 A number of years ago I participated in a pilgrimage that was “in the footsteps of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati,” now a Saint, (canonized yesterday). Having never been on pilgrimage before, there was much to learn. We began in Rome and then traveled to many places where St. Frassati had either lived or which had connection to his Dominican spirituality. The culminating event of the pilgrimage was a climb up Mt. Mucrone, not far from where the family villa is located, in homage to Pier Giorgio’s love for mountain climbing. Part of the Biellese Alps, Mt. Mucrone is 7,661 feet in elevation,* so we took the funicular about halfway up the mountain and then began our ascent on foot. It was quite a workout, but by the time we made it to the top I understood better why St. Frassati adopted as his motto “Verso l’alto,” (“to the heights,” a phrase which was a reference to attaining the heights of holiness). The climb was one of the most challenging things I had ever done, physically or spiritually. It presented the realization that growth in the spiritual life requires embracing struggle, a lot of hard work, persevering through fears and whatever obstacles are encountered, and above all else, totally relying on and trusting in God. It is utterly impossible to do those things without Him.  Pilgrimage is an important spiritual experience, and to be clear, one does not necessarily have to travel abroad to go on one.** Pilgrimage is a process which includes many aspects. The first is to realize pilgrimage actually begins before the travel; it is essential to be praying in the spirit of the pilgrimage before leaving home. Second, pilgrimage is not a vacation even though the travels can include places which are also typical of tourists. Third, it is essential to pack light, because with pilgrimage comes the discovery that we bring plenty of emotional and spiritual baggage which will be revealed by the Lord during the process, and of which we can expect healing to begin if we work with Him. Remaining open to the Lord, that is, to be in a spirit of prayer throughout, is essential to the experience. Finally, is the importance of remaining flexible; there are always surprises which emerge during the journey, not just in the externals of the trip, but in what God might reveal to a pilgrim who is traveling in this prayerful way. There will be many gifts, some of which may be apparent during the pilgrimage, and others of which will become manifest after the trip is done as one continues to reflect upon what took place during the experience.  St. Pier Giorgio Frassati often said that he felt an intimate closeness to God while climbing. Those who accompanied him attested to how he was almost as recollected during the rigors of a climb as he was during the long hours he spent in front of the tabernacle at adoration in a church. Interestingly, one of my other spiritual ‘heroes,’ St. John Henry Newman, (who as far as I know never climbed a mountain), wrote a passage that captures Pier Giorgio's attitude and sounds as if it was something St. Pier Giorgio Frassati could have written! Newman wrote: “Holy souls take a separate course; they have risen with Christ, and they are like persons who have climbed a mountain and are reposing at the top. All the noise and tumult, mist and darkness at its foot; but on the mountain’s top it is so very still, so very calm and serene, so pure, so clear, so bright, so heavenly, that to their sensations it is as if the din of earth did not sound below….” ***  It is not difficult to recognize spiritual parallels in both what is required for making the climb and in what Newman identified with arriving at the top of a mountain; the journey would make little sense if we did not keep the goal in mind. We have great resources such as Scripture and the Sacraments to help us in attaining our goal, and of these, the Eucharist is most special since it is Jesus who we receive into our bodies and souls. Even when nothing discernable happens, the greatest gift of all still takes place: we will have entered into the death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus by truly becoming filled with His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Encountering the living God in such a way, does change us, but what is most wonderful is the reality that the Eucharist is both food for the journey and a glimpse of the goal.  It is good to enter into prayer with the resolve of one making a pilgrimage or climbing a mountain. The process is the most important part, so my suggestion is to read and pray with the Scriptures and also read a book about or written by one of your spiritual heroes, a Saint or Blessed perhaps, so that it might inspire you to make the journey. We are made for relationship with God: He loves us and has given us the capability to attain the greatest intimacy with Him. By reading and praying daily, by receiving the Sacraments as often as possible, and exposing ourselves to things that encourage thoughts of God, we will find every day to be part of the great spiritual adventure of pilgrimage. Indeed, those on the journey are attracted to it because they know that at its goal is holiness, not for one’s own glory, but rather to enter with humility into the glory of the Lord and adore.  May we embrace the rigors of pilgrimage in order to come closer to the Lord! May we ask the intercession of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. John Henry Newman, and the saints that are our spiritual heroes! And may we find our home in the Lord when we come to the end of our pilgrimage! Verso l'alto! Let us meet in the heights! Peace! ©Michele L. Catanese Note: For those unfamiliar with St. Frassati, he never went by Pier; he is called Pier Giorgio. For more on his life, you can find wonderful book suggestions about him at FrassatiUSA. https://www.frassatiusa.org/ * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Mucrone https://frassatiusa.org/mt-mucrone-pix-video ** In fact, we do not have to travel far; we can go on a retreat to experience a type of pilgrimage. Highly encouraged is making pilgrimage or retreat with a spiritual director who will guide and help in the discernment process along the way. Committing to a holy hour of prayer daily is also a type of pilgrimage. *** Hidden From the World, a sermon by St. Cardinal John Henry Newman found in his Sermons Bearing on Subjects of the Day. This sermon is found on page 331 of The Heart of Newman, A Synthesis Arranged by Erich Przywara, SJ. Images: 1. My photo; Mt. Mucrone from the point where the funicular stops, about midway up. If you look closely, you will see one of the members of our group tying his shoe in preparation for the hike. Even though this climb took place on St. Pier Giorgio's feast day, July 4, the white stuff barely seen on the mountain is snow. 2. My photo: Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Zaragosa, Spain. I was on another pilgrimage, this one a Marian pilgrimage. 3. Photo from a prayer card; St. Pier Giorgio climbing a mountain with his motto printed on it. That is his handwriting. 4. Painting; Disputation of the Holy Sacrament by Raphael (1509-1510). This painting is in the Stanze di Raffaello rooms in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. For more, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disputation_of_the_Holy_Sacrament 5. Icon; Our Lady of the Lake by Fr. William Hart McNichols. Our Lady's entire life on earth was a pilgrimage of total trust in God. Since her death, Mary has appeared in many places to which the faithful now make pilgrimage. Zaragosa, (depicted in image 2 above) was the first place she appeared, though it must be noted that she was still alive and living in Jerusalem when her appearance there took place. I love this icon because she seems to be beckoning the viewer to enter into pilgrimage with her. If you wish to purchase a copy of this icon, go to https://fineartamerica.com/featured/our-lady-of-the-lake-201-william-hart-mcnichols.html 6. Photo; St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.  7. My photo; our group arriving an 'extension' of the peak of Mt. Mucrone. I did not go to the cross because I volunteered to be the photographer. That turned out to be a good choice for me because I ended up with about 20 minutes of alone time at the other end of the peak area in which I had one of the most profound prayer experiences of the Lord in my life! It was as St. John Henry Newman described it in the quote above.
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