History of the Pilgrimage

Introduction

The Chartres Pilgrimage is a three-day walk from the great Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris to the great Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Chartres, a city 70 miles south-west of Paris. Every year the French organisation "Notre-Dame de Chrétienté" ("Our Lady of Christendom") organizes this pilgrimage at Pentecost. It is three days of prayer and penance (the walk is difficult and covers 20-25 miles a day). It culminates in the joy and relief of Holy Mass at Chartres Cathedral – the stunningly beautiful 12th century Cathedral which was built in honour of the Mother of God and to this day hosts Her veil which pilgrims can venerate in the crypt.

The pilgrims walk in small groups, called chapters. There are about 250 of these chapters, each comprising around thirty pilgrims. They come from all over France and from abroad. Each chapter has a patron saint whose image they carry on a banner. We have the privilege of walking under the patronage of Our Lady of Aberdeen.The chapters are led by laymen who, with the help of chaplains, lead the chapter in hymns, meditations, rosary, and prayers. The pilgrims live in a spirit of Christ's presence: friendship and prayer sustaining each pilgrim on his physical and spiritual journey.

 Why Chartres?

Chartres is at the centre of the religious history of France. Since Roman times, when the "Virgo Paritura" was venerated here, to the present day, the shrine has attracted pilgrims from the most distinguished (all the kings of France) to the most humble. The Chartres Pilgrimage was once part of the longer Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage, originating in the 12th century. For a few hundred years, the Chartres pilgrimage was a busy and popular route. When the Protestant Revolution reared its ugly head, however, the route—and all other pilgrimages—suffered a rapid and steady decrease in devoted pilgrims. Over the next 400 years, wars and religious upheaval continued to discourage pilgrims. Having almost died, in 1982 it was revived and saved by a devoted group of French Catholics. Since then, its attendance has grown exponentially—sometimes, even non-Catholics walk with the pilgrims!  When the pilgrims catch sight of the Cathedral’s ornate spires after three days in the fields, they say they are filled with a sense of coming home.

Modern day

Today over 15,000+ pilgrims take part in the pilgrimage, with over 1000 coming from 30 foreign countries. Popes Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II are partly responsible for these numbers as they encouraged pilgrims to attend. All are united in prayer to Our Lady during this three-day walk of 70 miles, making this the largest pilgrimage of its kind in Western Europe, both in the distance covered and in the number of pilgrims. The liturgy is the traditional Latin Mass celebrated each day: a magnificent instrument of prayer, stressing the universal character of the Mass.

Pilgrims walk through the streets of Paris, the countryside, and finally the city of Chartres. They walk from the early morning until the evening. The terrain can be muddy, rocky, and demanding, but the rewards of such a penitential exercise are eternal.

Pilgrims sleep at campsites, equipped with basic wash facilities and collective tents. The pilgrimage organisers, Notre-Dame de Chrétienté, provide bread and water at intervals during the walk. Pilgrims bring additional food with them for each day. The weather varies during the three days, and pilgrims must prepare accordingly.