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I have felt a deep pull toward pilgrimage for years. There is something powerful about walking ancient paths, praying where saints have prayed, and placing one’s intentions before the Lord in places shaped by centuries of devotion. Yet as a husband and father to four energetic children, long-distance pilgrimages are not possible in this season of life.
Still, God finds a way. My “micro-pilgrimages” have become unexpected moments of grace: visits to our cathedral, celebrating feast days at home, praying novenas and litanies, and uniting our intentions with the Holy Father. These small steps, taken in the ordinary rhythms of family life, remind me of the truth expressed in the Catechism: “The Church…will receive its perfection only in the glory of heaven, when she will appear in splendor…toward which she is hastening” (CCC 769).
We are all pilgrims, whether we walk the Camino or pray in our living rooms. Some pilgrimages, however, shape a person for life, especially those preparing to become priests. This is why the mission of the Camino Pilgrim Foundation matters so deeply. They provide seminarians with a structured, prayer-filled, and transformative experience along the Camino de Santiago, the kind of formation that can remain with them for decades.
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The Heart of Evangelization: Totally Yours
Evangelization can sound intimidating. We imagine missionaries in distant lands, theological debates, or complicated catechetical lessons. But at its core, evangelization simply means handing ourselves over to Christ so that He may work through us. In other words, we say to Him what Mary said at the Annunciation: “Let it be done to me according to your word.”
That spirit is beautifully summed up in two small Latin words that shaped the life and papacy of Saint John Paul II: Totus Tuus — Totally Yours.
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Evangelizing children isn’t always about complex theological lessons or far-off mission trips. Sometimes, the most powerful encounters with God happen right in your own backyard or even your living room. Just as adults benefit from pilgrimages that draw them closer to God, children can encounter Christ through small, intentional “journeys” of faith that fit within everyday life.
Let’s explore how these small pilgrimages can help pass on the faith to your kids while strengthening your domestic church.
The Domestic Church: Where Evangelization Begins
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us of the parents’ vital role:
“Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule… Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children” (CCC 2223).
In many ways, the home itself becomes a sort of permanent pilgrimage site, a sacred place where children encounter God daily through prayer, forgiveness, service, and love.
As I’ve written before, even small actions like having holy images in your home, praying before meals, answering questions during Mass, or visiting a local Catholic bookstore create micro-moments of evangelization. One of my daughters, for example, loves flipping through pamphlets about the Eucharist. That small curiosity leads to natural conversations about the Real Presence. These little moments plant seeds that the Holy Spirit can grow over time.
Adding sacramentals and liturgical resources to your home can also help foster these everyday encounters. Catholic businesses like Pockets of Heaven provide beautiful, handcrafted tools that help families create prayer spaces, celebrate feast days, and make the liturgical year come alive for kids in simple but meaningful ways.
You don’t need a master’s degree in theology to evangelize your kids. What matters most is creating a loving environment where faith is part of daily life, where Christ is present in both words and actions.
Pilgrimages Teach Kids That Life is a Journey Toward God
Father Dave Pivonka wisely reminds us that “Every single one of us is a pilgrim on a journey. For us Christians, as Pope St. John Paul II said, this journey should ultimately lead us to the heart of the Father.”
Pilgrimages, whether big or small, teach kids that faith is not static. It’s a living, breathing adventure toward God’s heart. And this journey doesn’t require international travel. While trips to Lourdes, Fatima, or Rome are beautiful, they’re not necessary to experience the graces of pilgrimage.
Small pilgrimages could include:
Visiting your diocesan cathedral for Mass.
Spending an hour in adoration at a nearby chapel.
Walking as a family to a local Marian shrine.
Going on a nature walk while praying the Rosary.
Visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead on All Souls’ Day.
These intentional acts pull kids out of their daily routines and help them encounter God anew. As Fr. Pivonka puts it, “Do something intentional that takes you out of your ordinary routine. Seek to encounter Jesus. You will be amazed what God can do in your heart.”
The Sacraments: Theological Rest Stops Along the Journey
Life is exhausting. I’ve written before how my own fatigue nearly led me to despair. Yet, in that weakness, I was reminded of Bishop Paul Swain’s beautiful words:
“Sacraments are not the end or graduation of the Catholic life, rather sacraments act as theological rest stops to give us strength.”
