Depart today on board your overnight transatlantic jet flight to France, arriving the following day. Enjoy a full meal service as well as in-flight entertainment such as movies, music, etc.

Upon your arrival in Paris, you will be welcomed at the airport exit by your dedicated pilgrimage director and local guide [here, our land-only pilgrims who have walked the Chartres Pilgrimage will join us]. We will board our luxury motorcoach and make our way to the nearby convent of the Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus at Vers sur Launette to begin our pilgrimage with Holy Mass in their private chapel.

Next we will take a panoramic bus tour of Paris, providing a first look over most of the capital's monuments. After lunch we will make our way to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre (Sacré-Cœur). We will pray before the Blessed Sacrament and meet with one of the sisters of the basilica. After checking into our hotel, pilgrims are free to explore Paris until our festive group welcome dinner (included). Overnight in Paris. (D)

Following breakfast, we will make our way to the chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, a popular shrine in Paris where several authenticated apparitions of the Virgin Mary took place in 1830. We will enter the chapel to pray and discover the life of Saint Catherine Labouré to whom the Virgin Mary appeared. After our time here, we will make our way to the Chapel of Saint Vincent de Paul to venerate the relics of another incorrupt saint and celebrate Mass. 

Following lunch, we will make our way to the breathtaking Sainte-Chapelle (Holy Chapel). Consecrated in 1248, this architectural masterpiece was built by King Louis IX to house the Crown of Thorns, one of the most important relics in Christendom. Following, we will walk to the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, a jewel of Catholic France, to see it from the exterior. The project to rebuild this splendid cathedral after the tragic fire of 2019 continues. The rest of the afternoon and evening is scheduled free time. Enjoy dinner on your own. Second overnight in Paris. (B)

After breakfast in Paris, we board our luxury motorcoach and begin our journey to Tours to see the Basilica of St. Martin, built over his tomb. After Mass in the basilica and following lunch, we will walk to the Oratory of the Holy Face, where the famous devotion of the Holy Face is centered. The devotion was spread by Leo Dupont, a devout lawyer in Tours while revelations were received by the Carmelite nun, Sr. Marie of St. Peter. Later in the afternoon, we will board our coach and transfer to our hotel. We will have dinner (included). Overnight in Tours. (B, D)

After breakfast, we will board our coach and transfer to Nevers. Following lunch, we continue our pilgrimage with a visit and Mass at the Convent and Sanctuary of Nevers, dedicated to Saint Bernadette of Lourdes. During our time here, we will visit and venerate the saint and her incorrupt body. After her life in Lourdes, Bernadette joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity, their motherhouse being in Nevers (about 600 km from Lourdes). Bernadette was burdened by poor health and as time passed, she became more and more sick, lending to tremendous suffering. She put all her trust in the Crucified Christ and took care to offer her sufferings for the conversion of sinners. She passed away at age 35 while praying the rosary, keeping with Our Lady’s admonition: “Penance, penance, penance.” After our visit to the sanctuary, dinner on our own. Overnight in Nevers. (B)

Following breakfast, we board our motorcoach and transfer to the small country village of Ars-sur-Formans where we will have the privilege of celebrating Mass at the Shrine of Saint John Vianney, the Curé d’Ars and the patron saint of priests. The village of Ars to this day is highly influenced by this saint and draws pilgrims from all over the world. We will pray at the shrine, venerate his incorrupt body, visit the rectory where he lived, and see the confessional where he heard confessions. We will make time for Confessions in the chapel. After exploring the Shrine and the charming village, we will have dinner together (included). Overnight in Ars. (B, D)

Following breakfast and morning Mass, we will board our motorcoach and transfer to Avignon, a region that was part of the Papal States until the French Revolution. Avignon became the seat of the papacy for 67 years between 1309 and 1376 with seven successive French popes living here before they finally returned to Rome. After lunch, we will visit the famous papal palace, one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in France. During the Avignon Papacy, it was the seat of Western Christianity and six papal conclaves were held here. Today, the palace is open to all. We will end the evening with dinner (included). Overnight in Avignon. (B, D)

After breakfast we make our way to the traditional Benedictine Abbey of Le Barroux in the heart of the south of France for Terce and the Conventual High Mass sung by the monks at 9:30 am. Terce is the third canonical hour after dawn. Here you can hear the monks sing Gregorian Chant and experience the monastic liturgy of a traditional Benedictine monastery. The monks at Le Barroux wear the traditional monastic tonsure of the Middle-Ages, a rare sight today. After lunch we will drive to the nearby traditional Benedictine Abbey of the Annunciation, where the sister community of nuns live. These monasteries are located amid the sunny winery region amongst picturesque vineyards and farms. Return to Avignon for a free evening at your leisure. Overnight in Avignon. (B)

Following breakfast, we will begin our journey to the fortified city of Carcassonne, for a trip back in time to an exceptionally well-preserved medieval walled city. Visiting here will give you a rare glimpse of what city life was like in the Middle-Ages with a large chapel and fortified castle at the center. A casual walk through the cobbled streets will take you through a labyrinth of enchanting little alleyways with boutique shops and quaint little restaurants. The exquisite Basilica of Saint-Nazarius and Celsus is open for prayer. This rocky peak has been inhabited since the 4th century BC and the town has been protected by ramparts since the 3^rd century. Following a free afternoon and lunch, we will board our motorcoach and transfer to Lourdes for dinner (included). Overnight in Lourdes. (B, D)

Following breakfast, we begin our day in Lourdes, one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the world. It is here that the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette and revealed herself under the title of the Immaculate Conception. Millions of pilgrims have visited and there have been thousands of documented cures. We will walk in the footsteps of Saint Bernadette and visit the places where she lived and the sites related to her childhood. Following lunch, we will visit the Grotto of the apparitions and make time for members of our group to visit the baths. We will also pray the Via Crucis at the life-sized Stations of the Cross. Dinner on our own. In the evening we will participate in the nightly candle-light procession. Overnight in Lourdes. (B)

Following breakfast, we will make our way to Toulouse for Holy Mass at the Chapelle Saint Jean-Baptiste, an enchanting chapel in the historic city center that is under the care of the Institute of Christ the King. Next we will walk to the old Church of the Jacobins to venerate the tomb of St. Thomas Aquinas. After, we will make our way to Montauban, the hometown of Canon Jayr where we will have lunch in the city centre and conclude our pilgrimage with an evening visit and dinner at the Jayr family farm, located just outside the city. Afterwards we will return to Toulouse. Overnight in Toulouse. (B)

After an early breakfast and whole-hearted farewells, you will transfer to the Toulouse airport for return flight(s) home. (B)