Study about the concept and function of pilgrimage in Catholicism, and its comparison with pilgrimage in Shiism

Belief in saint’s intercession is the central point of the pilgrimage of saints. Thus the Catholic person invoke to the Christ, Holy Mary, Holy Spirit and the saints to achieve their intercession. From the perspective of the Catholic Church, pilgrimage has two meanings: Pilgrimage to the earthly places and heavenly pilgrimage, which means life as pilgrimage and living on the earth as pilgrim. It is important to know the second meaning is tied to the Cross and Original sin. For the heavenly pilgrimage, Catholic person should live like pilgrim and through the unity of the body of Christ which is the real temple, attain the heavenly Jerusalem. Also, the Shiite pilgrimage has deep theological principles, and its history dates to the early centuries of Islam and the Prophet’s time. As the verses of the holy Quran are indicating the obligatory of Hajj, and legitimacy of invoking to the Imams, intercession, building a shrine and also traditions that has permitted the pilgrimage of Ahl-alBayt (as). According to traditions the Holy Kaaba has a symbol in the heaven that called Bayt-al-Ma’mur and according to other traditions Bayt-al-Ma’mur is the heart of the Prophet and the Perfect Man. Thus, the Shia-Muslim pilgrim should seek the real pilgrimage and real shrine through the Velayat of Ahl-alBayt (pbut). However, during the time, Catholic and Shiite pilgrimage faced many challenges, but Catholicism and Shiite pilgrimage has continued. Nowadays, the Holy Sites are the center of seeking God, religious activities, unity, social harmony, economic prosperity and art.