Today, our pilgrimage begins as we depart Minneapolis on our overnight flight to Europe. With anticipation and prayer, we leave behind our daily routines as we prepare our hearts for the sacred places and inspiring lives of the saints we will encounter along the way. Dinner and breakfast will be served aboard the flight.

Upon arrival in Frankfurt, we will be welcomed by our local guide and board our private motorcoach. We travel into Germany’s beautiful Rhine Valley, a landscape of vineyards, historic villages, and centuries of Christian heritage. Our pilgrimage begins in the footsteps of St. Hildegard of Bingen, the remarkable 12th-century Benedictine abbess, mystic, theologian, writer, and Doctor of the Church. We visit the area of Eibingen and Rüdesheim, closely associated with her life and legacy, including the shrine and abbey area where her spiritual influence continues today. We will celebrate Holy Mass at the Church of St. Hildegard. We will have time for prayer and reflection offering a peaceful beginning to our pilgrimage after our transatlantic flight. Dinner and overnight in the Rhine Valley/Frankfurt area. DAY 3 • FRANKFURT • FLORENCE • SIENA After breakfast, we transfer to Frankfurt Airport for our flight to Florence, the magnificent birthplace of the Renaissance. Upon arrival, we begin our guided visit of this extraordinary city. At the heart of Florence stands the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore which is crowned by Brunelleschi’s famous dome. We will explore Piazza del Duomo, see the historic Baptistery, and continue through squares of Florence. Our visit also takes us to Piazza della Signoria, the historic center of Florentine civic life. We will discover the artistic, religious, and cultural heritage that has made Florence one of Italy’s most treasured cities. We celebrate Holy Mass at Basilica of Holy Cross. In the late afternoon, we continue through the Tuscan countryside to Siena, the city of St. Catherine. Dinner and overnight in Siena.

After breakfast, we transfer to Frankfurt Airport for our flight to Florence, the magnificent birthplace of the Renaissance. Upon arrival, we begin our guided visit of this extraordinary city. At the heart of Florence stands the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore which is crowned by Brunelleschi’s famous dome. We will explore Piazza del Duomo, see the historic Baptistery, and continue through squares of Florence. Our visit also takes us to Piazza della Signoria, the historic center of Florentine civic life. We will discover the artistic, religious, and cultural heritage that has made Florence one of Italy’s most treasured cities. We celebrate Holy Mass at Basilica of Holy Cross. In the late afternoon, we continue through the Tuscan countryside to Siena, the city of S

Today is one of the spiritual highlights of our pilgrimage. We will celebrate the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena in the very city where she was born and lived. St. Catherine, one of the great mystics of the Church and a Doctor of the Church, dedicated her life completely to Christ and worked tirelessly for peace and the unity of the Church. We celebrate Holy at Basilica of St Dominic. We visit the Basilica of San Domenico. We continue to the Sanctuary and House of St. Catherine, built around her family home, where we can reflect upon her extraordinary life of prayer and service. Our pilgrimage through Siena also includes the magnificent Siena Cathedral and the beautiful medieval historic center. Throughout the day, we will participate in the special feast-day liturgies and celebrations available in Siena, joining the local faithful in honoring their beloved saint. Dinner and overnight in Siena.

After breakfast, we depart Siena and travel south toward Rome. Along the way, we stop in the beautiful hilltop city of Orvieto. We visit the magnificent Cathedral of Orvieto, one of Italy’s great Gothic churches. The cathedral is especially important to pilgrims because of its connection with the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena, which contributed to the establishment of the Feast of Corpus Christi for the universal Church. We celebrate Holy Mass at Orvieto Cathedral. We visit the chapel where the sacred relic associated with the miracle is preserved and have time for prayer and reflection on the gift of Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. Following our visit, we continue to the Eternal City of Rome, center of the Catholic Church and home to countless witnesses of the Christian faith. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Today, we continue following the spiritual legacy of St. Catherine of Siena while discovering some of Rome’s most important sacred places. We begin at Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where the body of St. Catherine of Siena is venerated beneath the high altar. Here, we remember her extraordinary devotion to the Church and her important role in encouraging Pope Gregory XI to return the papacy from Avignon to Rome. We continue to the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome and traditionally known as the “Mother and Head of all the churches of the City and the World.” Nearby, we visit the Holy Stairs, traditionally believed to be the steps climbed by Jesus during His Passion before Pontius Pilate and brought to Rome by St. Helena. Our day also includes the beautiful Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of Rome’s four Major Papal Basilicas and one of the most important churches dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We will celebrate Holy Mass during the day at Basilica of St. Mary the Major. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

