Shroud of Turin Pilgrimage a Huge Success

Things the Pilgrims Shared

Amazing Photos from Dean & Katherine Sandifer on Flickr and more here.
Letter from Darlene & Jeff
Correspondance and Pictures from the Sweeney’s
Letter from Dr. Toups about Fraternus
Video Slide Show from the Toups on Facebook
Marmion Travel Journal Turin Pilgrimage 2010
Letter from Mark K.

Arrival in Turin

All three buses arrived today even though we had big issues with the Icelandic volcano. Due to excellent work from Corporate Travel back in the States and our team here on the ground — we got everyone in safely and on time this afternoon.

Some went out to eat, some napped and some went out walking. Many of us got a preview glimpse of the Shroud of Turin where we will go tomorrow to see it up close.

I went on an excursion with my running shoes and saw a lot of Turin and the Shroud (click link to see my map and pictures). Turin is really called Torino.

We all had a welcoming meeting, a good dinner with good wine and then everyone crashed in bed after a long day.

We are glad to have everyone here safe and sound and on time. Tomorrow we leave at 9 AM to see the Shroud of Turin! Everyone is VERY excited! More soon.

We Saw the Holy Shroud of Turin!!!!

Today we saw the Holy Shroud of Turin! No words can describe what the pilgrims experienced and felt — though some try to express their thoughts and feelings as they stood within a few feet of the precious relic of Christ.

No one in this group doubts for one second that it is the authentic burial cloth of Jesus Christ who died painfully on the cross in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago for our sins and rose again for our salvation.

You can insert your name in the famous verse from John 3:16 — “For God so loved [insert YOUR name] that He gave His only Begotten Son that  if [insert YOUR name] will believe in Him he will not perish but have everlasting life.”

It was an awesome day and probably the highlight of the whole trip! We were all moved and profoundly blessed. It demonstrates that Christianity is not a myth or wishful thinking, not just faith — it is fact rooted deep in history. It is objectively true and demands our obedience.

We had free time after our visit to the Shroud (see upcoming video) and many went back to the Shroud, entered the main church and prayed in front of the Shroud as long as they wanted.

Stay tuned for Today, Part II.

In the Afterglow of the Shroud

Here is the rest of the day on video — after seeing the Shroud. Every scattered to eat in one of the ubiquitous and delicious Italian cafes. You can’t find a bad restaurant or food in Italy!

Then we had options to go back and pray at the Shroud, take a walking tour of Turin, go shopping and exploring, or go back to the hotel. Then we had a marvelous Mass in the Church of Francis DeSales which contains the incorrupt body of St. Don Bosco. Fr. Courtney is awesome as you will witness!

Then we had a great dinner and gathered for LIz Lev’s marvelous talk and explanation of the Holy Shroud. She has such a delicious sarcasm for anything unorthodox or liberal and her delightful humor only enhanced the wonderful information she relays. It was great.

Then everyone crashed into bed to get ready for a big day of traveling to Assisi. During the long ride we will pray the Rosary, hear conversion and vocation stories, have a comedy club and much more.

Our Drive from Turin to Assisi

We had an 8 hour drive from Turin to Assisi but we planned it to be fun and spiritual along the way. I told my conversion story on all three buses. Teresa Tomeo and Liz Lev talked on all three buses, and the incomparable Fr. Scott Courtney enthused and excited each bus also along the way as well as praying the Rosary. We drove along the sea and then into the heart of Italy.

We arrived in Assisi in time for Mass where St. Francis “repaired the church”. The large Church of Mary of the Angels was built over the little church which St. Francis repaired.

We had a great dinner, settled in without a hitch and everyone is now sleeping — awaiting a marvelous day visiting all the spiritual sites in Assisi, starting with Mass at the Church of St. Clare. We will visit the tombs of both St. Clare and St. Francis and then the pilgrims will have the afternoon and evening free to pray, explore, shop, eat at delicious cafes, or whatever else they want to do.

Everything is going EXTREMELY well. Even with 150 pilgrims we are moving smoothly, efficiently and with great success. No complaints and lots of joy and compliments. Blessed be God forever!

All Day in “Bella” Assisi

It rained, but that didn’t dampen any spirits today! One couple said, “If we had to go home today it wouldn’t matter. The first two days have been worth it all!”

We started with a reverent Mass at the Church of St. Clare right above the tomb with her incorrupt body visible through the glass. Fr. Courtney was brilliant and insightful and said he was like a kid, so excited to be celebrating Mass at Clare’s tomb.

After a tour of the church was walked through the town of Assisi toward the Church of St. Francis. We stopped along the way to visit the birthplace and the family home of St. Francis. We saw the place where his father chained him up when he thought he had lost his mind because he was giving away his possession to follow Christ.

We arrived at the magnificent Church of St. Francis and Liz Lev was waiting for us to tour the church. She is an art historian and knowledgeable about all things Catholic, Italian and artistic. What a joy listening (and watch) as she explains everything in such an animated, passionate, orthodox and entertaining way. Everyone loves Liz.

After the tour everyone scattered to find a ristaurante then to shop, pray, explore or nap. It was a great day for everyone to spend the whole afternoon on their own to explore and enjoy the town of Assisi. I ran 7.2 miles to visit all the churches and marvelous sites on foot. I was soaked when done, but overjoyed to run through Assisi.

