The Way Of The Pilgrim

If you are someone who is interested in learning more about the spirituality of the Eastern Church (Orthodox or Catholic and, more specifically, the churches of the Byzantine Tradition) I recommend reading this book. It is a "spiritual classic" from the East, purported to have been written by the "title character", the Pilgrim. In actuality the book was written by the abbot of an Orthodox monastery. The Pilgrim is a many-faceted character and is also an allegorical figure. One of the delights of the book is that, at the end, among other things, you are left to ponder the mystery of the Pilgrim.

Not only is the Liturgy, History and Tradition of the Eastern churches different from the West, the spirituality of the East is different too. Yes, the "two lungs" of the Church, East and West, share much in common but there are some wonderfully surprising differences just waiting to be discovered by those of the Western Tradition. A gross over-simplification, I think, has been made that the West is more analytical/legalistic and the East is more spiritual/mystical. Reading this book may shed some light onto that concept for you. In a real sense, the idea cannot be totally discounted.

This book, Way of a Pilgrim, sometimes also known as A Pilgrim's Tale, is credited with familiarizing the West with the "Jesus Prayer" of the East. In the East, this prayer is more common than the Rosary in the West and is an important part of the prayer life of most Eastern Christians, Greek or Slav. It is a short prayer, the most common version of which is "O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." In the East this short prayer is used continually as a form of meditation and guide to a deeper mystical life in Christ. The book follows the Pilgrim on his journey, which is also a metaphor for the soul's journey to Christ. Along the way he learns more about himself, prayer, the Christian ideal, and ultimately, God. The story is completely engaging and reads like a novel. I found myself drawn into the story immediately.

The author cleverly weaves in wisdom from the Philokalia, the essential spiritual library of the Eastern Church of the Byzantine Tradition, the lives of the early Desert Fathers, Sacred Scripture, and the simple yet profound folk wisdom which permeates the Christian faith of the Slavic East.

Some versions of the book separate the story into two volumes, one called The Way of a Pilgrim and the other called The Pilgrim Continues His Way. This volume combines the two into one volume, which I believe is the original intent of the author. Neither half stands alone, both complement one another. Perhaps this is a metaphor for the Church?

I urge Roman Catholics to read this book to gain more insight into the Eastern Church, especially if you are unfamiliar with it. Perhaps it will even encourage you to seek out an "Eastern Rite" Catholic parish in your area to see what it is all about. Let the Mystery unfold before you.