tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268492192975156538Wed, 06 Nov 2024 03:09:28 +0000206 ToursPilgrimageJesusThe Holy LandFranceIsraelJim CaviezelPope FrancisTravel TipsAirport TravelBasilicasCatholic TravelCatholicismChurch of the NativityFind JesusFr. Peter DugandzicHoly LandItalyMedjugorjeMel GibsonParisPortugalPrayerRomeThe Passion of the ChristAdventAll Saints DayAll Souls DayArchbishop HoserBethlehemBibleCahors CathedralCamel RidesCanaCardinal NewmanChris StefanickChristmasChurchesDr. Scott HahnFather George RutlerFatimaFeast DaysFebruaryHoly DaysHoly WeekImmaculate ConceptionJerichoJerusalemJohn Michael TalbotJohnette BenkovicLourdesMexico CityMt. BeatitudesMt. TaborMt. of TemptationNativityNazarethNormandyNotre Dame CathedralOur Lady of FatimaOur Lady of MedjugorjePadre PioRelicsResurrectionSaintsScotlandSea of GalileeShrine of GuadalupeSpainSt. AndrewSt. Francis of AssisiSt. Juan DiegoSt. PaulSt. Paul CenterSt. PeterTel AvivThe Sainte CoiffeTravel AppsVaticanVeteran's DayWomen of Grace206 ToursVisit for more information about our Pilgrimages!noreply@blogger.com (206 Tours)Blogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268492192975156538.post-2052245984089849206Thu, 13 Feb 2020 15:01:00 +00002020-02-13T07:01:01.562-08:00Pilgrimage Love Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>A Pilgrimage is an opportunity to make deep connections, not just with Jesus, but with fellow Pilgrims as well. This was certainly the case for two young Pilgrims, Matthew & Cassidy, who met during a 206 Tours Pilgrimage to the Holy Land led by Group Leader Mary Johnston. Read all about their charming love story below:</b><br />
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In 2019, Cassidy went with a friend on a 206 Tours pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel). It was on this pilgrimage that Cassidy first met Matthew, who was taking accompanying his mother. Their first words were exchanged in the old city of Jerusalem while partaking in falafel sandwiches, recommended by their 206 tour guide Usama (locally known as the best tour guide in Israel)! Their connection quickly grew from there, as Cassidy realized Matthew is a history buff and had previously taken the same pilgrimage. Knowing this, she often brought her questions to Matthew who was happy to answer what he could - without giving away spoilers or Usama's secrets of course! This started many conversations throughout the pilgrimage. A key moment occurred when Matthew and Cassidy were part of a small group of pilgrims allowed to stay overnight locked in the Holy Sepulcher church to spend the entire night in prayer. This is an incredible experience for any pilgrim, but for Matthew and Cassidy the shared experience was a catalyst for bringing them closer together and getting to know each other on a more personal level. By the end of the trip, they were conversing until late at night in the hotel lobby - usually over glasses of wine or whiskey, of which they shared a common interest and taste. The pilgrimage was fertile soil for the start of a beautiful friendship - talking about their shared Catholic faith, depth of belief, and the many positive impacts that the pilgrimage had on their faith and their lives.<br />
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After the pilgrimage, they both returned to their normal lives about 3 hours apart in Iowa, neither one knowing the adventure that had just begun. Matthew and Cassidy continued conversations, and about a week after returning home Matthew mustered up the courage to call Cassidy to ask if she wanted to meet up again for a drink at a fellow pilgrim's winery outside of Cedar Rapids. After closing down two bars and still not running out of things to talk about, they quickly realized that their connection was more than just the excitement and novelty of being on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.<br />
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Their interest in each other grew from there in the coming weeks and months ahead. They attended a Lenten Bible study about the Holy Land (along with half the pilgrimage group), and met weekly with many others in Cedar Rapids, and got to relive their experiences through that study. Through this faith-based interaction and daily conversation, their friendship deepened. With their strong Catholic faith as the cornerstone and foundation of their friendship, and much individual and personal prayer, they agreed to begin dating on Easter, with the intention of discerning marriage. In November, Matthew asked Cassidy to be his forever wife and adventure companion, and she was delighted to say yes!<br />
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This year, they returned to the Holy Land as an engaged couple on a 206 Tours pilgrimage along with many of their family members. They returned to the spot where they first shared words and celebrated their engagement with their families over a delicious falafel sandwich! They also returned to another overnight stay praying in the Holy Sepulcher. This year, they offered prayers of thanksgiving for God's Divine Providence!<br />
