Cruz Italy Pilgrimage 9 days

Europe
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegowina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faroer
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
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Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Moldavia
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine

Created: 03.12.2015

Wednesday,   September 28 - Day 1 - DEPART USA - Today we depart Newark airport for our overnight flight to Rome.  We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. Thursday, September 29 - Day 2 - SIENA - Upon arrival in Rome we journey to the medieval city of Siena. We celebrate our welcome Mass at the Basilica Di San Francesco where 223 hosts consecrated in 1730 are still intact in one of its chapels.  Time permitting; we enjoy some free time at the Piazza del Campo , Siena???s famous square, before we transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Friday, September 30 ??? St. Jerome- Day 3 ??? SIENA/ASSISI - Today, we visit the Duomo, Siena???s magnificent Gothic Cathedral.  We proceed to the Dominican Church commemorating St. Catherine.  We celebrate Mass here.  We journey through the beautiful Tuscan countryside and stop briefly at a nice Italian designer factory outlet for shopping.  We continue to Assisi and stop in the lower town for a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, and the Portiuncula, Francis??? Church of the Little Portion. We proceed to the hilltop village of Assisi, the home of Saint Francis for dinner and overnight. Saturday, October 1 - Day 4 - ASSISI/LORETO - This morning, we begin at the Basilica of St. Francesco with Mass. After our visit of the Basilica and the tomb of St. Francis , we begin our walking tour of the village. Included, is a visit to the Church of St. Clare to view the crucifix that spoke to St. Francis.  Later, our taxis take us up to Church of San Damiano.   We continue to our hotel in Loreto for dinner and overnight. Sunday, October 2 - Day 5 - LORETO/LANCIANO/SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO - This morning, we celebrate Mass at Loreto, the site of the Santa Casa or Holy House. Ancient tradition tells us angels carried the house of the Holy Family from Nazareth to Loreto as it was about to be destroyed by Holy Land invaders. We continue southwards to Lanciano, the site of the oldest Eucharistic Miracle certified by the Church. We proceed to San Giovanni Rotondo where we briefly visit the sanctuary. We transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Monday, October 3 - Day 6 - SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO/ SUBIACO - Today, we return to the Shrine of Padre Pio to celebrate Mass. We visit his tomb, cell, confessional, crucifix from which he received the stigmata, and nearly everything he owned or touched. We travel to Subiaco to visit the monasteries of St. Benedict and St. Scolastica.  We continue to Rome and enjoy a panoramic tour, passing the Roman Fora, the Arch of Constantine, the Coliseum and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Tuesday, October 4 ??? St. Francis of Assisi - VATICAN CITY/ROME - This morning, we go to the Vatican, where we walk through our first Holy Door and celebrate Mass below St. Peters. Afterwards, we see the treasures of the Vatican Museum. We marvel at Michelangelo???s restored frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and the wonders of St. Peter???s. This afternoon, we visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major and walk through the second Holy Door. We proceed to the Church of St Alphonsus Liguori, the Shrine of Mother of Perpetual Help in Rome, then to the Holy Stairs or Scala Santa.  At St. John Lateran, we enter the Basilica through the Holy Door.  Tonight, we enjoy dinner with entertainment at one of the restaurants in Rome. Overnight at our hotel. Wednesday, October 5 - VATICAN CITY/ROME - This morning, we make our way to St. Peter's for an audience with Pope Francis if he is in residence. After lunch on our own, we visit the Basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli where a fresco of the Blessed Virgin, tradition tells us, was painted by St. Luke, the Madonna di Ara Coeli. This Basilica is also famous for the miraculous Infant Jesus (Gesu Bambino) carved from olive-wood from the Garden of Gethsemane by a Franciscan friar.   According to tradition, its coloring which glows with a translucence that is beyond human skill was completed by an angel. We proceed to St. Paul???s Beyond the Walls where we walk through our fourth Holy Door and celebrate Mass. Here we complete our penance and re-commitment to a life of Faith.  We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Thursday, October 6 - Day 9 - USA ??? Today we make our way home with memories of a lifetime.