Logo

Psychospiritual Preparation

Identify your mission and decide to set out

Life is a constant learning process. You could say it’s made up of transitions; most of them occur quietly and foster personal growth day by day. Others are more significant, call for a pause, and lead to a fresh start; this is the purpose of long hikes and pilgrimages, whether undertaken alone, with family, or as part of a community.

Step1: An attraction to be specified

From the following questions, choose one to guide my day

  • What draws me to set out on a journey to the point of leaving everything behind for an extended period? Is it to take on a physical challenge, to connect with nature in all its harmony, to experience human camaraderie, to ease the pain in my heart, to share existential questions, to have a new experience, to broaden my horizons… Or all of these at once?
  • What motivates my decision to go on a long hike? Will I plan my route entirely on my own based on my own ideas, or will I seek advice from those who’ve gone before me—hikers or pilgrims—and then draw inspiration from their journeys?
  • Travel alone or in a group?

Reflecting on a Meaningful Experience

  • What event, encounter, experience, or online search caught my attention and sparked my interest in hitting the road?
  • What was my inner reaction at that moment: simple curiosity, attraction, joy at having found this relevant lead for my situation, fascination with a new adventure, a break from my daily routine, or something else?

In terms of faith

  • A religious rebirth requires a strong personal commitment; renewing my inner life demands a total commitment. Am I willing and ready to do this?
  • Does the idea of helping to build universal brotherhood in the Holy Spirit—on a path different from the one I’ve followed so far in my life, or from the one we’ve followed as a group—speak to me?

Lectio/Meditatio

Word of God

“Listen, Lord, I am calling to you! Have mercy! Answer me! My heart has reminded me of your word: ‘Seek my face.’ It is your face, Lord, that I seek; do not hide your face from me.”

(Psalm 26:7–9a)

Word of God

“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord and stand in his holy place? The one whose heart is pure, whose hands are clean, and who does not set his heart on idols (on worthless things). He receives blessing from the Lord and righteousness from God his Savior. This is the people of those who seek Him.”

(Psalm 23:3–6a)

Invitation from Pope Leo XIV

“We are all hungry in the same way. This need reminds us that we are human beings. We need to eat to live. We are not God; but then, where is God in the face of world hunger?”

(Douala, Cameroon, homily of April 17, 2026)

Reflections by Saint Augustine

“Get up and walk! Perhaps you’re trying to walk, but you can’t because your feet are sore. Why are your feet sore? Perhaps greed has forced them to run over rough terrain. But the Word of God (Jesus) also healed the lame. ‘Well,’ you say, ‘my feet are fine, but I can’t see the path.’ He also gave sight to the blind.”

(Commentary on the Gospel of John—Prayer for the Present Time, II—Fourth Sunday of Lent, Office of Readings)

Step2: A Spiritual Experience?

Spirituality consists of the inner breath with which we approach reality and help shape it as best we can in a way that fosters life.

Leaving my (our) familiar world to set out on a journey with my (our) whole being means creating the conditions that will lead us to view reality in a different way. The spiritual experience is thus built upon a quest that encompasses everything that is human: the body, social and emotional life, culture, meaning, and aesthetics. It aims to guide every aspect of the person toward their ultimate destiny. Walking this path and interacting with others along the way will foster mutual support within our shared journey and may even nurture a strong friendship and/or spiritual bond. Who knows—perhaps it will even give rise to new shared projects?

Reflecting on a Meaningful Experience

From the following questions, choose one to reflect on throughout my day:

  • At what point and under what circumstances did I feel called to step away from my daily routine and seize an opportunity that seemed to me to be a special chance to bring about a profound change in my life? To take part in a group journey toward a spiritual experience of brotherhood among us? Or to explore the mystery of my own self… or even that of God in my life? Please specify.
  • In response to this inner prompting, did I take some time for reflection and/or prayer? What feelings arose within me?
  • All things considered, which realization helped me make the most progress?

In terms of faith

  • To recognize the depth to which my (our) desire to undertake a true pilgrimage is rooted. To deepen my (our) values of faith.
  • So, do I have the chance to go diving? Alone? With others?
  • After reflecting and praying, if my desire is confirmed, I will ask for this grace.

Lectio/Meditatio

Word of God

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you: ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus replied, “How can this be?”

[…] God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life […] The light came into the world, but people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be exposed; but whoever does what is true comes to the light.”

(Jesus to Nicodemus – John 3:5-9, 16-17, 19b-21)

Invitation from Pope Leo XIV

“Life sprouts, even in the most unexpected places, with a surprising ability to shape the future. Consider, for example, the flowers that grow along the side of the road: no one planted them, and yet they grow from seeds that ended up there almost by chance and manage to brighten the grayness of the asphalt and even erode its hard surface. […] As the prophet Isaiah says, the Spirit of God is capable of transforming the arid, scorched desert into a garden, a place of rest and serenity.” (Isaiah 32:15–18).

(Message,10th Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation)

Step3: What quest do you feel deep down?

