JOIN ON A SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE SHRINES OF ITALY VISIT Rome - Papal Audience with Holy Father, Monte Cassino, San Giovanni Rotondo - Padre Pio, Monte Sant'Angel - View incorrupt body of Padre Pio, San Giovanni Rotondo, Lanciano, Assisi - St. Francis, and Gubbio St. Peter’s Basilica May 25 - June 03, 2020 $4,499 Per Person from New York (JFK) $4,699 Per Person from Portland (PDX) Land Only: $3,799 Per Person SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR: FR. EDWIN SANCHEZ www.pilgrimages.com/fredwinsanchez Fr. Edwin Sanchez Montecassino Abbey St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral Incorrupt Body of Padre Pio INTRODUCTION & S A M P L E D A Y - BY- D A Y I T INERARY Day 1, Monday, May 25: Depart for Rome tondo, the hometown of Saint Padre Pio. Upon arrival in San Giovanni Ro- Make your way to your local airport to board your overnight flight(s). Dinner tondo, enjoy dinner and overnight at your hotel. and breakfast will be served on board. Day 6, Saturday, May 30: San Giovanni Rotondo - Monte Sant’ Angel (View Day 2, Tuesday, May 26: Arrival in Rome incorrupt body of Padre Pio) Welcome to Rome, also known as, “The Eternal City.” Upon arrival at Rome Today after breakfast we will have Mass at the tomb of St. Pio. After Mass, airport, you will collect your luggage in the baggage claim area, and con- we will tour the sanctuary, and view the crucifix, in front of which St. Pio tinue to the arrival’s hall, where you will be greeted by a tour escort and/or received the stigmata. Visit the confessional from where St. Pio spent an driver. Make your way to the bus and transfer to your hotel. Following innumerable amount of hours listening to confessions. Next, we will board check-in, you will have time to explore Rome on your own. Your tour escort the bus and travel along the beautiful Gargano Peninsula to the Grotto of may suggest places to visit. Later in the afternoon meet at the hotel lobby, St. Michael the Archangel, a shrine consecrated by St. Michael. At this as we will make our way to Church to celebrate Mass, followed by a Wel- grotto, St. Michael appeared to a Bishop to assure him that his diocese come Dinner. After dinner, you will have the opportunity to walk to St. Pe- would not be annihilated as he feared. Following the visit to the grotto, ter’s Square for the Rosary (optional). enjoy free time. On the way back to San Giovanni Rotondo view breath- taking views of the ocean and surrounding countryside. Upon arrival you Day 3, Wednesday May 27: Rome: Papal Audience – Trevi Fountain / Piazza will have time for devotion and reflect. Dinner and overnight. Navona – Basilica of St. John the Lateran and St. Mary Major – Holy Steps After a nice breakfast at your hotel, your first sightseeing day in Rome starts! Day 7, Sunday, May 31: San Giovanni Rotondo – Lanciano – Assisi The tour begins with the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square! The Audi- After breakfast, we will head to Lanciano. Upon arrival in Lanciano, we will ence is celebrated each Wednesday by His Holiness, Pope Francis celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Longinus. This Church is the site of the (pending the papal schedule). Following the Papal Audience, we will Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in the eighth century. At the time of the make our way to the Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain). In the times of An- Miracle, there was a Basilian monk who struggled with the belief in the real cient Rome, this fountain served as the terminal point of the Aqua Virgo, presence of The Lord Jesus in the Eucharist. During the time of Mass, the the main aqueduct that supplied thermal baths. Following the Trevi Foun- monk, with doubt in his voice, said the “Words of Consecration” and the tain, continue to the beautiful, Piazza Novona. This square was built on the bread turned into living flesh, and the wine transformed into live blood. former Stadium of Domitian that held many festivals and sporting events After Mass free time to explore Lanciano. Later continue toward Assisi, the (86 A.D). At the center of this square, stands the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi hometown of St. Francis. Upon arrival in Assisi, check-in; enjoy dinner, be- (Fountain of the Four Rivers). There are four figures constructed on this foun- fore retiring to your room for a restful night’s sleep. tain that represent four rivers: the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata. Next, you may enjoy free time for lunch, followed by a visit to the Day 8, Monday, June 1: Assisi (The Life of a Saint, that inspired a Holy