Catholic Shrines of Western Europe presents information on more than 70 celebrated sanctuaries and holy places in Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland. According to Kevin J. Wright, a pilgrimage begins with a call from God and can be seen as "a time for sanctifying the soul." This form of questing is a universal pattern in all of the world's religions and people of all faiths visit Catholic shrines.
Wright presents a brief history of each shrine, vital information about the sites, including how to get there and where to stay, and an appropriate prayer for the place. Some of the most important shrines covered include Chartres Cathedral, "the most complete and best preserved medieval Christian monument in the western world"; the home and convent of the great saint Therese of Lisieux; Benedictine Monks of Solesmes, the worldwide centers of Gregorian chant; Mont-Saint-Michel, dubbed "the wonder of the Western world"; and Santiago de Compostela, one of the most popular pilgrimage sites during the Middle Ages.