By definition, a pilgrimage is a journey that a person makes that has great personal and moral significance, especially in relation to religion. The Catholic community generally makes these types of personal journeys to Europe, Vatican City and other Roman sites in particular, and the Middle East. Middle Eastern pilgrimage sites include Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and the Sea of Galilee.
Catholics often travel to the sites of Catholic shrines as well. A shrine is a sacred place that is dedicated to a particular saint, and it may include places of worship, devotional areas, and gathering spaces. The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois is one such shrine. Our Lady of the Snows is an outdoor Marian shrine, one of the largest in North America. The shrine consists of 200 acres of devotional areas and gardens that also features a church, amphitheater, hotel, restaurant, and conference center.
The legend of the Lady of the Snows dates back to the year 352 A.D. During this time Mary appeared in a dream to a wealthy, heirless couple. The two had intentions of donating their wealth to the church, but were unsure what the best use of their money would be.
During the night Mary appeared to the couple in their dreams and told them that they should build a church on the grounds that were covered in snow. On the morning of August 5, 352 A.D., the couple arose to find that Esquiline Hill was covered with snow. Since it was August and very warm outside the couple knew that they should build a church on the site. The church, now known as the Basilica of St. Mary Major, still stands today and serves as a devotional site to Our Lady of the Snows. Today, the shrine in Belleville stands as a tribute to Mary. It is one of the largest and most prominent Catholic shrines in the United States today.