This morning we enter Vatican City, the spiritual heart of the Catholic Church. We visit magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica, built over the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle. Inside, we will encounter some of Christianity’s greatest artistic and spiritual treasures and have time to pray near the tomb of St. Peter and the resting places of the popes. Mass at St. Mary in Transpontina. We spend time in St. Peter’s Square, the great gathering place of pilgrims from throughout the world. Subject to availability and Vatican scheduling, we will also visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, home to an extraordinary collection of sacred art gathered and preserved by the Church over the centuries. In the Sistine Chapel, we admire Michelangelo’s celebrated frescoes in the very chapel where the College of Cardinals gathers to elect a new pope. Time will be provided for prayer and personal pilgrimage devotions. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

After breakfast, we transfer to Rome Airport for our flight to Madrid, Spain. Upon arrival, we meet our local coach and continue to the historic walled city of Avila, forever associated with St. Teresa of Jesus, better known as St. Teresa of Avila. A great Carmelite reformer, mystic, spiritual writer, and Doctor of the Church, St. Teresa devoted her life to a profound relationship with Christ through prayer.Upon arrival, we enjoy an introductory walking visit through Avila, surrounded by its remarkably preserved medieval walls. We begin discovering the places that shaped the life and spirituality of this extraordinary saint. We will celebrate Holy Mass at St Teresa Convent. Dinner and overnight in Avila.

Today is dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila and the places which tell the story of her remarkable life. We visit the Convent and Church of St. Teresa, constructed over the site traditionally associated with her birthplace. We continue to the Monastery of the Incarnation, where Teresa lived for many years and where important moments in her spiritual life took place. We will also explore the magnificent walled city of Avila, whose medieval streets and churches preserve the atmosphere of the Spain St. Teresa knew. We celebrate Holy Mass at Basilica of St Teresa. Later, we travel to Alba de Tormes, where St. Teresa died in 1582. We will visit the Carmelite church. Following our visit, we return to Avila for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we transfer to Madrid Airport for our flight to Paris. Upon arrival in France, we meet our coach and travel through the Normandy countryside to Lisieux, home of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Known throughout the world as the “Little Flower,” St. Thérèse taught her simple yet profound “Little Way” of doing ordinary things with extraordinary love and complete confidence in God. Upon arrival in Lisieux, we will celebrate Holy Mass at Basilica of St. Thérèse. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux. 

Today, we spend a full day walking in the footsteps of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. We visit the magnificent Basilica of St. Thérèse, one of the great pilgrimage shrines of France, dedicated to the saint whose simple spirituality has touched millions throughout the world. We continue to the Carmel of Lisieux, where Thérèse entered religious life at the age of fifteen and where her relics are venerated. We also visit Les Buissonnets, the family home where Thérèse lived with her father and sisters before entering Carmel. Our pilgrimage continues to St. Peter’s Cathedral of Lisieux, where the Martin family attended Mass and where young Thérèse participated in the sacramental life of the Church. We will celebrate Holy Mass. We will have time for personal prayer, asking the intercession of St. Thérèse and reflecting upon her message of trust, humility, and love. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux.

Following an early breakfast, we depart Lisieux and transfer to Paris Airport for our return flight to Minneapolis. As our pilgrimage comes to an end, we carry home the spiritual lessons and examples of the saints who have accompanied us: St. Hildegard of Bingen, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Inspired by their different paths to holiness, may we return home renewed in faith and strengthened in our own call to follow Christ.