Our pilgrimage begins today as we depart on our overnight flight to Barcelona. Meals and drinks served aloft.

Upon arrival in Barcelona, we will be welcomed by our local tour manager and enjoy an overview tour of this Mediterranean city, including a visit to Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia: the magnificent, unfinished basilica of impressive proportions. This evening we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (D, Mass) Overnight Barcelona

We journey today outside of Barcelona, to the Ignatian Spirituality Center and the cave of St. Ignatius in Manresa. It is here where St. Ignatius spent nearly a year in prayer and where the beginnings of his Spiritual Exercises were born. There will be time to visit both the cave where St. Ignatius stayed as well as the church built over the cave. After ample time for prayer, we will return to Barcelona. The rest of the day will be for free time before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Barcelona

This morning we will depart Barcelona for Montserrat where we will visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montserrat, the spiritual heart of Catalonia and home to a dramatically set Benedictine monastery. For 700 years this Marian shrine has attracted thousands of pilgrims from around the world. We will also visit the Black Madonna of Montserrat, one of Spain’s most fervent devotions to the Blessed Mother. Continue to Lourdes, our home for the next two nights. Join hundreds of other pilgrims this evening in the Blessed Sacrament and Candlelight Procession, which has been a devotional staple here since 1863. (B, D) Overnight Lourdes

Bask in the grace of Lourdes all day as we have Mass at the Grotto of Massabielle, where Our Lady first appeared to St. Bernadette and had her dig for the spring that is now known across the world for its many miracles of healing. We visit the Basilica of St. Pius X, a massive underground concrete church. We also visit the humble home where St. Bernadette lived during the apparitions. Tonight, we join the candlelight procession in prayer and song once again. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Lourdes

After breakfast, we depart Lourdes, crossing the border into Spain and arriving in Loyola, the birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Here, we will see the 17th-century Basilica dedicated to St. Ignatius and his family home behind the sanctuary. Pray in the venerated room where Ignatius, at age 30, was brought following his serious wounding at the Battle of Pamplona and experienced his great conversion. This afternoon, we journey to Burgos, the historic capital of Old Castile, where we will check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Burgos

Today we will enjoy a morning tour of Burgos including visits to the 14th century city gate known as the Arco de Santa Maria and the Monasterio de las Huelgas founded in 1180 with renovations and additions from nearly every major European architectural style. Pray in the vast limestone cathedral dedicated to our Blessed Mother – Spain’s only cathedral to have received the UNESCO World Heritage designation. Explore the Miraflores Charterhouse, the Carthusian monastery housing the tombs of Spanish kings and queens, along with other treasures of the church. Journey to Salamanca, home of some of Spain’s most ornate architecture. Walk through the bustling Plaza Mayor with its sweeping arches and enjoy a taste of Spanish culture before praying in the Cathedrals Vieja (Old) and Nueva (New). Overnight tonight in this majestic city. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Salamanca

Depart Salamanca this morning for our last journey through the Spanish countryside. Cross the border into Portugal and make our way to the charming riverfront city of Coimbra, Spain. We will stop at the Convent of Santa Clara La Nova where Sister Lucia – one of the visionaries in Fatima – lived until her death in 2005. Later this afternoon, we arrive in Fatima, our home for the next 3 nights. Time permitting, participate in the evening Rosary procession. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Fatima

A full day is ours in Fatima, where in 1917 three young shepherd children were graced with apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The message of Fatima has inspired generations of Catholics to pray the rosary daily for peace and reparation. Visit the Chapel of Apparitions before praying at the graves of Sts. Francisco and Jacinta, and Servant of God Lucia. Explore the tiny village where the three children lived and continue to Valinhos where Our Lady appeared to the children after they were unjustly imprisoned. It is here she encouraged them and told them they must still come every 13th of the month to see her. This evening, we participate in a beautiful Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacre or the candlelight rosary procession in the heart of the shrine. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Fatima

Today we will take an excursion outside of Fatima to the Church of St. Stephen in Santarem to see one of the greatest Eucharistic Miracles, “The Bleeding Host.” In the 13th century, a woman stole the host to take to a fortune-teller, but as she was taking it out of church the host began to bleed profusely. Afraid, she put it in a trunk at her home only to be awakened in the middle of the night to a bright light coming from the trunk. Taking the host back to the priest, he put it in a wax pyx. Another miracle happened the next morning when they found that the wax had turned into its own crystal pyx, where it can be venerated to this day. After time for prayer here, return to Fatima, where we can participate one final time in the evening prayer activities. (B, D, Mass) Overnight Fatima

Today marks the end of a marvelous experience as we transfer to the airport for the return trip home, filled with memories and graces of this pilgrimage that will last a lifetime.