A & G Peace Tours Inc. Journey Of Devotion: A catholic pilgrimage is a journey to a religious place for devotion. The religious places are often sites of previous apparitions, such as Fatima and Lourdes. These could also be churches, cathedrals and shrines, such as those found in Italy, Portugal, France, and even in the United States. Other religious places hold sacred relics, which could be the incorruptible bodies and possessions of saints. The earlier catholic pilgrimages were long and arduous sacrifices that were often dangerous. They often began with a blessing from the local priest. The journeys were made on foot or whatever means of transportation that existed at that time. Today, the sacrifices of the catholic pilgrims are often comforted by modern amenities. Nevertheless, the commitment and purpose are the same. The modern catholic pilgrim still seeks to venerate a particular saint, give thanks, grow in their faith achieve spiritual and physical healing, and for penance.