Shrines of France

Itinerary - Download (PDF)

DAY 01
Arrive in Paris - Charles de Gaulle Air Port at 8.00am.                  
Upon arrival in Paris, we will be greeted by our pilgrimage guide and driver and will be escorted to our private coach for our drive to Lisieux. We will visit the parental home of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (“the Little Flower”), whom Pope St. Pius X called “Greatest Saint of modern times”. We will tour the home of St. Therese’s family, ‘Les Buissonnets’ (the Shrubberies,) where on display are her clothing and personal belongings. We also visit the Basilica of St. Therese, one of the biggest and magnificent religious structures built in the 20th Century. We also tour the ancient Cathedral of St. Peter and the Carmelite Convent, and the Chapel which has a reclining figure of St. Therese, which contains inside the remains of the Saint. Overlooking this, above, is the original Miraculous Statue of ‘Our Lady of the Smile’, that had come to life and smiled at St.Therese. Afterwards we check into the Hotel; there will be time to relax before dinner and overnight stay in Lisieux.

DAY 02
LISIEUX and PONTMAIN  and the Basilica of Our Lady of Pontmain.
Breakfast at the Hotel in Lisieux and departure to Pontmain. The Apparition of Our Lady of Pontmain, was in the evening of 17th January,1871,to two brothers Eugene,(aged 12,)and Joseph Barbadette (aged 10,)and to three little girls, Francoise Richer, Jeanne Marie Lebosse ,and Augustine Mouton, and to Auguste Friteau , a child aged 6,who died soon after. Also, a baby aged 2, squealed with delight at something which enchanted him in the same direction. Eugene became a Priest and died in 1927.Joseph also became a O.M.I. Priest,   and died at Pontmain in 1930. Jeanne Marie became a religious of the Holy Family nuns, and died at Bordeaux in 1933.Francoise entered the services of Abbe Barbadette and died in 1915. Our Lady seems to have set Her seal on Pontmain with well attested miracles, which continue. The Bishop of the Diocese after approval, delivered his formal judgment that a “veritable Apparition of The Immaculate Virgin had been vouchsafed at Pontmain” and authorised the Cultus under the title of ‘Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain’. The Shrine built, was raised to Basilica rank in 1905.The Apparition had the approval of Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1877,and later, of Pope Pius XI, who ordered a Papal Coronation of the Statue in the Basilica in 1934.Visit to the Basilica.
Departure for Tours. Dinner and overnight stay in Tours.

DAY 03
PELLEVOISIN and the Shrine of Our Lady of Pellevoisin. 
Breakfast at the Hotel. Departure to Pellevoisin.
A young woman of 32 years, Estelle Faguette, suffering from an incurable disease, was fully healed, (on 19th February, 1876,) by the Blessed Virgin Mary in one of these 15 Apparitions she had of Our Lady, from February to December in 1876, during which she was also shown the form of the Sacred Heart Scapular and told to propagate and promote devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Her Son Jesus through this Scapular. In 1877, the Archbishop of Bourges allows public veneration to Our Lady of Pellevoisin and Estelle’s room was transformed into a Chapel. Estelle Faguette, thus marvellously cured, lived at Pellevoisin until she died at the age of 85, on 23rd August, 1929.Today, the Monastery of Contemplative Sisters of Saint-Jean provides continuous prayers, which joins the pilgrims and visitors. It is possible to gather in the Chapel of the Apparitions, now adjoined to a large Dominican Convent. The two Saintly Popes, Blessed Pope Pius IX and Pope Leo the XIII assisted greatly in promoting devotions to Our Lady of Pellevoisin.Departure to Rocamadour. Dinner and overnight stay at Rocamadour.

DAY 04
Breakfast at the Hotel, and visit to the Shrines in Rocamadour.
This is one of Christendom’s earliest Shrines to Our Lady. According to tradition, the Shrine began as a hermitage in a cave near the River Alzou and was founded in the 1st Century A.D. by Zaccheus the Jericho publican and tax collector. It was he who climbed up the Sycamore tree to see Our Lord better. Jesus had then stopped by the tree and conversed with him, as narrated in the Bible. After his death, in 70 A.D., and having taken previously the name of ‘Amadour’,(Lover of God,)he was buried here in a rock-hewn tomb, (discovered in 1116 A.D.,) - hence the name, ‘Roc-Amadour’. Later, it became one of the most celebrated and popular pilgrim Shrines in all Christendom. One reason being that the Miraculous Statue here, of Our Lady, was brought to this Shrine about 1000 years ago. Here we will visit the Holy Redeemer Basilica, Our Lady’s Chapel and this miraculous “Black Madonna Statue”, St. Michael’s Chapel, the Great 216 steps Holy Stairs for pilgrims, the Castle, and the Crypt of St. Amadour. Dinner and overnight stay in Lourdes.

