The word Pilgrim comes from the Latin combination of ‘per’ which means beyond and ‘agri’ which means country, therefore the foreigner.

St. Ignatius calls himself a Pilgrim in his autobiography. John Wayne uses Pilgrim twenty-three times in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). St. Paul, in the Acts of the Apostles, mentions visits to Lystra, Iconium, Antioch, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga, Attalia and Antioch. He fits right in as a Pilgrim. So, I guess it is quite alright that we consider ourselves Pilgrims as we wander the inways and byways of life. The road we follow is not always straight, sometimes twisting and turning, full of surprises, detours, disappointments and dangers. Sometimes the road is smooth but oftentimes rough and full of potholes. Sometimes we lose our way but are drawn back by some grace that tells us we missed the arrow at the fork in the road. We retrace our steps and take the other road. There is some presence in our lives that shines a light to guide our steps. There is an image of St. Joseph who holds aloft a lantern to guide the Holy Family to Egypt. They were Pilgrims. There are the Guardian Angels who work overtime on our behalf, we are Pilgrims. But in the end it is God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, our Guardian Angels and more. Life is a journey and well worth living, even with its trials, but only with the Trinity guiding us on the Way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We are Pilgrims. But the journey is eminently worthwhile because It provides us with success, failures, adventures and friends and the truth of that ever new commandment that we love one another.

ITHACA (Greek Island, place of peace, tranquility and beauty) by Constantine Cavafy

Have Ithaca always in your mind.

Your arrival there is what you are destined for.

But don’t in the least hurry the journey.

Better it lasts for years,

so that when you reach the island you are old,

rich with all you have gained on the way,

not expecting Ithaca to give you wealth.

Ithaca gave you a splendid journey.

Without her you would not have set out.

She hasn’t anything else to give you.

So, enjoy the journey, Pilgrim.

-Fr. Al Hicks