Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Meals served on board.

Upon arriving at Paris Airport make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival hall, where you be greeted by your tour guide and/-or driver. Embark on the scenic drive to Lisieux. Our first stop will be Basilica of St. Therese where pilgrims from all over the world come to kneel in solemn prayer to St. Theresa. We visit Les Buissonnets, where St. Theresa lived as a child. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

This morning you will transfer to Normandy Landing beaches. The Normandy landings were the landing operations, which took place on Tuesday, June 6th, 1944 (termed D Day) by the Allies, of Normandy, during World War II. As the largest seaborne invasion in history, the operation began the liberation of German occupied northwestern Europe from Nazi control and contributed to the Allies’ victory on the Western Front. Continue to visit The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, a World War II cemetery and memorial in Colleville Sur Mer, Normandy, France, honoring the American troops that died in Europe during World War II. Many of the brave American soldiers of World War II got buried here. It is encouraged to say a prayer in thanksgiving for their courage. Return to Lisieux for dinner and overnight.

This morning we travel to Mont St. Michel. Visit the Gothic abbey which has stood proudly for well over 1,000 years. Today it is one of the most visited tourist attractions outside of Paris. We then travel through the town of Sainte-Mère-Église which today centers on its role in the D-Day invasion. There are many small museums and World War II-related gift shops and eating places. A dummy paratrooper hangs from the church spire, commemorating the story of John Steele. Behind the church is a spring, believed by pilgrims to have healing powers, dedicated to Saint Mewan (Saint Méen). Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Lisieux.

Today we travel to Chartres where we tour and celebrate Mass at The Cathedral of Chartres – one of the most “head-turning” cathedrals in all of Europe. It was built by many different architects and became the “supreme expression of 12th century Christianity.” The stained glass windows are most impressive. We continue to Paris and we tour Sacre Coeur and visit the most enduring symbol of Paris the Notre Dame Cathedral. We also make a stop at Ile de la Cite to visit the Holy Chapel believed to have held relics including nails and pieces of wood from the Cross-of Calvary. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Paris.

Our full day tour of Paris begins with Mass at the Miraculous Medal Shrine of St. Catherine Laboure. We visit The Congregation of the Mission where the body of St. Vincent de Paul resides in the motherhouse. When you enter the church your attention is drawn to the Saint’s Reliquary located above the main altar. Visitors have access to the Reliquary from a circular staircase located behind the main altar. Sightseeing continues taking us by the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and traveling down the famous ChampsElysees. After lunch optional visit to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s Pair of Slaves. Those wishing to do so may visit the Museum for a full guided tour. Another option that will be presented this afternoon Is a visit to Eiffel Tower. Reminder of the day is free. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Paris or choose the option to enjoy Seine River Dinner Cruise.

Following breakfast we’ll drive to Marseille-en-Beauvaisis where we will visit Marseille-en-Beauvaisis church, site of the Eucharistic miracle. One cold December day in 1532, two thieves slipped into the church of Marseille-en-Beauvaisis and stole a silver ciborium containing the consecrated hosts, which were immediately abandoned under a large stone in the main street. On January 1st, a certain Monsieur Jean Moucque passed down the street in a blast of wind and snow. His attention was immediately drawn to a stone which, despite being exposed to the storm, had not accumulated a single layer of snow. Lifting it, he discovers the hosts, intact. A chapel was erected some time later to encourage devotion, and several miraculous healings took place there, such as that of Jacques Sauvage, a paralyzed priest who was completely healed. After visit continue in the footsteps of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet and visit Giverny. Admire the lush green landscapes of the French countryside in the small Normandy village of Giverny. Return to Paris for dinner and overnight.

This morning we transfer to Paris airport for our short flight to Pau. Upon arrival we board our motor coach to Lourdes. After lunch and an orientation visit to the Shrine of Lourdes we visit the parish church. We attend a regularly schedule Sunday Liturgy. Following dinner at the hotel we have the opportunity to join the magnificent candlelight rosary procession. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

During your time in Lourdes, you will pray and meditate in yet another site of Our Lady’s apparitions. Our Lady first appeared to Bernadette in 1858 and announced herself as “The Immaculate Conception” near the Grotto of Massabielle. During the first two apparitions, little Bernadette prayed the Rosary with Our Lady. She left without exchanging any words. During the following apparitions, Our Lady emphasized God’s love for us, penance, and the necessity of performing acts of penance for sinners. Throughout your time in Lourdes, you will have the opportunity to attend Mass at the Grotto, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette. Here you have opportunities to watch a video presentation that explains in detail the story of Lourdes; and drink water from the miraculous spring that has healed many. You will have the opportunity to experience Christ’s unconditional love as you meditate upon the “life-size” Stations of the Cross that overlook the Grotto of Massabielle. You will walk in and meditate upon the footsteps of St. Bernadette. You 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. Each evening following dinner, you will have an opportunity to attend the candlelight procession and the Rosary before a restful overnight. *Full immersion in the Baths is still prohibited. The Baths have now been replaced by the water gesture, a ceremony that takes visitors back to basics, followed by prayer and then venerating of the Status of the Virgin Mary. Following dinner at the hotel we have the opportunity to join the magnificent candlelight rosary procession.

Early this morning, following breakfast, we depart Lourdes for Pau or Toulouse airport for return flights home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.