Confession, for example, is like a pit stop where we release burdens and receive grace to keep walking. As the Catechism explains, “The sacrament of Penance repairs or restores [fraternal communion]” (CCC 1469).
The Eucharist provides nourishment for the journey ahead — our manna in the desert:
“The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus… Life in Christ has its foundation in the Eucharistic banquet” (CCC 1391).
And marriage? It’s not simply a contract but a covenant of mutual sacrifice. As I’ve joked before, marriage often feels like a holy war against pride, impatience, and selfishness. But it’s also a place of peace, where we strategize, rest, and receive grace for the road ahead.
When we bring our children into these sacramental rest stops by taking them to Confession, preparing them for First Holy Communion, and witnessing the beauty of a sacramental marriage, we’re showing them how to draw strength for their own pilgrim journey.
Penance, Solidarity, and Thanksgiving — Lessons Even Kids Can Learn
Pilgrimage isn’t always comfortable. Fr. Pivonka shares stories of pilgrims enduring blistering heat, unexpected thunderstorms, and travel mishaps. Yet these struggles become opportunities for offering penance, teaching kids a profound lesson: suffering can be united to prayer.
On a small pilgrimage to a local shrine, a child might get tired or frustrated. That’s a chance to gently explain:
“You can offer this tiredness for Grandma who’s sick, or for a friend who’s struggling.”
Solidarity is another beautiful fruit of pilgrimage. Whether walking together as a family or participating in parish events, kids learn that they’re not alone in their faith. They belong to the wider Body of Christ — a Church filled with fellow pilgrims, saints, and sinners all journeying home.
Finally, pilgrimages naturally lead to thanksgiving. As Fr. Pivonka writes about his own Camino de Santiago:
“Going on pilgrimage does something to our hearts and to how we see the world… We begin to see [God] in places where we didn’t before.”
When kids see the beauty of God in creation, family, sacraments, and community, gratitude becomes a habit that sustains their faith long after the pilgrimage ends. Even creating little “pockets of heaven” in our homes — through prayer corners, seasonal decor, or feast day celebrations — can help foster that spirit of gratitude.
Evangelizing our kids doesn’t require perfect words or elaborate plans. It begins with small acts of intentionality, small pilgrimages of the heart, the home, and even the neighborhood.
As parents, our job is to guide our children toward Christ through daily witness, sacramental life, and occasional small pilgrimages that draw them deeper into God’s presence. With each little step, they’ll discover that their whole life is a beautiful, lifelong journey toward the Father.
As Proverbs 16:3 reminds us:
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
Buen Camino.
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While the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah are the most obvious and biblically clear animal symbols for Jesus Christ, the pelican is an under-rated symbol that is rich in meaning and beauty. There are many birds used in Christian history to represent God: like the dove for the Holy Spirit and even the Mother Hen as an analogy to speak of Christ’s protection of his people in Luke 13:31-35.
Honestly, I had never heard about the pelican as a symbol of Jesus Christ until a few years ago. Since discovering this powerful symbol I have started to notice it more and more in various parishes where I have attended Mass over the years. I have seen etchings of this majestic bird on pillars at the cathedral in my city and have seen the pelican adorned on altars in a variety of ways.
A Symbol Hidden in Plain Sight
I traveled to Italy during college and visited both Assisi and Rome. I wish I had known about the pelican symbol back then because I would have seen some beautiful portrayals of this symbol of Christ in those awesome churches. Before learning about its spiritual significance, the only time I really thought about pelicans was when looking up NBA scores and seeing the New Orleans Pelicans! It’s amazing how something can transform from mundane to meaningful once you understand its deeper significance.
Today, I wear a pelican brown scapular (I alternate it with my traditional style brown scapular every other day), and I received an awesome pelican t-shirt from Archangel Outfitters to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. These small reminders help keep this powerful symbol of Christ’s sacrifice close to my heart.
This is one of the coolest shirts I own. I wear it almost weekly. It’s perfect for the summertime!
