Pilgrimage to Italy

Our pilgrimage begins today as we depart on our overnight flight to Rome. Meals and refreshments will be served aloft. Use this time of transition to begin setting your heart on what lies ahead — pray your intentions, read the preparation materials, and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to what He wishes to show you in the land of the saints.

The Cathedral of Orvieto, home of the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena

After our arrival in the “Eternal City,” we will be met by our pilgrimage director at the airport. We drive north, and, pending our arrival time, stop in the walled town of Orvieto. In the 13th century, in nearby Bolsena, a priest doubted the Eucharistic Presence during Mass and the host turned to real flesh and the wine to real blood during the consecration. The priest brought the blood-stained Corporal to Pope Urban in Orvieto, and it is now kept in a special reliquary for the faithful to view. It was also in Orvieto where Pope Urban IV called for a worldwide Feast of Corpus Christi.

After venerating the sacred Eucharistic miracle, we continue our drive through the beautiful Umbrian countryside to Assisi, a town which welcomes us in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare, and our home for the next three nights. We then proceed to our hotel for check-in and dinner.

The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

We begin our day in the heart of Assisi at the Shrine of Renunciation within the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. This shrine was built to commemorate the spot where St. Francis renounced his wealth and family and began his life of poverty and service to the Lord. It is now where the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis lies. St. Carlo — the first millennial saint — dedicated part of his short life to cataloging Eucharistic Miracles from around the world.

After venerating his resting place, we journey to the Basilica of St. Francis to venerate St. Francis’ burial place. Next, we visit the Basilica of St. Clare, which holds the famous San Damiano Crucifix that spoke to St. Francis, and where the golden locks of St. Clare’s hair and St. Francis’ poor patched tunic are kept.

Witness where the power of the Eucharist turned away an army. The invading Saracen army was about to attack the Convent of San Damiano where St. Clare lived with her nuns in 1241. Even though bedridden, St. Clare got up and held the Blessed Sacrament in the air and saw the advancing army flee in terror, establishing “The Miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi.” Also in the convent, we will visit the chapel where Jesus spoke to St. Francis from the crucifix.

Proceed to the valley below to visit St. Mary of the Angels Basilica, site of the Porziuncola, the tiny church in the woods where St. Francis began his ministry and where St. Clare began her religious life.

This afternoon we travel up Mt. Subasio to L’Eremo delle Carceri (the Carceri Hermitage), St. Francis’ favorite retreat center, where he could remain in seclusion and prayer. We will enjoy some personal prayer time in this peaceful location before descending back into Assisi for the evening.

The Sanctuary of San Giovanni Rotondo, home of St. Padre Pio

After breakfast, we depart Assisi for Lanciano, site of the oldest miracle of the Eucharist, still preserved after twelve centuries. Here we visit the sanctuary of the 8th century Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano. There will be time for adoration as well as a tour of the museum detailing the history of the miracle.

After time for prayer and reflection, we drive along the coast to San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of St. Padre Pio, and proceed to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

We spend the morning in San Giovanni Rotondo, praying where St. Padre Pio prayed and relaxing in this grace-filled village. We visit his tomb and tour the sanctuary of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where this famous saint said Mass.

This afternoon, we drive a short distance to the Grotto of St. Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant’Angelo, and visit the church built above the cave consecrated to the Lord by St. Michael himself. After time for prayer in this sacred site, we return to San Giovanni for dinner and overnight.

We depart San Giovanni early this morning and drive to Manoppello to visit the church housing the Holy Veil of Manoppello, traditionally believed to be the Veil of Veronica. After venerating this sacred icon, we continue to Rome, checking into the hotel which will be our home for the next five nights.

Bernini’s magnificent Baldacchino inside St. Peter’s Basilica

Today we steep ourselves in the beauty of St. Peter’s Basilica, which beckons us into its interior through the arms of Bernini’s Colonnade. We marvel at Michelangelo’s Pietà and pray at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.

Afterwards, we walk through the Vatican Museums which house artifacts from around the world before experiencing the greatest masterpiece yet, the Sistine Chapel. Painted by Michelangelo, it is the most famous ceiling in the world.

We then split up into small groups for tours of the Scavi, the necropolis under St. Peter’s Basilica (pending confirmation).

This evening, we have dinner on our own followed by a walking tour of the Pantheon, the Piazza Navona, and the Trevi Fountain.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore — one of Rome’s four major basilicas

Today’s first stop will be the Church of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. Located on the Esquiline Hill, this Gothic Revival church serves as the international center of the Redemptorist order. It is most famous for housing the original 14th-century icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, one of the most recognizable and venerated Marian images in the world. Pilgrims flock here to pray before this miraculous icon, which hangs prominently above the high altar.

Then we proceed to St. Mary Major where we venerate the crib of Christ, pray at the tomb of Pope Francis, view the famous icon attributed to St. Luke, and see inestimable artwork that makes Rome renowned throughout the world.

Next is the Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian, located in the heart of Rome. The church was dedicated by Pope Felix IV in 526 A.D. and became the first place of Christian worship in the Roman Forum area.

Finally, we make our last stop at Saint Ignazio di Loyola, an example of the exuberant Baroque style that the Jesuits popularized throughout Europe. The bodies of Jesuit saints John Berchmans and Aloysius Gonzaga are entombed under side altars inside. We then return to our hotel for dinner.

The Roman Colosseum — where countless early Christians gave their lives for the faith

This morning we attend the weekly Papal Audience held by His Holiness (pending the Holy Father’s schedule).

This afternoon, we travel to the second of the four major basilicas of Rome, St. Paul Outside the Walls. The basilica was originally built by Constantine in the fourth century over the site of St. Paul’s tomb. It was destroyed by a fire in 1823 and was rebuilt later in the 19th century exactly as it was before the fire.

After some time for prayer here, we proceed to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus and venerate the martyrs and early saints of the Church. We then return to our hotel for dinner.

The Scala Sancta — the Holy Stairs Christ ascended at the palace of Pontius Pilate

This morning, we begin with a journey to St. John Lateran, the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic faithful.

Then on to Santa Croce in Gerusalemme where we will get a little piece of Jerusalem thanks to Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, who brought relics of the True Cross and the titulus, the inscription from the cross, declaring Jesus King of the Jews. At one time, soil from Jerusalem covered the Basilica’s floor, so it truly was part of the Holy Land.

After venerating these relics of Our Lord’s crucifixion, we climb the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs). These sacred stairs are traditionally ascended on one’s knees in prayer, as Christ walked on these 28 marble stairs at the home of Pontius Pilate before He was condemned to death. For those who cannot climb the stairs on their knees, there are other stairs leading to the chapel at the top.

This afternoon, we stop at St. Clement’s Basilica, built in honor of the fourth pope. An original fresco inside this basilica depicts St. Clement celebrating Mass, giving us a visible history of Eucharistic worship at the end of the first century.

This evening, we celebrate a traditional farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Today we say “Ciao” to Italia and transfer to the airport for our return flight home, cherishing all the wonderful memories and graces of this pilgrimage.

We return home not merely as tourists with photographs, but as pilgrims carrying seeds of grace that will continue to bear fruit in our lives, our families, and our parish community at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The faith of St. Francis, the devotion of St. Padre Pio, and the witness of the martyrs now live within us — calling us to deeper discipleship and bolder witness.