We Walk by Faith

Last weekend, my beautiful bride Francine and I did some walking, and it got me to thinking about the spirituality of walking. I’m always amazed at what you can accomplish by walking. Modern psychologists say that walking makes us smarter¹, but the idea is hardly original to them.

Solvitur ambulando – It is solved by walking. (Saint Augustine)

This is no doubt why the idea of walking pilgrimages has remained so powerful. Walking becomes not only a time and place of introspection – talking with ourselves – but also an intense time of prayer – talking with God. Francine and I have now walked the Camino de Santiago twice, and we will most assuredly walk it again.

To that end, this past Saturday, we loaded up our full packs and walked the long loop at Point Defiance Park. We walk probably two or three times a week with tiny day packs, but this was probably the first time we’ve walked with full Camino pack load since we returned from our most recent Camino two years ago.

The trail is only about 7km or so over mostly easy terrain. On the Camino, this would be roughly the distance between first and second breakfast. It took us about two hours, including a couple of short stops, which is pretty decent time. But I was sure paying for it the rest of the day. I thought I was in pretty good shape, but I’m nowhere near Camino shape.

Francine seemed to have an easier time of it than me, which is encouraging given her foot issues.

This is not the culmination of our training, but it is a good start.

There is just something that calls us to pilgrimage. As I’ve said before, the very idea of pilgrimage is a sacramental symbol of our life here on earth, our pilgrimage in this world from God and back to Him.

We turn again to Augustine:

The Church is an inn, where wayfarers returning to the eternal homeland are refreshed from their journey. (Saint Augustine)

Our life on earth is a pilgrimage, made up of smaller, overlapping pilgrimages. This idea is so pervasive in the Christian faith, that it’s baked right into the liturgy.

In the earthly Liturgy, the Church participates, by a foretaste, in that heavenly Liturgy which is celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem, toward which she journeys as a pilgrim, and where Christ is seated at the right hand of God; and by venerating the memory of the Saints, she hopes one day to have some share and fellowship with them.

(General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 318)

And of course Sunday was Corpus Christi, which in our parish of Holy Rosary is pretty much our biggest celebration outside of Easter and Christmas.

As has been our custom for five years now, the priest celebrated the Mass on the high altar. It was the first time that our interim priest Rev. Francis Xavier Kikomeko had done this, and he was excited, almost giddy, at the prospect. In fact, he asked that the Eucharistic Prayer be recorded on video.

We had First Holy Communions, because what day could possibly be better for doing that than the Solemnity that precisely celebrates that?

And then the procession, our sixth annual.

During the course of the year, we have many opportunities for procession, including some that take place partially outside the church building. Palm Sunday and the Easter Vigil come immediately to mind.

But Eucharistic processions take this to a whole other level. Not only are we poor pilgrims journeying in search of our heavenly homeland, we are ourselves bringing the Lord to the people in the streets.

It is the ultimate form of evangelization, because despite all of the preparation and rehearsal we might do, it is not us but Jesus Himself who does the preaching. What use are mere words when here we have the Word Himself?

Our choir, led by the always amazing Victoria Solenberger, sang through the streets as we processed.

We walked, as we have done these six years, over the Interstate. Once, this was the neighbourhood of Germantown, where most of our parishioners lived. Now, it is a giant gash that cuts through the city. But hundreds of parishioners walked behind the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday.

We processed to Saint Joseph Church, where Father offered Solemn Benediction. We were joined by Rev. Caleb Insco, FSSP. Once more the two Forms of the Roman Rite praying together.

I’m sad that this year the people from both parishes were not able to walk together.

Following benediction, we walked back across the Interstate to Holy Rosary for Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Processions are a different kind of pilgrimage than a Camino, spiritually fruitful in a different way.

One day, we will walk by sight – we will see God face to face as He is – but for now, we continue to walk by faith – seeing God as He chooses to reveal Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist².

After the reposition of the Eucharist, we retired to the Convent Garden, despite the rain, and had a good, old-fashioned picnic. The ladies of the Altar Society provided a hot dog bar, which could not be beat, and numerous other folks brought dishes to share.

This annual Mass and procession (and picnic!) bring our community together in a way that’s difficult to describe, but obvious to those who participate. Pilgrimages are like that.

1. “Research suggests that walking may not make you a genius but it will improve your attention and concentration not to mention help your mood, well being, self-esteem, and even your physical health.” (source)
2. 2 Corinthians 5:1-8