Last weekend, October 4 and 5, more than 2,500 pilgrims walked the paths of Provence in the second edition of the pèlerinage “Nosto Fe” —“Our Faith” in the Provençal language—, which connects Cotignac with the sanctuary of the Sainte-Baume, where the relics of Saint Mary Magdalene are venerated, patroness of the region. Over 40 kilometers and distributed among more than forty chapters, the pilgrims marched amid Provençal flags, drums, and songs, giving public witness to a faith that, far from fading, shows new vigor.
A Marian devotion rooted in the history of France
The pilgrimage culminated at the sanctuary of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, considered the third most important sepulcher in Christendom after the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and the tomb of Saint Peter in Rome. There rest, according to tradition, the remains of Saint Mary Magdalene, who brought the Gospel to Provence along with Martha and Lazarus. The closing Mass, celebrated by Mons. François Touvet, bishop of Fréjus-Toulon, coincided with the anniversary of the basilica’s dedication and was celebrated in the Tridentine rite, a sign of the desire to place the liturgy at the center of Christian life.
Tradition and mission, united on the path
Among the participating chapters, the one from the association SOS Chrétiens d’Orient stood out, which sought to highlight the link between the faith born in the East and its arrival in the West through Provence. “It is important to be here, at this gateway of Christianity into Europe,” said Víctor, the group’s leader. The chapter chose Saint John Cassian as its patron, a monk who in the 5th century brought the Eastern monastic tradition to Marseille, leaving a deep mark on French spirituality.
The president of the pilgrimage, Jean Rivière, explained that registrations exceeded all expectations: “In a single day we received 130 new requests.” Rivière observes how this type of initiative also attracts people distant from the Church, who, through contact with traditional liturgy and the community, find a path of personal conversion.
Nosto Fe: a pilgrimage with identity
Inspired by the renowned pilgrimage of Notre-Dame de Chrétienté between Paris and Chartres, “Nosto Fe” aims to recover the faith of the fathers rooted in Provençal culture. Far from mere folklore, the procession included traditional songs and dances, but always with the liturgy as the central axis. The solemn Mass and devotion to the Magdalene recalled that true tradition is not a cultural adornment, but a spiritual heritage that is lived and transmitted.
A renaissance of the paths of faith in France
The rise of “Nosto Fe” fits into a broader phenomenon: the revitalization of regional pilgrimages in France, especially among young people. Two weeks ago, the Bretons walked in the Feiz e Breizh; parallel to the Provençals, the Normans marched; and in mid-October, it will be the Gascons and Basques who gather in Lourdes. This rediscovery of pilgrimage as a test of faith and Catholic identity reflects a deep longing for authenticity and encounter with God in community.