The Journey: A Guide for the Modern Pilgrim

By Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda and Michael Scaperlanda

Book Overview

Michael and Mar a Ruiz Scaperlanda summon travelers to the ancient practice of pilgrimage. Today, as in centuries past, a journey can become a spiritual experience rich with meaning and insight. The Journey shows modern pilgrims how their travels can become rewarding encounters with the sacred.

This collaborative effort by Catholic journalist and her law-professor husband draws on the couple's extensive travels, including a European pilgrimage they bravely undertook with their four children in the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year 2000. In chapters written alternately by each, the Scaperlandas offer practical advice, personal reflection and stories from journeys taken individually and together. Whether traveling through life or on a tour bus, they ask readers to consider the difference between being a tourist and a pilgrim.

Drawing deeply on their own experience of consecrated travel, the Scaperlandas guide readers into the heart of the pilgrim experience. Much of their advice answers questions like: What are the most promising pilgrimage destinations? How can families go on pilgrimage? How can vacations and tourism be transformed into a journey of pilgrimage? They also give special attention to practices and attitudes that can make all travel sacred.

Their depth of understanding enables readers to connect the inner and outer journeys--whether on trails halfway around the world or on the well-worn paths of home.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 082941617X
• ISBN13: 9780829416176
• Release Date: November 2004
• Publisher: Loyola Press
• Length: 257 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A Journey Worth Taking

This beautiful book by husband-and-wife team Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda and Michael Scaperlanda will lead you further on your spiritual journey even if you have no plans for a "real" pilgrimage on the horizon. Each writing from their own viewpoints, Maria and Michael weave personal stories with practical information in way that draws the reader in and encourages the reader to go out into the world to experience God with a pilgrim heart. At one point I was so moved by Maria's word, I found myself in tears. I wholeheartedly recommend to this book to anyone who is walking a spiritual path and looking for ways to deepen their awareness of the divine in everyday life.

"The Journey" is a Gem

I have read the work of Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda before and have always been impressed with her depth and style. "The Journey" caught my eye so as to get a glimpse into the thoughts of Maria's husband, Michael, knowing that this was the first book he and Maria had written together. What was a casual purchase has turned into a far reaching recommendation to friends, coworkers, pilgrimage directors and countless others. I highly recommend it to people of all ages, all faiths. "The Journey" leads the reader into the exploration of pilgrimage. At first glance, one might assume this will be an overview of pilgrimage sites and trip preparation. Begin reading, and you find a renewed awareness for the spiritual journey that we live daily, weekly, and throughout lives. The depth of spirituality these writers possess is so impressive and thought-provoking, yet they move with humility and humor throughout. They weave historical events with common daily chores, lend an empathetic pen to victims of tragedy -- yet celebrate the courage and earned respect of those people, places and events that have touched us as we "walk with a pilgrim heart". This book gently blends every day circumstance with the unseen but often felt spiritual presence and pull. Yes, it encourages us to look locally, nationally, internationally for pilgrimage sites that may enable us to deepen our faith. But it does something more. From the first chapter, it reminds us that we have a choice. We can live life as a tourist or as a pilgrim. One enjoys the view. The other experiences the trip, lights a path for those who go after her, is touched by all those who enter the sacred space of the journey, and inspires those same souls as well. Subtly, this book inspires us to find our purpose on this planet, in this life. And time's-a-wastin'. Carrie Swearingen Chicago