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"In Austria, we saw a miraculous statue of the Blessed Mother holding Jesus. In Germany, we saw a miraculous statue of the Blessed Mother holding Jesus. We went to a monastery in Germany, and we saw a miraculous statue of the Blessed Mother holding Jesus... and then we drank beer from the monks."

On the last day of our pilgrimage, I offered this summary to my fellow pilgrims. And while comical in its brevity, it conveys truth: always the statues. 

But why the statues? After all, they're just objects of wood or marble. Why have stunning shrines sprung up around these statues? Why have the faithful journeyed to these statues for centuries, beseeching our Lord for some particular need?

As Christians, we gravitate toward statues for the same reason we hang pictures of loved ones in the family room. We know it's just wood or marble or coated photographic paper; but we also know the person behind the image—and the love they have for me.

This was the real fruit of the pilgrimage. We flew over continents and seas. We stayed in big cities bustling with foreign peoples. We drove over mountains and rivers and hills. We prayed in cavernous churches. All so that we might discover anew: God loves me. The grandeur of God's creation emphasized the particularity of his love. God has been with me throughout my pilgrimage of life on earth, he's with me now, he's with my family and friends now, and he'll see us through our pilgrimage until we reach our heavenly homeland. And we'll also enjoy a good German beer along the way!