Pilgrimage to Rome: Part I

I would like to thank everyone who sent in suggestions and helpful advice to me as I traveled to Rome for Holy week.  A few weeks ago I shared my itinerary, and with most plans, I didn't stick to it.  Fortunately, I ended up visiting far more places than even I had planned.  Sometimes breaking from the plan is for the better.

I was able to visit such a number of holy places (nearly 25 different basilicas) and I prayed for the intentions of all of my readers while there.  I also visited Florence and had a brief trip to Pompeii.

I am now safety back in the United States after being able to visit some of the most sacred relics: the Holy Stairs, all 4 of the Holy Doors, relics of the True Cross, the tombs of Ss Peter and Ss Paul, the chains of both of those saints, the crib in which our Lord was born, the Pillar of Flagellation, some pieces of the Crown of Thorns, the sign that hung above our Lord on the cross, the bodies/tombs of many saints including St. Philip Neri, St. Helena, Blessed Fra Angelico, St. Pius X, St. Catherine of Siena, the head of St. Agnes, the skull of St. Valentine, and so much else.

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing some of my experiences and photos from this trip.  Please stay tuned!

Here are some of the photos as part of a very small preview of what is to come:

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Pilgrimage to Rome: Trip Itinerary

St. Peter's Basilica, taken by Ricardo André Frantz, 2005

I am pleased to announce that I will be participating in one of my life long goals: spending Holy Week in Rome.  All in all, this will be an even more significant trip for me since this a Jubilee Year and the Holy Doors will be open.  As a result, I ask for all of you to please post below any prayer intentions that you have.  I will bring these with me and offer these in prayer while visiting all of the 4 Major Basilicas and the other churches in the Eternal City.

While it is subject to change, my tentative schedule is as follows.  Please do feel free to make any recommendations.  While I may not be able to blog each day as I visit these Christian marvels, I will share all photos within a short time of my return.  And your intentions will be in my prayers.

I ask for your prayers for a safe trip and one of worthy preparation in order to celebrate the great Feast of the Resurrection on Easter.

Saturday (March 19th):

1. Arrive in airport @ 10:40 AM
2.     Celebrate St. Joseph Day
3.     Visit the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps

Sunday:

1. Mass in the Morning @ 9:30 AM Chiesa di Gesù e Maria (Via del Corso, 45, 00186 Roma, Italy)
2. Basilica Parrocchiale Santa Maria del Popolo (Piazza del Popolo, 12, 00187 Roma, Italy)
3. Bus Trip of the City

Monday:

1. St. Peter’s Basilica (Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City)
2. Vatican Museums
3. Santa Maria in Traspontina (Borgo Sant'Angelo, 15, Roma RM, Italy)
4. Chiesa Santo Spirito in Sassia (Via dei Penitenzieri, 12, 00193 Roma, Italy)
5. Ponte Sant'Angelo ( Ponte Sant'Angelo, 00186 Roma, Italy)
6. San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini (Via Acciaioli, 2, 00186 Roma, Italy)

Tuesday :

1. Visit to the Basilica in Pompéi

Wednesday:

1. Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo Fuori le Mura)
2. Basilica of St. John Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterno)
3. Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
4. Coliseum
5. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore Rome

Thursday:

1. Pantheon (Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma, Italy)
a. Piazza della Rotonda
2. Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (Piazza della Minerva, 42, 00186 Roma, Italy)
3. Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (Via del Caravita, 8a, 00186 Roma, Italy)
4. Largo di Torre Argentina
5. Basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli (Scala dell'Arcicapitolina, 12, 00186 Roma, Italy)
6. Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin (Piazza della Bocca della Verità, 18, 00186 Roma, Italy)
7. Holy Thursday Evening Mass @ Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini (Via dei Pettinari, 36/a, Roma, Italy)

Friday:

1. Basilica of Sant'Agostino, Rome (Piazza di Sant'Agostino, Roma, Italy)
2. Church of San Luigi dei Francesi (Piazza di San Luigi de' Francesi, 00186 Roma, Italy)
3. Santa Maria dell'Anima (Via di Santa Maria dell'Anima, 64, 00186 Roma, Italy)
4. Piazza Navona (Piazza Navona, 00186 Roma, Italy)
5. Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli
6. Santa Maria in Vallicella (Via del Governo Vecchio, 134, 00186 Roma, Italy)
7. San Giovanni dei Fiorentini (Via Acciaioli, 2, 00186 Roma)Italy
8. Good Friday Mid Day Liturgy @ Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini (Via dei Pettinari, 36/a, Roma, Italy)

Saturday:

1. Open & Any Remaining Items

Sunday:

1. Easter Mass in the Morning @ 9:30 AM Chiesa di Gesù e Maria (Via del Corso, 45, 00186 Roma, Italy)
2. Easter Brunch & Then Open

Monday:

1. Open
2. Leave @ 11:25 AM on Flight

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