Pilgrimage Prep: Putting on the Posture of Elijah

So, you are going on a pilgrimage.

You have given your bold “yes” but now you might be left wondering, how do I even prepare for a pilgrimage?

Anyone who has gone on pilgrimage before knows that the preparation for this adventure goes beyond a packing list. To prepare for pilgrimage, we must ready ourselves to hear the voice of God with our whole being. 

These four foundational practices prepare both your body and soul for pilgrimage:

Nourish, exercise, pray, rejoice. 

Elijah the prophet greatly exemplifies what it means to prepare the body and soul to hear the voice of God. Many of us are familiar with the story of Elijah hearing the still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-13) in which he knows to listen for the Lord in the silence rather than in the commotion or big signs. But let’s back up.

Notice the passage that precedes this encounter.

After he witnesses the glory of God in multiple miracles and conversions, he still falls into despair and discouragement.

“He himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers’” (1 Kings 19:4).

He is overwhelmed in ministry, distressed by his own woundedness, afraid of the threats that await him.

How often have we felt overwhelmed by our circumstances, broken dreams, and cancelled plans? Loss of control is jarring.

Notice how the Lord responds to him (and us) in this state. 

“And [Elijah] lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’ And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time, and touched him, and said, ‘Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you.’ And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God” (1 Kings 19:5-8).

The Lord does not immediately speak to Elijah. Instead, He nourishes him and lets him take a nap. The Lord cares for our body as much as our soul.

Our experience on pilgrimage will be immeasurably better if we care for our body as much as soul. In order to hear the voice of the Lord well, let us make sure we are nourished, hydrated, and resting. Perhaps it is not that you are unable to hear the voice of God—but maybe you have not consumed enough water that day to focus during Mass.

We are fragile creatures composed of body and soul; therefore, we must care for the whole person in order that we can respond to the Lord on pilgrimage with all our heart, soul, mind, strength (Mark 12:30).

We can be tempted to chase mountaintop experiences on pilgrimage and limit God to working only in certain places and times. But the pilgrimage is not just the shrines, but also the moments of unlacing your boots and resting your wearied feet. Yes, there will be awe-inspiring beauty and opportunities for healing, but ultimately, it will be in the stillness of our hearts that the Lord draws near to us. When you walk into a basilica or climb the mountain, do not be discouraged by the crowds, sweat, or schedule. The Lord meets you in the in-between. He draws near even in the flight delays.

And in order to recognize Him, let us prepare our bodies and souls for pilgrimage.

Follow these quick practical steps as you prep for pilgrimage:

NOURISH

· Increase your hydration and electrolyte intake two weeks prior to pilgrimage

· Bring protein-packed snacks for travel days and long walking days

EXERCISE

· At least 2-months prior to pilgrimage, consider increasing your exercise habits. Even simply adding a daily walk into your routine to prepare for the adventure will make a huge difference!

PRAY

· If you do not already have a prayer routine, consider adding in 5-minutes of silence with the Lord a day and slowly increase it each week leading up to departure. We need to make an intentional effort for silence to prepare our hearts for what the Lord has instore.

· Consider also adding in times of: journaling (thanksgiving, petition, intentions, praise), reading the Psalms, praying the Divine Mercy chaplet, Litany of Trust, or Surrender Novena.  

REJOICE!

· Do not give into the temptation of despair or complaint. We can get so caught up in the details: stressing about packing, spiraling into “what if” situations, panicking about changes, etc. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17), we are not slaves to fear. Jesus has called you to this great adventure, let Him be enough. He will give you what you need. May the surrender begin now before you even embark on a plane.

· Get excited! How incredible that you will be visiting these holy spaces! Give yourself permission to be giddy like a kid again. Thank God in advance for the glorious work He will bring about on this pilgrimage.