In/En: St Francis Xavier and the Jesuit Missionary Enterprise. Assimilations between Cultures / San Francisco Javier y la empresa misionera jesuita. Asimilaciones entre culturas, ed. Ignacio Arellano y Carlos Mata Induráin, Pamplona, Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, 2012 (BIADIG, Biblioteca Áurea Digital-Publicaciones digitales del GRISO), pp. 179-193. ISBN: 978-84-8081-338-9. PILGRIMAGES TO THE TOMB OF GOENCHO SAIB OR ST. FRANCIS XAVIER Cristina Osswald (CITCEM-Universidade do Porto) Daniela Carvalho Wilks (Universidade Portucalense) 1 Definitions of pilgrimage Pilgrimage is an universal and widespread practice across cultures and time. Pilgrimage locations are sites of the numinous, where out- of-ordinary events happened or are said to have happened. They are special places with special objects, demarcated by the inspiring pres- ence of the sacred. The tomb of Francis Xavier is just such a site and, as is common with all such locations, its special meanings have been constructed and reconstructed by all of those who visit there, pil- grims and tourists alike. The pursuit of redemption, divine aid, thanksgiving or penance, or the demonstration of devotion have all been purposes associated with pilgrimage. Etymologically, the word «pilgrimage» derives from the Latin peregrinus meaning «going abroad» (peregre) and through the field (per and ager). Most definitions of pilgrimage include the ele- ments of «a journey to a shrine or sacred place» and «a long journey or search or exalted purpose or moral significance». However, ulti- mately, pilgrimage is about being transformed by a personal inner experience and returning home possessed of a new self. Pilgrimage is thus above all about a spiritual journey to mentally «composed» 1 The authors are thankful to John Wilks for his suggestions and his linguistic corrections.