A Pilgrim’s Story: Delay and Pray on the Road with Mary

“With God, all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26)

This scripture became my anchor verse on a five-day pilgrimage through Wisconsin last month.

When I first signed up, I’ll be honest—my mind immediately went to how hot, tired, and hungry I would be. July in Wisconsin can hover in the 90s with thick humidity. I imagined hours in the van, interesting accommodations, long days of walking, and meals completely out of my control.

The old me would have used those circumstances as an excuse to nibble, graze, and comfort myself with food. But this time, I decided to walk the pilgrimage differently—through the lens of Delay and Pray®. That meant delaying sugar, flour, and alcohol, offering up the discomfort in prayer for others, and trusting that Mary, who had invited me on this journey, would also provide for me.

On Day One, our schedule was packed, and lunchtime slipped away. We pulled into a gas station, and my first thought was, there is nothing here I can eat. But the Delay and Pray® mindset shifted my thoughts AND my eyes. Instead of complaining, I looked for God’s provision.

I found an egg-and-sausage sandwich, removed the croissant, and ate the protein with gratitude. That small meal sustained me until we arrived at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, where we celebrated Mass with Cardinal Burke on the anniversary of the shrine’s dedication. How amazing!

After Mass, we feasted at a Mexican restaurant. I stayed on protocol with meat and vegetables, allowing myself a few chips and salsa as a treat. I felt as though Mary herself was whispering: The Eucharist is the heavenly banquet, but I will also see to your earthly needs.

Day Two was soon upon us. Friday. This day brought new challenges. The boxed lunches that we were offered contained either meat or bread—neither of which was an option for me. Thanks to preparation and coaching by Beth, I had packed a can of salmon and some nuts to top my garden salad. That simple meal fueled me for the life-size Stations of the Cross spread across the shrine’s gorgeous 435 acres.

The next morning on Day Three, the basilica café offered scones and pie—my favorite comfort foods. For a moment, I hesitated. But Delay and Pray® brought me back to my motivating goal. By grace, I chose the frittata. Thank you, Jesus.

That choice gave me the strength to climb the 174 steps of the scenic tower, to breathe in the beauty of the Wisconsin countryside, and to sit before the gaze of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel of St. Thérèse. I left that Chapel filled with a joy and peace that no scone has ever given me.

Our pilgrimage ended at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion near Green Bay. Here, in the 1850s, Mary appeared to Adele Brise and asked her to teach the children the Catechism.

We descended into the oratory beneath the sanctuary and prayed before a life-size statue of Mary, surrounded by hundreds of candles. During Mass above, the first reading from Numbers 11 pierced my heart: the Israelites complained about manna, longing for the cucumbers and fish of Egypt.

In that moment, I saw myself. How often had I grumbled about fasting, blind to the Bread of Life set before me? Delay and Pray® has taught me that fasting is not deprivation but a blessing—a posture of the heart that makes room for Jesus.

Looking back, the pilgrimage wasn’t defined by heat, hunger, or fatigue at all. It was defined by prayerful delays, surprising provisions, and daily moments of grace.

I exercised three mornings, walked the Norbertine Abbey grounds at dawn, and even captured a photo of a doe and her fawn. Each time I packed or ordered food on protocol, I was reminded that fasting isn’t about white-knuckling through deprivation. It’s about trusting Mary to mother me through each choice, offering my discomfort for others, and allowing Jesus to feed me with His very self.

I didn’t return home hot, tired, and hungry. 

I returned home loved, provided for, and nourished by Christ.