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Morning Glory |
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The morning is the first glimpse of Heaven. The Bible verse 1 Corinthians 10:31 says "whatever
you do, do everything for the glory of God." For most of us, we take for granted the simple gesture of waking up in the morning.
But how many times have we heard that some people don’t get that chance anymore? We need to wake up FOR the Lord. We need to live as
though it was our last day. We need to live life to the fullest. |
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Lourdes, Arenzano, Bologna, Padua and Venice |
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10 Days - France and Italy |
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Itinerary |
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Day 1: |
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Depart the USA on an international flight to Lourdes, France. Meals will be
served on the overnight flight. |
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Day 2: |
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Upon arrival, our Tour Director welcomes and escorts us to our hotel in Lourdes,
located in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains. The rest of the day is at leisure. Lourdes is 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 3: |
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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. 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, we 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 4: |
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A free day in Lourdes to do as we please. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. |
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Day 5: |
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Travel to Arenzano, Italy, where the Princess Polissena Lobkowitz of Prague presented the Carmelite monks at the Church of Santa Maria
della Vittoria with a statue of the Infant of Prague in 1628. It has become one of the world's top destinations to worship the Infant of
Prague, known for granting miracles to those who pray to Him. We will celebrate Mass before admiring the Basilica's highlights, which are
the large sculptures depicting scenes from Carmelite history, statues of the Carmelite saints, including Our Lady of Carmel, and a
nativity scene. Dinner and overnight in Arenzano. |
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Day 6: |
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After breakfast, we travel to the town of Bologna, birthplace of St. Catherine,
a Poor Clare and mystical writer. Enroute, we will celebrate Mass at the beautiful sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, which is set on
Monte della Guardia, providing breathtaking scenery of Tuscany. The Baroque church by Carlo Francesco Dotti, built in 1741 in honor of an
image of the Madonna, is reached via the 666-arch porch which runs from Porta Saragozza up to the top of the hill. The church has some
precious artworks which include paintings by Guido Reni, Donato Creti and Vittorio Bigari. Visitors can also see the Saint Luke’s altar
of the Madonna, which is beautifully decorated. Dinner and overnight in Bologna. |
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Day 7: |
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Enjoy a brief city tour of Bologna which includes a visit to the Basilica of St. Petronius
which is Bologna's largest house of worship and dominates Piazza Maggiore. It was named after the city's patron Saint. Then, we continue
to San Domenico, built in 1251 to house the relics of St Dominic. The Saint's bones rest in the Arca di San Domenico, a 15th century
work that was principally the creation of Nicola Pisano, however, a very young Michelangelo contributed the figures of the angel and
saints Proculus and Petronius. In the afternoon, we travel to Venice stopping enroute in Padua, the town closely associated with
St. Anthony, known as the Patron Saint of the Impossible, lost things and of lost souls. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Sant'
Antonio, built in his honor around 1232, a year after his death. He was an admirable miracle worker and very well known for his preaching
that his tongue and vocal cords were found incorrupt and can now be seen displayed at the Chapel of the Relics. Dinner and overnight in
Venice. |
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Day 8: |
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Venice is also known as La Serenissima, or the Most Serene Republic. With her
118 islets, 177 canals and 450 bridges, Venice, is often referred as the "Queen of the Seas". The famed city of the doges
with its many canals, churches and museums is a treasure trove of art. The breathtaking Basilica of St. Mark the Evangelist, Venice's
patron saint, is a testament to the early wealth and power of Venice. The Basilica's interior walls and ceilings are covered in gilded
mosaics from the 12th and 13th centuries telling the stories of both the Old and New Testaments. Dinner and overnight in Venice. |
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Day 9: |
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Free day in Venice to do as we please. Dinner and overnight in Venice. |
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Day 10: |
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We bid farewell to Italy as we depart for the airport to catch our flight back to the U.S.
for a same day arrival. "Ciao Italia!" |
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