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Mediatrix
Pope Leo XIII had repeatedly referred to Mary as Mediatrix of All Grace in at least three encyclicals. Such interest did not escape the attention of St. Pius X. Since the encyclical letter is the ordinary vehicle of papal teaching, He used this occasion to teach the role of Mary as Mediatrix of All Grace. After showing that Mary, since She is the Mother of Christ, is Mother also of the members of Christ, he brings forth three reasons why Mary is called our Co-Redemptrix. First, She united Her sufferings with Christ's for the salvation of the world. Secondly, She truly offered Her Divine Son to our Heavenly Father as She stood beneath the Cross. Finally, She offered Her sufferings, especially those experienced during the Passion and the Death of Christ, together with His, for the salvation of the world. From the fact that Mary is our Co-Redemptrix the Pope draws out the doctrine that Mary is our Mediatrix. Since She is our Mediatrix, St. Pius X explains why we should have devotion to Her, illustrating by example how Mary can increase the virtues of all Her children.
Fatima, Madrid, Lourdes and Rome
12 Days - Portugal, Spain, France and Italy
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart the USA on an international flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Meals will be served on our overnight flight.
Day 2: 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.
Day 3: After breakfast, we celebrate Mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions (Capelinha), located at the Cova da Iria. This is the spot where a little holmoak grew on which Our Lady appeared 5 times from May to October 1917 to the 3 little shepherds: 8 yrs. old Francisco Marto, 6 yrs. old Jacinta Marto and 9 yrs. old Lucia dos Santos. Then we proceed to Aljustrel, where the children were born and also the site where the Angel of Peace appeared to them near the well behind Lucia's house asking them to "Pray, Pray very much!" Contemplate on their lifestyle as we visit their original homes, the parish church and cemetery. To the west is Loca do Cabeco, a hillside covered with olive trees, where the angel appeared to them on two different occasions teaching them to pray, preparing them prior to Our Lady's appearance. Continue to Valinhos, where Our Lady appeared to them on the 19th of August. Follow the Via Sacra (The Sacred Way) built by the Hungarian refugees, to pray the Way of the Cross culminating at the Chapel of St. Stephen with a beautiful sculptured marble Calvary providing a serene view of Fatima. After dinner, 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.
Day 4:



Day 5:		 This morning we travel through the lovely, picturesque countryside to Madrid, capital of Spain. Dinner and overnight in Madrid.

An optional excursion to Avila will be available. Avila, the 12th century walled town associated with St. Teresa, the first woman declared a Doctor of the Church, and her confessor, St. John of the Cross. We will visit her birthplace and the Carmelite Convent which contains many of her relics. Dinner and overnight in Madrid.
Day 6: After breakfast, we travel to Lourdes, France, 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.
Day 7: We celebrate Mass this morning followed by a 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 the Soubirous family lived at the time of the Apparitions. The afternoon may be spent for private devotion, Way of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, confession or take part in the Miraculous Baths. After dinner, participate in the Candlelight Procession or simply spend private time at the "Grotto". Dinner and overnight in Lourdes.
Day 8: The road unwinds as we travel through the French Riviera to a small town called Arenzano. Dinner and overnight in Arenzano.
Day 9: We continue our journey towards Assisi, spread across the slopes of Monte Subasio; still today, it retainins its medieval character. Assisi owes its fame to St. Francis, whose dedication to humility and charity became the foundation of the Franciscan Order, and to St. Clare, who, along with St. Francis, made a significant contribution to the past and present of the city. Upon arrival, we will visit the stately Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli built over the Portiuncula. It was in this chapel that St. Francis received a clear understanding of his vocation, which made this the first Franciscan community. A few steps away is the Capella Del Transito which marks the spot where St. Francis died in 1226. We will then proceed to check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.
Day 10: Our walking tour begins with a visit to the 13th century Basilica of San Francesco, followed by a celebration of Mass. One church has been superimposed upon another, the crypt contains the saint's tomb and many of his possessions, and the Upper Basilica has 28 frescoes by Giotto depicting the life of St. Francis. Then, we continue to La Chiesa Nuova, the church built in 1616 on the site of the home of Pietro Bernardone and Lady Pica, the parents of St. Francis, then to the Basilica of Santa Chiara which houses the incorrupt body of St. Clare, contained in a glass-walled sarcophagus. Kneel before the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St. Francis, asking him to rebuild His Church. In the afternoon, we travel south to Rome. Long called the "Eternal City", Rome has been a dominant city through much of the history of Western civilization. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 11: After breakfast, enjoy a full day panoramic city tour of classical Roman Empire monuments (the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus and more) on the way to one of the catacombs, where the early Christians were buried. In the afternoon, we continue with a visit to the three major basilicas: St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran and St. Paul Outside the Walls, time permitting. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Should our visit fall on either a Sunday or a Wednesday, a Papal Blessing or a Papal Audience will be arranged (depending on the Pope's schedule).
Day 12: We bid farewell to Rome as we board our flight back to the USA, arriving later that day.
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