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We want to give a special thanks to Fr. Chris and 206 Tours - especially Usama - for setting up such an amazing pilgrimage and an unforgettable experience! We believe that every follower of Christ needs to make a trip to the Holy Land due to the incredible impact it can have on one's spiritual life, the opportunity to walk in Jesus's footsteps, the knowledge of Christian history that can be gained, and the first-hand understanding of the dilemma local Christians face today.<br />
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St. John Paul the Great was right when he said that the Holy Land is the fifth Gospel because it makes the Gospels come alive! As they say, see you next year in Jerusalem!<br />
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<b>God's Blessings to the beautiful betrothed couple! </b>2020/02/pilgrimage-love-story.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (206 Tours)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268492192975156538.post-1145771770376977164Fri, 07 Feb 2020 14:35:00 +00002020-02-07T06:35:38.681-08:00The Significance of the Pope Leo XIII Medal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>What is the Pope Leo XIII Medal? (History)</b><br />
In May 1901, Pope Leo XIII created the religious medal as a way to encourage more faithful to embark on a pilgrimage, and to recognize their journey in a special way. The decoration was intended to remind Holy Land pilgrims of the fruits of their pilgrimage, support those living in the Holy Land, and to call more people to Pilgrimage as well.<br />
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<b>What does the Medal look like? </b><br />
The Medal created to resemble the Cross of Jerusalem. On the front of the Cross, an image of Pope Leo XIII is engraved, surrounded by the mysteries of the Annunciation, the Nativity His Baptism, and the Eucharist on the crossbars, along with the phrase “Christ’s love attracted us” in Latin.<br />
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On the back of the cross, is an engraved image of Jesus adorned with the crowns of thorns, carrying the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Latin inscription here reads, “Sign of the Holy voyage of Jerusalem”.<br />
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The medal is either: Gold, Silver, or Bronze - and is hung from a stripped red silk ribbon. When worn, it is to be on the left side of the Pilgrim’s chest.<br />
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<b>Purchasing the Medal</b><br />
Medals are never mailed, and can only be personally collected by the Pilgrim at the Secretariat of the Custody in the Office of the Custos of the Holy Land in Jerusalem. Here, Pilgrims will receive a certificate, and also have their name engraved on their medal. In most cases, the medals will be given to individuals publicly, but in some cases for large groups, pilgrims may receive their medals solemnly. All proceeds of the purchase of the medals are at to be distributed as aid for the poor and ill at the discretion of the Custody.<br />
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A 2005 Publication by Franciscan Printing Press Jerusalem from the Secretariat of the Custody of the Holy Land, called the decoration created by Pope Leo XIII for the Holy Land Pilgrims: “History and Significance for today – it beautifully outlines the importance of this medal.” The article breaks down the Medal’s significance into these three parts; a Sign, a Gesture, and a Seal on Your Heart.<br />
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<b>A Sign:</b> Pope Leo XIII intended the medal be created to remind the Pilgrim of the journey the took, as well as to share with others to also call them to Pilgrimage. The medal is a sign recognizing that the actual places the Pilgrim visited, were the exact same places where Jesus actually lived.<br />
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<b>A Gesture: </b>The purchase of the medal supports those in need who live in the Holy Land. In supporting our brothers and sisters who live where Christ lived, we are also supporting the sites we consider so Holy.<br />
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<b>A Seal on Your Heart</b>: Finally, the medal is like a seal as it will always remind the Pilgrim of their time in the Holy Land, all they learned, and the graces they received, just as noted in the Song of Solomon 8:6, “Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm.”<br />
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Click here to read the full “Secretariat of the Custody of the Holy Land - The Decoration Created by Pope Leo XIII for the Holy Land Pilgrims: History and Significance for today”<br />
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<b>Visit the Holy Land to Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus on Tour 111</b></div>
2020/02/the-significance-of-pope-leo-xiii-medal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (206 Tours)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268492192975156538.post-3816955521445253930Mon, 20 Jan 2020 16:01:00 +00002020-01-24T11:42:27.416-08:0035 Years of Medjugorje Pilgrimages: An Interview with Penny Abbruzzese <br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Penny Abbruzzese is a dedicated Group Leader for 206 Tours
