Sample of itinerary

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Day 1 - November 09, 2024 – Depart for France:

Make your way to your local airport to board your overnight flight. Your meals will be served on board.

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Day 2 - November 10, 2024 – Arrive in France:

Upon arrival in Marseille, you will be welcomed by 81 tours. Your tour manager and tour guide will escort you to your bus. Enjoy a beautiful drive to Saint Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. Upon arrival, you will check-in and enjoy your meal! Followed by Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass.

Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Saint Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume.

 

Day 3 - November 11, 2024 – Basilica of St. Mary Magdalena, Saint Maximin-la-Saint-Baume:

After breakfast, you will visit the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene. God willing you will encounter Father Florian Racine, rector of the basilica, or one of the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist. He will give a tour and talk.

Let us venerate Saint Magdalene’s hair and skull. Followed by Holy Mass.

After a delicious lunch, you will visit the monastery, and enjoy your free time in prayer and reflection!

Vespers at 4 PM followed by dinner and overnight in Saint Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume.

 

 

Day 4 - November 12, 2024 – Sanctuary of St. Mary Magdalene, Saint Maximin-la-Saint-Baume:

After breakfast, we will visit the grotto and meet with a Dominican friar for tour and talk. We will have time to prepare ourselves for Holy Mass in the grotto, climb the stairs to the Rock of Penitence, where Mary Magdalene prayed and was raised up by angels, let’s leave our petitions before the statue of the saint.

After a time of prayer at the sanctuary, which has been guarded by the Dominicans since 1925. We will enjoy a picnic lunch. God willing we will hear testimony of a woman who converted thanks to St. Mary Magdalene. Walk to Hostelry to visit pilgrim shop and/or pray in the chapel.

Bus will take us back to hotel. Dinner and overnight.

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Day 5 - November 13, 2024 - AIX-EN-PROVENCE:

After breakfast at our hotel, we drive to Aix-en-Provence and visit the Cathédrale Saint Sauveur, where Mary Magdalene and Saint Maximin (the first bishop of Aix) first dedicated a chapel to the Holy Savior. Remains of the floor of this chapel are inside the cathedral. The church houses relics and important paintings, including The Burning Bush by Nicholas Froment, a masterpiece of the 15th century. We will also see the 6th-century baptistery and cloister, then celebrate Mass. We will walk through this lovely town, passing by the many fountains and outdoor markets, where we will shop for specialty items from the area. You might choose to have lunch at Les Deux Garçons.

Some of the many famous people who have dined here include Winston Churchill, Pablo Picasso, Edith Piaf, and Paul Cézanne. We’ll then walk to the Chapel of the Oblates, where Saint Eugène de Mazenod founded the Missionaries of Provence (1826), which was later called the Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Described as having “a heart as big as the world,” he later became the Bishop of Marseille. After strolling around Aix-en-Provence, return to Saint Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 6 - November 14, 2024 - MARSEILLE:

After breakfast check out of hotel. Private prayer and Holy Mass followed by a tour of the Basilica Notre-Dame de la Garde, known to local citizens as la Bonne Mère (French for 'the Good Mother'), is a city's best-known symbol. It was built on the foundations of an ancient fort at the highest natural point in Marseille. Followed by a drive to Abbey of Saint Victor. Tradition holds that in about 415 AD, John Cassian founded two monasteries of St Victor at Marseille, one for men (the later Abbey of St Victor), the other for women. Venerate the relics of Saint John Cassian, (4th century) who influenced Western monastic life with his experience with the eastern desert fathers. Let us enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the Bay of Marseille and the Mediterranean beyond.

Today we will visit the Cathedral of Saint Mary Major, which enshrines the skull of Saint Lazarus, the first bishop after Mary Magdalene and her companions landed in France, she traveled with her brother Lazarus to Marseille, where he became its first bishop.

Special farewell dinner and overnight in Marseille.

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Day 7 - November 15, 2024 - MARSEILLE - USA:

Transfer to the airport for a flight back to the USA, holding precious memories and renewed in the joy of the gospel.