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Angelus |
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The Angelus gets its name from the opening words of this invocation in Latin:
"Angelus domini nuntiavit Mariae" ("The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary").
The prayer evolved into its present form around 1270, based on a devotion by the Franciscan monks. It is a simple prayer comprised of
four short sentences designed to be said by one person or responsorially in a group, based on Scripture verses, each followed by three
Hail Marys and concluding with a petition for God’s grace. The Angelus is a much-loved way to remember to whom we belong and to what
we aspire as Catholics in the very midst of the daily routines of life and work that tend to distract us. |
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Fatima, Madrid and Lourdes |
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10 Days - Portugal, Spain and France |
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Itinerary |
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Day 1: |
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Depart the USA on your flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Meals will be served on overnight flight. |
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Day 2: |
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Welcome to Portugal! After arriving in Lisbon, our Tour Director welcomes us with a beautiful
smile and escorts us through the mountainous central region of the Serra de Aire toward Fatima, which was once a remote village of the
Moors. Dinner and overnight in Fatima. |
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Day 3: |
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After breakfast, we will enjoy a walking tour of Fatima. As we witness the many holy sights
here, let us contemplate the words of the Angel of Peace, appearing to the three "little shepherds" near the well behind Lucia’s
house and asking them to "Pray, Pray very much! The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer prayers and sacrifices
constantly to the Most High. Make of everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He
is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners." Dinner and overnight in Fatima. |
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Day 4: |
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Today marks the Anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. Let us be thankful and celebrate this wonderful invitation
from Our Blessed Mother of being able to experience what occurred here many years ago. In May, we honor the Anniversary of Her first
apparition to the children. In October, we honor the Anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun, when She promised Lucia that She would perform
a miracle so that all may believe. It was on October 13th that She requested that a chapel be built affirming Her to be the Lady of the
Rosary. We will celebrate Mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions (Capelinha), located at the Cova da Iria, pray the Rosary, and witness
the Blessing of the Sick. This is the spot where a little holmoak grew on which Our Lady appeared 5 times from May to October, 1917 to
the three little shepherds: 8 yrs. old Francisco Marto, 6 yrs. old Jacinta Marto and 9 yrs. old Lucia dos Santos. After dinner, we will
participate in the Candlelight Procession where pilgrims from around the world unite to pray to Our Lady of the Rosary. Dinner and
overnight in Fatima. |
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Day 5: |
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Free day in Fatima. There is an optional excursion to Lisbon and Santarem. Additional places
in the region to visit are the three other great Marian shrines of Portugal located in Batalha, Alcobaca and Nazare, confirming that, since
its very foundation, Portugal was called the Land of Holy Mary. These are important historical and artistic monuments that allow a visitor
to understand how deeply rooted is the devotion which the Portuguese people have for Our Lady resulting in the faith seen at the Cova da
Iria. Nazare is a typical fishing village of the area where a local chapel enshrines an ancient miraculous statue of Our Lady of Nazare.
Ourem is another place to see, with its ruins of a castle on the hilltop. It was in this town that the Bishop resided during the time of
the apparitions and where the children were imprisoned on the 13th of August. Dinner and overnight in Fatima. |
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Day 6: |
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Today we continue our journey to Madrid, the capital of Spain where we will celebrate mass at
the Church of Our Lady of Atocha. The rest of the day is at leisure. Buy some Lladros souvenirs at of the big department stores. An optional
flamenco show will be offered, which is highly recommended. Dinner and overnight in Madrid. |
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Day 7: |
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The road finds us travelling north into southwestern France to Lourdes, one of the greatest
pilgrimage shrines in the world. It was here at the Grotto of Massabielle, in February 1858, that Our Blessed Mother appeared 18 times to
a young sickly child named Bernadette Soubirous and later proclaimed to her that She was the Immaculate Conception. Dinner and overnight
in Lourdes. |
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Day 8: |
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After breakfast, we celebrate Mass and then participate in the walking tour of Lourdes, where
we visit the places associated with the life of St. Bernadette. These places include the Boly Mill where she was born, the Locale Mill,
residence of her parents, and the Cachot, formerly used as a jail where they lived at the time of the Apparitions. The afternoon may be
spent for private devotion at the Way of the Cross, with its life-size statues on the hill, Eucharistic Adoration, confession or take
part in the Miraculous Baths to experience the message of Our Lady. After dinner, participate in the Candlelight Procession or simply
spend some more private time at the "Grotto". Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. |
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Day 9: |
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A free day to enjoy Lourdes. An optional excursion to Bartres will be offered. Dinner and
overnight in Lourdes. |
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Day 10: |
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We bid farewell to Lourdes as we board our flight back to the USA, arriving later that day. |
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