who has helped thousands of people find God through Pilgrimage. Since 1984,
Penny has been working alongside 206 Tours, and this year made her 103<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">rd</span> Pilgrimage to Medjugorje. In addition to Medjugorje, Penny has visited
countless Catholic Holy sites around the world. She is an inspiring author,
filmmaker, wife, mother, and grandmother, who has converted so many hearts
through sharing her story and her ministry. Below enjoy a special interview
with Penny on the significance of Pilgrimage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="color: #2f5597; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;">“I always say, in Medjugorje you just have to stand still – it’s
like there a huge chest board up in Heaven and Our Lady puts you where she
needs you to be, to be taught by someone else or to minister to the person in
the group who is totally alone”</span></i><span style="color: #2f5597; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 105%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How
did you first get involved in Pilgrimage? What originally called you to
Medjugorje?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was
an absolute pagan from 14 to 33 years old, when my younger brother, who was my
best friend, committed suicide by jumping off the Bayonne Bridge the Sunday
after Thanksgiving in 1982 at the age of 31. Being brought to my knees, I
knew I needed to pray for his soul. I asked my sister-in-law how to pray and
she gave me her rosary and showed me how to pray one decade a day. Six
months later I was still committed to the hour it took me to pray a decade
amidst heart-rendering tears and so much pain. It was then that I first heard
of Medjugorje. Just nine months later, on March 5, 1984, I accompanied my
brother-in-law and his son, David, age 2½, born without a brain stem,
to Medjugorje searching for a miracle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Penny's first day in Medjugorje with Sr. Janja - March 7, 1984</span></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When
did you first connect with 206 Tours? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nearly
a year after my first visit, I went back to Medjugorje in February 1985 by
myself to give thanks to God for my newfound faith. I was still taking baby
steps holding onto Our Lady's hand, but I knew I needed to go back to this
special village where Heaven and Earth met every day at 5:40 PM. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In December of 1985, I returned accompanied by a few friends. In the fall of
1986 several friends and I were instructed to take the love that we had for Our
Lady & Medjugorje and center it on the Eucharist! Our little prayer group
formed into a non-profit organization named, <i>Our Lady Queen of Peace
Prayer Group</i>. We initiated a newsletter called, <i>Mary's Mantle</i>,
and one of our goals was to take people to Medjugorje. My responsibility
in our little core group was to find a travel agency before we were to publish
the first edition of our monthly newsletter. I made some phone calls, and
feeling kind of burdened by selecting an agency, I was exhausted and ended up
taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon. Our Lady answered my prayers
because, when I awoke, there was a message from Milanka, the President of 206
Tours, offering to meet with me to help answer the questions I had. That was it
- I never went to any other agency in all these 33 years of traveling!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Penny with Sister Janja in 2018 on her 100th Medjugorje Pilgrimage</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What
continues to call you back to Medjugorje? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In my
heart, there is NO PLACE like Medjugorje. The peace is absolutely
tangible. Our Lady's presence feels almost like you can reach out and
touch the graces that flow from the Mass, Sacraments, Adoration and Oneness of
just about everyone there. Searching for that time alone with God is
overwhelming in Medjugorje.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What
is your favorite part of watching a Pilgrim experience Medjugorje for the first
time?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My
favorite part is watching someone <i>grow</i> on their first journey to
Medjugorje. To struggle together as we climb the hills, pray and encourage one
another to find their alone time with God, but most importantly to bring them
closer through the sacrament of reconciliation. Sharing during our meals
and feeling one another's pain of different life experiences happens like a
continuous stream that just isn't the same here in New York - we are all
enveloped in a hustle and bustle environment. I always say, in Medjugorje
you just have to stand still – it’s like there a huge chest board up in Heaven
and Our Lady puts you where she needs you to be, to be taught by someone else or
to minister to the person in the group who is totally alone, which is where I
typically gravitate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Besides
