Saints of France with Jeff and Emily Cavins

Welcome to France. We are greeted at Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris by our English-speaking guide, who helps us board the motorcoach to Reims, where St. John Baptist de La Salle was born and lived for about 40 years. Reims is one of France’s oldest and most historic towns, known as the cradle of French Christianity. Upon arrival, we visit the Saint-Rémi Basilica, where St. De La Salle often spent an entire night in prayer and where we celebrate Mass. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Basilica houses the relics of Saint Rémi, the Bishop responsible for bringing Christianity to France. Next door is the Museum Saint- Remi, housed in the former Abbey of the same name, which we have time to explore before checking into our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Reims. (D)

We discover the Hotel de La Salle Museum, where John Baptist de la Salle was born in 1651. In French, he was always called “Jean Baptiste,” but in English, he is known as “John Baptist.” He grew up in this house for the first 13 years, surrounded by cousins, younger brothers, and sisters, as he was one of eleven children. It was from Hotel de la Cloche that De La Salle would leave twice a day to follow lessons in the College des Bons Enfants. We meet members of the LaSallian Community who guide us through Saint’s life in Reims. Our next stop is the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Child Jesus, founded by Blessed Nicolas Roland, Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s teacher and spiritual leader. Blessed Roland asked De La Salle to oversee a group of sisters after his ordination, thus beginning his contributions to the cause of Catholic education. We visit the historic Cathedral Notre-Dame of Reims in the afternoon, built between 1211 and 1516. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Coronation Cathedral, where all but two of the French kings were coronated. This Basilica was liberated with the help of St. Joan of Arc, and we see her famous statue in the city. There is also a statue of Saint John Baptist de la Salle in a chapel of the Cathedral where he was ordained and celebrated his first Mass and where we celebrate Mass today. (TBC) We see from the outside Lycée Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the premier LaSallian school in the city, and the College des Bons Enfants, the first college founded in the town, where De La Salle began his formal education in 1661 at the age of ten. We also see Reims University and the Church of St. Maurice. Dinner and overnight in Reims. (B.D)

We drive to Brouillet in the countryside to visit the Chapel de La Salle and to celebrate Mass. Subterranean Reims has 17km of tunnels for storing champagne and wines. De La Salle’s mother was of the great Moet champagne-producing family. This morning we enjoy a Champagne tasting in the Aspasie Domain. The owners of the Domain administer the keys to the Chapel. Our next visit is to Liesse-Notre-Dame to see the Basilica of Notre Dame de Liesse (Our Lady of Joy), a Marian pilgrimage site to which St. De La Salle often walked. Following lunch, we drive to Cabourg near Lisieux for dinner and overnight. (B.D)

This morning we visit Lisieux. Our day starts with a visit to the breathtaking Basilica, where we celebrate Mass. We see the crypt and watch a film about the life of Saint Therese, a doctor of the Church, often called “the little Therese” by the pilgrims who appreciate her for her gospel simplicity. We continue to the Carmelite Convent, where she remained cloistered until her death. Have time for prayer by her relics at her shrine before we depart for a visit to the Cathedral of Saint Peter, where the Martin family attended Mass. We return to Cabourg for dinner and overnight. (B.D)

We drive through the magnificent scenery of Normandy to the D- Day Landings Beaches. On June 6, 1944, tens of thousands of American, English, Canadian, Scots, and French soldiers landed on the beaches of the Normandy Coast to free France from the Nazi stronghold. Thousands of young soldiers died that first day so that we can live in freedom today. We see Omaha Beach, the most famous of the Normandy Landing Beaches, and the American Cemetery, where our brave young soldiers are buried. Mass is celebrated before returning to Cabourg for dinner and overnight. (B.D)

Driving along the Seine River, we reach Rouen, the museum city, where we have a walking tour to see the impressive Cathedral of Our Lady and St. Joan of Arc Church. Our tour includes an outside view of the Chapel of Saint Yon, the first headquarters of the Saint John Baptist de La Salle Foundation. He bought this property in 1705 to convert it into a boarding school and spent the last years of his life here. In the afternoon, we visit the Church Saint-Sever, where St. De La Salle remains rested for 187 years and where we celebrate Mass. Afternoon arrival in Paris for dinner and overnight. (B.D)

Our day starts with a visit to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Rue De Bac, where several apparitions of the Virgin Mary took place in 1830 to Saint Catherine Labouré. We celebrate Mass in this holy place of peace and silence in the heart of Paris. Just a few blocks from Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, discover the Chapel of Saint Vincent de Paul, where we see the saint’s relics. Explore the Sainte Chapelle (Holy Chapel) a real treasure hidden on the island of the Ile de la Cité in the center of Paris. It has been built by a royal decree to house the holy relics of the Crown of Thorns. The relics were transferred to the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which is under renovation, due to the fire. They were saved and are currently being housed in the Louvre Museum. The Cathedral can only be viewed from a distance. The rest of the day is spent leisurely exploring Paris on your own or visiting a museum. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Paris. (B)

We have a panoramic city tour of Paris, including all the major sights of the City of Lights. A picture stop will be at the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triumph. We see the commemorative plaque at the “12, rue Princess’’ where John Baptist de La Salle founded his first school in Paris, and explore Saint Sulpice Church, where he attended the seminary for eighteen months and established, not very far away, the Institute of the Brothers of Christian Schools in 1699. Visit St John Baptist de La Salle Church, built in honor of the saint in 1909 to celebrate Mass. We drive to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre to see the amazing Basilica and enjoy a fantastic view of Paris from the top of the hill. Possibility of the Blessed Sacrament Adoration and of a meeting with one of the sisters to welcome the pilgrims. Tonight, we have a Seine River dinner cruise. As we watch illuminated Paris sailing on the historic river, we remember our pilgrimage’s beautiful moments. Overnight in Paris. (B. Special dinner cruise)