On the eve of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Saturday, September 13, a pilgrimage was held to the Church of the Holy Cross in Hattula. The pilgrimage traces its roots back to the Middle Ages, when a relic of the True Cross – the wood on which Christ was crucified – was kept in Hattula Church. This was reportedly the northernmost place in medieval times where the faithful could venerate a fragment of the Holy Cross.
Among Finnish Catholics, the pilgrimage tradition to Hattula was revived in the 1980s under the leadership of Dominican Father Martti Voutilainen. Since then, Catholics have made the journey each year to the medieval church in Hattula to pray together.
This year, the pilgrimage was renewed through the efforts of Heikki Nissilä and other new volunteer organizers, supported by Academicum Catholicum. Pilgrims could take part either by joining a shared bus or by walking from Hämeenlinna to Hattula, praying and singing along the way. Those who walked endured rain on their journey, but were greeted at the church by wonderfully warm sunshine. Over thirty people attended the Mass and the devotion of the Holy Cross celebrated by Dominican Father Marie-Augustin. After the devotion, participants shared a meal together, enjoying the pleasant afternoon.
Warm thanks to everyone who took part in this year’s pilgrimage and to the organizers who made it possible!
Anita Geritz-Zhuang