Medjugorje, what is your favorite Pilgrimage destination and why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When
the war was going on in Medjugorje we started going to other pilgrim sites and
I love them all. Most dear to me is Garabandal – we travel yearly to Fatima,
Compostela, Garabandal, Loyola, and Lourdes. I am very blessed to have
been able to call Conchita from Garabandal a dear friend for over 30
years. Although we never speak of the 2,000 times that she saw Our Lady,
our gift of praying together 2-3 times a week for priests and families is one
of my greatest treasures from Our Lady – it’s like being on pilgrimage 52 weeks
a year. To me, Garabandal is like a mini-Medjugorje!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How
have you tried to spread the message of Medjugorje?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well,
that is all in a book about my conversion, that Fr. Svet, from Medjugorje, asked
me to write back in 1987. I wrote with hardly any understanding of what it
takes to publish a book and no more than a high school education. I did
send out my manuscript in 1988 but the market was flooded with books on
Medjugorje and I was just as happy to put it on a shelf for my children and
grandchildren to read one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
1999, when our benefactors could no longer help us to publish to our 7,000
readers of <i>Mary's Mantle</i>, it came into my heart to produce a documentary
on Medjugorje called, <i>"God Exists....The Queen of Peace Speaks from
Medjugorje." </i> With no experience in media, but a yearning I
couldn't contain, after 4 years in the making and over $80,000 I borrowed from
my husband, we completed the film. Our team was comprised of Mate Vaslij,
from the family that I live with in Medjugorje, along with Peter Powell and
Rita Gam. I couldn't be more pleased with how professionally this film was
produced. It's marketing that I am totally lacking in....but.... God is
large and in charge. I know it will be in His time, not mine that this film
will be a means of grace for many to learn of Medjugorje. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
starting four prayer groups with Steven McDonald and incredible priests like
Fr. David Farley and Fr. James Moyna, OP, we were a team who wanted nothing
more but to bring more people closer to Jesus through the Sacraments, via Our
Lady of Medjugorje. Before Steven was called Home by God, I promised him I
would finish my book, entitled, <i>"Medjugorje....My 35 Year Journey with
Our Lady.” </i>With your prayers and the guidance of the Holy Spirit I
pray that also in God’s Time, this sharing of finding my faith, with Our Lady
as my teacher and my celestial mother, I could possibly help others, through my
personal pain and suffering.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What
are some of your favorite memories with 206 Tours? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I
could write a whole book of my travels with 206 Tours…but I simply share a few
thoughts with you…..<b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the
hundreds of pilgrimages that I was blessed to take with 206 Tours I am still
amazed how everything flows so smoothly with the tremendous staff that I have
worked alongside of since 1987. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Going to Rome on a Pilgrimage to the
Beatification of St. Padre Pio, as well as the Canonizations of St. Padre Pio,
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Pope John XXIII, and St. Pope John Paul
II. Also, over a dozen…</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to the Holy Land, &
countless other pilgrimage sites like Poland, Turkey, Greece, Mexico, I always
experience a deeper appreciation of how 206 Tours is continuously giving more
and more to offer, not only in quality but in the first class company that
started from its grassroots, thanks to Milanka Lachman and the way that God
works through Milanka and her 206 Family!</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For a full listing of all
Our Lady Queen of Peace Pilgrimages, visit:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br />2020/01/35-years-of-medjugorje-pilgrimages.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (206 Tours)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268492192975156538.post-2707788868731610083Mon, 14 Oct 2019 20:48:00 +00002019-10-14T13:58:16.767-07:00To Become a Saint: A Reflection on the Canonization of St. John Henry Newman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Written by Dan Searby, October 13, 2019</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While you were sleeping last night, Blessed Cardinal John
Henry Newman became Saint John Henry Newman, or as Pope Francis called him
today, Ioanne Henrico Newman. The canonization ceremony took place at 10
am Sunday morning, Rome time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">French 19th and 20th-century novelist Leon Bloy once said: “The only
tragedy in life is not to become a saint“. Cardinal Newman himself, when
called saintly in an admirer’s correspondence said, “I have nothing of a saint
about me… I may be well enough in my way but it is not the “high line“.
