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Pilgrims walking through forest trails in regional Victoria during the 2023 pilgrimage

The Christus Rex Pilgrimage (English: Christ the King Pilgrimage), or CREX, is an annual Australian pilgrimage in the state of Victoria from St. Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat, to Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo. Pilgrims spend 3 days walking approximately 90km between the two cathedrals, concluding with a Solemn Mass upon arriving in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo. The pilgrimage is organized by the Christus Rex Society Inc, a Catholic lay volunteer organization. The pilgrimage takes place during the last weekend of October, celebrating the Feast of Christ the King which Pope Pius XI originally instituted on the last Sunday of October each year in his encyclical, Quas Primas.[1][2][3]

Background

Prior to modern transportation, Christian pilgrimages were understood to be arduous journeys undertaken on foot or horseback to a holy site. The challenges which these journeys entail (e.g. rain, heat, fatigue, cold) are seen by Christians as an allegory of the daily challenges of earthly life, while their holy destinations are symbolic of the joys of heaven.[4] For this reason, medieval pilgrimage routes which require walking such as the Way of St. James are still popular today amongst some Christians.

History

The Christus Rex pilgrimage is based on the French Pentecost pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres. Both pilgrimages are primarily attended by Catholics who are attached to the Tridentine Mass, although registration is open to everyone, including non-Christians.[5] Each day of the pilgrimage, Solemn High Mass is celebrated according to the 1962 Roman Missal, antecedent to the liturgical reforms related to the Second Vatican Council. Similar pilgrimages also take place around the world.[6]

Solemn High Mass celebrated in the Traditional Roman Rite during the pilgrimage

The annual event began in 1991, where around two dozen pilgrims were accompanied by Canberra priest, Fr. John Parsons, as their chaplain.[7][8] The number of pilgrims have grown over the years,[9] and the event is now attended by hundreds of Catholic Christians from across Australia, as well as pilgrims from other countries.[10][11] The event is popular amongst students and young adults.[12][13] Some of the Australian and New Zealander bishops have publicly supported the event by concluding the annual pilgrimage with a Pontifical High Mass at the Bendigo Cathedral. Bishops Peter Elliott, Basil Meeking, Columba Macbeth-Green, and Richard Umbers have celebrated the closing Mass in past years.[14][15]

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the pilgrimage was temporarily suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the public health restrictions in the state of Victoria.[16] In 2022, the pilgrimage was resumed, and celebrated its 30th anniversary.[17]

Registrations for the pilgrimage open after the Feast of Pentecost each year.

See also

References

  1. ^ "About the Pilgrimage". Christus Rex Pilgrimage. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  2. ^ Smith, Michelle (2019-10-25). "Hundreds set out on pilgrimage walk". The Courier. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  3. ^ "Walking the Faith: On the Road with the Christus Rex Pilgrims". ABC Listen. 2010-03-07. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  4. ^ "Annual Christus Rex Pilgrimage from Ballarat to Bendigo follows a rich tradition". Bendigo Advertiser. 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  5. ^ Clubb, Kathy (2019-11-11). "Catholic Tradition Alive and Well in the Antipodes". The Remnant Newspaper. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  6. ^ Leong, Dickson (2023-05-30). "The Great Tradition of Christian Pilgrimage". OnePeterFive. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  7. ^ Sonnen, John Paul. "The Christus Rex Pilgrimage in Australia". Liturgical Arts Journal. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  8. ^ "Tony a pilgrimage veteran after 25 years - The Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn". Catholic Voice. 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  9. ^ "Hundreds hit the road for sunny pilgrimage". The Courier. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  10. ^ Tribe, Shawn (2012-11-15). "Christus Rex Pilgrimage, Australia". New Liturgical Movement. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  11. ^ Marsh, Natasha (2016-11-28). "Repeat offenders: why people keep coming back to the Christus Rex pilgrimage". The Catholic Weekly. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  12. ^ Lyall, Callan (2015-12-07). "Australian Students on Pilgrimage". MODG News. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  13. ^ Biddle, Matthew (2013-11-06). "Pilgrimage continues to attract youth". The Record. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  14. ^ Naughtin, Fr Terence Mary (2013-11-17). "Pilgrimage Mass, Christus Rex Pilgrimage, Victoria, Australia". New Liturgical Movement. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  15. ^ Rodrigues, Marilyn (2018-11-05). "Blisters, blessings on way to Bendigo". The Catholic Weekly. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  16. ^ "COVID-19 restrictions see annual Christus Rex Pilgrimage cancelled". Bendigo Advertiser. 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  17. ^ Akehurst, Christopher (2022-12-25). "Faith on Foot: The Christus Rex Pilgrimage - Quadrant Online". quadrant.org.au. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
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