An Ancient Legend Transformed
The image of the mother pelican feeding her baby pelicans is rooted in several ancient Roman legends that precede Christianity. One version is that in time of famine, the mother pelican wounded herself, striking her breast with her beak to feed her young with her blood. Another version was that the mother fed her dying young with her blood to revive them from death, but in turn lost her own life.
Given these traditions, one can easily understand how early Christians adapted it to symbolize our Lord, Jesus Christ. The pelican symbolizes Jesus our Redeemer who gave His life for our redemption and feeds us with His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. We were dead to sin and have found new life through the sacrifice of Christ.
The Biblical Connection
While the pelican doesn’t appear directly in Scripture as a symbol for Christ, Jesus himself uses bird imagery to describe his protective love. In Luke 13:31-35, after Pharisees warn him about Herod’s death threats, Jesus laments over Jerusalem:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, yet you were not willing.”
This tender image of a mother bird gathering her young under wings for protection parallels the sacrificial nature of the pelican legend. Both emphasize Christ’s desire to protect, nourish, and save his people, even at great personal cost.
As Jesus told his disciples (and us), “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Saint Cyril of Alexandria echoed this when he wrote, “Christ came into this world in human flesh not to be served, but, as he himself said, to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Physiologus and Medieval Symbolism
This tradition and others is found in the Physiologus, an early Christian work which appeared in the second century in Alexandria, Egypt. Written by an anonymous author, this text recorded legends of animals and gave each an allegorical interpretation.
The legend of the pelican is described: “The little pelicans strike their parents, and the parents, striking back, kill them. But on the third day the mother pelican strikes and opens her side and pours blood over her dead young. In this way they are revivified and made well. So Our Lord Jesus Christ says also through the prophet Isaiah: I have brought up children and exalted them, but they have despised me (Is 1:2). We struck God by serving the creature rather than the Creator. Therefore, He deigned to ascend the cross, and when His side was pierced, blood and water gushed forth unto our salvation and eternal life.”
This work was noted by numerous authors and was popular in the Middle Ages as a source for the symbols used in stone carvings and other artwork of that period.
The Pelican in Literature
The pelican symbol appears frequently in Renaissance literature. In 1312, Dante wrote in his “Paridiso” of Christ as “our Pelican who shed His blood in order to give eternal life to the children of men.” In 1606, John Lyly wrote in his “Euphues” of the “pelicane who stricketh blood out of its owne bodye to do others good.” Even Shakespeare referenced this symbolism in Hamlet: “to his good friend thus wide, I’ll open my arms and, like the kind, life-rendering pelican repast them with my blood.” In modern English this would translate as: “I’ll open my arms wide to his true friends, and like a mother pelican with her brood, I’ll even give my blood for them.”
Jesus cares for us like the mother pelican cares for her young.
The Eucharistic Connection
The pelican has been part of our liturgical tradition for centuries. In his great Eucharistic hymn “Adoro te devote,” St. Thomas Aquinas directly addresses Christ as the “pie pelicane, Jesu Domine” (the pious pelican, Lord Jesus), asking him to “wash my filthiness and clean me with your blood.”
This Eucharistic connection is why we often see the pelican image on tabernacles, altar frontals, and other church furnishings. The image powerfully reminds us of Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, where He continues to feed us with His Body and Blood.
As Saint Pio of Pietrelcina said, “It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass.” The Eucharist is not merely a symbol but the very life of Christ given to sustain us spiritually, just as the pelican in the legend sustains her young with her own blood.
Saint John Paul II reminded us that “Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love.” The image of the pelican helps us visualize this profound truth—Christ giving Himself completely for our salvation and nourishment.
Finding the Pelican in Our Churches
Next time you’re in a church, especially an older one with traditional furnishings, look around carefully. You might spot a pelican carved on an altar, etched in a stained glass window, or painted on a tabernacle door. These images aren’t random decorations but powerful reminders of Christ’s sacrificial love.
In Catholic tradition, the pelican image on a tabernacle door symbolizes the “body of Christ” within. But more commonly, the pelican symbol is found at the top of the cross in late-medieval and Renaissance Crucifixion images, reinforcing the connection between Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and the nourishment we receive in the Eucharist.
