Shrines of France Pilgrimage- Under the Spiritual Direction of Fr. Anthony Killian

FLIGHTS TO LYON: Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Meals served on board.

TRANSFER TO HOTEL: Upon arriving at Lyon airport, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival hall, where you be greeted by your Terra Sancta Travel Center tour representative. Embark on the scenic drive to Lyon. Check-in to your hotel.

Overnight: Lyon (D*)

This morning we visit Lyon, the capital city of the Rhone Alps region. Lyon was founded more than 2000 years ago. The city was initially named Lugdunum by the Romans, who saw it as an important crossroads between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Alps. After some time for lunch on our own, we visit the Basilica Notre-Dame-de Fourviere. Built on top of Fourviere Hill, over the ancient Roman forum of Trajan, the basilica looms impressively over the city of Lyon, and has become the symbol of the city. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is said to have saved the city of Lyon from the plague in 1643, the basilica is today a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here we celebrate Mass. We enjoy a walking tour through the cobbled streets of Vieux Lyon (Old Town), before returning to our accommodations for dinner and the evening.

Overnight: Lyon (B, D)

VISIT OF CITY: This morning we head to Ars we will visit sites connected with St. John Vianney, our Patron, and the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. Saint John Paul II was a pilgrim here in 1986. We will visit the basilica that houses the Saint’s incorrupt body and celebrate Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of Ars, one of the favorite devotions of St. John.

Overnight: Lyon (B, D)

After breakfast, we make our way to Paray Le Monial. We visit the Church of St. Claude de la Colombiere and the Chapel of the Visitation. Here is where Jesus exposed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the seventeenth century. The apparitions allowed St. Margaret to rest herself upon Jesus’ Sacred Heart, which allowed her to experience the unconditional love for humanity. During your visit to this Holy place, you will have the opportunity to view relics of the beloved Saint, located beneath a wax figure of her image.

Overnight: Paray Le Monial (B, D)

After breakfast we head for Lisieux via Nevers to visit the Convent of St. Gildard where we see the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette. We will see where St. Bernadette lived for 12 years as a member of the Sisters of Nevers. St. Bernadette was very ill and received the sacrament of healing three times before her death at age 35 in 1879. Mass will be celebrated before we continue to Lisieux for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Lisieux (B, D)

After an early breakfast we will enjoy a sightseeing tour of Lisieux, home of St. Therese. We will visit Les Buissonnetts, St. Therese’ family home, which displays relics, clothing and personal objects belonging to the “Little Flower”; the Carmelite convent where St. Therese spent her short but holy life as a nun; and the Basilica of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus and St. Peter’s Cathedral where St. Therese received the sacraments. As we tour the places that have touched the life of St. Therese, we can see and feel the extraordinary love she had for God and her service to humanity come alive. Pope Pius X called St. Therese “the greatest saint of modern times.” Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of St. Therese. We will also have the opportunity to pray at the tombs of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, parents of St. Therese, located in the basilica. After lunch, we visit the Beaches of Normandy, Omaha, Gold, Juno, Utah, where many Americans gave their lives in World War II during the Allied invasion known as D-Day. Our guide will give us the history of what took place before we visit the American Cemetery at Laurent, which is the largest cemetery in Europe containing the graves of 9,387 American soldiers and a Memorial to 1,557 soldiers whose remains were never found. We will have a prayer service at the chapel to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Allies invasion. As we walk around and look out over the cemetery we will be reminded that the white headstones are engraved with crosses and the Star of David, all Americans who fought and died for freedom.

Overnight: Lisieux (B, D)

After breakfast we make our way to Mont St. Michel, which is known as the “Marvel of the West.” Mont St. Michel is a Benedictine abbey perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks dedicated to the Archangel Michael. The twin abbeys were built by William and his wife Matilda of Flanders, as a condition the pope’s raising the excommunication given to them. After our tour escort gives us the history of the abbey, we will have time to explore the abbey on our own and for the truly ambitious you can climb the 1,000 steps to the top of the abbey. For those of us who are less ambitious, we can walk along the beach and bay. Mont St. Michel was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. We continue on to Pontmain where on the evening of Jan. 17, 1871, the people were anxious about the advancing troops during the Franco/Prussian War, but everyone went about their work as usual. In a barn in the middle of town two boys were helping their father. Just before six in the evening they took a break and saw in the sky a lady dressed in a dark blue robe sprinkled with stars. She spread her hands in a gesture of welcome and smiled. Father Guerin, pastor of Pontmain for 35 years, was called and a prayer vigil began a veritable dialogue with the Virgin. After the rosary, the Magnificat was sung. A white banner appeared in the sky with gold letters on it. Two little boys deciphered it. “Pray, My Children God will answer before long.” As a result the troops never reached Pontmain. We will celebrate Mass before returning to Lisieux.

Overnight: Lisieux (B, D)

We will depart Lisieux after an early breakfast. We arrive in Paris for a tour of “the City of Lights.” The panorama city tour will include the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe. We will visit the Eiffel Tower, with entrance to the second floor. We will also stop at the Basilica of Notre Dame with its magnificent spires and world-famous stained glass rose windows. Many kings have been crowned at the basilica and many famous artists and poets are buried inside this 12th century basilica. Victor Hugo immortalized the basilica with his “Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

Overnight: Paris (B, D)

After breakfast we will visit the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and celebrate Mass there. The convent is where the Blessed Virgin Mary revealed two of the greatest treasures of the world, the Miraculous Medal and the Green Scapular. In the chapel we see the incorrupt body of St. Catherine Laboure and the incorrupt heart of St. Vincent de Paul. Next we visit the Basilica of Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart), located on the top of Montmartre Hill, which offers a magnificent sweeping view of Paris.

Overnight: Paris (B, D)

Depart Paris for Versailles. Tour the opulent and breathtaking Palace of Versailles built in the 17th century by the “Sun King”, Louis XIV which took 50 years to complete. Leisure time in Versailles to explore the magnificent grounds and gardens. Return to Paris. A farewell dinner will end our journey together.

Overnight: Paris (B, D)

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight home arriving home the same day. We will take with us many memories and blessings to last us a lifetime.