Saints & Shrines of Southern France Pilgrimage

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Itinerary

Day 1 | Wednesday, June 10: Depart for Your Pilgrimage
Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s) to Lyon. Your meals will be served on board.

Day 2 | Thursday, June 11: Lyon – Paray Le Monial
Upon arriving at Lyon airport, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival’s hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Embark on scenic drive to Paray le Monial. Check-in to your hotel and relax or explore before Mass and Dinner. Dinner and overnight in your 3-star hotel in Paray-le-Monial.

Day 3 | Friday, June 12: Paray Le Monial
After breakfast, we will officially begin our Pilgrimage at the sanctuary of Paray-le-Monial. You will then visit the Chapel of the Visitation. It is here that Jesus appeared and revealed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the seventeenth century. The apparitions allowed St. Margaret to rest her head upon Jesus’ Sacred Heart, during which she experienced Our Lord’s 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. Our Lord told St. Margaret Mary, “My divine heart has exalted love for mankind and for you especially.” Saint Margaret Mary dedicated herself to spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart. She also began the practice of the Holy Hour of Reparation shortly before dying on October 17, 1690, saying the name of Jesus. Since then, the sanctuary of Paray-le-Monial has been dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The devotion has spread across the world and many families have consecrated themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sanctuary is taken care of by the Community of Emmanuel which spreads the message of the infinite love of Jesus throughout the world. These gatherings bring more than 15,000 people together each year. The Emmanuel Community dynamic group lay people and priests whose members commit to living out the Gospel in their daily lives through Adoration, compassion, and evangelization. During this pilgrimage, you’ll be shown a presentation of the apparitions and of the message of Christ, and offered a time of prayer. The group may have the opportunity to meet with one of the priests in charge of the Sanctuary. Celebrate Mass as a group and then enjoy lunch on your own. In the afternoon, you will have free time to pray, rest, or explore on your own before dinner and overnight in Paray-le-Monial.

Day 4 | Saturday, June 13: Paray Le Monial - Ars
Begin the day with breakfast at your hotel and then you’ll depart to Ars. Here you will discover the life of Saint John Vianney, the Curé D’Ars. When he first arrived in Ars, St. John Vianney found himself confronted with rampant poverty, alcohol and futile pleasures. His deep devotion and love for the “Good God”, as he referred to Our Lord, transformed the lives of the inhabitants of the village. The priest, who had such trouble learning to read and succeeding at the seminary, eventually had crowds of people coming to hear him preach. The village of Ars is still deeply devoted to this Saint and he was proclaimed the universal patron saint of all priests by the Church in 2010. Celebrate Mass in Ars and then you will discover the presbytery, the basilica, the house of St. John Vianney, the church of Notre Dame de la Misericorde and the Monument de la Rencontre. There is also a seminary, one of the most recent and flourishing in France. Placed under the patronage of Saint Curé d’Ars, the seminarians are inspired by the life of the saint for their future priesthood. The sanctuary takes special attention of welcoming priests as the Curé d’Ars is their patron. Enjoy lunch on your own and then board the bus and transfer to Lyon. Upon arrival, you will have dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 5 | Sunday, June 14: Lyon
Today, you will discover Lyon and its rich heritage. Begin with breakfast at your hotel and then we will visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Fourvière. This majestic Basilica is built on the Fourviere hill, where, according to tradition, the first Christians were persecuted in France. It houses the relics of many Saints who were martyred. Mass will be celebrated at Fourvière Basilica. Walk to Loreto House (Blessed Pauline Jaricot’s home) and hear a talk in the chapel and pray the Rosary. In 1832, the home was bought by Bl. Pauline Jaricot, who renamed it Maison de Lorette, after the Italian town of Loreto, where she had stayed. She organized Catholic works such as the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary. She was also very devoted to St. Philomena. In 1975, the property was bought by the Pontifical Mission Societies and was turned into a place of remembrance, prayer and welcome. Cultural events are also held here on a regular basis. We will walk to Church of St. Nizier and pray before Blessed Pauline’s tomb. Enjoy lunch on your own and then you will have the afternoon to explore at your leisure. The group may also have the opportunity to the ruins of an ancient roman theatre as well as visiting Saint Irenaeus Church. This church is dedicated to Saint Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon in the 2nd century, famous for his fight against heresies and for bearing witness to the Christian faith despite persecution. Discover the Crypt of the Martyrs which is located beneath the church of Saint-Irenaeus. The crypt houses the relics of the first martyrs of Lyon, including Saint Pothin and Saint Blandine who were executed in the 2nd century during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Dinner and night in your hotel in Lyon.