Day 05
In Lourdes
During these two full days in Lourdes, you will have time to attend Mass at the Grotto, collect and drink water from the miraculous spring, and submerge yourself in these miraculous waters at the healing baths. Experience Christ’s love as you walk along the life-size bronze Stations of the Cross on the small hill overlooking the Basilica and the Grotto. Kneel in the Chapel built on the very rock of the Grotto, in obedience to the request of the “Immaculate Conception”. Evenings are free to join the daily Blessed Sacrament Processions and the Blessings of the Sick before dinner. After dinner, you will join the daily Candlelight Processions (which Our Lady requested) and the group Rosary at night. Overnight stay in Lourdes.

Day 06
In Lourdes
Breakfast at the Hotel in Lourdes. At leisure the whole day, for your own religious activities, and to take part in the same devotions as the day before. Dinner and overnight stay in Lourdes.

Day 07
CARCASSONNE and MONTPELLIER Breakfast at the Hotel in Lourdes. Departure to Carcassonne and visit of the Medieval City. Departure to Montpellier. Dinner and overnight stay in Montpellier.

Day 08
LE  LAUS - (pronounced “Lar  Low”.)
Breakfast at the Hotel and departure to Le Laus.
Visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Le Laus. This Marian apparition site was formally approved by the Church on 4th May 2008. The apparitions of Our Lady took place in this small hamlet in the French Alps between the years 1664 and 1718.Our Lady first appeared to Benoite Rencurel in 1664 when she was 16 years old, and later, around 2500 times over a period of 54 years, upto her death on 28th December, 1718.She has been called by some the French champion of apparitions. She was declared Venerable, by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1871, and her body lies buried in a vault in front of the High Altar at Le Laus His Holiness Blessed Pope Pius IX had the statue of Our Lady of Le Laus in the Shrine crowned, by a Papal Legate in 1855.Later, the Shrine was declared a Basilica, by a Papal Bull of His Holiness Pope Leo the XIII

At Le Laus itself there is no miraculous well, fountain, or stream of water. But Our Lady left another strange bequest. She promised that healing properties would attach to the oil of the lamp which burns before Her Shrine.
Many thanksgivings have been made for “cures” and favours granted after its use.
Dinner and overnight stay in Gap.

Day 09
LA  SALETTE - and the Basilica of Our Lady of La  Salette.
After breakfast, we depart for La Salette. Located in a high alpine pasture in the French Alps, La Salette is the site where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared on 19th September, 1846, to two young shepherds, a girl and a boy, Melanie Mathieu-Calvat, aged 15, and Maximin Giraud, aged 11. Our Lady appeared to these shepherds crying, seated on a rock, lamenting over the lack of observance of Sundays and profaning of Her Son’s Holy Name, and for the widespread sins of impurity in the whole of France. Also, she predicted in Her messages, to the two visionaries, whilst crying, all that is unfortunately happening in the Catholic Church today. A spring forever marks the spot where the Blessed Virgin appeared, and where millions of pilgrims now come in order to drink the fresh spring water and to pray. The stunning mountain scenery and lush mountain trails make La Salette one of the most spectacular pilgrimage sites in France, with a beautiful Basilica built at the site, to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of La Salette. In 1996 La Salette celebrated the 150th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparition.
Dinner and overnight stay in Lyon.

Day 10
ARS and PARAY  LE  MONIAL
After breakfast, we travel to the pretty little town of Ars, where we will visit the incorrupt body of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, the Cure of Ars, and the patron saint of Priests. Here there are several sights of special importance, such as the 12th Century Church where the Saint preached. The new Basilica built next to the Church which displays the Saint’s incorrupt body. The Home of St. John Marie Vianney which is preserved the way he left it. The Underground Church that was constructed for pilgrim groups, and ‘La Providence’, the orphanage founded by St. John Marie Vianney.

Departure to Paray Le Monial:
Guided visit to Paray-Le-Monial, where we will visit the Shrine of the 4 apparitions. Here Jesus appeared and exposed His Most Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, from 27th December, 1673, upto 16th June,1675,(four apparitions,) instructing her of the need and form of devotions He desired to His Most Sacred Heart .Thus, began the Devotions to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The casket of St. Margaret Mary has in it a wax figure of the Saint which encloses her relics, and can be seen.
Dinner and overnight stay in Nevers.

Day 11
NEVERS and CHARTRES - ( pronounced  “ Chart ”)
Breakfast at the Hotel in Nevers.
During the morning we visit the Convent of St. Gildard to view the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette of Lourdes (Sr. Marie- Bernard) to whom Our Lady appeared 18 times in 1858, and which has been miraculously preserved since her death in 1879. After taking the Veil in 1867, St. Bernadette lived for 12 years as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nevers. At least three times during her short lifetime, she received the Last Sacraments. In addition to Asthma, she was gradually struck by other illnesses; among them was Tuberculosis of the lungs and a most painful tubercular tumor in her right knee. St. Bernadette eventually died at the age of 35.

