Youth Lead the Way

The Chartres Pilgrimage, that takes place every year over the Feast of Pentecost, has a growing popularity.  It is a grueling three day walk from Paris to Chartres that attracts traditional Catholics (mostly young people) from all over the world.  This year 18,000 pilgrims took part, which compares with 16,000 in 2023.  No doubt there would have been many more had the organisers not found it necessary to limit the numbers for practical and logistical reasons.

The Oviedo to Cavadongo Pilgrimage, which takes place every July, is a Spanish version of the Chartres Pilgrimage.  Last year it attracted 3,000 pilgrims, which was a huge increase on the previous year.  Reports from the organisers indicate that bookings for 2024 are well up on last year.  A few days ago, it became known that the Dicastery for Divine Worship had banned the Solemn Latin Mass in the great Shrine Church in Cavadongo that was to have  been the culmination of the pilgrimage.

It does seem that the Vatican authorities are getting a little desperate in their attempts to curtail the use of the Latin Mass.  However, all is not lost.  The pilgrimage will go ahead with the final Mass offered at a temporary altar set up at the final campsite.  After the Mass, the pilgrims will process to the Shrine, where there will sing the Te Deum before the exposed Blessed Sacrament.  I have little doubt that the publicity generated by the banning of the final Mass will have the result of boosting the numbers attending, and serving to promote the Latin Mass cause generally.  Here is a picture from last year's Cavadongo Pilgrimage.

In late August, there will be another opportunity for young people in particular to join a walking pilgrimage, and to demonstrate their support for the Latin Mass.  This is the Walsingham Pilgrimage organised by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales.  It takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend and involves walking 76 miles.  It has grown steadily in size in recent years, attracting about 200 pilgrims last year.  For more information and to make a booking, visit the Latin Mass Society website.