Marian Shrines

12 day Pilgrimage to Paris - Lisieux - Lourdes - Zaragoza - Madrid - Avila - Salamanca - Fatima

from $2,195 (from New York) Fatima, Portugal is the site of one of the most famous apparitions of the Blessed Mother. On May 13, 1917 three young peasant children (Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco) received an apparition of the Blessed Mother. She gave them many important messages and taught them the need for prayer. These apparitions continued on the 13th of each month until October 13, 1917. On that day the Blessed Mother performed the Miracle of the Sun. Today Fatima is visited by pilgrims from around the world who search for and find the messages of peace left by Mary for the world. Lourdes, France is known today as the most famous healing shrines of our times. On February 11, 1858, the Blessed Mother appeared to a young French peasant girl named Bernadette Soubourois. One of the important aspects of the Shrine of Lourdes is the miraculous water, first uncovered by Bernadette under the direction of the Virgin Mary and said to have a healing effect on many people. When you visit the sites of Our Lady’s apparitions, you will feel the excitement in the air immediately. Deepen your devotion to the Blessed Mother on this unique pilgrimage tour.

ITINERARY

Day 1> Depart USA
 
Day 2> Arrive Paris
Upon your arrival at Charles de Gaulle International Airport, you will be on your way to the heart of Paris. Begin your guided tour of this Romantic city on the River Seine, the glorious Arc de Triômphe, the Champs Elysées, Place de la Concorde, the Opéra and Bastille Square and the unique Eiffel Tower.
Check in at your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Paris.

Day 3> Full day tour of Paris highlights including the Louvre Museum
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Rue de Bac, Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, where our Blessed Mother appeared to Sr. Catherine Laboure in 1830. Celebrate Mass at the Shrine. Continue on to visit the Magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral. Later, visit the world famous Louvre museum End your day with a visit to the fascinating Artist Square and Sacré Coeur Basilica, with its huge bell tower and onion-shaped domes - one of the city’s most familiar sights. This gleaming white church rises atop Montmartre, Paris’ highest hill at 423 feet. Dinner at your hotel.
After dinner, this evening, enjoy a special one-hour cruise on the Seine to see history spanning 1000 years while passing 25 bridges and the main illuminated monuments of Paris.
Overnight in Paris.

Day 4> Full Day Excurstion to Lisieux
After breakfast, leave Paris for your excursion to Lisieux, the home of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Celebrate Mass, and enjoy a guided tour of Lisieux. See Les Buisonnets, “Little Teresa’s” modest home
and the Carmelite convent she entered at age 15. Visit the Carmelite Chapel, where St. Therese’s effigy can be viewed, and its Reliquary Chamber.
Dinner and overnight in Paris.

Day 5> Eurorail to Lourdes
Morning arrival into the Hendaye Station. Soon you will board your comfortable motorcoach to Lourdes, one of the high points of any travel experience. Celebrate Mass in Lourdes and join in the evening candlelight rosary procession. Overnight in Lourdes.

Day 6> Full day in Lourdes
Early Mass at the Grotto. Participate in the walking tour of Lourdes which visits places associated with the life of Bernadette. These places include the Boly Mill, where St. Bernadette was born; the Locale Mill, residence of her parents; the “Cochot,” (formerly used as a jail) where she lived at the time of the Apparitions; the chapel where St. Bernadette received her First Holy Communion; and the Parish church containing the Baptismal Font where she was baptized.
This evening join in the candlelight procession and in reciting the Rosary and singing Hymns to the Mother of God.
Overnight in Lourdes.

Day 7> Lourdes - Zaragoza
Leave Lourdes and travel across the Pyrenees on your way to Zaragoza,home of the world’s largest Marian Shrine, Our Lady of the Pillar. Celebrate Mass. Sightseeing will include the statue venerated at the shrine, which is carved of wood, barely 15" high, and probably dates from the 14th C.  Tradition holds that Our Lady, while still alive, appeared to St. James at the Ebero River to encourage him in his evangelization.  As a sign of her protection, Mary, it is said, left him the pillar with her statue.  This shrine, down the centuries, has been the center of deep devotion to the Mother of God.
Check-in at hotel in Zaragoza.
Dinner and overnight at hotel in Zaragoza.

Day 8> Zaragoza - Madrid
After breakfast, Celebrate Mass at the Cathedral.
Leave Zaragoza to the Spanish capital of Madrid, where you will visit the Royal Palace, built for Spain's royalty in the 18th century. The surrounding area is one of the most beautiful palatial complexes in all of Europe. It includes the Plaza de Oriente, the Sabatini Gardens and the Campo del Moro. Ending with a visit to St. Miguel Basilica, a surprising 18th century construction, typically Italian Baroque in style, with a convex front embellished with statues.
Dinner and overnight in Madrid.

Day 9> Madrid - Avila - Alba de Tormes - Salamanca
Depart Madrid to Avila, the City of Kings and of Saints, which is completely encircled by 11th Century walls. The religious atmosphere here has changed little since the days of St. Teresa. Visit the Cathedral, the Convent of St. Theresa, the Monastery of the Incarnation and St. Joseph Monastery.
Continue to Alba de Tormes, where at the Carmelite concent St. Teresa’s body is preserved. On to the walled city of Salamanca, a city conquered by Hannibal in 217 BC.
Check-in at hotel in Salamanca.
Dinner and overnight in Salamanca

Day 10> Santarem - Fatima
Depart Salamanca to Fatima. Enroute you will visit Santarem, where in the Church of the Holy Miracle you can view the vererated relic of the Bleeding Host. Celebrate Mass at the Shrine.
Continue on to Fatima, where the Blessed Mother appeared in 1917 to three simple shepherd children and exhorted mankind to pray for world peace.
Check-in at hotel in Fatima.
After dinner, recitation of the Rosary at the Shrine.
Overnight in Fatima.

Day 11> Fatima
Celebrate Holy Mass at the Little Chapel of Apparitions. Enjoy a tour of the Shrine of Fatima.  In May 1917 our Lady was seen several times by three shepherd children -- Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia, at a place called Cova da Iria, where the Basilica now stands. Visit the tombs of the children, and the Chapel of the Apparitions known as the Capelinha. Visit Aljustrel, the hamlet where the children lived and view their untouched homes. On to Valinhos, where Our Lady appeared after the children’s return from prison.
This evening join the pilgrims from around the world in an evening candlelight procession to pray the rosary. Don’t forget your white handkerchiefs for the Adeus farewell, when thousand of pilgrims wave a loving farewell to the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

Day 12> Return to the USA