The thirteenth annual Pilgrimage for the Restoration concluded last Saturday with a march to the shrine of the North American Martyrs. The Solemn Mass was, as usual, beautiful. Regrettably the number of participating pilgrims was far less than in prior years – perhaps 500 were present. Could the increased availability of the Traditional Mass after Summorum Pontificum have something to do with this? After all, if there is a sung mass in the immediate vicinity it may make less sense to travel up to upstate New York.
I would submit such thoughts are premature. We are at the very beginning of things, and there is still good reason to go on a pilgrimage to pray for the restoration of Tradition. The enemies of Tradition are exceedingly active. The Auriesville pilgrimage was originally conceived as the US alternative to the famous Chartres pilgrimages of French traditionalism. US traditionalists should start thinking now how to reinvigorate this event.
Blessed Kateri, Lily of the Mohawks, born on the site of the shrine
Pilgrims approach the entrance to the shrine
Built in the 1930s, the Coliseum seats 6500. Would that we had crowds of that size today!
The choir sang magnificently.
The original shrine building, recently restored.
The sacred ravine where St. Isaac Jogues buried the body of his martyred companion, St. Rene Goupil in 1643
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