Pilgrimage – A Journey of the Heart

Of all the pilgrimages, Lough Derg is possibly the most intense!

It is that time of year again when people think about going on pilgrimage.

The most popular destinations are the great Marian shrines, Lourdes, Fatima, Medjugoria, Knock and our own Lady’s Well.

The older pilgrimage sites of Santiago de Campostella in Spain, Lough Derg in Donegal and Croagh Patrick in Mayo are also popular destinations for the modern pilgrim.

People go on pilgrimage for a variety of different reasons. For some it’s a nice holiday, a chance to get away from it all. Others may be searching for something and hope to find it while on pilgrimage. For others it may be an opportunity to draw closer to God, to ask his help and to experience His peace.
Still others may go on pilgrimage as an act of gratitude or penance. Whatever the reason, a pilgrimage can be a very moving and uplifting experience, the physical journey reflecting the inner journey of the pilgrim.
Pilgrimage was very much a part of the celtic tradition. There is evidence to suggest that our pagan ancestors went on pilgrimage to places such as Croagh Patrick and Lough Derg.

Of all the pilgrimages, Lough Derg is probably the most intense. It is by far the most difficult but also the most rewarding. Three days of fasting, walking barefoot over rocks, doing the “rounds” and staying up all night, on vigil, all combine to clear the mind, cleanse the soul and refresh the spirit.

In medieval times, pilgrims spent the night down in a cave wrestling with the devil. Nowadays the modern pilgrim wrestles with his or her own demons in a less dramatic but equally authentic way. People from all walks of life are drawn to the Lough Derg pilgrimage and there is a great sense of solidarity among them. When you’re barefoot, tired, hungry and cold, it makes no difference what your background or status in life is. On Lough Derg you are simply a pilgrim.

So if you feel the need to detox the body as well as the spirit, if the idea of staying up all night, strolling barefoot along the lake shore while watching the sun set (and rise again), appeals
to you, why not consider doing Lough Derg. It will be an unforgettable experience and one you will want to return to again and again.