Carmelite Pilgrimage to
Italy
& France
-
April 13-27, 2009
with Fr. Adam Gonzales, OCD
As this pilgrimage is dedicated to the Sacred Heart, it will begin in Rome, Italy, home of Vatican City (the physical heart of the Roman Catholic Church) and finish near Paray la Monial, France, where Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque as the Sacred Heart.
With Fr. Adam Gonzales, OCD as our chaplain, experience the Communion of Saints in a special way by visiting where saints lived and and through their everyday lives brought Heaven to Earth.
Among the Pilgrimage Highlights:
- An audience with Pope Benedict XVI on St. Peter's Square at Vatican City
- the unforgettably beautiful four Major Churches of Rome
- Michelangelo's Pieta
- Catacombs (secret under- ground burial and worship places of early Christians)
- Holy Staircase (Scala Santa) on which Christ ascended to meet Pilate
- Abbey of Monte Casino
- Shrines of Saints: Aloysius Gonzaga (Rome), Padre Pio (San Giovanni Rotondo), Francis & Clare (Assisi), Benedict & Scholastica (Norcia), Rita of Cascia, Cure of Ars, Margaret Mary Alacoque- Lanciano, site of a Eucharistic Miracle
- Rennaisance Florence
- A Tuscan Picnic
- Marian Shrines:
Loreto (Holy House), Laus & La Salette_________________________
Travel Itinerary
Day 1 - Morning departure from Los Angeles on-board a Continental Airlines flight to Newark, NJ and on to Rome, Italy.
Day 2 - Morning arrival in Rome, the “Eternal City”. Visit the major Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls (built in the 4 th century over the burial place of its namesake, Paul the Apostle) before checking-in at our hotel for the next three nights. Afternoon to rest.
Day 3 - Join with pilgrims from all over the world on St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI, who meets here with the faithful almost every Wednesday morning, offering words of inspiration on their pilgrim journey. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica; the principal church of the Pope and one of the most sacred sites in all of Christendom as it is built over the burial site of its namesake. Afternoon tour to the historical heart of Rome to see Trevi Fountain (remember “Three coins in a fountain”?) and the Pantheon (a former temple to pagan gods and now a church dedicated to Mary); one of the most ancient and best preserved buildings in the world.
Day 4 - Morning visit to two more of the major basilicas of Rome and more! First stop is at the Basilica of St. John Lateran (original home of the popes) and the Holy Stairs (the stairs Christ walked up to meet Pontius Pilate). Pass by the ruins of the Roman Forum (central area upon which ancient Rome developed) and the Coliseum (1 st century). Next, visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the first shrines dedicated to the Blessed Mother, wherein is a relic of the cradle of Our Lord. Afternoon drive on the ancient Apian Way to the Catacombs (a maze of tunnels where the early Christians worshiped and buried their dead during the persecutions).
Day 5 - Morning departure from Rome for the famous Abbey of Montecassino, founded by St. Benedict, the “Patriarch of Western Monasticism”, in 529. Here he organized a group of monks into a single monastic community and wrote his beautiful Rule that was to affect monasticism in the West for centuries to come. Late morning arrival and visit of the abbey. Continue on to San Giovanni Rotondo, home of St. Padre Pio, situated on a gargano overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Upon an early evening arrival, check into a hotel for the next two evenings.
Day 6 - Morning at the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace, home of Padre Pio for 50 years (1918-1958). See his cell, the crucifix that he was praying in front of when he received the stigmata) and his tomb. Afternoon excursion to St. Michael’s Cave, one of the most ancient Christian Shrines. Overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Day 7 - Morning departure north along the Adriatic coast to Lanciano to visit the church where a miracle of the Blessed Sacrament took place in the 8 th century. Next, continue further up the coast to the charming town of Loreto, where, according to tradition, the house of the Holy Family was divinely transported to in 1294. Afternoon arrival and visit of the basilica enclosing the Holy House. Overnight at a hotel near the Holy House of Loreto.
Day 8 - Morning departure for Norcia and Cascia, home to Sts. Benedict and his twin sister Scholastica (of Norcia) and Rita (of Cascia). Upon arrival in Norcia, meet with a Benedictine monk to visit the basilica built over the birthplace of the twin saints. Continue on to the Basilica of St. Rita in Cascia and learn more about this “Saint of Impossible Cases”. Afternoon drive to the hilltown of Assisi, birthplace of Sts. Francis & Clare. Early evening arrival in Assisi and check-in at a hotel for the next two nights.
Day 9 - Full day in Assisi! Step back in time as we visit the Church of St. Clare (wherein is the cross from which Christ said to Francis: “Go and repair my house which is falling into ruins”), the basilica enclosing the tomb of St. Francis and the basilica built over a chapel that he repaired in 1207. Overnight in Assisi.
Day 10 - Morning departure for Renaissance Florence. Upon arrival, visit the magnificent cathedral of Florence (the Duomo), walk across Pont Vecchio Bridge over the ancient River Arno and more! Visit monasteries wherein are the tombs of two Carmelite saints; Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (16 th century) and Teresa Margaret Redi (18 th century). Visit a market and have the chance to purchase local made goods for a Tuscan Picnic! Afternoon departure northwest for the po rt of Lavagna on the Ligurian Coast.
Day 11 - Morning departure northwest crossing into the Alps of S. France to the village of Laus, nestled in a mountain pass. Upon arrival, learn of Ven. Benoite Rencurel, who received visits from the Blessed Mother in the 17th century. Ascend further north to La Salette, set high on an alpine pasture where the Blessed Mother also visited two shepherd children in 1846. Evening arrival and overnight in La Salette.
Day 12 -Morning at the Shrine of La Salette! Afternoon departure for Ars where St. John Vianney spent over 50 years as a parish priest. On his way to Ars for the first time, he stopped and said to a young boy; “If you show me the way to Ars, I’ll show you the way to Heaven”. Evening arrival in Ars and check-in at a hotel for the next two nights.
Day 13 - Full day excursion to the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Paray La Monial, where Our Lord spoke to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque of His love for mankind (17th century). Visit the Basilica of the Sacred heart and the Chapel of Apparitions. Learn of St. Claude Colombiere, Margaret’s holy confessor. Late afternoon return to Ars .
Day 14 - Morning in Ars to visit the St. John Vianney Shrine, his home and parish church. Afternoon departure for Geneva, Switzerland. Overnight in Geneva.
Day 15 - Morning departure on-board a Continental Airlines flight from Geneva to Newark and on to Los Angeles. Evening arrival in Los Angeles.
_________________________
Tour details
Dates: April 13 - 27, 2009
Total Cost with airport taxes: $4450
($4030 + $420 in airport taxes) includes :
R/T air from LAX on Continental Airlines
Land travel by luxury coach
Very good 3 star hotel accommodations
Breakfast & dinner daily/2 lunches
Guided touring (as on itinerary)
Entrance fees - Daily Mass
Cost is based on dbl. Room occ.
<for single room occupancy add $595>
For more information, phone
Louisa & Jack Day at 1-323-722-9339
or e-mail pil2008@yahoo.com
To reserve, please download a brochure
and fill out application and send it with a
$500 deposit to: