Resource Type: Lesson plans

This clip comes from the BBC series: Pilgrimage – The Road Through Portugal.

The Pilgrims reach the end of their long journey in the city of Fatima, one of the world’s largest Catholic pilgrimage sites. They go straight to the famous Sanctuary which was built and developed over nine decades on the field where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to three shepherd children. Dominating the square is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, finished in 1953.

Su and Vicky visit the Chapel of the Apparitions, built on the very spot where the shepherd children said the Virgin Mary appeared. Here they are moved to see devout believers approach the chapel on their knees, praying for favours or fulfilling promises to the Virgin Mary.

Watch full episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Transcript

Arriving at the Fatima Sanctuary -SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments 1 / 3

S1 00:00:24:07

We're here. Look, guys, this is it. Oh, no. It's all we've got here.

We did it! Flipping heck!

S2 00:00:35:07

Once a small rural village, Fatima is now a thriving city. At its

center is the famous sanctuary. Covering a huge area. The

sanctuary was built and developed over nine decades on the

field, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to the three

shepherd children. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It's one of the

world's largest Catholic pilgrimage sites. The Basilica of Our

Lady of the Rosary. Finished in 1953, dominates the square. And

it's here. The pilgrims will join a crowd of tens of thousands for

the candlelight procession tomorrow evening.

S1 00:01:20:16

Oh, this obviously takes thousands of people. Yeah.

S3 00:01:24:15

A big old gap. Oh.

S1 00:01:25:21

Well, I didn't know it'd be as big as this. It's magnificent. Look at

it. Can you believe tomorrow night this is going to be chocker full

of people? Yeah, I mean, this is really quite something else. Well

done. Well done. We've done it. Well done.

S4 00:01:47:22

Good job.

Clip: Arriving at the Fatima Sanctuary -SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments 2 / 3

S2 00:01:53:11

In the middle of the square in front of the basilica is the chapel of

the apparitions. Originally a small wooden chapel built in 1919

on the spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared. It's

now the heart and most sacred space of the sanctuary. As Sue

and Vicki explore. Their attention is drawn by believers taking a

path on their knees to the chapel, praying for a favour or to fulfill

the promise to the Virgin Mary.

S1 00:02:30:19

I don't know how they managed it.

S5 00:02:32:17

What are you saying Sue?

S1 00:02:33:24

That lady in the red, they're on their knees. And the guy there

look because they're so devout. Oh, you're not being funny. The

agony of it. No, no no no.

S6 00:02:43:19

Can you see she's doing her rosary or shoogors?

S1 00:02:45:21

Gordon Bennett, you'd be nearly dead, wouldn't you? The pain of

it. And I suppose.

S6 00:02:51:00

That's a part of it, you know, to show how dedicated they are.

Their devotion.

S1 00:02:55:13

Yes, I think it's fantastic. This will live in the memory, seeing all

these devout people walking on their knees. Whether you agree

with it or not, it's quite, um, moving. Really?

Clip: Arriving at the Fatima Sanctuary -SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments 3 / 3

S7 00:03:11:12

It's a view, isn't it? That is a view. And the way the light is

actually just shining on the basilica? Yeah. Absolutely gorgeous.

The thing is.

S6 00:03:19:11

It's it's like. I feel like it's more than just the visuals, but you

could feel that there's something special here.

Pilgrimage Moments: Arriving at the Fatima Sanctuary

Video length - 03.33

This clip comes from the BBC series: Pilgrimage – The Road Through Portugal.

The Pilgrims visit the Carmelite convent where Lucia – one of the children who witnessed the miracle at Fatima – eventually lived as a nun until she died in 2005.

Bobby helps the Pilgrims to delve deeper into Sister Lucia’s story, and they meet Sister Anna Sophia, a Carmelite nun who had the privilege of knowing Sister Lucia in the final years of her life. She paints a vivid picture of Sister Lucia’s character, describing her as joyous, humble, and deeply humane.

However, Pentecostal Christian Shane finds it challenging to connect with Sister Anna Sophia’s account due to his belief that people should be free to pray directly to God without intermediary figures.

Watch full episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Transcript

Visiting the convent of Sister Lucia - SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments 1 / 6

S1 00:00:23:18

We love our hills now, don't we now. We do love a good hill.

S2 00:00:25:14

A hill and a good start.

S3 00:00:26:17

Sue, Vicky, Millie, Shane and Bobby are going to a convent with

an extraordinary connection to the sanctuary at Fatima.

S1 00:00:35:03

So I think direction wise we are heading. So going up there but

there will be a reward. This is the convent that Sister Lucia

joined.

S3 00:00:46:08

Sister Lucia was one of three shepherd children from Fatima,

who in 1917 reported seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary who

told them to pray the Rosary to bring peace to the world and end

the Great War. Lucia's cousins Francisco and Jacinta died of the

Spanish flu aged only ten and nine. Lucia dedicated herself to a

religious life. She became a nun in 1926 and lived at the convent

in Coimbra until she died in her 90s.

S4 00:01:22:24

When did you pass away? I think 2005, 2005. And on 15th

Febuary.

S1 00:01:28:16

It became a national day of mourning. Oh, really? Portugal, she's

like a mega, mega star.

S4 00:01:33:09

Is it still a convent with practicing nuns and that?

Clip: Visiting the convent of Sister Lucia - SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments 2 / 6

S1 00:01:35:21

It is. Yeah.

S4 00:01:36:11

This is amazing. I've actually ever met a nun. The closest I've got

is I watched Sister Act. Oh, it's very nice.

