(A) Describe a visit to a Christian place of pilgrimage, explaining its importance to believers.

Lourdes, in the south of France is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in Europe. It was in Lourdes, in the year of 1858, when a fourteen year old girl, Bernadette Soubirous claimed to have has a series of visions where the Virgin Mary appeared in the grotto of Massbielle. She predicted that a spring of water would rise from the grotto floor, soon enough a spring appeared, and due to its connection with the Virgin Mary it was considered and reported to have healing properties. Both the church and the predicted spring from then on became international pilgrimage sites. Around 2,000,000 people visit Lourdes every year, mostly they are Roman Catholic, this is because the Roman Catholic church encourages Christians to go on pilgrimage, also the sites have a strong connection with the Virgin Mary, who is looked upon as a Saint, for she gave birth to Jesus Christ. However the protestant's don't look upon the subject of pilgrimage as it being very important, they believe it is instead better to help people who are in need. Some Roman Catholics go on pilgrimage in search of a cure for a

(B.I) Why do Christians go on pilgrimage?

purifying hearts and confusion giving way to clarity. Other Christians feel a need to have a holiday with like-minded people that share the same views and beliefs. Some disabled Christians travel to the springs in Lourdes, believing that the natural healing powers of the spring may help cure their illness, others accompany them to help, and that is their reason for the pilgrimage. Pilgrimage, for many, reawakens, deepens and confirms the central insights of faith, as a way of discovering who one really is.

(C) 'There are more important things for a Christian to do than go on Pilgrimage'

ll kinds of diseases and illnesses. They believe that they must be lowered into the water (into the spring, which Lady Bernadette foresaw,) to be healed, many pilgrims assist the diseased in doing this. Roman Catholic churches from all over the world take parties of needy people to Lourdes each year. While in Lourdes pilgrims visit such places as the shrine, in which they pray to God, they also visit the spring and rock.

(II) Pilgrimage can effect a Christian's life in many ways, for one, it could encourage the pilgrim to help others, such as the less fortunate. The spiritual side of the pilgrimage would clear the mind and soul, and help the pilgrim understand more about the religion and life as a whole. Experiences such as going on pilgrimage means the pilgrim meets other new people who have the same beliefs as him/her, not only is this a religious gathering, but almost a social one too. The journey may strengthen the pilgrim's relationship with God; this may have resulted to the pilgrim becoming a more devoted follower of the faith. The pilgrim may also decide

Some common words found in the essay are:
Testament Jesus, Jesus Saint, II Pilgrimage, Roman Catholics, Virgin Mary, Lourdes France, Pilgrimage Christian, Southern France, BI Christians, Roman Catholic, christians pilgrimage, spiritual journey, roman catholic, pilgrimage sites, roman catholics, virgin mary, awareness life religion, life religion, predicted spring, lady bernadette, awareness life, understand religion life, connection virgin mary,
Approximate Word count = 1151
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)