Upon your arrival in Paris this morning, we connect to the one-hour flight to Lourdes. Arrive in Lourdes about noon and transfer to your hotel. At the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains in southwestern France, nestled between the spectacular mountain river, Gave de Pau, is Lourdes. One of the most important pilgrimage sites for over 140 years, Lourdes is the birthplace of St Bernadette to whom Our Lady appeared in 1858 near the Grotto of Massabielle.
During your stay in Lourdes you will have a chance to celebrate daily Mass at the Grotto, enjoy a video presentation telling the story of Lourdes, and walk in the footsteps of St Bernadette. See Boly Mill where St Bernadette was born and the 'Cachot," an abandoned prison where Bernadette's impoverished family lived in humility. Walk the life- sized Stations of the Cross overlooking the holy Grotto. Visit to the sanctuary and to the Basilica of St Pius X, the world's largest underground church. Participate in the nightly candlelight processions.
DAY 05:
LOURDES / LYON / NEVERS / PARAY LEMONIAL
St. Bernadette
After breakfast, transfer to Pau Airport for the morning flight to Lyon. Depart by motorcoach for Nevers to visit St Gildard's Convent to pray before the uncorrupted body of St Bernadette. At the conclusion of the eighteen apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, St Bernadette lived for 12years as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers, having taken the veil in 1867. Throughout her life she suffered from and eventually died of asthma at the age of 35. You will see St Bernadette's incorrupt body miraculously preserved since her death in 1879. Mass at the Chapel. Dinner and overnight in Paray Le Monial.
DAY 06:
PARAY LE MONIAL / ARS / LASALETTE
St. Vianney
Breakfast, Mass, and a tour of Paray Le Monial, where we will visit the birthplace of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Between 1673 and 1675Our Blessed Lord appeared many times to St Margaret Mary Alacoque at the Visitation Convent. He revealed His Divine Heart aflame with love for humanity and established a feast day to honor his Sacred Heart. We arrive in the little town of Ars where St Jean-Marie Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, spent a great part of his holy life giving powerful sermons and spending up to 17 hours a day in the confessional, sleeping only two hours a night. The charity and love for people of this simple curate of Ars became famous all over the Christian world. He died in 1895 and his incorrupt body lies in repose, along with many relics from this saint who was canonized in 1925. Next we go to La Salette for dinner and overnight.
DAY 07:
LA SALETTE / LYON / PARIS
Cathedral at La Salette
Breakfast, Mass and a tour of La Salette. La Salette is the site where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1846 to two shepherds, Melanie Matthew and Maximin Gird. Our Lady appeared to these shepherds, lamenting the lack of observance of Sundays and the profaning of her Son's holy name. A spring forever marks the spot where the Virgin appeared and where millions of pilgrims come to drink the fresh spring water and to pray. In 1996 La Salette celebrated the 150th anniversary of Our Lady’s first apparition. Return to Lyon in the afternoon for the TGV (high speed) train to Paris. Transfer to hotel, dinner, and overnight.
After breakfast we travel to the town of Lisieux, the home of St Therese whom Pope Pius X called 'the Greatest Saint of Modern Times. Visit the Basilica Cathedral of St Peter and Les Buissonets, her family home. On display are relics, clothing and personal objects belonging to the “Little Flower”. View the statue depicting the Virgin Mary who smiled at St. Therese during an ecstasy before curing her illness. Pray at the Carmel Chapel. Return to Paris for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast we take a guided tour of this beautiful city, visiting the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the Church of the Sacre Coeur and the Church of St. Vincent De Paul. This afternoon will visit the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal to celebrate Mass. View the incorrupt body of St. Catherine Labouret whose guardian angel led her to the chapel where the Blessed Virgin displayed a vision of the miraculous medal and later the green scapular. The Virgin promised bountiful graces to all who wore these. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 10:
PARIS / NORTH AMERICA
Transfer to the airport in time for you return flight home. Arrival in the afternoon, local time.
