Like St. Giorgio, Build Your Own Pilgrimage
St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, one of our patron saints, was a young adult who believed firmly in the presence of the Lord in the Sacraments, in the poor and how it surrounds us in nature. One of his famous quotes:
We who, by the grace of God, are Catholics, must not squander the best years of our lives as so many unhappy young people do, who worry about enjoying the good things in life, things that do not in fact bring any good, but rather the fruit of immorality in today’s world.
These are more than wishes, this conviction to be different and change the people around us requires discipline. That is why we need to recharge and be in constant growth, spiritually and human. Summertime is here and is the perfect time to look inward and recharge! I know we are in the middle of the World Soccer Tournament, yet there is still time to rest and recharge.
This is the perfect time to do some reading; you might want to try reading Pope Leo's suggestion: The Practice of the Presence of God by 17th-century French Carmelite friar Brother Lawrence. This slim, accessible volume focuses on a spirituality of simply surrendering one's life to God. Or maybe:
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola: Recommended by Catholic leaders for deep, structured retreat and meditation time .
Magnificat Humanitas acknowledges familiar concerns about AI, including job insecurity, manipulation of information, privacy violations, ideological bias, autonomous weapons, and a futuristic vision of an “enhanced human being.”
You may also try a Do it your self pilgrimage:
Set a Destination It can be a hike, a walk around a neighborhood or a walk around a park. Just make sure is time off that you are going to enjoy. Check before hand that the place is going to be open and what restrictions there are.
Solo or with Friends? Prayerfully discern if you are doing this solo or with friends. There are advantages and disadvantages for both.
Set up a Schedule If is going to be an all day pilgrimage, plan for meals. Make sure you have water to stay hydrated. Think about taking snacks.
Set an Intention Before you lace up your shoes, decide on a spiritual focus. Are you bringing a heavy burden to lay at the Lord's feet? Who are you praying for, or are you seeking guidance for a specific challenge?
Start at a Sacred Space Go to morning Mass or visit a Church and light a candle before you start. Check websites for daily Mass. Some parishes don't offer daily Mass on Mondays or Saturdays before the Sunday Vigil.
Turn Off Your Devices To ensure the walk is a true pilgrimage and not just exercise, silence your phone or leave it in your bag. Treat this as a time to disconnect from the world and enter into the solitude of communion with God.
Use Moving Prayer Practices Integrate structured Catholic prayers into your walk to keep your mind and heart focused.
The Rosary: Pray the mysteries as you walk, letting the rhythm of your steps pace the Hail Mary.
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Lectio Divina: Before you walk, read a short Scripture passage (e.g., Psalm 103 or the daily Mass readings). As you walk, meditate on a word or phrase that stood out to you.
The Jesus Prayer / Divine Mercy: Focus on breathing with the rhythm: inhale while saying "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God," and exhale "have mercy on me, a sinner."
Write Your Gains take time to journal what the Lord told you in your heart. What did you learn about yourself? What did he tell you about the intention you set out at the beginning of this experience? Just be in silence.
Finish with a Prayer of thanks giving to the Lord for allowing you to have this opportunity.
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