Day 1 – Lisieux
Today you will meet your fellow pilgrims at Dublin Airport and check in for your direct flight to Paris. On arrival at Paris you will be met by a Joe Walsh Tours representative and transferred by private coach to Lisieux. In the afernoon, we will have mass and then we will visit the places associated with St Thérèse including Les
Buissonnetts, the Carmel Chapel, the Museum and the Great Basilica.
St Thérèse was born in Alençon on 2 January 1873. Her family later moved to Lisieux where Thérèse spent her time meditating and praying in the Cathedral of Lisieux. Here she discovered her calling to save souls through prayer and sacrifice. At the age of fifteen, in 1888, she joined the Carmelites at Lisieux. In 1897 St.Thérèse died at the age of 24.
In 1899, France discovered the secret message of the young nun through her autobiography. She was canonised and proclaimed the greatest saint of all times by Pope Pius X in 1925. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2 – Compiegne
Today we will depart for Compiegne after breakfast. This town, situated at about 85km northeast of Paris is where we will be visiting the Carmelite Convent of the blessed Carmelite Martyrs. In November 1792, a small group of Discalced Carmelite nuns of Compiegne began reciting a prayer every day, offering themselves for the salvation of France. Their prayer was answered.
After a blessed day in Compiegne we will travel to Paris. Time to check in at the hotel where we will be staying for the next 2 nights.
Day 3 – Paris
Today after breakfast we will enjoy a panoramic tour of Paris highlights including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysees, the Louvre Museum and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
We will visit Rue de Bac, the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal and home to the headquarters of the Daughters of Charity, co-founded by St. Louise and St. Vincent de Paul. It was here that Our Lady appeared to Sr. Catherine Laboure on the night of 18 July 1830 and instructed Catherine on the design of the Miraculous Medal.
The body of St. Vincent de Paul can be seen nearby in Rue de Sevres. He died on 27 September 1660 and was canonised by Pope Clement on 16 June 1737. We will visit the Shrine of St Vincent de Paul which is within walking distance to the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, followed by a private visit to the cemetery.
Day 4 – Chartres and Nevers
After breakfast, we will drive to Chartres, a traditional place of pilgrimage for many centuries that converted to Christianity around 45 AD.
The highlight of today is our visit to Our Lady of Chartres Cathedral, a place of sacred art housing a vast collection of religious artworks as well as the Holy Tunic of the Virgin given by Charles the Bald to the Cathedral in 876. Here we will celebrate mass and have free time to explore the Cathedral.
We will continue from Chartres to Nevers to visit the Convent of St Gildard where the Incorupt body of St Bernadette rests.
Day 5 – Paray-le-Monial
After breakfast, we will depart Nevers to visit Paray-le-Monial known as “the city of the Sacred Heart” or the Basilica of the Sacred heart. It is a popular landmark and one of the most visited religious sites in France.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus was an increasingly popular devotion since the visions of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690). Before travelling to the Carmelite Convent of Dijon at Flavignerot. Twenty years after the death of St Teresa of Avila, her Spanish daughters came to establish Carmelite life in France. Dijon was their third foundation, in 1605.
Dispersed by the Revolution in 1792, the Carmel was refounded in 1865. Elisabeth Catez, who was to become Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity, was to enter this monastery in 1901. Many problems and constraints forced the Carmelites of Dijon to leave the town. In 1979, the monastery was transferred to a peaceful hill, near to the village of Flavignerot, 13 km from Dijon.
Day 6 – Shrine of Ars, Fourviere and La Grande Chartreuse
Today we will be heading to Ars where we will pay a visit to the Shrine of Ars, situated 38km north of Lyon. The shrine has become famous through the holy life and labors of St. John Vianney, its beloved Cure.
The story of John Vianney emphasizes how God uses simple and under-rated people to confound those who are regarded as wise by the world. A man who was considered only marginally fit to be a priest and became a saint.
We will continue our journey to Fourviere where we will be visiting the Notre Dame Basilica of Fourviere and on to Chartreuse. La Grande Chartreuse is the head Monastery in the Carthusian religious order. It is located in the Chartreuse Mountains, north of the city of Grenoble. The monastery is entirely voted to ‘silence’ and ‘prayers’.
Day 7 – Grenoble-Valence and La Sallette
We will be departing Grenoble-Valence to La Sallette, 78 km south of Grenoble. Here we will be visiting the Sanctuary of our Lady of La Salette located in the mountains above the village. A well-known pilgrimage site devoted to an 1846 Marian apparition.
“Do not be afraid” says the Virgin to them, who reminds us that she continually intercedes for men with her son: “Mary prays to her Son to come and offer what is lacking to her children so that they may recognize themselves as loved and their life is fulfilled in love. We will be staying overnight in the Avignon area.
Day 8 – Avignon and Flight Back to Dublin
Today, after breakfast, we will have a little bit of time to explore Avignon. From 1309 to 1377, it was the seat of the Catholic popes. It remained under papal rule until becoming part of France in 1791. This legacy can be seen in the massive Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palace) in the city center, which is surrounded by medieval stone ramparts.
Time to head to Lyon’s airport for our flight back to Dublin.