Break out of my routine? Take a step back, step outside my comfort zone, or something else? Reinvent myself; explore, go somewhere new… Find meaning in my life and draw strength from it in my daily activities? Discover the foundation of inner harmony? Find a unifying and inspiring project for a more fulfilling life? Discover my place in the world and in society?

Reflecting on a Meaningful Experience

From the following questions, choose one to reflect on throughout my day:

  • What concrete sign can I look for to recognize that a genuine desire to take a decisive step is growing within me? Have I been harboring this desire—consciously or unconsciously—for a long time? What specific action or gesture reveals the strength of my desire?
  • How did I come to take control of my situation and look for a way forward? Describe what the action or gesture mentioned above reveals about me and my desires.

In terms of faith

  • Connect with something greater than myself? Align my daily life with my faith?
  • Do I have doubts about the events described in the Bible—about God, about Jesus? How can I address these doubts in my life of faith?
  • How can I learn to define myself as a believer in a secularized world?

Lectio/Meditatio

Word of God

“Then a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?’ Jesus replied, ‘
’—‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’”
– “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied, “
” – “You shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
– “All these,” the young man said to him, “I have kept; what do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “
– “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you own and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

(Jesus to the Young Seeker – Matt. 19:16–21)

Invitation from Pope Leo XIV

“We are called to seek him [Jesus Christ, Son of the living God] and to bring to him all those we meet, grateful for the gifts he has bestowed upon us, and above all for the love with which he has gone before us.”

(Church of St. Anselm on the Aventine Hill, Rome, November 11, 2025)

Step4: Seeking or Expecting to Conceive

Could it be that behind my quest lies a sense of lack, a buried ideal, a call to a life more in tune with my humanity, a desire for fertility?

Was there a sign that made me realize:

  • A particularly sensitive truth tucked away deep inside me?
  • A major change,
  • A persistent frustration,
  • A career move,
  • Repressed suffering,
  • An important challenge,
  • The onset of a sense of unease.
  • Or perhaps a desire for spiritual growth. A need to take stock of my life: existential questions about my future, my contribution to society, or something else?

 

Reflecting on a Meaningful Experience

  • When was the most recent time—as far as I can recall—that I realized there was something missing in my life and/or in my faith? Was it during a conversation, a family or work-related event, a significant achievement, or a failure?
  • Recall the event and the circumstances; describe them as precisely as possible. Does this event teach me anything about myself or my life story?

In terms of faith

  • To gain clarity about my faith and religious practice; to distinguish what is essential from what is secondary;
  • Facing an environment hostile to the Christian faith?
  • The inability to talk about my faith at work or with friends; or to share it with my family;
  • The temptation to give up my religion entirely due to family and/or social pressure?
  • On the contrary, putting myself in a situation where I can experience God;
  • Is there an inner calling within me that keeps returning, like the promise of a different, fulfilling, and happy life?
  • To recognize my calling, perceive my charisma, and discover my mission?

Lectio/Meditatio

Word of God

“In those who keep His Word (Jesus), God’s love truly reaches perfection: this is how we know that we are in Him. Whoever claims to abide in Him must also walk as Jesus Himself walked.”

(John 2:5–6)

Abraham

The region of Ur is believed to be the site of the biblical flood, as 2.7 meters of dried mud covers an area measuring 600 km by 150 km; according to archaeologists, everything was destroyed by a natural disaster. Later, a kingdom arose there, featuring two glorious dynasties between 3100 and 2180 BCE. Ur became the imperial capital of Sumer but fell into decline between 2000 and 1830 BCE. It was during this period that Abraham, elderly and childless, felt a strong call to leave this place. Faced with repeated invasions and destruction by the Elamites (from northeastern Arabia) and with his future blocked, he came to see Ur as a “place of death.” “Leave your country […] for the land that I will show you” (Gen 12:1, 7a), God told him. Abraham answered this call and set out; along the way, he experienced the love of God, whom he did not know but whom he came to discover through the promise of descendants and a fertile land. A man of integrity, full of faith, his life was transformed: he had a son and enjoyed great prosperity.

Step5: Determining the Right Time and Duration

  • What inner sign or other external influence prompts me to decide whether to set out sooner or later, to determine the right time to leave? Or perhaps to put off that option?
  • What factors influence my decision (and that of my group) regarding the duration and the amount of time to devote to the adventure, the hike, or the pilgrimage?

Reflecting on a Meaningful Experience

Up until now, I’ve been feeling my way forward; I’ve been making progress with my mental preparation. I can see myself reaching a certain “D-Day,” when I’ll have to make a decision.

From the following questions, choose one to reflect on throughout my day:

  • What meaningful event serves as the catalyst: a pilgrim’s story, filled with enthusiasm about their experience; an invitation from someone; a group outing; a thought-provoking moment from a movie about the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela; or something else?
  • What inner drive is stirring within me? What noticeable signs within me indicate that I am fairly set on carrying out this project in my life—whether soon or in the distant future? Or that my heart is still torn between the pros and cons?