Departure to Paris.
We’ll stop at Chartres, to visit Chartres Cathedral to admire one of the very ancient Cathedrals of the world, and which has one of the greatest treasures - the ‘Sancta Camisa ’- the Holy Veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Empress Irene of Constantinople presented this most holy relic to the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne; and later, in 876 A.D., it was gifted to the Chartres Cathedral by Charles the Bald. Chartres Cathedral has been one of the ancient major pilgrimage sites in Europe, for the past 1500 years or more. In the underground Grotto and Crypt of this Cathedral, is the oldest Shrine of Our Lady in the world. It has an astonishing origin in pre-Christian Druidic times; that is over 2000 years ago and even before the birth of Christ. This Cathedral in fact enshrines three famous distinct Shrines of Our Lady:- these are - ‘Our Lady Underground’, ‘Our Lady of the Pillar’, and the Shrine of the Holy Veil.

It is also world famous for the magnificent stained-glass windows it has, and the constant repetition displayed in them, of the theme of Our Lady as the Mother of God. Chartres Cathedral is indeed a Temple of God and a bejewelled Shrine of His Most Holy Mother. Dinner and overnight stay in Paris.

Day 12
IN  PARIS
After breakfast, we depart for a full day tour of Paris, We begin the day with a visit to the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, which is the    Convent Chapel of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.  View the incorrupt body of St. Catherine Laboure, to whom the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared here, in this Convent Chapel, and during one vision, on 27th November, 1830, displayed the Miraculous Medal, and said “Have a Medal struck on this model”, and promised bountiful graces for all who wore these. In a side-altar here to the right, is displayed the same chair on which Our Lady sat during the very first apparition, at night, on 18th - 19th July,1830, with Catherine Laboure kneeling before Her, with her clasped hands resting on the Blessed Virgin’s knees. In this side-altar is also a Reliquary containing the heart of St. Vincent de Paul. We will also visit the nearby Church of St. Vincent de Paul, where his body is enshrined and displayed in a magnificent Silver Casket, high above the main altar, and which is accessible to all by a stairway behind.

Afterwards, we will visit the Basilica of the Sacred  Heart, -‘ Sacre Coeur ’, where the Most Blessed Sacrament is exposed the whole day. We will also visit   the great medieval Notre Dame Cathedral, which has a most precious relic,- Our Lord’s Holy Crown of Thorns. Both these Shrines are famous landmarks in Paris, and are visited by millions each year.     

Return to the Hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Paris.

Day 13
Departure to Colombo.

Price of Tour 

PRICE OF TOUR :  SHARING TWIN Rs 435,000/- per person
SINGLE ROOM Rs 475,000/- per person
TRIPLE ROOM Rs 435,000/- per person
CHILD BETWEEN 2 - 12 YRS Rs 435,000/- per Child
INFANT (0-2 YEARS) Rs 100,000/- per Infant

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES
• Economy Class Return Air Fare
• Hotel Accommodation
• Breakfast / Dinner as mentioned in the itinerary
• Arrival/ Departure/Transfers and Sight-seeing by Deluxe A/C Coach during the Tour.
• Professionally trained Senior Company Executive will accompany the Group
• Airport taxes in Sri Lanka
• Airport taxes in Italy,France
• Tips for the Guides, hotel and restaurant staff

TOUR PRICE EXCLUDES
• Transportation to/from Colombo Airport
• Any Meals during transit at the Airport
• Lunch
• Travel Insurance covering health & baggage
(Insurance Policy is a must for every passenger)
Please note generally in case of any  illness or accident, a 2 weeks hospital stay in overseas      countries and repatriation by air generally cost approximately over US $ 50,000/-

If payments are made by a Credit Card please check with your Bank for the free Travel  Insurance cover, minimum of US $ 50,000 is required or You could purchase it through Superlink Travels. (Foreign passport holders should obtain the Travel Insurance from their country of residence.)

(US $ 75,000 Cover)
• Up to 64 years  - Rs.  8,500/-
• Between 65 to 74 years  -  Rs. 10,500/-
• Between 75 to 85 years - Rs. 12,500/-
• (Maximum age limit 85 years)

• Visa Fees
• Excess baggage charges
• Beverages during the meals / Laundry
• Porter-rage in the hotels
• Expenses of a personal nature

DEPARTURE & RETURN 

Departure : 16th June 2013
DATES Return  : 28th June 2013

DEPOSIT   : Rs 150,000/- per person payable at the time of booking* Balance payment to be finalised (8) weeks prior to departure

Itinerary - Download (PDF)