According to the religious phenomenon of pilgrimage in the monotheistic religions the author references to the criticism of pilgrimage in the early church fathers. Their shifting of the focal point from the extern to an interior pilgrimage can also be considered today in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. From there consequences concerning the motivation to Christian pilgrimage, the locus sacer, the transitus from extern to interior pilgrimage as well as ecumenical aspects are discussed for the pastoral accompaniment of pilgrims.

Translation: ks. Maciej Ostrowski, ks. Michał Wilkosz.

The aim of the paper is to try to identify factors shaping the identity and motivation of soldiers taking part in pedestrian pilgrimages to Jasna Góra. The involvement of other uniformed officers under the Ministry of Interior, the civilian personnel of the military forces, North Atlantic Treaty soldiers, and military families is an important issue affecting the military group. Data from the Press Office of Jasna Góra and the Military Ordinariate in the years 2002–2015 were analysed. On the basis of observations and short interviews conducted with participants in the 22nd, 23rd and 24th Pedestrian Pilgrimages of Polish Army Soldiers to Jasna Góra, various types of military pilgrims were presented. The identity of pilgrim soldiers and the characteristics influencing the nature of this pilgrimage were also characterized in the paper.