The pelican serves as a beautiful reminder that Christ not only died for us but continues to feed us with His very life. As we receive the Eucharist, we can meditate on this ancient symbol and be thankful for the Lord who, like the pelican of legend, gives His very life to sustain His children.
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Growing up in a Catholic household, I learned early that life is just play, work, sleep and repeat. It is a sacred pilgrimage. My parents instilled this by showing us how the Mass is a gift. The rosary beads that adorned my grandmother’s hands, the statues of saints watching over our home, the rhythmic cycle of the liturgical year, spoke of a journey far deeper than mere physical movement. All these incarnational moments hinted at a deeper reality.
Called to Pilgrimage
The Catholic understanding of life as a pilgrimage is rooted in our most fundamental beliefs. We are not simply inhabitants of this world, but travelers passing through, with our true citizenship in heaven. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer” (CCC 2691).
This isn’t just a metaphorical concept. The rich tradition of Catholic pilgrimages, from the Camino de Santiago to the holy sites of Rome, from Lourdes to Fatima, testifies to our understanding that physical journeys can be profound spiritual experiences. Follow My Camino captures this essence beautifully, reminding pilgrims that the Way of St. James is more than a trip. It is a path of spiritual wonderment. Each step becomes a prayer, each mile a meditation, each encounter an opportunity to receive God’s grace anew.
Sacraments: Rest Stops on Our Journey
In my own spiritual life, I’ve come to see the sacraments as divine rest stops. They are theological waypoints that sustain us on our pilgrimage. Just as a weary traveler finds renewal at a roadside sanctuary, we Catholics find strength in the sacramental life of the Church.
Confession becomes a moment of realignment, washing away the dust and dirt of our journey. The Eucharist is our spiritual food, nourishing us for the road ahead. Matrimony and Holy Orders are vocational paths that shape our pilgrimage, giving purpose to our travels.
The Communion of Saints: Our Fellow Travelers
We are never alone on this journey. The communion of saints, those already home in heaven and those still traveling, surrounds us with support and intercession. As the Catechism tells us, “In prayer, the pilgrim Church is associated with that of the saints, whose intercession she asks” (CCC 2692).
Our Lady, the ultimate pilgrim who journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem, from Egypt to Cana, from the foot of the Cross to the Upper Room, leads the way. The saints, from St. James to St. Thérèse, are our companions, our guides, our inspiration.
Creating Sacred Spaces
Pilgrimages aren’t reserved for grand journeys. The Catechism suggests creating sacred spaces even within our homes, a “prayer corner” with Sacred Scriptures and icons. In my own home, a small altar serves as a constant reminder of our spiritual journey, a miniature sanctuary where family prayers rise like incense.
The scallop shell, a profound symbol for any pilgrim on the Camino, speaks volumes about our spiritual journey. Follow My Camino reminds us that this isn’t just a simple maritime emblem, but a spiritual sign. It marks not just a physical path, but our deeper walk with Christ, a constant invitation to reflect on the sacred journey of faith.
The Deeper Meaning
As Thomas Merton beautifully expressed, “The geographical pilgrimage is the symbolic acting out of an inner journey.” For Catholics, this means our entire life is a pilgrimage toward God. Pope Francis captures this perfectly: “Each person carries within his or her heart a special wish and a particular prayer.”
Our Catholic faith teaches us that this journey is not about the destination alone, but about transformation. Each Mass, each prayer, each act of mercy is a step on our path. We are constantly being formed, constantly becoming more Christ-like.
A Call to the Faithful
To my fellow Catholics, I invite you to embrace your life as a pilgrimage. Approach each day with the reverence of a pilgrim, attentive to God’s grace, open to His transformative power. Your daily challenges, your joys, your sorrows all are part of your sacred journey.
Utilize the rich traditions of our faith. Pray the rosary. Attend daily Mass. Seek out the sacraments. Venerate the saints. These are not mere religious practices, but fuel for your spiritual journey. For those feeling called to walk the ancient paths, the team at Follow My Camino understands that the Camino de Santiago is more than a trek. It is a profound spiritual odyssey that can deepen, and maybe even reshape, your entire understanding of our faith. With their deep zeal for Catholicism and expertise in this specific pilgrimage, you will experience the Camino in a truly Catholic way, steeped in the faith and traditions that have guided pilgrims for centuries.
