Students in their final year of theology at Centro Interprovincial De Formação, Santo Inácio De Loyola took part in a two-day pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in São Paulo. One of our formators, Fr Moisés Neto SJ, accompanied us in the pilgrimage, which is part of CIF’s spiritual preparation program. Before ordination, Jesuit scholastics undertake a pilgrimage designed as a time of prayer, discernment, and renewal, to help prepare their hearts for their forthcoming diaconate ordination. Among the many beautiful moments of this pilgrimage, two experiences deeply touched my heart.
The first was witnessing the profound faith of countless pilgrims. From a considerable distance, many approached the sanctuary on their knees as an act of devotion, sacrifice, and trust in God. They endured physical pain with remarkable perseverance, believing that through the intercession of Our Lady of Aparecida they would be led closer to her Son, Jesus Christ. Their silent witness reminded me that genuine faith is expressed not only in words but also in acts of humility, hope, and complete surrender to God. Seeing these pilgrims made me reflect on the power of simple faith and the trust that Mary will always lead her children to Christ.
The second experience was even more moving. While I was kneeling in prayer before the image of Our Lady of Aparecida, a woman approached carrying a photograph of her sons. She knelt quietly before the Blessed Mother, held the photograph close to her heart, and whispered softly in Portuguese, “Acabou” (“It is finished”). Immediately, she burst into tears, weeping with the innocence and vulnerability of a child. As I turned, I noticed an elderly couple, perhaps in their seventies, embracing one another as they, too, wept.
At that moment, I was overwhelmed with emotion. The woman’s words instantly reminded me of Jesus’ final words on the cross: “It is finished” (John 19:30). I did not know the story behind their tears or the burdens they had carried for so long. Yet I sensed they had reached a moment of complete surrender before God. Perhaps they had entrusted years of suffering, anxiety, grief, or unanswered prayers to Jesus through Our Lady’s loving intercession. Their tears were not merely tears of sadness; they seemed to be tears of release, healing, and hope. It was as though they had laid down the heavy burdens they had carried for so long, trusting that Christ would now carry them.
This experience also brought to mind the words of Jesus in the Gospel: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Standing in that sacred place, I realised that pilgrimage is much more than travelling to a holy shrine. It is indeed a journey of the heart, of surrender, healing, and renewed trust in God. Witnessing the faith of so many pilgrims reminded me that no burden is too heavy for Christ and that Mary, our Mother, continually accompanies her children, leading them with tenderness and love to her Son.
This pilgrimage strengthened my vocation and prepared my heart more deeply for the ministry ahead. It reminded me that, as a future priest, I am called to accompany people in their joys and sorrows, to bring them closer to Christ, and to proclaim the hope that only the Gospel can offer.
Written by:
Sch. Nelson Marques, SJ