Eucharistic Miracles & Jubilee Pilgrimage to Italy

Embark on our pilgrimage with an overnight flight(s) from Syracuse to Rome. Enjoy dinner and breakfast served on the plane.

We arrive in Rome (FCO) where our local Canterbury Pilgrimages Tour manager and driver will meet you there and accompany you throughout the pilgrimage. Depending on our arrival time, we’ll have lunch then start our journey at Chiesa del Domine Quo Vadis. According to tradition, this is where St. Peter met the Risen Christ and asked, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” Remarkably, this site is said to contain a marble slab with Jesus’ footprints, venerated by pilgrims for centuries. We will check into our hotel before our welcome dinner and an overnight stay in Rome.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to St. Peter’s Square for the Papal Audience at 9 a.m., led by His Holiness, Pope Francis (subject to his schedule). Pilgrims are encouraged to bring medals, rosaries, and other religious items for a blessing. The pope delivers a speech, followed by prayers and a homily, and concludes with a blessing. After lunch, we will tour the Vatican Museum, exploring the Tapestry Gallery, Raphael Rooms, and the Sistine Chapel. Our day ends at St. Peter’s Basilica, where we view Michelangelo’s Pieta and the tomb of St. Pope John Paul II, and walk through the basilica, finishing at the Tomb of St. Peter. Today we will also walk through the Holy Door of St. Peters, which symbolizes passing into the presence of God by way of our Lord Jesus, who called himself the “gate.” Those who pass through a Holy Door can also receive a plenary indulgence. We then attend Mass at a nearby church. Dinner and overnight stay in Rome.

Today is dedicated to the Major Basilicas. We will start at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and visit the burial site of St. Paul. After we will visit the Tre Fontane Abbey, or the Abbey of Saints Vincent and Anastasius, held by monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, better known as Trappists. Next, we’re off to the Church of St. Mary Major where pilgrims can view what is said to be the wood relics of the Holy Crib of the Nativity of Jesus. After lunch, we visit the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the “Mother of all Churches in the World,” and the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. Here, we will celebrate Mass and have the opportunity to climb the Lateran Steps. Lastly, we’ll visit the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme to see the relics of the Holy Cross which St. Helena brought from the Holy Land to Rome. Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Today we will have the opportunity to walk through the Holy Doors of each of the three basilicas.

Following breakfast, we set off on a scenic bus ride southeast of Rome, heading to Monte Cassino, where the ancient Roman town of Casinum once stood. Our first stop is the Benedictine Abbey of Monte Cassino, the original home of the Benedictine Order, established by St. Benedict around 529. We then proceed east to San Giovanni Rotondo, where St. Padre Pio lived for many years until his death in 1968. Upon arriving, we check into our hotel and have some leisure time before attending Mass at Santa Maria delle Grazie, Padre Pio’s cherished church. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, the hospital founded by Padre Pio. Following this, we will return to Santa Maria delle Grazie to see the church and confessional where Padre Pio spent countless hours hearing confessions, a testament to his dedication to the sacrament. It is believed that he could read souls, and pilgrims have traditionally left small notes with their intentions near his confessional. At this shrine, we will also view the incorrupt body of St. Padre Pio and explore his living quarters. We will then board our motorcoach and travel through the beautiful Gargano Peninsula to Monte Sant’Angelo, where St. Michael is said to have appeared in the cave in the years 490, 492, and 493. Mass will be celebrated in the grotto. Afterward, there will be time for lunch and leisure in this charming area before we return to our hotel. In the evening, following dinner at the hotel, we will join the candlelight procession at the Sanctuary of Padre Pio. Dinner and overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

Today, we begin our journey to Assisi after an early breakfast at the hotel. Our first stop is in the town of Lanciano, where we visit the Church of St. Longinus, famous for hosting one of the most significant Eucharistic Miracles in Catholic Church history. Legend has it that in the 8th century, during Mass, a monk struggling with doubts about transubstantiation witnessed a miraculous event: the host turned into flesh and the wine into blood upon the pronouncement of consecration. We will celebrate Mass in the Chapel of St. Longinus then break for lunch. Continuing our journey, we board the bus and head towards the Marian Shrine in Loreto, the Basilica della Santa Casa. Within its walls, we encounter the beautiful Madonna of Loreto and the Holy House of Nazareth. Tradition holds that this modest house is where “The Word Became Flesh,” where Mary spent her early years, and where she received the visitation of the angel Gabriel. It is also believed to be the place, where Jesus was raised, and where the Holy Family lived. Later in the day, we travel to Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare. Dinner and an overnight in Assisi.

After breakfast, we start our day with Mass and a tour at the Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi. After lunch, we will proceed to the Basilica di Santa Chiara (St. Clare) to see the Saint’s body and pray for her intercession in front of the San Damiano Cross. St. Clare was the foundress of the Order of Poor Clare’s. Next, we will visit the Cathedral of San Ruffino, Chiesa Nuova and San Damiano, where Saint Clare built her community. We will also visit Santuario della Spogliazione, to view the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial to be declared Blessed. Dinner and overnight in Assisi.

After breakfast, we will set off from Assisi to explore the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli. This basilica is divided into two sections: the “Porziuncola,” where St. Francis received his calling and embraced a life of poverty, and the “Capella del Transito,” the small room where he peacefully passed away in 1226. Later we will head to La Verna, one of the best known of the Franciscan shrines and location of a Eucharistic Miracle. It is the place where, on the 14th of September 1224, St. Francis of Assisi received the Stigmata. On the floor of the chapel of the Stigmata we will see a stone which marks the spot where the Saint received the ultimate mark of Christ. We will celebrate mass at the Franciscan Sanctuary. Following Mass, we will have some time at leisure to enjoy lunch. We’ll then board our motorcoach and drive to Siena. Dinner and overnight in Siena.

Today we wake up in the medieval city of Siena, St. Catherine’s home. We will walk to Basilica San Francesco and celebrate Mass in the chapel with the Eucharistic Miracle. After mass, we will have time to Adore the Miracle, these consecrated hosts that have remained uncorrupted for over 200 years. After lunch our journey continues southward to Orvieto, a city perched atop a volcanic rock, offering stunning views of the surrounding valley. Here, we will visit the site of the Eucharistic Miracle of Orvieto, a significant event dating back to 1263. The stained corporal, displaying the stains of the Precious Blood, is housed in a golden reliquary in the Chapel of the Corporal. After visiting Orvieto, we will board our motorcoach and head to Rome. Farewell dinner and overnight in Rome.

With a renewed sense of the Eucharist, Miracles, pilgrimage and an invigorated love of our Catholic faith, we will board our plane for our return flight(s) home.