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Shrines Of Italy |
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Rome!
Definitely, a MUST SEE!
Rome is the capital of Italy. The Diocese
of Rome is known as the "See of Peter," the
"Apostolic See," the "Holy Roman Church," the
"Holy See."
Rome is the
city of the pope. The Bishop of Rome, as the
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successor of St. Peter,
is the Vicar of Christ on earth and the visible head of
the Catholic Church. Vatican City is the residence of
the pope at Rome. Called the Eternal City, it is one of
the world's richest cities in history and art and one of
its great cultural, religious, and intellectual centers.
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To
request information about pilgrimages, vacation
packages, and even business-related trips, please fill out the form below:
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Please note that for all your travel needs we now also have a
dedicated Travel Coordinator
who will work with you and your itinerary. This assistance
will include vacation
and business travels,
in addition to your pilgrimage tours.
If you would like to join a
pilgrimage
and you plan to depart FROM North America,
our Travel Coordinator
will help you setup your tour and pilgrimage packages. If
you will be departing from countries outside North
America, you will be referred to another Travel Coordinator
who specialize in those your area.
To visit that secure
Travel website,
please follow this link.
To request for travel information and assistance,
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The
Other Holy Places in Italy |
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These are some of the
churches and holy places outside of the Vatican,
but which are no less significant. |
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To visit that secure Travel website,
please follow this link. |
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Church of St. Peter in Chains |
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Church of St. Peter in Chains,
a minor Basilica in Rome, has
Michelangelo's statue of Moses.
The
basilica was first built in the middle of the 5th century
to house the relic of the chains that bound Saint Peter
while imprisoned in Jerusalem. The chains are kept in a
reliquary under the main altar in the basilica.
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The
Catacombs of St. Callixtus |
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The
early Christians hid
in the
Catacombs of St. Callixtus to escape persecution.
The Catacombs are very extensive. The pilgrims' route
reaches only a small part of the second floor, which has
the crypts of the Popes, of St. Cecilia and the Cubicles
of the Sacraments.
The
Catacombs of St. Callixtus are the historical proof that
the Church in its origin was a Church of Martyrs. Forty
six Martyrs known by name are buried in these catacombs. |
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San
Giovanni Rotondo |
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San
Giovanni Rotondo enshrines the tomb of Padre Pio and
the old church has the crucifix from which he received the
stigmata in 1918.
The city
was named after San Giovanni (Saint John) whom after
converting to Christianity, the Pirgians chose as their
Patron. The little temple, which they had been devoted to
him is "Rotondo" or Round. |
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To visit that secure Travel website,
please follow this link. |
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While in
Italy, make every effort to visit and spend some time to
meditate in the hallowed walls of following churches:
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The
Basilica of Assisi
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The
Basilica of Assisi
enshrines the tomb of St.
Francis and was build in the 13th-century. It also has the
hilltop birthplace of St. Francis. It contains many of the
possessions of St. Francis, including the crucifix from
which Jesus spoke to St. Francis, asking him to rebuild
His church.
The
Basilica is located in the medieval town of Assisi
approximately 90 miles north of Rome, in the rolling hills
of Umbria. Known primarily as the birthplace of St.
Francis (1182- |
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1226 AD),
the town has been a sacred place since long before the
Franciscan era. |
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St. Mary of the Angels Basilica |
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St. Mary of the Angels Basilica was where St.
Francis spent most of his life. Also has the Chapel,
Portiuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the saint
retired for prayer.
The
church
was built on the order of Pope Pio V enclosing the 9th
century little church, the
Porziuncola, the most sacred place for the
Franciscans. It was here that the young Francis of Assisi
understood his vocation and renounced the world in order
to become a poor among the poor and thus started the
Franciscan movement. |
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Church of
St. Clare |
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Church of
St. Clare enshrines the saint's incorrupt body. The
founder of the Order of Poor Clares followed the teachings
of St. Francis by living a life of poverty and humility.
St.
Claire was born Chiara Offreduccio, the eldest daughter of
Favorino Scifi, Count of Sasso-Rosso and his wife Ortalana.
She was eulogized by Pope Innocent IV (1253-54), and soon
she would be known forever as St. Clare of Assisi.
“O
wondrous blessed clarity of Clare! In life she shone to
a few; after death she shines on the whole world!
On earth she was a clear light, now in heaven she is a
brilliant sun. O how great the vehemence of the
brilliance of this clarity! On earth this light was
indeed kept within cloistered walls, yet shone abroad
it’s shining rays; It was confined within a convent
cell, yet spread itself through the whole world.”
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Basilica of Padua
(Basilica di Sant’Antonio) |
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The
Basilica of Padua,
also known as the Santo’s Basilica,
is largely the result of three different reconstructions,
which took place over a period of about 70 years:
1238-1310.
The
Treasury Chapel
In the 17th century a circular chapel was built of marble
to preserve the tongue and vocal cords of St. Anthony that
were discovered incorrupt, although the rest of his body
had decayed after death. the Basilica's most valuable
relics. It is for this reason that it is also called 'The
Treasury Chapel'. In it you may admire the Saint's
uncorrupted tongue, his jaw bone and other relics
recovered during the recognition of his mortal remains.
Main
altar was made by Camillo Boito in 1895. All of
Donatello's masterpieces have been placed here.
