The presence of Christ in the Church permeates the building and creates a truly sacred space in which to worship and pray, a holy ground on which to walk and rest. Certain objects and works of art in the church such as the crucifix, stained glass windows, and statues raise the mind and heart in prayer. The Catechism recommends monasteries, too, as appropriate places for prayer, and pilgrimages as productive occasions for prayer. The faithful have been going on pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Campostella, Canterbury, the major shrines of Europe and the Middle East, national shrines and local minor shrines literally for thousands of years. A pilgrimage is a journey undertaken in faith, a journey that parallels our lifelong journey toward eternal communion with God in heaven.
Prayer is the language of the journey, the language of communion.