Our Heavenly Destination
Ultimately, our pilgrimage is about returning home, to God, to the ultimate communion of saints, to the eternal liturgy of heaven. St. Augustine’s words ring true: “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in you [God].”
Walk on, fellow pilgrim. Your journey continues, blessed by the grace of Christ, guided by the Church, sustained by the sacraments.
Prayer to Saint James the Apostle
O glorious Apostle, Saint James, who by reason of thy fervent and generous heart was chosen by Jesus to be witness of His glory on Mount Tabor, and of His agony in Gethsemane; thou, whose very name is a symbol of warfare and victory:obtain for us strength and consolation in the unending warfare of this life, that, having constantly and generously followed Jesus, we may be victors in the strife and deserve to receive the victor’s crown in heaven. Amen.
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In a world where identity has become increasingly fragmented and fluid, what if the most profound answers about who we truly are have been waiting for us since the beginning of creation? The modern man has an identity crisis and the solution is Christian anthropology. This might sound like advanced terminology, leaving you wondering: what does this actually mean?
In simplest terms, Christian anthropology is understanding human persons as God created them. Ultimately what is at stake is human identity. As our culture moves farther away from the true understanding of the nature and purpose of the human person, the need for education in Christian anthropology is more necessary than ever before in our experience.
The Christian understanding of the human person was once taken for granted in our culture as the standard by which all understood themselves and others. Today this is not the case. We see evidence of identity confusion all around us or even within ourselves. Just do a Google search of “define identity” and one can see the confusion that surrounds the idea.
The Fundamental Questions of Human Existence
Christian anthropology seeks to answer the deepest and most universal questions every person must wrestle with in some seasons of our lives: Who/what am I? What is my purpose? What is the point of my existence? Why are humans embodied? Are humans really created only male and female? What is the relationship between the body and soul?
Saint John Paul II begins his meditation on the Christian understanding of the human person by referring to the beginning. From this perspective he paints an amazing picture of what God intended for humans when He created them.
In his fifth speech of Theology of the Body, which he subtitled, “Man in Search of His Essence,”1 Saint John Paul II, regarding the creation of man, says, “…man is the object of the creative action of God-Yahweh, who at the same time, as Legislator, sets the conditions for the first covenant with man.”
Three Foundational Truths About Human Nature
In this one half-sentence Saint John Paul II articulates three foundational truths about the nature of the human person from the Christian perspective. Imagine it, God breathes His Spirit into the nostrils of the creature, which scripture says is the moment, “the man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7) and as he comes into consciousness for the first time, he finds himself in relationship with his Creator. This is the first foundational and most important aspect Christian anthropology teaches us about human nature. To be the “object of the creative action of God,” is to say God created the human person. God is the creator. We are creatures. We do not create ourselves. Our nature, our humanity, our existence is a gift from a Creator who gave His own breath to give us life. This is the foundation of our humanity.
In this same sentence, Saint John Paul II uses a capital “L” for the word “Legislator.” Why? Or, a better question is, “who”? Obviously, he is referring to the Father – but, why “Legislator”? Identifying the Father in this way introduces the second foundational truth about the nature of the human person namely, God is the one who makes the rules. Humans do not decide for themselves what is good or evil. That’s the Creator’s job.
The Covenant Relationship with God
The third foundational truth of human nature as God reveals it and Saint John Paul II articulates it, is revealed by the word, “covenant.” The human person enters a unique relationship with God the Father and Creator. This relationship differs from a common contract that either party can dissolve at any time. A covenant is meant to be permanent. It is entering into a relationship, a communion of persons. Contracts are about things or services the parties will exchange. Covenant is about persons, contracts are about things. What does this tell us about the nature of the human person? We are not things to God. We are persons who are set into a relationship of communion with God.
These three foundational characteristics of human nature or identity is just the beginning of what the Christian anthropology Saint John Paul II articulates in Theology of the Body. Imagine how much more there is to say about human nature if we can understand all that in just one half-sentence from Theology of the Body!
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