Fa- oldest of the four major basilicas in Rome, and the home to the relics of ther) Peter and Paul, the Basilica of St. John the Lateran. This Basilica is where This morning, enjoy breakfast followed by a full day of touring the Pope Francis was installed as Bishop of Rome, and where he officiates as hometown of St. Francis. St. Francis is the “Patron Saint of Animals and the the Bishop of Rome. Next, we will cross the street to visit the Holy Staircase. Environment.” Additionally, he is responsible for founding the Franciscan Tradition states that this staircase is from Pontius Pilate’s palace of Jerusa- Order, and the inspiration for our Holy Father, Pope Francis. He chose his lem during the time of Jesus. It is also said that this Staircase was brought to name in admiration of the Saint of Nature, and Servant to the Poor. Known Rome by St. Helen in the 4th century. If time permits, you may climb the for being a humble man himself, Pope Francis spent most of his life denying steps on your knees, in memory of Christ’s agonizing Passion. To conclude the luxuries of life. He preferred to live in simplicity and humility, while giving your day, we will proceed to the Basilica of St. Mary Major and celebrate up all other worldly possessions, just as St. Francis did. As we visit the birth- Mass. This Basilica contains a relic from the manger of the Infant Jesus. Fol- place of St. Francis, you will become captivated as the atmosphere has lowing Mass, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight not changed since St. Francis began his ministry, in the early 13th-century. During the tour, you will have the opportunity to visit the tomb of St. Francis at his Basilica and have the opportunity to view a series of frescoes depict- Day 4, Thursday, May 28: Rome: Vatican Museum – Appian Way - Basilica ing his life, view a few of the saint’s possessions. As the tour continues, visit of St. Paul Outside the Walls - Catacombs St. Mary of the Angels Basilica. This Basilica is where St. Francis spent most of This morning enjoy breakfast. We will celebrate Mass at the largest Christen- life, and is made up of two structures; both of which you will visit. The Porzi- dom Church, St. Peter’s Basilica. This Basilica was built on the site where St. uncola is where St. Francis founded his order of the Friar Minor Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome, was martyred. Also, it was Our (Franciscans), and the Capella del Transito, which is the place of St. Fran- Holy Father, Pope Francis who was the first Pontiff to visit the necropolis cis’ death. During this visit, your group will have the opportunity to visit the since extensive archaeological excavations were conducted at the an- beautiful Rose Garden where St. Francis and other friars lived, as well as the cient site decades ago. At this Basilica, we will have the opportunity to cave where the Saint retired to pray. Enjoy free time on your own, you may view Michelangelo’s Pieta. This stunning marble sculpture depicts the Virgin take this time for additional prayer, or shop in the gift shop. The last stop on Mary holding Christ after His crucifixion, death, and removal off the cross your tour will be to the Church that honors St. Clare, the foundress of the before being placed in the tomb. Continue to proceed to one of the Poor Clare Sisters. This Saint followed the teachings of St. Francis very closely many Vatican Museums. At the world-renowned museum, you will see the by also living a life of poverty and humility. Return to the hotel for dinner most impressive of edifices, galleries, and awe-inspiring relics. Additionally, and overnight. you will have the opportunity to observe the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, and Michelangelo’s Masterpiece, the restored mu- Day 9, Tuesday, June 2: Assisi - Gubbio - LaVerna – Assisi ral of the Last Judgment. The final stop on your Vatican tour is at the tomb After breakfast, we will drive through the beautiful Umbrian mountains to of St. John Paul II. Afterward, enjoy free time for lunch on your own, or to Gubbio. Enjoy this medieval town with a visit of St. Francis Church, were we purchase souvenirs from Vatican City. We will then begin the short journey will be celebrating Mass. After Mass we will visit a town that seems painted down the Appian Way, the earliest road of Ancient Rome. This road will onto the hill, a succession of backdrops against which towers and houses lead to the Domino Quo Vadis Chapel, the Baths of Caracalla, the Arch of stand out, all embraced by walls. The town has been freed by St. Francis Drusus, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and the catacombs of St.