Day 6 | Monday, June 15: Lyon – Our Lady of La Salette
Your morning begins with breakfast at your hotel and then the group will transfer to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. La Salette is the site where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1846 to two shepherds, Melanie Matthew and Maximin Gird. Our Lady appeared to these shepherds crying over the lack of observance of Sundays and the profaning of her Son’s holy name. A spring forever marks the spot where the Virgin appeared and where millions of pilgrims come to drink the fresh spring water and pray. The stunning mountain scenery and lush mountain trails make La Salette one of the most spectacular pilgrimage sites in France, with a beautiful Basilica built to honor the Virgin Mary. A group of priests, monks and nuns are available throughout the year to help every pilgrim who comes to grow in peace and joy. Monsignor Guy de Kérimel, the Bishop of the Diocese said, “La Salette is an invitation to experience the joy of a world reconciled with God. The Virgin Mary cries so that, through the conversion of sinners and God’s mercy, a smile will return to faces and that the mountains will be covered in wheat.” Your group will visit the beautiful Sanctuary and experience La Salette’s profound peace. Have lunch on your own and then your group will celebrate Holy Mass. Your group will enjoy dinner and overnight in Notre-Dame de la Salette at a religious house.

Day 7 | Tuesday, June 16: Notre Dame de La Salette – Notre Dame Du Laus
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Notre-Dame du Laus Sanctuary. Celebrate Mass and have lunch on your own. Here you will learn about the life of Venerable Benoîte Rencurel who began experiencing apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1664. For 54 years, Mary continued to appear to her to support her in her apostolate and to continue her education. In addition to the Marian apparitions, Benoîte also saw angels and several saints, and had mystical experiences such as a vision of Paradise. Between 1669 and 1684, she had 5 visions of Christ
crucified on the cross at Avançon. Thus, united with him, she experienced a ‘mystical crucifixion’ every Friday for several years. You will have dinner and spend the night in Notre-Dame du Laus at a religious house.

Day 8 | Wednesday, June 17: Notre-Dame-du-Laus / Cotignac / Brignoles
Begin the day with breakfast at your hotel and then you will transfer to Cotignac. Begin with a visit to the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Grâces. In 1519, Our Lady appeared to a young man named Jean de la Baume and requested that a Church be built on the site in her honor. The Church was built at Our Lady’s request and in 1637, through her intercession, King Louis XIII and his wife Queen Anne of Austria conceived a son who would become King Louis XIV. This miracle created a strong bond between the Sanctuary and the monarchy because King Louis XIII dedicated the Kingdom of France to Our Lady after this miracle. Have time for lunch on your own. While in Cotignac, you will also visit the Sanctuaire Saint Joseph du Bessillon where St. Joseph chose to appear on a hill in Cotignac in 1660. The purpose of the shrine is to make Saint Joseph and the Holy Family better known and loved. This apparition site of St. Joseph has become more popular in recent years, especially since the Church celebrated a Year of St. Joseph from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021. Return to your hotel in Brignoles for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 | Thursday, June 18: Brignoles - Saint Maximin La Sainte Baume - Brignoles
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte- Baume. Here you will visit the Basilica Saint Mary Magdalen, begun in 1295 and completed in 1532 which is the most important Gothic-style religious building in Provence. We will visit the tomb of St. Mary Magdalen and pray before her relics. Enjoy time for lunch on your own and then personal time for prayer and relaxation. You will then return to Brignoles for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 | Friday, June 19: Brignoles - Plan D’Aups - Saint Maximin La Sainte Baume - Brignoles
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then transfer to Plan d’Aups. Upon arrival, you’ll set off on a hike to the grotto of Sainte-Marie- Madeleine in Saint Maximin La Sainte Baume. The grotto is said to have served as a hermitage for Saint Mary Magdalene after she evangelized Provence. The walk takes around 45 minutes. According to Christian tradition, Mary Magdalene, Salomé and Saint Lazarus fled Palestine on boat to escape Roman persecutions. They made land in France in the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer where they then each went their own way. This is the first evangelization of Gaul (the ancient name of France). During the first centuries, Christians, penitents, saints, kings and popes came to the grotto of the Sainte Baume on pilgrimage to be near Saint Mary Magdalene. Tradition says that she lived here for 30 years, offering her life for the conversion of sinners. Your group will celebrate Mass in that very grotto where she lived. Have time for lunch on your own and then return to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. The group will then transfer back to Brignoles for dinner and overnight.

Day 11 | Saturday, June 20: Return Home
After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, your group will transfer to Lyon, Nice or Marseille airport for your return flights home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of places to be visited. Occasionally local religious holidays, national days, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of visits or the missing of certain visits.

For complete information, click here.