ìEach year during Holy Week thousands of people make a
pilgrimage to ChimayÛ to visit the Santuario and take away a
bit of the sacred dirt. Pilgrims walk a few yards or a hundred
miles.î 25In the Philippines, some of the faithful even allow themselves to be nailed to a
cross!
ìIn the Philippines, the only Roman Catholic country in
Asia, religious education begins young - even small children
watch realistic re-enactmentís of Christ's crucifixion, with
volunteers wearing crowns of thorns and some even allowing
nails to be driven through their handsÖthose who re-enact
them say they do so to seek special favours from God.î 26
(emphasis mine)Or, as in the case of the Blessed Virginís appearance in Medjugorje, Bosnia it
may only be long, arduous bus rides. Pilgrims did not stop visiting the site during
the time Bosnia was at war.
ìVisiting Medjugorje is a painstaking task involving many
hours by bus over war-torn roads. The millions of pilgrims
who venture to Medjugorje do so with the knowledge that
their pilgrimage will be difficult and dangerous - yet they
continue to come in droves.î 27Guadalupe - the goddess of the Americas
Dedicated exclusively to North, South and Central America by Pope John Paul II
is Our Lady of Guadalupe.
ìConsequently, not only in
Central and South America,
but in North America as well,
the Virgin of Guadalupe is
venerated as Queen of all
America.î 28