The 2018 Pentecost Pilgrimage to Chartres

Throughout this past weekend -- and concluding today at Chartres -- the 2018 Notre Dame de Chretiente "Chartres pilgrimage" has been taking place. This pilgrimage always takes place at the time of Pentecost, beginning at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris and making its way, by foot, to Chartres Cathedral -- a three day sojourn.

This particular pilgrimage has fast become justly famed for its success, attracting tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world, united around a devotion to the Church, to Our Lady and to the usus antiquior; it is a feast for eyes and for the soul.

For years now I have covered this particular pilgrimage by sharing the photos that are made available by the organizers and attendees, and I never tired of it. In fact, as May approaches, it is the thing that my mind immediately turns to with great anticipation. I personally suspect that pilgrimage has helped to increase in the minds of many of the importance of the great Solemnity of Pentecost as well.

Here are just a few selections of photos taken from the first two days of the pilgrimage.

Solemn Mass, Notre Dame de Paris












Mass completed, the pilgrims proceed, first through the streets of Paris.


And then into the open countryside...








On Sunday, the Solemn Mass of Pentecost is offered outdoors along the way to Chartres.










The pilgrimage continues on its way to its ultimate destination...







The pilgrims are greeted by Robert Cardinal Sarah. What a treat for them I am sure -- and I suspect for him as well.



The climax of the pilgrimage is today, of course, when a solemn Mass will be celebrated in the great cathedral of Chartres for the pilgrims.  LAJ will make certain to bring to those photos to you as well, either as a special second post for today, or as a follow up post tomorrow.

Photo credits: Notre Dame de Chretiente

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