Christendom on the Camino: A pilgrimage through history and faith

The Camino de Santiago is Christendom’s most iconic pilgrimage route, paved with the prayers of saints, the footsteps of kings, and the sacrifices of millions of ordinary pilgrims.

For more than a thousand years, pilgrims have made their way across Spain to the tomb of St. James the Greater in Santiago de Compostela, encountering Christ in the sacrifice of pilgrimage and the veneration of one of his closest followers. For contemporary Catholics, the Camino offers something more—a journey into the very soul of Christendom.

In October of this year, a unique opportunity awaits those who seek to deepen their faith and understanding of Christian civilization. Christendom on the Camino, a special pilgrimage led by renowned Catholic author Joseph Pearce, will take pilgrims on an unforgettable journey—not only through the Spanish countryside but also through the pages of history.

Walking in the footsteps of saints, scholars, and crusaders, participants will explore the Catholic roots of the Camino and rediscover the legacy of Christendom along the way.

A pilgrimage of history, culture, and faith

To speak of Christendom in an age when the very foundations of Christian civilization are despised may seem absurd, a hopeless longing for a world completely alien to our own. Modern man, bewitched by the marvel of technological innovation, has created for himself a culture of unrestrained “progress” that admits no tutelage of truth from tradition, nature, or Divine Revelation, and accepts no rules other than the ones it invents for itself. If indeed it must acknowledge any rules at all, for even these must be constantly questioned and replaced. Christendom, by contrast, was founded upon faith in Christ and the conviction born of His Incarnation that every human being has intrinsic and inherent worth granted to us by God, apart from whatever qualities or abilities we may or may not possess.

For precisely this reason, there is no better time to embark on a pilgrimage that immerses travelers in the beauty, truth, and the transcendent adventure of that civilization. Pearce, whose works have illuminated the lives of Catholic literary giants such as G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Hilaire Belloc, will serve as both guide and storyteller, weaving together history, literature, and theology as pilgrims traverse the ancient road.

The pilgrimage will follow the legendary Camino Francés, the most well-known route of the Way of St. James. Along the way, pilgrims will visit Romanesque churches, stunning Gothic cathedrals, silent monasteries, and historical sites that testify to Spain’s rich Catholic heritage. Daily Mass, spiritual reflections, and eight conferences presented by Pearce will provide participants with an opportunity for both deeper contemplation and spiritual renewal.

Pearce’s insights will be drawn from his recent book The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful: History in Three Dimensions (Ignatius Press 2023), which examines the grandeur of Catholic civilization, the forces that have sought to destroy it, and the beauty that still speaks to those with eyes to see. These themes—faith, heroism, and the battle for Christendom—will shape the reflections and discussions along the journey.

Spain: The bulwark of Christian Europe

Spain has always stood at the crossroads of Christian history. From the first-century evangelization by St. James, to the 8th-century launch of the heroic Reconquista that reclaimed the land for Christ, to its missionary zeal that carried the Gospel to the New World, Spain’s story is inseparable from the story of Christendom itself.

The Camino itself is a testimony to this history. The great pilgrimage routes of medieval Europe were not only spiritual journeys but also vital arteries of Christian unity, culture, and identity. They were walked by the faithful from all corners of Christendom—peasants and princes alike—who saw themselves as part of something greater than their own lives. Today, in an era of secularism and cultural amnesia, reclaiming this sense of Christian identity is more important than ever.

On Christendom on the Camino, pilgrims will visit key sites that speak to this legacy:

• Roncesvalles—site of the legendary Battle of Roncesvalles where Charlemagne suffered his most humiliating defeat, and the death of Roland gave birth to La Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland), the first of the great French heroic poems known as chansons de geste.

• Pamplona—the city where St. Ignatius of Loyola’s fall almost mortally wounded in defense of her walls, causing him to lay down his sword and embark upon his pilgrimage to sainthood.

• Burgos—home to the magnificent Gothic cathedral and final resting place of El Cid Campeador, Spain’s most celebrated national hero and the protagonist of the most significant medieval Spanish epic El cantar del mio Cid (The Song of My Cid).

• León—with its stunning, 10th-century basilica dedicated to St. Isidore of Seville, the great scholar and Doctor of the Church.

• Santiago de Compostela—the glorious destination of the Camino, in whose magnificent, Baroque and Gothic cathedral pilgrims will venerate the relics of St. James and give thanks to God for their journey of faith.

• Covadonga—the site from which the legendary hero, Don Pelayo of Asturias, launched the 700-year Reconquista against the Moors in the 8^th century.

• Oviedo—the capital of the Kingdom of Asturias, the forefather of all the medieval Christian kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula, founded in 720 following Don Pelayo’s successful revolt against the Islamic invaders. Her cathedral of the Holy Saviour houses the Holy Sudarium, the linen cloth that enveloped the face of Our Lord in the tomb.

• Santo Toribio de Liébana—the 6th-century Benedictine monastery (currently care for by the Franciscans) that houses the largest fragment of the Lignum Crucis, the True Cross of Christ, in the world.

A call to modern pilgrims

Why should modern Catholics undertake such a pilgrimage? In an era of spiritual apathy, relativism, and cultural decay, the Camino offers a powerful antidote. It is a journey that demands sacrifice—long miles on foot, physical endurance, and a willingness to detach from the rhythm and comforts of the modern world. But it also offers something far greater: the chance to rediscover the power of faith in Christ in the beauty of Christendom, to walk in the footsteps of saints, and to experience firsthand the transformative power of penitential pilgrimage.

For those who believe that the battle for Christendom is not over—that truth, beauty, and goodness still have the power to convert hearts and that, to quote Sam Gamgee, “… there is still good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it is worth fighting for”—this pilgrimage is an opportunity to go beyond mere study. It is a chance to live the Faith in a tangible way, to pray where saints have prayed, to engage in deep silence and contemplation, and to immerse oneself in a tradition that stretches back over a millennium.

As Pearce reminds us, history is not merely a collection of past events; it is the unfolding of God’s providence, a battle between light and darkness that continues in every age. Christendom on the Camino is not just a journey through Spain—it is a journey into the very heart of this battle, equipping pilgrims with the wisdom, inspiration, and strength to carry the light of Christ into the modern world.

Spaces for this pilgrimage are limited, and those who wish to embark on this transformative journey are encouraged to register soon. For more details and to secure a place, visit www.praytheway.com.