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To visit that secure Travel website,
please follow this link. |
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Basilica of San Domenico |
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Siena is the birthplace of Saints Catherine and Bernardine.
Saint
Catherine was born in Fontebranda (the name references the
most famous fountain in Siena), the area in the heart of
the Contrada dell'Oca. Catherine died in 1380, was
canonized in 1461, and named doctor of the church in 1970.
A relic of Saint Catherine of Siena is located in the
great
Basilica of San Domenico.
Built at the
same time as the Dominican convent, between 1225 and 1265,
The Basilica of San Domenico is one of the major churches
in Bologna, Italy. The remains of Saint Dominic, founder
of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans),
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is buried
inside the Arca di San Domenico, made by
Nicola Pisano and his workshop, Arnolfo di Cambio and with
later additions by Niccolò dell' Arca and the young
Michelangelo.
St.
Bernardine of Siena became a Franciscan missionary in 1403
and in 1404 he was ordained a priest. He devoted his
last days to preaching that even when it was clear he was
dying, he preached fifty consecutive days. He died in 1444
when he was almost 64 years old. Pope Pius II called St.
Bernardine a second Paul. He is also known as the Apostle
of Italy. |
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Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia
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Home of the Eucharistic Miracle and the Sanctuary
of Saint Rita, the saint of the impossible, a married
woman, mother, widow, nun, stigmatist, and a saint with
an incorruptible body. The
Basilica enshrines relics such as the crucifix from which
she received the stigmata.
View the blood stained pages of
the breviary that cradled the miraculous host, leaving a
perfect outline of Christ's face. At the time
of the miracle, in the 1300's, priest had
lost his respect for the Eucharist and when going on a
call to administer the Holy Sacraments to an ailing
peasant took a Consecrated Host and placed it irreverently
between the pages of his breviary. When he opened the
book, he saw that the Host had turned red with fresh blood
and was |
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impregnated
with the two pages between which it had been placed!
The
priest sought out for counsel, Blessed Simone Fidati, a
pious and respected priest of the time. He recognized the
priest's error and gave him absolution. He took the two
pages, putting on in a tabernacle in Perugia and keeping
the other in Cascia. The miracle is particularly
commemorated eacg year on the Feast of Corpus Christi in
Cascia. |
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Marian
Shrine of Loreto
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Marian
Shrine of Loreto Enshrines the
Holy House of Nazareth
and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto. More than
50 popes have made a pilgrimage to the house transported
by angels to this hill in central Italy in 1294. Tradition
has it that this is the house in which Mary first prayed
the Magnificat, in which Jesus grew to manhood and in
which the Holy Family lived.
Pope John
Paul II had a special affection to the shrine, where in
his words:
"It is
always with profound feeling that, entering into the
venerated Shrine, one reads the words set above the altar:
Hic Verbum caro factum est, Here the Word was made Flesh.
The Incarnation, that is disclosed within these sacred
walls, all at once reacquires its genuine Biblical
significance” (n.3).
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And further he observes: |
“Mary is the Woman, so to speak the ‘space’ both
‘physical’ and spiritual at the same time, in which the
Incarnation came to pass. But the House in which She
lived, too, constitutes an almost tangible reference to
that concrete actuality” (n.2).
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Church of
Lagontial (Lanciano) |
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Houses the 8th-century Eucharistic Miracle . After
expressing doubts about Christ's true presence in the
consecrated host, a monk found himself holding a host that
had changed into flesh and wine that had changed into
blood. |
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To visit that secure Travel website,
please follow this link. |
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Link to
The Shrines and Sacred Places in Italy
The Shrines of Spain and Portugal
The Shrines of France |
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There
are several books on catholic pilgrimages. Make sure to
get references or recommendation from your local
bookstores or parishes, if possible. Some of the popular
books are the following:
Catholic Shrines and Places of Pilgrimage in the United
States (Publication / Office for Publishing and Promotion
Services, United States Catholic Conference, No. 821-5) by
U.S. Catholic Conference Staff
The Jubilee Guide to Rome: The Four Basilicas, the Great
Pilgrimage by Andrea Braghin (Editor), Edmund Caruana
(Editor), O. Carm (Editor), Philippe Rouillard (Editor),
Niccolo Del Re (Editor), M.J. Coloni (Editor), Carmela
Merola (Translator)
You Will Make This Known: The Story of France's Three
Major Shrines by Brother Francis, F.F.I Mary (Editor),
Francis Mary
The Pilgrim's Italy: A Travel Guide to the Saints by James
Heater, Colleen Heater
Catholic Pilgrimage: Catholic Shrines of Central and
Eastern Europe: A Pilgrim's Travel Guide by Kevin J.
Wright (A book on catholic pilgrimage in Central and
Eastern Europe)
Catholic Shrines of Western Europe: A Pilgrim's Travel
Guide by Kevin J. Wright |
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Apologetics |
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Mary
and the Saints |
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Mass
and the Eucharist |
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Prayers |
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Novenas |
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The Rosary |
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Traditional Prayers:
Discover the origin of your favorite prayer. We might
even have the original Latin version, too. |
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Novenas:
Learn how
to say a novena in honor of your favorite
Saint.
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Archived Articles |
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Prayer Requests |
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Tours and Pilgrimages |
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