Self-Knowledge and Discernment
Pilgrimage is a religious journey to visit a holy site or holy person, and such journeys are found in many religious traditions. In Christianity, and in the Jesuit tradition particularly, pilgrimage has long had a central place at times when people are passing through major growth stages and seek to encounter God and to know themselves in a more profound way. St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, went on pilgrimage to the shrine of Montserrat when he had a major conversion experience in his life. All Jesuits since St. Ignatius themselves make pilgrimages as part of their formation. Students at Jesuit schools have made pilgrimages for nearly 500 years. This course continues that long tradition, by offering an experiential learning opportunity in which students can study the theology, philosophy, and history of pilgrimage in the Christian tradition, particularly the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and then make a pilgrimage together as a class.
We know that taking a walk can clear our heads, help shake a headache, prompt the emergence of previously unexpected solutions, or set a rhythm for stimulating conversation. Walking sometimes goes together with thinking in a way that opens the mind while exercising the body. The western intellectual tradition has a long history of reflecting while walking and also reflecting upon walking, but some walks offer greater spiritual significance than others. For a walk to be a pilgrimage it should be a journey to a location of spiritual significance, but it must also be undertaken with an intentional openness to a transforming experience. We are the inheritors of thousands of years of historical examples of pilgrimage, in which walking became the model for living in response to God’s call.
In the speed of our contemporary lives, this deliberately slow mode of transit can guide us in our attempts to know who we are, what we ought to do with our lives, and the challenges that stand in our way. The practice of pilgrimage can have many facets:
- An opportunity to be alone with oneself, so as to ponder one’s condition and one’s calling
- A way of connecting with and reflecting upon the non-human world
- A place to encounter other pilgrims willing to slow down and strive for meaningful conversations
- A time to be deeply receptive to the experience of transcendence and our relationship to God
This course will provide some of the theological, philosophical, and historical resources needed to render an extended walk on the Camino de Santiago—one of the great pilgrimage routes of the Christian world—a time of reflection and discernment that we undertake as both as individuals and as a class community.
Enrollment and Commitment
The course is structured in several parts, all of which are required for participating students:
- 7-8 classroom meetings during the spring semester (approximately every other week)
- 2 night weekend retreat during the spring semester
- 17 day pilgrimage in Spain (or if Spain is not possible, alternate sites) beginning May 29, 2023
Because of the unique design and intention of this course, each of the above components is required for course credit and for building community and trust among the group. Additionally, this course requires participants to hike for approximately 15-18 miles each day for 13 consecutive days in rugged outdoor conditions.
The group will be limited to 10 undergraduates, (freshmen, sophomores and juniors only), the faculty instructor, a graduate student assistant and a chaplain (when possible, a Jesuit). Students will be approved for enrollment based on academic interests, grades, and previous relevant experience.
Admission to this course is by application, interview and faculty approval only. Please review the Pilgrimage frequently asked questions below for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Admission to this course will be by interview and faculty approval. To be considered for the course, you will need to complete an application by October 17 by 5:00 p.m. Students will be notified via email if they are selected to move on to the interview portion of the selection process. Interviews will be conducted in late October and early November. Students will be notified by November 8 in time for Spring registration.
THEO/PHIL449501: Self-knowledge and Discernment: The Experience of Pilgrimage is a 3-credit course taught by Jeremy Wilkins, It counts as either a theology or a philosophy elective. It does NOT count as a theology or philosophy core course.
This course will meet eight times during the Spring 2023 semester on Select Thursdays, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Center for Ignatian Spirituality, 36 College Rd. Unless Boston College revises the dates of the Spring semester, the course meeting dates will be: January 19, February 02, February 16, March 2, March 16, April 13, April 27, April 29. The retreat will be the weekend of March 31-April 2, 2023.
The trip will occur immediately following the end of Spring semester. The pilgrimage to Spain is currently scheduled for May 29 – June 14, 2022. Students should arrive in Leon no later than May 29. We encourage students to explore Europe and take advantage of what it has to offer after the conclusion of the program. (Note: Students may not separate from the group until the program ends on June 14.)
If you are admitted, you will register for the course during spring registration from November 8-17, 2022. Please note that you can only register for the course with an override code from Professor Wilkins.
While there is no requirement or expectation that students identify as being religious and/or spiritual to participate in the course, we expect each student to approach this course with a sense of openness and a willingness to explore, learn, and be fully present in the experience. Catholic Mass will be celebrated regularly on the spring retreat and during the pilgrimage, with students from all backgrounds welcome to attend.
In addition to requirements that will be due during the course, you will be required to submit a final academic paper after the pilgrimage journey. Your final grade for the course will be posted by August 2023. This grade will count retroactively toward your Spring 2023 course load.
No. This course does not require specific background in theology or philosophy. This course also does not fulfill Core requirements for Philosophy or Theology.
Yes. The non-refundable course fee will be $1,500 which includes the two-night overnight retreat in March/April 2023, and then on the pilgrimage itself in May-June 2023 includes activities, room and board, two program meals, and international health insurance while in Spain.
In addition to the course fee, students will be responsible themselves for flight costs to and from the starting point of the pilgrimage, for daily meals during the pilgrimage, for travel arrangements, and for the necessary supplies, including appropriate hiking attire, backpack, shoes, toiletries, water, etc.
Students can either arrange their travel plans on their own or in coordination with the group/cohort.
You will be responsible for necessary supplies including appropriate hiking attire, backpack, walking shoes, toiletries, etc.
No. You do not need to speak Spanish to participate in this program.
This is a fully academic course. There is substantial reading, written assignments and other curricular activities. The retreat in March/April 2023 is also required for all students. The final paper will be due on a date in the summer set by the instructor, after which the final grades for the course will be recorded. A final syllabus will be supplied to all students upon admission and acceptance. This course is taught by a different faculty member each year, so it is likely that there will be variations in thematic emphases and approaches. Syllabi from previous courses can be found below. The current unofficial draft of the 2023 syllabus is below.
If you have additional questions, please contact Professor Jeremy Wilkins, jeremy.wilkins@bc.edu.