S3 00:01:44:02

The pilgrims make their way up to the Saint Teresa convent,

which was Sister Lucia's home for 57 years.

S5 00:01:53:24

Look at this. Oh, look at it.

S4 00:01:57:05

What's he looking at?

S5 00:01:58:04

But there's a really big statue of Lucia. Oh it's of Lucia.

S1 00:02:04:01

Yeah, we can see she went up to 98, so she.

S4 00:02:07:01

Did nearly 100. I tell you, she had a good innings.

S5 00:02:09:11

Are we allowed to go up and look?

S4 00:02:10:07

Yeah, let's have a look. For some reason, I didn't picture her with

glasses.

S5 00:02:14:15

Oh, wow. I could be her sister. Look.

Clip: Visiting the convent of Sister Lucia - SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments 3 / 6

S1 00:02:18:10

Hello.

S5 00:02:19:12

You look. She looks lovely.

S4 00:02:21:06

Yeah.

S5 00:02:21:21

98. Fabulous.

S3 00:02:27:14

It's a cloistered Carmelite convent, which means the nuns have

very little contact with the outside world. Hello. Once the

pilgrims have been let in. Bobby, the only Catholic in the group,

shares what he knows about the story.

S1 00:02:43:05

Obviously, we have Lucia there. Yeah, after she joined the

convent. Yeah. Dedicated her life to Virgin Mary. And then here

we have a younger cousins, Francisco and Jacinta, dressed in this

sort of traditional Portuguese. Can you see what he's got in his

hand? It looks like a crutch. I think it's a shepherd's stick.

S4 00:03:01:05

Mhm.

S5 00:03:02:03

No, they were the ones that died. Weren't they?

S1 00:03:03:21

The cousins. Yes. It is sort of surreal to think our whole

pilgrimage together, our journey, meeting all these people is all

because of her and their cousins, their visions and how the story

spread.

Clip: Visiting the convent of Sister Lucia - SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments 4 / 6

S5 00:03:17:21

But you know what I meant to ask you. Is there any documented

evidence that they constantly were ridiculed by everybody else,

saying they made it up? It's fantasy even.

S1 00:03:30:17

Yeah. Even Lucia's mother.

S4 00:03:32:05

Yeah.

S1 00:03:33:00

Um, beat her, saying rescind these visions that you had.

S4 00:03:37:24

But she didn't believe them. Yeah.

S1 00:03:39:06

The mothers, they stopped making up these.

S5 00:03:40:23

Well, you see, it's so farfetched. It's like that term, you know.

What about the fairies at the bottom of the garden?

S3 00:03:48:14

As Carmelites. The sisters can only speak two hours a day. But

the pilgrims have been given special permission to meet a nun

who knew Lucia during the last ten years of her life. Sister Ana

Sofia. Hello.

S6 00:04:03:04

Welcome, welcome.

S4 00:04:07:23

I'm sorry for my ignorance, but what are the bars for?

Clip: Visiting the convent of Sister Lucia - SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments 5 / 6

S6 00:04:11:19

Yeah. Okay.

S5 00:04:36:24

Like us pilgrims when we're walking. No luxury, no nothing. Yes,

it's the same.

S6 00:04:42:12

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

S1 00:04:44:03

What was Sister Lucia like when you met her?

S1 00:04:58:16

When Lucia had the apparitions as a child, Lucia's mother didn't

believe and said, oh, Lucia tell everyone it didn't happen. What

do you think about that?

S5 00:05:38:13

Yes that's true.

S7 00:05:40:11

It's lovely to hear about from someone who actually met her. I

feel like that's. Yeah, that's pretty impressive. You're amazing.

Fantastic.

S5 00:05:48:22

Thank you. Thank you very much.

S6 00:05:50:09

Thank you. God bless you.

S5 00:05:52:18

Thank you very much.

S6 00:05:53:15

Have a nice travel.

Clip: Visiting the convent of Sister Lucia - SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments 6 / 6

S4 00:05:54:06

Yes, yes. God bless you.

S6 00:05:55:20

You pray for you. Thank you.

S5 00:05:57:06

Thank you so much. She was so good. That lady I mean terrific. I

mean her answers and everything. She was.

S4 00:06:04:11

Really nice.

S3 00:06:05:20

As a Pentecostal born again Christian sister Ana Sofia's account

didn't resonate with Shane.

S8 00:06:14:04

The story was very interesting up until a point. Then it was like, I

get what's going on here. I believe the, the, the intent is, is there,

and the prayers and the praying for the people. And it's all very,

very real. And they certainly believe it. But it's almost those

prayers have no authority because they haven't a direct line to

God. They're still going. They're still worshiping technically false

idols, which is the only person meant to be worshiped as God

himself. Not Mary, not Lucia, not Luke anything. The true route is

direct to God, and anything that gets in the way is getting in your

way.

Pilgrimage Moments: Visiting the convent of Sister Lucia

Video length - 07.01

This clip comes from the BBC series: Pilgrimage – The Road Through Portugal.

The Pilgrims continue their journey along the Northern Way, eager to delve deeper into the story of Fatima. Bobby enlightens the group by telling them about three shepherd children from the village of Fatima: 9-year-old Lucia and her younger cousins Francisco and Jacinta. On the 13th May 1917, they reported seeing a light descend from the sky and the appearance of the Virgin Mary, who told the children that to get to Heaven and to bring about world peace, they should pray the Rosary every day.