Among other things, am I sufficiently aware of the best time to set out, and the duration that suits my situation and the questions I have? Do I have enough information about the various starting points or entry points for the pilgrimage, as well as the costs?

To what extent do the experiences shared by hikers or pilgrims influence the decision regarding when to set out and how long to devote to this adventure?

In terms of faith

  • Is it the feeling of having reached a crossroads, combined with the desire to deepen my faith, that draws me in—the need to define myself in my faith and/or to share an experience of journeying and seeking with others? Or, on the contrary, is there a factor that suggests I should put it off for later?
  • If this is a group activity, what consensus leads us, as members, to choose a specific time to get started and a specific duration—or, conversely, to postpone the deadline?

Lectio/Meditatio

Word of God

“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens. A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what has been planted. […] A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. […] A time to search and a time to find; […] a time to be silent and a time to speak […] God has placed the measure of all time in the hearts of the children of men, yet man cannot fathom what God does, from beginning to end.”

(Qo 3:1–2, 4, 6a, 7b, 11b; or Gen 29:15–30)

Invitation from Pope Leo XIV

“This is the path of mission: a path toward the other. In God, every word is a word addressed to someone, an invitation to conversation, a word that is never the same. This is the renewal that the Second Vatican Council promoted, and we will see it blossom only as we walk together with all of humanity, without ever separating ourselves from it. The opposite is worldly: making oneself the center. The movement of the Incarnation is a dynamic of conversation. There will be peace when our monologues cease and, enriched by listening, we fall to our knees before the naked flesh of the other. […] Nothing is born of a display of strength, and everything is reborn in the silent power of life that is welcomed.”

(Christmas Homily, December 25, 2025)

Step6: The Moment of Decision—In my LIFE, just as in matters of FAITH

  • There comes a day when I have to make a decision: what is my decision based on?
  • Even though this is a group adventure, I have a decision to make for myself. Among the other responsibilities that fall under my purview, will I have the energy I need to stand my ground in the face of possible objections from those around me and various unforeseen circumstances?

Review my decision-making process

Consider the following questions; choose one to reflect on throughout my day:

  • How did I make my decision?
  • How long did it take to do that?
  • What are my goals?
  • What steps am I taking to achieve them?
  • What specific choice for me (and for others in the group, if applicable) underlies my decision and our decision?
  • What perceptions did I base this on?
  • What is the significance of my choice?
  • What obstacles did I encounter?
  • What sacrifices does this choice require of me?
  • In what ways does my (our) choice demonstrate openness to others and to God?
  • What did I learn during this process? (IFHIM – proofreading)

Lectio/Meditatio

Word of God

“When the day came, he [Jesus] went out to a deserted place. The crowds were looking for him, and when they found him, they tried to hold him back and prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, ‘I must also proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns, for that is why I was sent.’”

(Luke 4:42–43)

Invitation from Pope Leo XIV

“[The Son of God] showed that the only thing we can do is for each of us to take on our share of responsibility. Yes, for God, who created us without us, cannot save us without us (cf. St. Augustine, Sermon 169, 11.13), without our free will to love. Whoever does not love is not saved; he is lost. And whoever does not love his brother whom he sees cannot love God whom he does not see (cf. 1 Jn 4:20). Brothers and sisters, this is the path to peace: responsibility.”

(Urbi et Orbi Message, Christmas 2025)

Step7: Get Ready

Review the way I go about it

  • How long did it take me to decide to start preparing?
  • List the steps I or my group have taken to prepare.
  • Have I visited the website www.Kapoah.com and taken a few other steps to better understand what to expect and how to proceed?
  • In what order did I decide to carry out these various preparatory steps? Did I follow the recommendations of the group leaders, if any? What does this order reveal about my personality, and about my personal priorities?
  • Did I take into account all the essential elements needed to plan a successful pilgrimage? Did I ask for help to make sure I didn’t overlook anything? Did I demonstrate some competence in this area?

In terms of faith

Identify resources to support the growth of my faith along the way: places of prayer, available liturgical services, priests or counselors, and others.

Lectio/Meditatio

Word of God

“For which of you, if he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down to calculate the cost and see if he has enough to complete it? Lest, after laying the foundation and being unable to finish, everyone who sees it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and could not finish!’ ’ Or what about a king who, setting out to wage war against another king, does not first sit down to consider whether he is able, with ten thousand men, to go out to meet the one marching against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation to ask for peace. So whoever does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

(Jesus according to Luke 14:28–31; also Genesis 32:4–22/33:1–11)

Encouragement from Pope Leo XIV

“It is, in fact, young people who clearly understand that a more just way of life is possible and that there are responsibilities regarding what is wrong in the Church and in the world. We must start where we can and with those who are here.”

(Homily for Ash Wednesday, Lent 2026, February 18, 2026)

Don’t forget to prepare yourself physically and in terms of equipment

PHYSICAL TRAINING MATERIAL PREPARATION