208. Lanckorońska Piesza Pielgrzymka na Jasną Górę (charakterystyka grupy i motywy pielgrzymowania uczestników)

The 208th Walking Pilgrimage from Lanckorona to Jasna Góra (the characteristics of the group and participants' motivations)

Summary: This study provides an analysis of motivations of participants in the 208th Walking Pilgrimage from Lanckorona to Jasna Góra, which took place from 6 to 12 July 2007. Around 200 people took part in the pilgrimage. It should be indicated, that it has a tradition of over 200 years. The pilgrimage itinerary contains impressive tourist assets as it passes the scenic landscapes of the Krakowsko-Częstochowa Upland (the Polish Jura) through the localities of Tyniec, Bronowice Małe, Ojców, Zadroże, Wolbrom, Pilica, Pradła, Lelów, Św. Anna, Kajetanowice and Gidle with the ultimate destination of Jasna Góra (Fig. 1). Many centres of religious worship of varied intensity of pilgrimage movement are visited along the way. Among the widest and best known (apart from the point of departure and destination of the pilgrimage) are the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Lelów, St. Ann's Shrine in Święta Anna and the Shrine of Our Lady of Gidle. The pilgrims are mostly young people of peasant origin, mostly with high school or primary school education (Fig. 2, 3, 4). Usually they are residents of the Małopolskie Voivodeship, but the Śląskie and the Łódzkie Voivodeships are also within its outreach. The material for the analysis was collected using a questionnaire which was especially prepared for the purpose of this study and contained eight single- or multiple-choice questions. A group of 129 people was covered by the study, i.e. 65% of all participants in the Walking Pilgrimage from Lanckorna to Jasna Góra. The results of the study in correlation with the age and gender of respondents (these features may have a major influence on the motivation and reasons for making the effort of undertaking a pilgrimage) are shown in Figures 5 and 6. Generally, the dominant motivation for women, regardless of age, is the gratitude for the grace granted to them and the desire to express their thanks. An important motivation for women aged 15-25 and 26-45 is seeking help in solving their problems. A dominant motivation for men, especially the elderly, is giving a testimony of faith and repentance for sins (this motivation prevails among female pilgrims aged over 65). Praying for health and prosperity is a motivation declared by more than fifty percent of middle-age male pilgrims. Young girls aged under 15 most often want to express their gratitude for graces granted to them, thanking for them and praying for health or prosperity. Young boys aged under 15 most often undertake the pilgrimage to pray for the prompt beatification of John Paul II, or with no special intention at all, which makes them distinctly different from other pilgrims. The oldest pilgrims, regardless of age or gender, usually have multiple reasons for making the effort of going on pilgrimage, so as a rule they ticked all the possible intentions in the questionnaire. In conclusion, it seems that due to the dynamic development of walking pilgrimages to Jasna Góra, numerous research projects and papers are still devoted to this phenomenon. It is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon, so it requires in-depth analyses using various methods of comprehensive disciplines of science such as geography, sociology, psychology, tourism or religious science. Considering the long tradition of pilgrimages from Lanckorona to Jasna Góra, but on the other hand, the absence of literature of the subject makes the description of this phenomenon an interesting and challenging task.

Peregrinus Cracoviensis, 2008, z. 19, s. 73-86.

Instytut Geografii i Gospodarki Przestrzennej UJ

ISSN 1425-1922

Pełny tekst (435 KB)