Theology of Shrines – Holy Pilgrimage Places

Abstract

The article focuses on selected aspects of theology of shrines, which are destinations of Christian pilgrimages. The author bases on biblical texts, particularly on these concerning the Promised Land and the Holy City of Jerusalem with its temple, further on documents of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants. Each earthly shrine is an expression of God's love for a human. On the one hand, God's initiative is to create a convenient place for His encounter with a man, on the other hand, a human himself searches for such a place. A shrine is a venue, where a man "has rest in God", enters into a community with Him. Simultaneously, it anticipates future communion with God in the eternity - "eternal rest in God" after efforts of the earthly pilgrimage. It is there, where a human being will achieve complete happiness and joy. Like in the past, the Promised Land and the temple in Jerusalem were places for creating unity and identity for Israelites, nowadays shrines are means of creating and enhancing Church community, which embraces comers from all over the world. The article emphasis the fact that present shrines are not only places of intensive prayers, great liturgical celebrations, but also centres where people offer their spiritual sacrifices, do penance, further where sinners convert to God and each pilgrim renews spiritually.