What happens when a trip to Rome becomes an unintended pilgrimage?
Recently some of my relatives went on a church-sponsored trip to Rome. About once every two years my parish offers an organized trip abroad, the last one being to England and Scotland. My relatives went on that one too. It offered the chance to see another country among a group of friends and acquaintances. Another benefit was that someone else worried about travel arrangments, tickets, buses, etc.
Although both trips were thoroughly enjoyable, they were unexpectedly deeply moved by the trip to Rome. Of course they expected to be awed by the historic grandeur of St. Peter's Square and the Vatican as well as other religious sites they visited, they didn't expect to come away with a more profound spirituality. One of them said that although she knows God is everywhere, being surrounded by people who believe made her more aware of what that statement "God is everywhere," really meant. This really struck me because while she is spiritual, she's not the type to shout out a Hallalujah or an Amen.
Her descriptions of the experience were so vivid, it caused me to reflect on my own experiences and to seek out the holy in my every day more often. I'd love to hear your accounts of pilgrimages you've experienced and how they have affected you and your beliefs.
