|
|
|
|
|
Shrines Of Italy |
 |
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
|
|
|
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.
Continued
below... |
| |
|
|
To
request information about pilgrimages, vacation
packages, and even business-related trips, please fill out the form below:
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
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,
please follow this link. |
| |
|
|
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine
chapel is the Papal chapel in the Vatican Palace. The
chapel was constructed 1473-81 by Giovanni dei Dolci for
Pope Sixtus IV, for whom it is named. It is the site of
the principal papal ceremonies.
Its
exterior is drab and unadorned, but its interior walls and
ceiling are decorated with frescoes by Florentine
Renaissance masters, including Perugino, Pinturicchio, S.
Botticelli, D. Ghirlandaio, and L. Signorelli. Portions of
the walls were once covered with tapestries designed by
Raphael (1515-19).
The most important works
are the frescoes by Michelangelo on the ceiling and the W
wall behind the altar, considered
among the greatest
achievements of Western painting.
|
 |
|
| |
|
The
ceiling frescoes, depicting Old Testament scenes, were
commissioned by Pope Julius II and painted 1508-12; the
Last Judgment fresco on the W wall was painted 1536-41 for
Pope Paul III. A controversial 10-year cleaning and
restoration of the ceiling was completed in 1989, and of
the W wall in 1994.
|
|
|
|
The
Seven Pilgrim Basilicas in Rome, Italy |
|
The seven
pilgrim basilicas in Rome are visited by pilgrims in order
to gain indulgences. The churches include the four
patriarchal basilicas: |
-
The
Basilica of St. Peter (Basilica di San Pietro in
Vaticano)
-
The
Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica di San
Paolo fuori le mura)
-
The
Basilica of St. Mary Major (Basilica di Santa Maria
Maggiore)
-
The
Basilica of Saint John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni
in Laterano)
|
|
They also
include three minor basilicas: |
-
San
Lorenzo fuori le mura
-
Santa
Croce in Gerusalemme
-
Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore
|
|
|
|
St. Peter's Basilica
(Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano) |
|
The St. Peter’s Basilica was built on the site where St.
Peter was martyred. It is a monument to the long history
of the Catholic Church. St. Peter's Basilica is the
grandest of the world's churches to which pilgrims come
from around the world.
View such historical treasures as a piece of the true
cross, the lance that pierced Christ's side, numerous
papal tombs, Michelangelo's restored mural of the Last
Judgment on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, his Pieta,
and the four mighty piers supporting the magnificent dome.
Between
April 1 to 30 each year, (the Easter holidays), the city
of Rome comes alive with celebrations, and the Spanish
Steps are beautifully decorated with thousands of pink
azaleas.
Rome celebrates the Feast of San Pietro e Paolo every June
29. This is one of the oldest saint's days, which is a
holy day for feasting dedicated to the patron saints of
Rome, Saints Peter and Paul, with several observances
taking place at St. Peter's itself.
|
Photo from
rome.info
|
|
|
|
To visit that secure Travel website,
please follow this link. |
|
|
|
|
|
St. Paul Outside
the Walls
(Basilica di San Paolo
fuori le Mura) |
|
The Basilica
of St Paul Outside the Walls houses the
remains of St. Paul under its main altar. It also has many
relics on display including the chains that once bound the
apostle while a prisoner in Rome.
Known as the Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura,
it was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine I.
Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura is one of five major basilicas of
Rome, Italy. |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
The Basilica of
St. Mary Major
(Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore) |
|
A visit to
Italy cannot be complete without visiting St. Mary Major,
which is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin. This is a shrine containing a relic from
the manger of the infant Jesus.
St. Mary
Major is the greatest of many churches dedicated to Our
Lady; it is the only Roman basilica which, in spite of
several additional decorations, has retained its original
shape. It was built, as the legend goes, in 352 B.C. after
an appearance of the Blessed Virgin. The basilica, also
called "Liberiana", dates from the time of Pope Sixtus
III(432-440). It is one of the five great basilicas of
Rome |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Saint
John Lateran Basilica
(Basilica di San Giovanni in
Laterano) |
|
Officially
named Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris (Archbasilica
of the Most Holy Savior), it is the oldest and ranks
first (being the only cathedral in Rome) among the major
basilicas of Rome. It holds the title of ecumenical mother
church (mother church of the whole inhabited world) among
Roman Catholics.
Considered to be the first church in Christiandom, the
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano is also one of the
five great basilicas of Rome. The Basilica is run by the
archpriest of St. John Lateran, who may also be the Papal
Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome. |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls
(Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura) |
|
The
Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura is also known as
Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls. The basilica is the
shrine tomb of Saint Lawrence, one of the first seven
deacons of Rome martyred in 258.
Pope Pius IX, awaiting
canonization into sainthood, is also buried at the
basilica. Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi, a
founding father of the European Union rests in the
basilica.
It is often referred to as San Lorenzo in Campo Verano,
named after its location. |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Santa Croce in Gerusalemme |
Santa
Croce in Gerusalemme, a basilica in Rome, is one of the
Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.
According to tradition, the basilica was consecrated
around 325 to house the Passion Relics brought to Rome
from the Holy Land by St. Helena of Constantinople, mother
of Constantine I. At that time, the basilica floor was
covered with soil from Jerusalem, thus acquiring the title
in Hierusalem.
At the end
of the north aisle in the Chapel of the relics, by
Florestano di Fausto (1930), are preserved three pieces of
the True Cross, a nail, a part of elogium, or the board
placed on the Cross (INRI "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudeorum"),
and two thorns from the crown (3cm long). These relics for
1610 years stayed in the Chapel of St Helena where the
saint ordered the ground brought from the Holy Land be
spread under the |
 |
|
|
pavement.
The entrance is prohibited for women who can enter here
only once during the year on March 20, when the feast of
the chapel's dedication takes place. |
| |
|
|
|
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love
(Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore) |
|
The history
of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love dates back to
the XIII century when in this area of the Roman Campagna
there stood a kind of fortress belonging to the
Savelli-Orsini family. This fortress was called Castel di
Leva (Leva Castle). On one of the towers of the
castle there was a votive image of the Virgin Mary,
portrayed as sitting on a Throne and holding the child
Jesus in her arms. A dove |
 |
|
|
descends
upon her as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, who is indeed the
Divine Love. The image, which was frescoed in those
same times, was much venerated by the local shepherds. |
| |
|
|
|
To visit that secure Travel website,
please follow this link. |
|
|
|
Link to
Other Shrines and
Sacred Places in Italy
The Shrines of Spain and Portugal
The Shrines of France |
|
|
| |
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 |
|
|
|
Apologetics |
 |
Mary
and the Saints |
|
Mass
and the Eucharist |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prayers |
|
Novenas |
|
The Rosary |
 |
Traditional Prayers:
Discover the origin of your favorite prayer. We might
even have the original Latin version, too. |
|
|
 |
Novenas:
Learn how
to say a novena in honor of your favorite
Saint.
|
|
|
|
|
Archived Articles |
|
Prayer Requests |
|
Tours and Pilgrimages |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|