Over the next six months, the children reported seeing the Virgin Mary six times, including a final apparition on the 13th October, when they were promised a miracle. Word of the children’s visions spread rapidly, drawing a crowd of 70,000 people to witness what is now known as the Miracle of the Sun. It is said that the crowd saw the sun spinning in the sky, changing colour and size.

Fatima became a place of pilgrimage, and today it attracts over four million visitors a year.

Watch full episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Transcript

The story of the Fatima miracle - SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments EP 1 CLIP 1

S1 00:00:27:19

As the pilgrims continue to follow the Northern Way, they are

keen to know more about its origins and connection to the city of

Fatima.

S2 00:00:37:07

Does anyone actually know the story of Fatima? Bobby does.

Bobby does.

S3 00:00:41:14

Yeah. So there was a girl called Lucia who was nine, and her

cousins, uh, Francisco and Jacinta, who aged seven and six. And

they had, like, a divine experience on the 13th of May, 1917. A

light came down and a lady appeared before them, um. And the

lady, the lady, the Virgin Mary.

S2 00:01:03:00

So the lady.

S3 00:01:04:01

The the lady. And she said to them an instruction, if you want to

get to heaven, you've got to pray the rosary every day over the

course of the next six months, they saw together the Virgin Mary

like six times.

S2 00:01:17:22

And everybody believed them. Yeah.

Clip: The story of the Fatima miracle - SERIES 5 - Pilgrimage Moments 2 / 2

S1 00:01:21:22

The three shepherd children from Fatima claimed the Virgin

Mary told them to pray the Rosary, to bring peace to the world

and end the Great War. The children also said she promised that

on her final apparition on October 13th, they would witness a

miracle. Word of the children's vision spread and a crowd of

around 70,000 gathered in the village of Fatima. What happened

that day is now known as the miracle of the sun. It was reported

that the crowd saw the sun spinning in the sky, changing colour

and size. Fatima soon became a place of pilgrimage. The Catholic

Church recognises the apparitions as credible, but it's not

something Catholics have to believe. Today, the sanctuary

attracts over 4 million visitors a year.

Pilgrimage Moments: The story of the Fatima miracle

Video length - 02.33

This clip comes from the BBC series: Pilgrimage – The Road to the Scottish Isles.

At the end of Will’s first day on the Pilgrimage, he is invited to share his personal beliefs with the group after dinner. Will opens up about his journey away from church attendance after his grandfather’s death, and his own battle with non-Hodgkin’s blood cancer as a child. He fondly recalls the comforting prayers he received during his hospital stay, highlighting the role of faith during times of hardship.

The discussion moves on to experiences of faith, not only during life’s trials but also during moments of joy and contentment.

Monty challenges Laurence about his lack of faith, despite his remarkable knowledge of religion. Laurence defends his position, saying he is happy with his “mechanical universe”, but willing to take part in religious ceremonies for his own non-religious reasons.

Shazia also reflects on her upbringing as the only Muslim and person of colour in a Roman Catholic school.

Together, these conversations help the Pilgrims to deepen their respect for each other’s faiths and personal beliefs.

Watch full episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Transcript

Clip: The Lack of Faith - Pilgrimage S4 Ep 2 - Clip1

1 / 6

S1 00:00:24:02

Over dinner. The group are keen to learn more about their

newest pilgrim.

S2 00:00:30:16

Well, you've been parachuted in to join us, and it's wonderful to

have you here, but we have all declared where we stand in terms

of our personal beliefs, our faiths. Which religious fence do you

sit on?

S3 00:00:44:02

I'm pretty much on the fence. When my grandad died, my mum

moved away and then we never went to church or anything. It

was like one extreme to the other.

S4 00:00:52:18

If you were drowning, would you pray to God?

S3 00:00:55:06

Probably. I've never been in that position. You know where I've

literally been fighting for my life or anything like that, apart from

when I was like seven years old. And it's different when you're at

that age, isn't it? You don't really know what's going on.

S5 00:01:06:12

What happened when you were seven years old?

S3 00:01:07:06

Well, I had non-Hodgkin's blood cancer. I was in Great Ormond

Street, so that's when I had people in coming in praying and stuff

like that. It was kind of comforting to know that they were like,

they cared so much for me, and I'd like that.

S4 00:01:20:00

Did they work?

Clip: The Lack of Faith - Pilgrimage S4 Ep 2 - Clip1-.mp4

2 / 6

S3 00:01:21:10

Well? Yeah, I'm still here. So I guess it's strange, isn't it? Like

when you're in desperate need you. I think you do need a faith.

Or you need something like a god like. Because without sounding

too morbid. But when you're when someone your son's on death's

door or something, you want to hope that they go somewhere or

that it's not the end.

S6 00:01:38:21

Yeah.

S7 00:01:40:05

I've never been in a situation where I've had to pray to God for

something negative. I have only ever like, thank you for what,

you know.

S2 00:01:49:23

That's so powerful because so many people don't do that. When it

goes well, they just take it for granted. Mhm.

S8 00:01:55:23

Yeah. But Lawrence, I wanted to ask you a question. Since you've

been here, you've been very theoretical. Right. Whenever I'm

speaking to you about faith it doesn't come from your heart. It

doesn't, it comes from the mind.

S9 00:02:07:12

But I completely get that. You intellectualise everything.

S8 00:02:09:19

I do intellucatualise everything. It's all coming from the books.

It's not coming from your personal experience and heart. When

you had a successful time, did you ever pray to God? Did you

ever say to God, thank you for that great deal or something like

that?

Clip: The Lack of Faith - Pilgrimage S4 Ep 2 - Clip1-.mp4

3 / 6

S2 00:02:22:18

Uh, no.

