What is a Medieval Pilgrimage?
- Pilgrims visited shrines containing sacred relics and paid their respects to patron saints. Many tourists visited Canterbury to honor Thomas Becket, a famous archbishop murdered at the altar of Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. Rome, Jerusalem and the tomb of the apostle James at Santiago de Compostela in Spain were other popular destination points.
- Honorius of Autun, a 12th century theologian, penned his suspicions about the true reasons behind pilgrimages in the Elucidarium, which is a summary of Christian beliefs. He claimed that people went on pilgrimages as an excuse to visit exotic places. He suggested abandoning the trips and giving the money to the poor, according to the University of Saint Thomas.
- Pilgrimages in England ended in 1538 after King Henry the Eighth had a falling-out with the Pope. He and his vice-regent Thomas Cromwell sacked and dissolved the monasteries and added their wealth to the royal accounts. They attacked the sacred objects and holy images and abolished pilgrimages.
