TRIP SUMMARY:

France is known as the “ Eldest Daughter” of the church. During this Great Jubilee year personally experience the richness of your faith found in France’s most celebrated sanctuaries. Discover many of France’s hidden treasures, such as the Holy Veil of the Blessed Virgin, the incorrupt body of Saint Bernadette. Visit many of France’s holy saints and the places made holy by their presence while on their own earthly pilgrimage. Travel to sites where Our Lady appeared throughout the centuries,the Miraculous Medal Shrine, le Puy, La Salette and finally Lourdes where five million privileged pilgrims travel every year.

 

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:

FRANCE

The “City of Light” and home to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral which houses the Crown of Thorns and a piece of the True Cross. Also in Paris, the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, St. Vincent de Paul and the famous Sacré-Coeur Basilica.

 

LISIEUX

Pope Pius X called St. Thérese of the Little Flower the greatest saint of modern times. Visit to her Basillica & Reliquary.

 

CHARTRES

World famous for its architectural wonders, this cathedral is the most complete and best preserved medieval Christian monument in the western world. The cathedral holds the Holy Veil of the Blessed Virgin.

 

NEVERS

The incorrupt body of St. Bernadette lies in the Chapel of St.Gildard on the convent grounds. One of the highlights is walking on the same path St. Bernadette took to her favorite Marian statue.

 

PARAY LE MONIAL

The chapel of the Visitation where Jesus exposed his Sacred Hearth to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during a number of apparitions between 1673 and 1675.

 

ARS

Home to St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars. He is the patron saint of parish priests. His incorrupt body lies in the Basilica of Ars.

 

LE PUY

In addition to several hundred thousand pilgrims per year the sanctuary of our Lady of LePuy has received many popes, kings and saints to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

LA SALETTE

Our Lady appeared to the children at La Salette weeping over the loss of faith and disrespect of her Son's name.

 

SAINT-BAUME

The relic of St. Mary Magdelene, entombed in a cliffside grotto on the southern coast of France.

 

LOURDES

Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette eighteen times in 1858 at Lourdes. She declared “I am the Immaculate Conception” Along with the nightly candlelight rosary procession, the biggest event of the day is the blessing of the sick in the afternoon. The Church has recognized sixty-five miracles the last being in 1989. Approximately five thousand unexplained physical healings and millions of moral and spiritual healings, have taken place.