S8 00:02:25:15

I think you can have a very great understanding of faith without

having faith.

S10 00:02:26:19

Absolutely, absolutely.

S10 00:02:31:08

I think you can read as many books as you like, and I'm sure that

Lawrence has read most of them, but he hasn't got faith.

S8 00:02:37:10

No, I think you have strong faith within you, but you just don't

know it.

S2 00:02:41:06

Monty, Monty. But the thing is that, you know, as I said right from

the outset, I'm really happy with my mechanical universe.

S7 00:02:47:01

Tell me something. You christened your children. Yes. For the

purpose that it would be easy for them to. Administratively much

easier. Okay. You got married yourself in a church. I did, yes. You

did. Why?

S2 00:02:57:06

You know, the the mise en scene of getting married, the, you

know, the kind of the art direction of getting married for me had

to happen in the church.

S10 00:03:06:19

I think your your Christianity really is sort of the English middle

class is a prayer.

Clip: The Lack of Faith - Pilgrimage S4 Ep 2 - Clip1-.mp4

4 / 6

S2 00:03:12:15

It is rather.

S10 00:03:13:14

It's a social thing.

S2 00:03:14:13

It is. We know absolutely everybody in our village and we meet at

church. I mean, not every Sunday.

S8 00:03:21:14

So why do you go to church?

S2 00:03:22:19

Because we are all there together.

S7 00:03:25:18

We are all together.

S7 00:03:27:09

A certain type of religion is, as I said.

S9 00:03:29:22

Community.

S2 00:03:30:14

It's community.

S8 00:03:32:03

I don't believe that. I believe you have inside you. You have

strong faith. As we stripping away the hat, the scarf and

everything.

S9 00:03:39:21

You can't lose the scarf.

Clip: The Lack of Faith - Pilgrimage S4 Ep 2 - Clip1-.mp4

5 / 6

S4 00:03:41:05

What he says. He's really happy the way he is. And I think you.

S2 00:03:43:13

Need to watch out slightly. I mean, I'm so fond of you, but one of

the big things that we've almost really, really, you know, decided

on as a family now is that we all respect each other's faiths, but

we're not evangelizing. No one is trying to sell their faith to

anybody else, I think. So, I mean, I love you to death, but you're

not going to find a faith in me.

S10 00:04:04:11

I think there's a difference. And I think Monty grew up with a

distinct community, and so did you.

S4 00:04:11:06

But the thing is, I went to a Roman Catholic school. I was the

only Muslim in the whole school.

S10 00:04:15:08

But you stuck to the culture that you grew up.

S7 00:04:17:03

Can I ask you something? Were you the only person of color?

S4 00:04:20:16

Yeah.

S7 00:04:21:11

So there was no Hindus? There was no. No, I was the only

Muslim.

S4 00:04:24:17

And I was the only brown girl in the whole school. And I had to

go up every Friday and do mass, take Holy Communion. Did you

feel different? Yeah.

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6 / 6

S9 00:04:34:12

Did you feel different? Is it?

S4 00:04:36:03

And the thing with me is I'm used to being an outsider. Yeah,

yeah.

S2 00:04:41:07

Um. Well, welcome to the merry band.

S3 00:04:45:21

Cheers, guys. Thanks for having me.

S9 00:04:47:06

Very good. Well.

Pilgrimage Moments: The Lack of Faith

Video length - 05.02

This clip comes from the BBC series: Pilgrimage – The Road to the Scottish Isles.

The Pilgrims attend Vespers – a Catholic evening service at a Benedictine Abbey. Candles flicker and incense fills the air as the monks sing the liturgy in Latin.

Laurence and Nick are profoundly moved by the traditional service. Laurence describes it as beautiful, meditative and exactly what he had hoped to experience on the Pilgrimage. For Nick, the experience reminded him of services he had attended as a boy, and felt the Latin gave the worship a majesty and dignity that he admires.

But Will is disappointed. He thought the service was repetitive and it made him want to go to sleep.

Watch full episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Transcript

Vespers - Pilgrimage S4 Ep 3 - Clip1

S1 00:00:25:14

Eight services are celebrated at the Abbey every day. They're at

the core of the monks daily lives. Almost every service is held in

Latin, the common language of the Roman Catholic Church,

using Gregorian chants, which originated in the Middle Ages.

The pilgrims are invited to attend Vespers, the evening service.

S3 00:01:56:18

I thought that was absolutely beautiful. I thought it was so

movingly spiritual, really, really meditative. That was absolutely

why I wanted so much to do this journey. That was exactly what I

was hoping to experience.

S4 00:02:16:21

That service really was the first time that I'd been sort of moved

on this pilgrimage. It was in Latin for me. That's what I was sort

of used to, in a way, when I was a boy. And Latin just gave it the

sort of majesty and the dignity that I admire so much, really.

S5 00:02:41:12

It was just quite repetitive music. It was almost like I was going

to fall asleep at some point, you know? I felt disappointed

because there was no messages either, like if there was maybe

prayers or something in between. It could have like maybe, you

know, touched me in some way, if that makes sense. But I didn't I

didn't get any of it, to be honest.

Pilgrimage Moments: Vespers

Video length - 03.09

This clip comes from the BBC series: Pilgrimage – The Road to the Scottish Isles.

The Pilgrims have just attended a Catholic service at a Benedictine Abbey which was conducted entirely in Latin. Scarlett initiates a lively – sometimes emotional – discussion with the Pilgrims about the language used in religious services.

Laurence, Nick and Shazia all enjoyed the service in Latin, but Scarlett and Will wanted to understand what was being said, and feel personally involved.

