XVI Pilgrimage
In the footsteps of Jesus
From the grotto of Nazareth to the empty tomb: the holy places of the Gospel in the order of his life — with the passage to read, the church that stands there today and the way to it.
Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 4.0
Since the first centuries Christians have gone up to the Holy Land to pray where the Word was made flesh. Since 1342 the Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land have kept these places on behalf of the Catholic Church. Follow the 22 stations below, or tap a number on the map.
Part I
The Word made flesh
From the Annunciation in Nazareth to the hidden years of the Holy Family
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1The Annunciation
The angel Gabriel is sent to a virgin of Nazareth named Mary, and the Word becomes flesh. The basilica rises over the Grotto of the Annunciation, venerated by pilgrims down the centuries.
Photo: FLASHPACKER TRAVELGUIDE · CC BY-SA 2.0
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2The Visitation
Mary hastens to the hill country of Judah to her kinswoman Elizabeth, who calls her blessed among women; Mary answers with the Magnificat.
Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר · CC BY-SA 4.0
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3The birth of John the Baptist
The birthplace of the Precursor, son of the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth, where Zechariah sang the Benedictus over his child.
Photo: User:Sambach · CC BY-SA 2.5
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4The Nativity
Joseph and Mary go up from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David, for the census, and there Jesus is born — in the place venerated today as the Grotto of the Nativity.
Photo: Neil Ward · CC BY 2.0
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5The shepherds hear the angels
In the fields east of Bethlehem the angels announce to the shepherds the birth of the Saviour: “Glory to God in the highest.”
Photo: Antoine Taveneaux · CC BY-SA 3.0
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6The hidden life in Nazareth
Jesus grows in wisdom and age in the home of Joseph and Mary and learns Joseph’s trade. Tradition honours the place as the house of the Holy Family.
Photo: Berthold Werner · Public domain
Part II
By the Sea of Galilee
The baptism in the Jordan, the first sign at Cana and the ministry around the lake
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7The Baptism of the Lord
Jesus is baptised by John in the Jordan; the Spirit descends like a dove and the Father’s voice is heard. The site lies on the west bank of the river, near Jericho.
Photo: Freedom's Falcon · CC BY-SA 3.0
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8The wedding at Cana
At his Mother’s request Jesus changes water into wine — the first of his signs, by which he revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him.
Photo: Chris06 · CC BY-SA 4.0
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9Capernaum, “his own town”
Leaving Nazareth, Jesus makes his home in Capernaum, teaches in the synagogue and heals the sick, beginning in the house of Simon Peter.
Photo: Eddie Gerald · CC BY-SA 3.0 igo
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10The loaves and fishes; “Feed my sheep”
By the lake the pilgrims remembered the multiplication of the loaves and the risen Lord’s meeting with the apostles, when he confirmed Peter in his charge — the Primacy of Peter.
Photo: Berthold Werner · Public domain
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11Mary of Magdala
The home town of Mary Magdalene, who followed the Lord, stood by the Cross and was the first to see him risen. A first-century synagogue has been unearthed here.
Photo: AVRAM GRAICER · CC BY-SA 3.0
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12The widow’s son raised
Moved with pity for a widow burying her only son, Jesus touches the bier and says, “Young man, I tell you, arise.”
Photo: Almog · Public domain
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13The Transfiguration
Jesus takes Peter, James and John up the mountain to pray; his face shines, Moses and Elijah speak with him of his exodus, and the Father says, “Listen to him.”
Photo: Liorca · CC BY-SA 4.0
Part III
Up to Jerusalem
Through Jericho and Bethany to the Holy City
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14Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus
On the way up to Jerusalem Jesus gives sight to blind Bartimaeus and stays at the house of Zacchaeus: “Today salvation has come to this house.”
Photo: Fullo88 at Italian Wikipedia · Public domain
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15Lazarus raised
The home of his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Here Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and calls Lazarus out of the tomb.
Photo: Bahnfrend · CC BY-SA 4.0
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16The entry into Jerusalem
From Bethphage Jesus rides down to the Holy City as the crowds cry “Hosanna!” — and the Palm Sunday procession still sets out from here.
Photo: Ori~ · Attribution
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17Jesus weeps over Jerusalem
Seeing the city, Jesus weeps over it: “If this day you only knew what makes for peace.”
Photo: Alon Alush · CC BY-SA 4.0
Part IV
The Paschal mystery
The Supper, the Passion, the empty tomb and the road to Emmaus
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18The Last Supper and Pentecost
Tradition places on Mount Zion the Upper Room where Jesus gave the Eucharist to his apostles and where the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost. The Franciscans keep a house beside it.
Photo: See The Holy Land · CC BY-SA 2.0
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19The agony in the garden
In the olive grove at the foot of the Mount of Olives Jesus prays, “Not my will but yours be done,” and in the nearby grotto he is arrested.
Photo: Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0
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20The scourging and condemnation
Tradition remembers here the scourging and the sentence of death. The Way of the Cross through the Old City begins at these two chapels.
Photo: Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0
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21Calvary and the empty tomb
Under one roof: Calvary, where Jesus was crucified and died, and the tomb from which he rose on the third day. The Franciscans have kept watch here on behalf of the Catholic Church for eight centuries.
Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 4.0
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22The road to Emmaus
The risen Lord walks with two disciples and is known to them in the breaking of the bread. Several places have claimed to be Emmaus; El Qubeibeh is the one the Franciscan tradition has kept for seven hundred years.
Photo: Library of Congress · Public domain
The places, their traditions and their positions are those of the Custody of the Holy Land; each station links to its page there. Gospel passages open in the New American Bible on bible.usccb.org. Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Before travelling, check the Custody’s Christian Information Centre for opening times and access.