St. Basil Shrines of France with Robin Youngs

Welcome to France. Upon arrival at the airport, we are greeted by our English-speaking French Guide. We board our motorcoach for a two-hour drive to Lisieux, the home of St. Theresa the Little Flower. Celebrate Mass at the Carmel Convent. Settle into our hotel for a good night’s rest. Overnight Lisieux. (D)

Our exploration of Lisieux this morning includes visiting Les Buissonnets, the humble dwelling of the Saint. We see the magnificent Basilica of St. Therese and the Crypt before driving out of town through the beautiful French countryside towards Mont Saint Michel. For more than a thousand years, the distant silhouette of this island abbey has sent pilgrims’ spirits soaring. Today, it does the same for us. Mont St-Michel, one of the top pilgrimage sites of Christendom through the ages, floats like a mirage on the horizon and is considered one of the wonders of the world. Behold the magnificent Abbey and embark on an exploration of the island. Mass will be celebrated before we return to Lisieux for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)

The fifty-four miles of Atlantic stretching from Utah Beach in the west to Sword Beach in the east contain WWII museums, monuments, cemeteries, and battle remains left in tribute to the courage of the British, Canadian, and American armies, that successfully carried out the largest military operation in history: D-Day. On these serene beaches, at the crack of dawn on June 6, 1944, the Allies finally gained a foothold in France; from this moment, Nazi Europe was destined to crumble. This morning we drive through beautiful Normandy scenery toward Omaha Beach, where we see the American Memorial and Cemetery. We celebrate Mass at the chapel at Omaha Beach (TBC) and remember our brave, fallen soldiers. Return to Lisieux for dinner and overnight. (B.D.)

En route to Paris, we stop at the charming half-timbered city of Rouen, where we explore the magnificent Notre Dame Basilica and the Church of St. Joan of Arc, where we celebrate Mass. Lunch today is at the celebrated restaurant La Couronne where Julia Child decided to devote her life to French cooking. (TBC) We drive to Paris in the afternoon and check into our hotel in the City of Lights. Tonight’s Seine River cruise dinner will sail past some of the most beautiful and famous city sights including the illuminated Eiffel Tower. Overnight in Paris. (B. Special lunch and Special Dinner)

After breakfast, we drive past the Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris’ most beloved church, with towers and gargoyles to the Montmartre section of Paris to explore the magnificent Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart Basilica), where we celebrate Mass. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the city on our own, do some shopping or visit a museum. Dinner is on our own. Overnight in Paris. (B.)

This morning we visit Rue de Bac to celebrate Mass at the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal. Departing Paris, we drive to Nevers, where St. Bernadette lived for twelve years as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nevers. The Saint suffered from a number of illnesses, such as asthma, tuberculosis of the lungs, and a tubercular tumor in her right knee. For this reason, St. Bernadette received “The Last Sacraments” three times and eventually passed away in 1879, at the age of thirty-five.We visit the Convent of Saint Gildard, and we enjoy lunch before continuing to Macon. (B.L.D.)

We begin our day with a visit to the Chapel of the Visitation, where Jesus exposed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the seventeenth century. These apparitions allowed St. Margaret to rest upon Jesus’ Sacred Heart and experience unconditional love for humanity. During our visit to this Holy place, we will have the opportunity to view relics of the beloved Saint, located beneath a wax figure of her. In the afternoon, we drive to Ars where we visit the Shrine dedicated to Saint Jean Marie Vianney, the patron saint of the priesthood. We will visit the presbytery and the Basilica, where we will find the incorrupt body of the Cure of Ars. Here we celebrate Mass. Dinner and overnight in Macon. (B.D.)

This morning we depart for Avignon, the city once known as the Capital of the Catholic Church, as it was the Papal seat for most of the 14th century. We visit the Palace of the Popes with its many steps, and celebrate Mass before settling into our hotel. Overnight Avignon (B.D.)

Following breakfast,we transfer to Lourdes. After time to check into our hotel, we celebrate Mass at the Basilica. In the afternoon, we have a walking tour of the Sanctuary, including the Grotto and the Basilica, and watch a video presentation explaining the apparitions of Lourdes. This evening we join the Candlelight Procession. Overnight in Lourdes. (B.D.)

Today we celebrate Mass at the Grotto, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette; we drink water from the miraculous spring that has healed many and we visit the healing baths. Our group will have the opportunity to see Boly Mill, the birthplace of St. Bernadette, and the “Cachot,” an abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverished family lived, we pray at the Stations of the Cross, and attend Blessing of the Sick in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B.D.)