Laurence suggests that listening to the service in Latin engages a person’s intellect differently. This viewpoint provokes a reaction from Scarlett and Will, who highlight the importance of inclusivity in religious practises, regardless of educational background.

Eventually, they reach a resolution, exchange apologies and toast their appreciation of each other’s perspectives. The exchange highlights the diversity of spiritual journeys and religious views within the group, and the importance of listening.

Watch full episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Transcript

Latin or English Worship? Pilgrimage S4 Ep 3 - Clip2

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Clip2.mp4

S1 00:00:24:23

After vespers and over their baked potatoes, the pilgrims discuss

whether to go to any of the other services.

S2 00:00:32:07

There's a service in the morning that's not in Latin, so it's in

English. Oh, wow. So if anyone wants to go to that. So we've

experienced the Latin one and then we can know what was being

said.

S3 00:00:46:07

Then there's also a service at 450 in the morning. And I think

that's a once in a lifetime experience to it.

S4 00:00:53:09

Laurence, are you going there at four? No, because I had such a

perfect experience today. I don't want to do that again. I don't

want to risk there being another experience that didn't actually

work in the same way. Quite right.

S5 00:01:05:10

I enjoyed today enormously. It takes me back to the old days.

That's a proper, dignified, majestic service.

S2 00:01:13:00

Do you feel like it's better being in Latin than in English? Yeah.

Oh, yeah. Really?

S5 00:01:18:11

You don't have a great opera aunt in English who wants to

understand in a way.

Clip: Latin or English Worship? Pilgrimage S4 Ep 3 - Clip2.mp4

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S3 00:01:22:22

You don't need to understand it. It's just the feeling you get from

it.

S6 00:01:26:13

Exactly.

S2 00:01:27:16

I sort of got, like, lost a little bit, you know, when it was

happening. I love going to a service where I feel like I understand

what's being said and sort of try and put it in a what's happening

in my life and whether I can take anything from it. And. Yeah.

S7 00:01:45:02

Yeah. Because the words mean the words mean a lot to me. I fell

asleep halfway through it.

S4 00:01:50:00

You were in a liminal state? Yeah, it's a meditation. It is a

meditation. I'm not sure whether it has the same power when it

is in English. You know, there was a barrier. Are you saying in

English it's going to be less powerful? Well, you engage your

intellectual. Well, I.

S2 00:02:03:18

Feel like it's up to the person, isn't it? Nobody can say it's more

powerful being in Latin, because that isn't what church is about,

and that isn't what religion and faith is about. It's individual as a

person. And obviously I didn't go to fancy school. I can't speak

Latin, but I can speak a little bit of English.

S4 00:02:20:21

But we I mean, you know, none of us are following it in Latin.

S7 00:02:23:24

I just don't get why there's like, such a like it's better that it's like

that. It's like this and it's purer and that's.

Clip: Latin or English Worship? Pilgrimage S4 Ep 3 - Clip2.mp4

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S4 00:02:30:08

No, no one's saying that. No, it's it's.

S7 00:02:32:04

I did hear that a bit.

S4 00:02:33:08

No, no, but it's you know, Nick finds it purer for him.

S8 00:02:35:24

I think Nick was brought up with it all in Latin. So for him, that is

how he. Oh, no.

S2 00:02:40:00

I don't think it was Nick that I think it was Lawrence's comment

of that. It's more intellectual when something's Latin that

sometimes. No, no, no, no, no and will find that really that's not

what I said. Because, you know, just because we didn't go to a

posh school, it doesn't mean that we don't or we don't

understand things. It just means that we feel things a little bit

different.

S4 00:02:59:11

That's absolutely not what I said. I said, no, no, wait but I think,

no, no, Monty, please. Right. What I said was, when you hear it

and you can understand it, you engage your intellect. I didn't say

it's more intellectual. I think it's absolutely all about everyone

doing it their own way, for sure, and not judging other people's

way of doing.

S3 00:03:18:05

Listen, I'm Muslim, and I was terribly moved by this.

S4 00:03:22:06

We're not. You know, I'm not saying that there is a better way or

not, but.

Clip: Latin or English Worship? Pilgrimage S4 Ep 3 - Clip2.mp4

4 / 5

S2 00:03:25:01

I was trying to.

S4 00:03:25:14

Defend you are both Anglicans and this was a Catholic service.

And Anglicanism is in English. That's the whole point of it.

S7 00:03:31:22

I'm just surprised by your reaction.

S4 00:03:33:10

But listen, I'm surprised your not at all backing down. You're not

at all. I accept your opinion. I'm surprised you're not just a little

understanding.

S4 00:03:40:09

We're arguing over a little bit of language, which is,

unfortunately, something that always happens with religion.

Yeah. You know, there are a couple of words that that, you know,

didn't, didn't land. Yeah. As far as the room went. And I apologise

deeply for that because. Well, that's actually.

S2 00:03:56:01

Very much.

S8 00:03:56:12

Appreciated.

S4 00:03:57:08

You know, I am absolutely here to support everybody's religion

and there's no judgment attached to it.

S5 00:04:03:22

Everybody's got to fight their own corner.

Clip: Latin or English Worship? Pilgrimage S4 Ep 3 - Clip2.mp4

5 / 5

S4 00:04:05:18

They do the best.

S5 00:04:06:14

Of their ability.

S2 00:04:07:13

I feel like we need to have a little toast before we got to bed. Just

saw that we're all all right together. Cheers.

S9 00:04:13:02

Cheers. Cheers. Cheers, guys.

