Scottish Catholic Observer

In particular the many Scottish Catholics planning to undertake a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine this year will have felt particularly concerned that their long-cherished trips may not be able to go ahead.

Thankfully the dogged efforts of the clean up crews should ensure that pilgrims will still be able to visit the holy place, though much of the shrine may remain shut over the summer.

It is likely that access to the grotto may be more difficult than in past years, especially for those with health issues as many of the paths around the grotto have been washed away entirely. Yet this difficulty should not put anyone off. Pilgrimages are not holidays. If undertaking them is difficult it only adds to their spiritual value. For most of history, pilgrimage involved brutally long and incredibly dangerous journeys. A journey to the Holy Land was often the final trip that many medieval pilgrims would make.

We are incredibly blessed that modern technology means that it is relatively cheap and safe to visit the Church’s holiest sites. Flying to Rome, Jerusalem or Lourdes can take a matter of hours, a blessing we often forget and one that more of us should take advantage of.

It is also worth remembering that for many of the people of Lourdes, the floods have destroyed their homes and their livelihoods. By going to Lourdes, pilgrims will be helping those who have suffered most because of these floods. These trips could make a big difference to the people there.

However, any pilgrimage is well worth the time and effort. In these harsh economic times the Holy Land or the Vatican may be out of reach to many but there are plenty of options even within Scotland.

Already this year, many Scots have travelled to Iona to mark the 1450th anniversary of St Columba’s landing on the island and none have regretted it.

Another option is Whithorn, where St Ninian built what is thought to be the first church in Scotland. The Whithorn Trust, which helps preserve the history of that sacred place, is currently under threat due to local authority funding cuts. Every person who travels to Whithorn this year helps underline just how important that sacred place is.

Pilgrimage is not an optional extra; it is a privilege that we should all undertake.