History has judged otherwise, for Cardinal Newman lived out one of
his other famous quotes, “To live is to change; to be perfect is to change
often”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cardinal Newman is best known for leading the Oxford Movement that sought to
restore the Catholic roots Anglicanism. When he followed his conscience
and converted to Catholicism and 1845, it shook anti-Catholic England and he
lost his post at Oxford and many of his friends. He continued to write
prolifically and in 1879 was named Cardinal, a lovely grace note that is only
topped by his now becoming a saint. He’s regarded as one of the greatest
theologians of all time and many expect him to be named a Doctor of the Church.
On a personal note, Cardinal Newman, and specifically his autobiography <i>Apologia
pro Vita Sua</i> was a most powerful inspiration toward my own
conversi</span>on. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Four others were canonized today, Roman Giuseppina Vannini
(1859-1911), foundress of the Daughters of Saint Camillus (dedicated to serving
the sick), Mariam Thresia Chiramel Mankidiyan (1876-1926), Indian born
foundress of the Congregation of the Holy Family (ministering to families),
Dulce Lopes Pontes (1914-1992) who served Brazil’s poor and sick and Marguerite
Bays (1815-1879) a Swiss holy woman whose “life was linked to the suffering
Christ”. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had arrived in Rome
mid-day Friday with<b> </b>transport and hotel nicely curated by 206 Tours.
They had picked Starhotels Michelangelo (two thumbs up!) for its proximity to
Vatican City, given a tight departure schedule Sunday.<b> </b> Had
experienced a day and a half of its cultural, commercial and culinary
pleasures. It’s my third trip here but few cities feel like they are so
deep and that you have just scratched their surface with it’s myriad of
neighborhoods, history and infinite number of stunningly beautiful churches
whose richness that you almost grow numb to, like the last bite of a two pound
lobster. Today was the raison d’etre and attending a canonization
ceremony is a little like the New Year Eve’s experience at Time Square. You
have to get there quite early and it is not for the faint of heart, or bladder,
though the weather is much better. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I woke up around 5:20 am today, fixed myself a surprisingly serviceable Nescafe
powdered cappuccino with an antediluvian hotel electric water warmer, and was
out the door around 5:40 am. A coffee shop was providentially open, so
stopped for a second cup to go and ran into a couple of English pilgrims on
their way to Saint Peter’s Square; they were “Newman-heads”, like me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Michelangelo Hotel was a mere 5-minute walk to St. Peter’s where at 5:50
am, awaited an amoebic queue of about 100 folks, with the “doors” to open at 7
am, though nothing is ever on time in Italy, and they were late this morning
also. The young English lady I had run into at the coffee shop joined me
in line with her husband and father-in-law. Pippa, Henry and Russell,
respectively, the couple from London and his Dad from traditionally Catholic
Norfolk in East Anglia. Pippa is a music teacher and choir leader at a Catholic
school in London. She is also an Anglican convert and we had an enjoyable
early morning chat about “swimming the Tiber” and our faith journeys. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A massive crowd grew behind us
and when the police came to the security checkpoints it began to shove forward.
