There are many important reasons why people make a pilgrimage to the site
St-Trophime - Arles, France
which include reasons such as: Reinforcing faith for those who sometimes feel
like they have gone off-path from the route to heaven. For those who are ill
and are seeking a cure, will feel nourished and strengthened in the presence of
a Holy monument. Another reason is for those who wish to extend their knowledge
about the Catholic faith and for those who are new to Christianity and
wish to expand their knowledge about the Catholic faith. Additionally those who
have traveled to St-Trophime in Arles France have claimed to feel
more spiritually connected with Mary and Jesus. This indicates that people have
become more faithful in the Lord our God after visiting this particular holy
site. Furthermore people have also claimed to feel more relaxed in
the presence of God. Since St-Trophime is one of the oldest churches
it is much more valued among the friendly community in the small town Arles. However
the most important reason is because there has been an apparition of St Steven
who the church was dedicated to.
A Marian apparition is when Mary, The Mother of
God is thought to have emerged to one or more people. The relationship to
visiting pilgrimage sites is that people have invested trust that if Mary had
an apparition there, visiting the pilgrimage site and making a religious
connection which will empower an individual’s faith and relationship with God.
Pilgrims can request for healing from Mary; as Christians believe that visiting
a holy site will provide a spiritual healing if they visit or reflect on the site.
Christians believe that if they visit these sites they are able to connect
better with Mary to ask for forgiveness and repent. Every year millions of
Catholics will go on a journey to sites such St Trophime to bridge and become
stronger in their faith. Catholics consider Marian apparition sites the most
important religion sites because Mary mother of God was a significant figure in
the church and also in the bible; as mother of Jesus and also the mother of the
church and help of Christians and a symbol of confidence.
The Catholic Church preached that an
apparition of St Steven was entirely honest and a message of optimism that
St Stephen stated will never leave human kind. For those who follow in the
path of Jesus will not be affected by the punishment of sins from God but
will be rewarded and saved from the fires of hell. However those who will not
follow and commit extremely serious sins such as blasphemy will be
penalized harshly. When visiting the site you will learn the message of St
Stephen which he revealed to the faithful and how he felt whilst revealing
the secret and also what the true meanings behind the message of it, more
information like the history of St Trophime and the controversy
and opposition that the faithful challenged to truly prove that the
apparition of St Steven at the site was exact and the messages that St
Steven gave them were legitimate. You will also discover the hard times
they faced revealing these secrets, which was a true journey of faith and
strength. However the site also will have a section about other evidence
and messages not significant to the apparition.