par Vanderpelen, Cécile
Référence Schweizerische Zeitschrift fuer Religions- und Kulturgeschichte, 112, page (235-252)
Publication Publié, 2018-12-01
Article révisé par les pairs
Résumé : From 20th to 24th June 1926, the Eucharistie Congress of Chicago brought together almost a million pilgrims from around the world. For the Belgian delegation led by Bishop Mgr Heylen, the president of the Eucharistie Congress, it was a genuine discovery. Having set off with a highly favourable opinion of the United States, which had helped (Poor Little Belgium) a lot during the First World War, the Belgian pilgrims were dazzled by both the technical means on display and the mobilization of American Catholics. Upon their return to Belgium, these pilgrims related their experience with great enthusiasm during talks and in newspaper articles. One of them, Henri Davignon, published a book, Heures américaines. These accounts are very interesting because they show the extent to which the international pilgrimages are experienced as emotional encounters with Christian (brothers). The faith shared with men and women who speak different languages and the coming together of so many people in large crowds moved the Belgian pilgrims profoundly. However, these stories also show that the pilgrims viewed the others with the prejudices of their country of origin.