After dinner people scattered again, some to walk, some to share a drink and others to sleep. Fr. Courtney and a group went out for gelato. tomorrow we head for Loreto, Lanciano, and ending up at Padre Pio’s tomb in San Giovanni Rodundo.

Padre Pio and Mass at his Tomb, then St. Michael the Archangel

What a day! We started out by walking up hill to the Church of Padre Pio in front of his tomb. Then we had two hours free before leaving for St. Mount Angel where Michael the Archangel appeared to the bishop in the 5th century. Many tears, many smiles, many happy pilgrims.

We had the late afternoon free, special dinner with singing and cheers and to bed to prepare for an early departure for Rome, with a stop at Veronica’s Veil along the way, before Mass in the catacombs.

If you want to see my run through San Giovanni Rotundo and Padre Pio’s tomb, click here.

To Rome – on Overload!

“If this keeps up I am going to burst!” and “If I went home today it would have all be more than worth it!” and “What an amazing trip seeing and experiencing so many things day after day!”

These are the comments we keep hearing as we go from one incorrupt saint, to a Eucharistic miracle, to a 2,000 year old relic, to Mass at the Catacombs.

Today was capped off with a delicious dinner and a meeting with Cardinal Arinze!

We started the day by stopping at Monapello to visit Veronica’s Veil (veronica means “true icon”) and then to the Catacombs of Callixtus, a short tour of Rome and dinner with the Cardinal. What a day!

Tomorrow we see the Pope at the General Audience, have all our religious items blessed, take a tour of the primary churches in Rome, have Mass at the Tomb of St. Paul and another delectable Italian dinner out on the Ancient Via Appia.

With 150 people we are moving as smooth as silk, fast and efficient. We’ve had no injuries, no illness, not even a critical word. All are ecstatic and joyful. Fr. Courtney is amazing. Our three Italian escorts are superb as are our four American escorts Laura, Diana, Stacey and Olivia.

Enjoy the video!

We See the Pope — and have a Party!

Wednesday is General Audience Day with the Pope in St. Peter’s Square — and we were there! For most in our group it is the first time in Rome — and the first time to see and hear the Pope in person.

After this wonderful experience — and after receiving his blessing, we scattered for lunch. I did a radio interview with Relevant Radio.

Liz Lev then led us on a tour of Christian Rome along with me, though I had her do most of the talking since she is an excited, orthodox, passionate “Catholic encyclopedia.” You will hear and see more of her tomorrow.

We visited St. Mary Major Church, St. John Lateran and then St. Paul Outside the Walls where we had Mass at the tomb of St. Paul.

Stay tuned for the delicious dinner on the Via Appia near the catacombs. I will upload that video as soon as I get time. Sorry I am a bit behind but the days have been packed!

Second video below is our Farewell Dinner to the 50 pilgrims who were heading home — not taking the Rome Extension. It was a blast!

Touring Ancient Rome on Foot

Great day, sore feet, much learned, very spiritual, Colosseum, ancient churches, historty and love for our Catholic truth and faith, delicious food, delicious words, much accomplished.

We started out with Mass at St. Peter in Chains. His chains from Jerusalem and Rome were miraculously fused together. Here also sits the majestic Moses carved by Michelangelo.

Then to Church of Santa Maria Minerva and the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena and a statue of Christ by Michelangelo.

Then to the Church of St. Ignatius with the statue I love of St. Ignatius Loyola crushing Protestant heresy by stepping on the head of Martin Luther. Beautiful church!

Then to the Pantheon where men first thought they could become gods, right before God became man. We finished with a tour of one of our favorite churches — San Agostino (St. Augustine). Here are the bones of Monica, a gorgeous painting by Caravaggio, “Isaiah” by Raphael, the statue of our Lady of Problem Pregnancies, and more.

A good dinner, crashing into bed and ready for Mass tomorrow at St. Peters!

Vatican Day and Shroud Display

Early start to catch Mass at the St. Joseph chapel inside St. Peters Basilica. There are 44 chapels in this largest church in the world. We were right next to the Peter’s Crucifixion chapel — the exact geographical location where Peter was crucified upside down in Nero’s Circus. And GUESS what the readings were?

John 21 where Jesus informs Peter that he will die by crucifixion!

The whole group took a tour of the Vatican Museum and then St. Peters. Not much in the way of pictures or videos of that but lots of everything else.

After the tours we went the Regina Apostolorum University of the Legionaries to tour the Holy Shroud of Turin display with the life-sized bronze of Jesus in the tomb, the 3-D hologram of the Shroud and then free time before dinner. Enjoy!

Last Day a Great One

I will be posting the two videos from today soon. We had a great day with beeeautiful weather for a walking tour through Rome. We gave people some exercise today and everyone did well.

We started out with a tour of San Clemente with Liz. This is an ancient church with archaeological discoveries below that take us down to first century Rome and a 4th century basilica. Amazing.

While one group did that I took another group to the Martyrdom Church named Santo Stephano Rotundo with all the walls covered with vivid depictions of early martyrs tortured for the faith. A wedding started and I took the next group to the sacred stairs of the Church of Scala Sancta.

Then we had several hours free for lunch and exploring in the old city near the Piazza Navona. Then a walking tour to see the Trevi Fountain, the monument to the Immaculate Conception and the Spanish Steps.

We had a moving Pentecost Mass at Santa Maria in Sopra Minerva — in front of the tomb of St. Catherine of Sienna. It was our family’s 16th anniversary into the Catholic Church!

See the second video below to join our amazing Farewell Dinner.