Today our pilgrimage begins! We depart the USA for Paris, on our transatlantic flight aboard a wide-bodied jet. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft.

This morning, we arrive in Paris and are greeted by our tour guide who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. We journey to Lisieux, where St. Therese, known as “The Little Flower” lived. Born in 1873, her autobiography The Story of a Soul was discovered in 1899. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Therese  and enter the crypt to view the reliquary of Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, the recently canonized parents of Saint Thérèse. We enjoy an included welcome lunch to celebrate the beginning or our pilgrimage. After, we visit the Cathedral Basilica of St Peter, where Thérèse participated in the life of the local Church during her youth and  Les Buissonnets, her family home. We also enter  the Carmelite Convent Chapel to venerate the remains of St. Thérèse in the chapel of the Reliquary. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in the Lisieux.

This morning after our daily included breakfast, we journey to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery to pay homage to the American soldiers, who lost their lives on D-Day. We continue to historic Bayeux and step back in time.  We visit the cathedral and Eglise Saint-Patrice of Bayeux where we celebrate Mass. After free time for lunch, we stop at the Bayeux Museum that commemorates D-Day. We view the famous Bayeux tapestry. It is the most famous embroidered artwork in the world,  depicting the victory of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It is an enduring symbol of the deep ties between England and France. Return to our hotel in Liseaux for dinner and overnight.

We depart Lisieux and journey towards Paris, the Illuminated City. We enjoy a driving tour upon arrival before visiting visit Sacre Coeur, located at the summit of Montmartre, the highest point in Paris. We explore the Basilica complex including a garden for meditation and then walk over to Saint-Pierre de Montmartre church, founded by St. Denis and celebrate Mass. We enjoy some free time for browsing the local shops and enjoying lunch on our own. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Paris.

  After breakfast this morning,  we celebrate Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on the Rue de Bac, where Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure and gave her instructions to make the Miraculous Medal. The shrine contains the incorrupt body of St. Catherine. The Blessed Mother also appeared to a “Daughters of Charity” Sister and gave her instructions to make the Green Scapular. We will walk around the corner to the Shrine of St. Vincent de Paul, at the Church of St. Lazare. St. Vincent de Paul’s tomb is here. He was a shining example of love for the poor. After free time for lunch and to visit the adjacent famous store- La Bon Marche, we tour the sites of Paris. We stop for an outside visit  of the most enduring symbol of the French capital, the Notre Dame Cathedral on the Ile de la Cité. We then visit Sainte-Chapelle, the royal chapel, constructed in a Gothic style. Overnight and dinner at our hotel in Paris.

Today we depart Paris early and head to Chartres, a former pagan sanctuary that was evangelized in the fourth century and became a pilgrimage site in 876. In this year, Charles the Bald gave the town the tunic, that tradition says was worn by the Virgin Mary while giving birth to Jesus. The 13th century cathedral dominates this idyllic town, surrounded by wheat fields. The church building itself is literally a Bible in stone, with over 4,000 sculpted figures and 5,000 figures in the stained glass windows, illustrating the Bible and lives of the Saints. We enjoy an in-depth guided tour of Chartres and celebrate Mass. After Mass, we have free time for lunch on our own and exploring  the town. Dinner and overnight in Chartres. After dinner we have the option of walking over to the Cathedral to see the illuminations and light show on the Cathedral. 

This morning we journey to Nevers to  visit the convent of St. Gildard, where Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes spent the final 13 years of her life. Here we view the incorrupt body of Saint Bernadette kept in a glass reliquary. We have a guided tour of Nevers. Then we continue our journey to Paray le Monial, known as the City of the Eucharist, and visit the site of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. Here we stop in the Chapel of the Visitation. We continue on to Ars, the village of the Holy Cure and visit the house and shrine of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of all priests. We  have a guided tour of Ars and view the shrine of St. John Vianney, where we celebrate Mass.  We will also stop at the famous statue on the outskirts of the city. Dinner and overnight at our hotel near Ars.

We depart from the Ars area after breakfast. We journey along the Rhone River to the Shrine of Lourdes. Upon arrival we will celebrate Mass at the Grotto. Dinner and overnight Lourdes. In the evening, we join the Torchlight Marian Procession

This day is spent in devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. We enjoy  an orientation visit to the Shrine and a walking tour of Lourdes, visiting Boly Mill, where St. Bernadette was born, the Cachot, formerly used as a jail, where she lived during the apparitions, and the parish church. We will celebrate Mass and then have a free for private devotions, the Eucharistic Procession, the Blessing of the Sick or the legendary. We, once again, join the Rosary and candlelight procession. Overnight and dinner at our hotel in Lourdes.

Today is a free day in Lourdes. We celebrate Mass together and then we have the option of walking the Stations of Cross. We can explore the town of Lourdes on foot. We have the opportunity to experience the healing waters of the miraculous Lourdres spring.  Tonight, our farewell dinner is in a local restaurant. We will also join the Rosary and candlelight procession this evening. Overnight at our hotel in Lourdes.

This morning our extraordinary pilgrimage concludes as we drive to the airport and board our flight back to the U.S. via Paris arriving later today. Our memories of our  spectacular Shrines of France pilgrimage– will stay with us forever.