their state of life to Mary. A delegation from New Zealand carried the banner of a French saint, Peter Chanel, who was martyred as a missionary in Oceania.
Catholics from Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern countries walked the pilgrimage with a group representing the French organization SOS Chrétiens d’Orient. The humanitarian group also organized two coinciding pilgrimages for Catholics in Iraq and Syria over Pentecost weekend in solidarity with the Chartres walk.
Twenty-six year old Majd Kassouha, a Syrian, said his intention for his pilgrimage was a prayer for peace.
“I have prayed for peace, especially in Syria, and in all the world because I don’t want other people to live what I have lived, my experience,” Kassouha told CNA. He and his family remained in Aleppo throughout the country’s civil war and said he witnessed the death of many of his friends and family.
“We have to pray … we cannot do anything without praying. We are so weak. That is my experience,” Kassouha, a 26 year-old Melkite Catholic, said. “We need this time to think about our lives and make a meditation.”
Priest chaplains could often be seen walking behind the pilgrimage groups hearing confessions of the young participants. Each group had a chaplain who provided meditations on the saints and catechesis on the social doctrine of the Church and this year’s pilgrimage theme, “The Peace of Christ through the Reign of Christ,” as they walked.
Since 1983 the Pentecost pilgrimage has been organized by Notre-Dame de Chrétienté, currently led by layman Jean des Tauriers and chaplain, Father Alexis Garnier of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.
Because so many people come out in the streets to watch the pilgrimage pass by, this year the organizers added an “evangelization team” to engage with curious onlookers, Notre-Dame de Chrétienté Vice President Hervé Rolland explained.
“Each year we have people asking if they can follow us,” Rolland told CNA. “Two years ago there was a lady who was struck by the children walking … she asked, ‘Can I follow you?’ She did, and six months later she asked to be baptized.”
Rolland said that many vocations have also been discovered or confirmed for young people as they prayerfully walk the pilgrimage.
Three Masses took place over the course of the pilgrimage, each in the extraordinary form, though many private Masses were said as well. On Pentecost Mass took place in a field in the countryside midway through the day’s 20 mile walk.
The culminating Mass was celebrated in Chartres Cathedral by Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard, the emeritus Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussel.
“I want to tell the pilgrims something: the Catholic Church, no matter what anyone says, remains the most beautiful multinational of the world, that is the multinational of faith, hope and charity. Even if we are going through difficult times, we must always say the creed with conviction: I believe that the Church is one, holy, Catholic and apostolic. We must remember it is holy,” Archbishop Léonard told EWTN.
“In troubled times like ours, everywhere but especially in countries like France or Belgium, my country, there is a lot of confusion after the series of scandals we’ve faced, people definitely need to hang on to something sound. I think that an initiative like the Chartres Pilgrimage helps people to become stronger in faith and hope.”
[…]
Be with us O Mary along the way – Guide every step we take.
Pray to God Almighty, in the name of Jesus Christ! Not Mary, that is an abomination to God. Folks, do what’s written in the Bible, not what the leader of a corrupted religion says.
God came to us through Mary, do you not think he would listen to those who come to HIM through her also? She only leads to Jesus.
May I suggest that you read Brent Pitre’s book Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary? Then when you understand the role of the Queen Mother in the Old Testament you will understand why we ask Our Lady to intercede for us.
Eve,
We believe in the Communion of Saints. Perhaps you do too?
If I ask you to pray for our protection against this virus it’s not an abomination. Nor if you ask me or if we ask that of Our Lord’s Mother.
I understand how it might seem confusing if you’re not Catholic but maybe this helps explain a little bit.
Can doctrine be an acceptable alternative to scriptural guidance? People can find comfort in tradition, yet is the apostolic tradition not the best for our eternal souls?
This has been a debate over the generations and if we depart from scripture, what will validate an alternative view? To endorse the perspective that (Mary may her name be blessed) is given a capacity that falls outside of the limits of the Bible, may not be paying proper obeisance to our Lord and saviour!?
The purpose is not to destroy another’s faith, rather, to put matters into the context of Holy Writ. Where do we find the Church doctrinal position confirmed in the Bible?
1 Peter 1:10-12 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
With respect and appreciation.
I (and others) have addressed this several times already, Brian. You write: “and if we depart from scripture, what will validate an alternative view?” But when you accept the NT canon, you “depart” from Scripture, as Scripture does not tell us which books belong in, well, Scripture! But, Scripture does point us to “the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15). Now, we know that this household of God, the Church, is not Protestant, as the Protestant Revolution took place in the 1500s. It’s not complicated. But it is life-changing, so I understand why you keep avoiding it.
Dear Carl:
After a fulsome day of celebrating the Lord, who turns up but your problem child? As we dialogue, our focus is to honour the Lord and clear up misunderstandings which are part and parcel of life.
“But when you accept the NT canon, you “depart” from Scripture, as Scripture does not tell us which books belong in, well, Scripture!”
Is the NT not the fulfillment of the OT? It is a well settled fact through the various councils, the NT is divinely inspired!
We will not look at the Apocrypha as Jerome didn’t consider it part of the canon, however others differed and it found its way in. Yet, did I read somewhere that it is not included in the updated Vulgate?
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
1 Corinthians 2:10-13 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
In any event, what is the scriptural basis on which the churches position is envisioned and extrapolated?
Once again thank you for taking the time, you bring out the best in yours truly (as meagre as it may be)!
Continued blessings,
Brian
1 Corinthians 2:10-13 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
“After a fulsome day of celebrating the Lord, who turns up but your problem child?”
Ha! I appreciate your sense of humor, Brian.
“Is the NT not the fulfillment of the OT?”
Yes, absolutely! We agree on this. But–on what basis do you accept the 27 books in the NT as inspired by Holy Spirit, etc.?
“It is a well settled fact through the various councils, the NT is divinely inspired!”
Ah, there you go. And were those councils Protestant?
Hello Carl:
God has given you energy in abundance. In reading your articles, He has also given you a quest for truth and the desire to educate.
Never the less, your alter ego presents itself as you deliver zingers to recalcitrant commenters on various topics. Yes indeed, it’s the “Papal Bull” in this corner, ladies and gentleman.
As you don your cape and step into the ring to address your challenging characters, a win for the Lord is the goal.
We can agree on a great deal as God leads us. The wonder of His love for us!
We know that Luther and Calvin didn’t show up at the councils, however we can postulate that some of their views may have been discussed long before they were born!
The New Vulgate and the versions used amongst protestant believers are much the same. Koine Greek is used to render the most accurate translation in both cases (NIV, Vulgate, etc)!
God bless you,
Brian
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
2 Peter 1:19-21 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Mark 12:24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?
Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.