Pilgrimage During The Middle Ages

According to the oxford dictionary a pilgrimage is journey in which one takes of either moral or spiritual significance. Those who embark on a pilgrimage are known as a pilgrim and is usually a journey to either a holy place or shrine of importance significance for that person. During the Middle Ages life was dominated by wealth, order, class, state and most importantly religion. Religion played an important role in daily life. It effected the way people behaved and to what they believed. It is difficult to assess the reason to why each individual person embarked on a pilgrimage but it is believed that the main reason to why they did was to cleanse the body of the any sin it may hold or to ask for any help that person may require.

It was believed that the only way to ensure that you were washed of all sin was to embark on a holy journey or to visit a holy place and people of the Middle Ages believed that the more effective way of doing this was to take part on a pilgrimage. People of the middle ages wanted to be washed of all sin and wanted to ensure that they had a place in heaven once they died. The one way that was certain for them to accomplish this was to either visit a holy place of take part in a pilgrimage. The one that was most looked upon for the people of the
The images depicts the miracle workings of the Virgin Mary and would have provided hope for those who needed it. Pilgrimages were significant for the people of the middle ages as it provided hope and even clarity. Spiritual rewards, examples to show devotion, penance for sins and insurance for a place in heaven were some of the reasons pilgrims travelled for days to an often far away shrine or holy place. Pilgrimages during the middle Ages held great significance for those who took part. Life for people in the middle ages was filled with devastation disease and