When the airport like screening finally opened up around 7:15 AM, it was like
being in a rugby scrum and the four of us got separated. I got through and
saved the four of us seats and saw Russell come in and waved him over and Henry
and Pippa came in about 10 minutes later. She was pretty shaken by the
jostling crowd and their shouting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sun rose above St. Peter’s Square and it was a glorious morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The time passed quickly and made for great people watching as the clerics from
all over the world came into their reserved section in front of us, including,
to use Pippa’s words, “Vicars with knickers”; meaning women Anglican priests.
Was heartened by the Anglican presence honoring their alum which included
a nattily clad Prince Charles who had a front-row seat on the big stage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were two priests whom I recognized and was able to say
hello to, Father Joseph Scolaro, who grew up in my home parish of Saint
Dominic’s, Oyster Bay and is now Pastor at Notre Dame in New Hyde Park.
The other I had just met last week at a Catholic Near East Welfare
Association (CNEWA) event, Msgr. David P. Charters, First Secretary to the
Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After being led in a Latin saying of the Glorious Mysteries
of the Holy Rosary, the canonization Mass began at about 10:10 AM.
Bishops and Cardinals and finally Pope Francis processed to the stage
amidst great orchestral pomp and a beautiful chorus. That’s Good Pope
Francis in the distance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the
proclamation of Sainthood, the regular Mass liturgy followed. Pope
Francis’ homily was in Italian so will need to get the translation. Hundreds of
Priests uber-efficiently distributed communion. Saint Cardinal John Henry
Newman’s famous poem/hymn <i>Lead Kindly Light</i> concluded the Mass
around noon. I said goodbyes and got out ahead of the crowd to rush back to the
hotel and catch a car to the airport, likely missing an up close glimpse of
Pope Francis as he toured the square in the Pope-mobile. Got to the
hotel in five minutes with the driver ready and waiting (thanks 206
Tours!). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Am now on an Alitalia flight home and am happily tired and clearly getting
old as I have a friend who has become a Bishop and two of my heroes have since
become saints (John Paul II the other). As I fly home a story comes to
mind. There once was a farmer who had a beloved mule. He thought so
highly of this mule that he attempted to enter it in the Kentucky Derby. He was
told by the race officials that his mule did not have a chance against the
thoroughbreds. He replied, “I suppose that’s true, but think of the mighty fine
company he’ll keep“. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The faithful and the saints are mighty fine company to keep and I believe it
rubs off on us. Many of you, especially you of the Royal Order of
Melchizedek, have been my own spiritual inspirations, for which I say, thanks
be to God! Amen. </span></div>
2019/10/to-become-saint-reflection-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (206 Tours)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7268492192975156538.post-3103833844908881563Thu, 25 Jul 2019 19:14:00 +00002019-07-25T12:14:28.958-07:00Testimony About the Power of the Rosary<br />
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #073763;">Heather Chastain Collins embarked on a trip
to France with her mother and daughter in March 2019 just weeks before the devastating
fire at Notre Dame Cathedral. Here, she shares her incredible account about the
power of the rosary and the connection Pilgrims share, even across continents
and unimaginable odds. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Testimony About the Power of the Rosary</span><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">By Heather Chastain Collins | July 18,
2019<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Hi!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have an amazing story to share about a divine appointment! My Mom
graciously treated my daughter and me to a Paris trip in March 2019.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in Birmingham, Alabama so this was a
dream vacation!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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On Wednesday, March 27<span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">th</span> we
were visiting Sainte Chapelle, nicknamed the “Jewel of Paris.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was commissioned by King Louis IX of
France in 1238 to honor his collection of Passion Relics, featuring Jesus
Christ’s Crown of Thorns. As we were reading a sign about The Crown of Thorns and
how it came to France, a Friar graciously leaned over and said; <o:p></o:p></div>
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Dame all day on Good Friday, and also on Fridays during Lent at 3pm for a
couple of hours!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I thanked him and we moved on among hundreds of tourists. I was aware of The Crown of Thorns being available to the
public once a year on