S2 00:04:16:01

Oh, this is our first heated debate. I didn't realize the family now.

Yeah, we've got a proper argument.

S3 00:04:21:20

I can't wait for you to come to the mosque.

S4 00:04:24:22

It's looking good. Looking good, isn't it?

Pilgrimage Moments: Latin or English Worship?

Video length - 04.36

This clip comes from the BBC series: Pilgrimage – The Road to Istanbul.

The Pilgrims visit a cultural centre dedicated to Sufism – an ancient mystical form of worship that embraces all forms of Islam. Once banned by Turkish authorities, the centre now warmly welcomes people of all backgrounds, regardless of their religious beliefs.

The Pilgrims enjoy a communal meal featuring dishes from different regions of Turkey. Amar is blind, so Dom describes the various dishes on his plate.

After the meal they join the evening dhikr prayers where participants dress in traditional clothing, play music and chant in devotion to God. Men stand in a circle, and move in unison as they sing, creating an impressive spectacle. The Pilgrims find the experience incredibly moving, describing it as transcendent, extraordinary and profoundly spiritual. Even staunch atheist Dom calls it, “the powerful religious thing I’ve ever seen”.

Watch full episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Transcript

A Sufi Experience -Pilgrimage S3 Ep 3 - Clip1

S1 00:00:24:22

The other pilgrims are visiting a cultural center dedicated to

Sufism. An ancient mystical form of worship that embraces all

forms of Islam. Local guide. Bushra greets them.

S2 00:00:38:13

Welcome. Hi there. Hello.

S3 00:00:40:21

How are you? Nice to meet you. Here you go.

S1 00:00:44:05

Once banned by Turkish authorities, interest in Sufism has grown

in recent years.

S4 00:00:49:22

You've got everything here like a school and a place to eat. It's

like a center.

S5 00:00:53:19

Yes, exactly. It's like a community center. It's called Khulia. In

Arabic. We have like, a place to eat. We have a library. We have a

place where students go and learn, and we have Jahamey, you

know, the center to pray.

S6 00:01:06:19

And it's for Sufi Muslims?

S5 00:01:09:00

Yeah. Uh, actually, no, it's open to everybody.

S7 00:01:12:22

As long as you believe in God.

Clip: A Sufi Experience -Pilgrimage S3 Ep 3 - Clip1.mp4

2 / 8

S5 00:01:14:19

If you don't believe in God, you can also come in. Everybody is

welcome. Yeah. Everybody is welcome.

S1 00:01:21:05

As guests of honor. The pilgrims are invited to a communal meal

before evening prayers.

S5 00:01:26:24

So we're going to go this place. This is actually the men's dining

room and the women's are over there. But we're going to do it

together this time. Oh that's nice. Normally we are separated

during the meals.

S4 00:01:37:19

And that's not a problem ladies.

S5 00:01:39:14

No because you're the guests.

S6 00:01:40:22

Oh, that looks amazing. Oh, it looks wonderful.

S4 00:01:45:02

Let me just tell you, our things are really looking up. Really?

Yeah.

S5 00:01:49:04

So our dervish ladies have prepared for your traditional Turkish

food from all over the countries, actually, from the east, from, like

the, like sea region, from the middle. So you will see pastry, you

will see like the green, like the leaves and soft. Yeah. Meatballs

and everything. Uh, you have like a special soup.

S8 00:02:10:20

I hope you don't have a rule that says you must eat everything.

Clip: A Sufi Experience -Pilgrimage S3 Ep 3 - Clip1.mp4

3 / 8

S5 00:02:14:09

You have to finish your plate. Turkish mother said this.

S6 00:02:17:03

This is the best meal we've had.

S4 00:02:18:22

It is incredible. The way to your.

S5 00:02:20:17

Heart is from your stomach.

S9 00:02:22:16

Definitely with me. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

S10 00:02:26:01

Come this. This is good. Yes.

S3 00:02:29:24

This is wonderful. It is. This is magic.

UU 00:02:33:05

I don't know.

S4 00:02:37:09

What you got there. Fried pickles.

S3 00:02:38:18

Fried pickles.

S4 00:02:39:14

Think I am a Sufi? I really, genuinely think you were.

S3 00:02:42:01

Born to be.

Clip: A Sufi Experience -Pilgrimage S3 Ep 3 - Clip1.mp4

4 / 8

S4 00:02:43:01

If I enjoy the show.

S3 00:02:44:07

Then I'm in. Then. Then I'm in.

S4 00:02:49:09

See, this is absolutely fabulous. Proper food.

S11 00:02:53:05

Oh my goodness. I don't know what. Sweet. What's not. Is this.

S4 00:02:56:06

Random? Okay, these two are sweet. This is the spicy kofta okay.

That's a sort of chickpea. Okay. That's vine leaves. Yeah. And

these are stuffed peppers. Thank you. Okay.

S12 00:03:08:10

Oh, it's that good?

S4 00:03:09:15

I'm telling you right now that you can tell the Sufi religion has

gone absolutely to the top of the charts. I mean, in the pilgrim

state.

S1 00:03:18:10

Evening prayers are about to begin. Known as the Zika

worshipers dress in traditional clothing, play music, and chant in

devotion to God.

Clip: A Sufi Experience -Pilgrimage S3 Ep 3 - Clip1.mp4

5 / 8

S5 00:03:29:11

So what you're going to watch is this in Quran, God says, repeat

my name hundreds of times, and when you repeat my name, I

will repeat your name. So you watch. You're going to watch is

like a man all in circles, and they're going to chant the names of

Allah loudly with music. And when you repeat it, it's like sending

the armies of Allah to your heart in order to cleanse it from the

evil things. That's nice and get closer to him.

S4 00:03:57:05

And what would we do as visitor? Do we watch? We can't watch.

We don't partake.

S5 00:04:01:05

If you want to participate, you can do. But just try to, uh. Be

careful not to just, um.

S9 00:04:09:14

Get in the way.

S5 00:04:10:05

Right? Yeah, get in a way.

S9 00:04:11:13

Oh.

S5 00:04:12:22

That be a good imitator?

S8 00:04:14:19

Imitator?

S9 00:04:15:12

Okay, good. Yeah. Okay.

S5 00:04:16:12

So if you want to follow me. Lovely. Upstairs.

Clip: A Sufi Experience -Pilgrimage S3 Ep 3 - Clip1.mp4

6 / 8

S4 00:04:18:18

Thank you so much.

S13 00:04:29:18

Na na na.

S14 00:04:31:20

When you pray.

S3 00:04:33:17

Catholics often pray. You know, what do you do? And Jesus, it's

this. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

UU 00:04:46:22

I'm quite excited.

S15 00:04:48:18

I am genuinely quite excited. It's literally like. It's like a gig's

about to kick off. I really like this. Here we go. Ready?

S4 00:06:23:04

Now they're really going for it.

S6 00:06:24:10

Really bending down a long way.

S16 00:07:07:02

I can see how somebody partaking in that would leave in a state

of bliss, because it's transcendent when they all move and sing

and chant together. It was just head and shoulders above

anything else that we have experienced.

Clip: A Sufi Experience -Pilgrimage S3 Ep 3 - Clip1.mp4

7 / 8

S6 00:07:28:01

I thought it was an extraordinary, you know, if I live near here, I'd

just come all the time. I just thought it was such a great

spectacle, apart from the the spiritual aspect of it, which I

thought was profound. I mean, I can just imagine the release

and, you know, whatever was on your mind, you know, you just by

going through all that and knowing all that, you just get so much

peace out of it. It was all worth it to see the mask of cynicism

slide from Don Jolies face, as he was absolutely entranced by it.

S4 00:07:57:01

I thought that was the most powerful religious thing I've ever

seen. It was incredible. It was like a heartbeat.

S2 00:08:01:13

Exactly.

S5 00:08:02:00

You coordinated with your heart.

S4 00:08:03:24

I was going, I was like, well, the breath like that.

S2 00:08:06:12

It's like natural.

S4 00:08:07:14

And because they're all wearing the same clothes, it's all in

unison like that. It was amazing. It was just brilliant. We're

probably a bit more cynical than other things. And the fact that

we both love that.

S3 00:08:18:06

Yeah.

S4 00:08:18:20

You've done well.

Clip: A Sufi Experience -Pilgrimage S3 Ep 3 - Clip1.mp4

8 / 8

S10 00:08:20:11

You really have cracked two.

S4 00:08:21:24

You've cracked two hard nuts. That was probably the most

extraordinarily powerful religious thing I've ever been to, but it

kind of didn't make me feel religious. But just as a religious

experience and service, that was absolutely 100% the best thing

I've ever been to, you know? And I've come away thinking

Sufism, you know what? If I had to, probably the one I'd go for.

Pilgrimage Moments: A Sufi Experience

Video length - 08.56

This clip comes from the BBC series: Pilgrimage – The Road to Istanbul.

Edwina, Amar, and Pauline embark on a solemn visit to the remains of the Crveni Krst concentration camp in Serbia – a memorial to humankind’s continued inhumanity. This site bears witness to the unfathomable cruelty endured by 30,000 individuals of Jewish, Serbian, and Romani descent at the hands of German forces during World War II. They see the bullet holes still in the walls where people were executed, and discover chilling facts about the camp’s history,

Edwina – who is Jewish – reflects on her upbringing in a post-war world marred by profound trauma. Pauline talks about the importance of acknowledging what happened at the concentration camp instead of just moving on.

Edwina concludes with the thought that places like the Crveni Krst camp are a challenge to faith. How could God let it happen?

Watch full episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Transcript

The Bullet Holes - Pilgrimage S3 Ep 1 - Clip3

S1 00:00:25:10

Across the city, Edwina has brought Ahmer and Pauline to a

monument to more modern conflict, a site that stands as a

memorial to man's continued inhumanity. The Seveni Krust

concentration camp.

S2 00:00:41:03

Oh, I can see the swastika. Jesus. Excuse me. We are standing in

front of one of the smaller barracks. And over the door there is a

swastika and Wache. And then. And ss. SS, isn't it? It is. So that's

probably been the SS office.

S3 00:00:59:16

Mhm.

S2 00:01:00:11

But it looks like they got us a little gift shop.

S1 00:01:07:11

During the Second World War, a total of 30,000 people of Jewish,

Romani and Serbian origin were held within this camp by

German forces.

S4 00:01:20:20

So is this where people were executed? Yes.

S5 00:01:23:11

It's incredibly humbling and devastating. It's extraordinary to see

the marks where the bullets hit there that had gone through a

person and executed it.

S4 00:01:35:13

So you can see bullet marks.

Clip: The Bullet Holes - Pilgrimage S3 Ep 1 - Clip3.mp4

2 / 4

S5 00:01:39:22

Do you want to come down and touch it?

S2 00:01:41:13

Yeah. You go down.

S5 00:01:42:14

Yeah. You you you you stay here. Yeah. I know it's upsetting you.

So that's bullet. Bullet holes.

S4 00:01:53:01

Oh, wow. In there.

S5 00:01:54:05

Yeah.

S4 00:01:55:07

If they can make a hole in the wall.

S6 00:01:57:01

You know.

S4 00:01:57:21

Like how big they are.

S5 00:01:58:23

Could you have you.

S2 00:02:02:10

The world in which I grew up was one that was badly

traumatized by the Second World War. Wherever you looked,

there were bomb sites and three legged dogs. But also the Jewish

community, of course, had lost so many people. Lots of things

people didn't talk about. Lots of pain. It wasn't until much later

that we realized what they had all been through.

Clip: The Bullet Holes - Pilgrimage S3 Ep 1 - Clip3.mp4

3 / 4

S1 00:02:28:14

In 1942. 105 prisoners escaped from this camp. The first time an

escape had been successful in mainland Europe. The response

from the German army was brutal.

S5 00:02:44:15

The Nazis implemented a policy of killing 100 Serbian hostages

for every German soldier killed, and killing 50 for every soldier

wounded in Serbia. They executed over 10,000 people on nearby

Banja hill.

S7 00:03:06:06

Can you see people's pictures here?

S8 00:03:08:16

Oh, yes.

S2 00:03:09:04

Yes. Let me describe. There's an old man in a fez with a bristling

moustache. Maybe he's an old soldier. There's a handsome man

in a smart suit and a moustache. What's striking is the different

ages of people. And young.

S5 00:03:24:09

Old people.

S9 00:03:25:20

Wow.

S2 00:03:26:22

When the 10,000 were shot, they were shot very publicly because

that was a warning. You try this again. This is what will happen.

Not just that you'll die, but you will cause the death of others.

What was it? A hundred times as many.

Clip: The Bullet Holes - Pilgrimage S3 Ep 1 - Clip3.mp4

4 / 4

S5 00:03:41:21

Yeah, yeah. We're going to visit lots of places of worship on this

pilgrimage, but it seems to me that places like this concentration

camp should also be mandatory for anyone who is is making that

kind of journey. Because this too is testament to what we must

also acknowledge. It's not always just let's say hallelujah and

move on. You got to mark it.

S2 00:04:21:20

A place like this is a challenge to faith because if God exists and

God is good, how could God let something like this happen?

That's not the way I see it. So the way I see it is that we all have

to take responsibility for our actions. There was a lot of bravery

here, a lot of courage here. But in the end, it's a place of brutality

and destruction. It's very, very sad. Do you know what? If I'd

been in charge, I'd have burned the whole place to the ground.

And I would have built a garden.

Pilgrimage Moments: The Bullet Holes

Video length - 05.06

This clip comes from the BBC series: Pilgrimage – The Road to Istanbul.

The Pilgrims follow the Sultan’s Trail to the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary in rural Serbia, to mark a significant day in the Serbian Orthodox calendar: the Birth of Mary, Holy Mother of God. Serbs are the only Christians to mark the day with a religious festival called a Slava – which is a reinterpretation of an ancient pagan custom.

Edwina describes the Church to Amar, who is blind.

Dom departs the service, reflecting on his discomfort in group settings, questioning if he’s yet to find his true community. But Adrian finds the ritual comforting and uplifting, and compares the Orthodox service to the Catholic ceremonies he is more used to.

Watch full episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Transcript

Clip: The Holy Virgin Mary - Pilgrimage S3 Ep 1

1 / 2

S1 00:00:23:09

Back together and back on the right path. The pilgrims have

made it through the forest. On the Sultans Trail has brought

them to the church of the Holy Virgin Mary. On a special day in

the Serbian Orthodox calendar. The birth of Mary, the Holy

Mother of God. The day is marked with a Slava, a special

religious festival that brings together family, friends and

pilgrims.

S2 00:00:57:00

Coming through the door is a little step in.

S1 00:01:20:07

Serbs are the only Christians to celebrate Slava, a

reinterpretation of an ancient pagan custom. The celebration

dates back to medieval times.

S1 00:02:06:01

Halfway through the service, Dom leaves.

S5 00:02:09:07

Kind of like the chanting. But enough's enough really. Like after a

bit I thought, right, I get the gist. I think there is an essential

human need for people to want to get together and be as one,

and maybe looking to something higher than them, but I just

don't have it. It's not. I think I'm better or anything. I just don't

like being part of a group. It's never done it for me, but maybe I

haven't found the right one.

S1 00:02:35:18

But for Catholic Adrian, the ritual feels comforting.

Clip: The Holy Virgin Mary - Pilgrimage S3 Ep 1 - Clip2.mp4

2 / 2

S6 00:02:39:15

I like being on my own in churches normally because at home I

take a pew and just sit there and relax and think the Orthodox

Church just sort of stand there. So in a way, it lends itself more to

being with other people, of people standing all around you, and it

feels nice and full and sort of quite intimate. After a while, I go

into sort of a focused sort of state, and positive thoughts flooded

into me, positive thoughts about my life and about, you know, my

loved ones and all that. I've found it quite uplifting, really, in its

own way.

S2 00:03:10:20

We were at a tiny school and we had one of those little round

discs on our tounge. They get a fistful of bread.

S7 00:03:17:08

You can have a spoonful of the Blood of Christ area. And the

wine. And yeah.

S2 00:03:23:05

It's fascinating really, but the younger children get to mill about.

I enjoyed it, I thought it was nice to be amongst the old artwork

on the wall as well.

UU 00:03:37:18

Beautiful, really beautiful.

Pilgrimage Moments: The Holy Virgin Mary

Video length - 03.50