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Pilgrimage to Rome with Patrick Madrid and Fr. Z
I will be helping with a prilgrimage to Rome in the fall, the "Glory of Catholic Rome" pilgrimage, 31 October 31 – 8 November 2008.
It is being organized principally by Patrick Madrid, who is pretty well know by all of you, I think.
Patrick informed me that the "early bird" special discount for the pilgrimage is expiring soon, 1 June.
Here are a few points for the pilgrimage:
Around Rome itself we will be visiting, for example, Ostia Antiqua, the ancient Roman port city. I often recommend that if people can’t spare the time to go to Pompeii, south of Naples, they should go to Ostia. This is where St. Augustine, on his way back to north Africa after his baptism in Milan, was blockaded during a time of civil unrest and where his mother, St. Monica, died. Monica’s tomb is in the Church of St. Augustine in Rome. We’ll visit Nemi, in the Castelli Romani, the hills south of Rome, and Castle Gandolofo. We’ll give our perspectives on the catacombs, the Roman basilicas, museums, restaurants.
Also, this is a special year dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle, so it is good for a Roman pilgrimage. A plenary indulgence can be gained for a pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle in the Basilica of St. Paul outside-the-walls! Read this!
I’ll be saying Mass each day, proabably with the 1962 Missale Romanum.
For information you can go to www.surprisedbytruth.com to download the full-color brochure, click the image above, or you can call the travel coordinators, Corporate Travel, at 800-727-1999 (ext. 290).
That looks like a fantastic trip. My husband and I would have appreciated some sort of Catholic guide to the city when we were there for our second anniversary in February. I wouldn’t be too keen on a full-blown follow-the-umbrella guided tour, though. I mean, I do like to wander around and do what I like, when I like, but more guidance would have been fantastic.
I hope the trip is a success and everyone has a wonderful time.
Comment by Kradcliffe — 12 May 2008 @ 8:36 amThat’s great that you’ll be using the 1962 Missale Romanum. Patrick Madrid usually draws folks who don’t have a lot of exposure to the Traditional Mass so hopefully you can celebrate it daily. I hope you can celebrate the Missa Cantata instead of simply a Low Mass.
Comment by Greg Hessel in Arlington Diocese — 12 May 2008 @ 9:02 amI’m scratching my head trying to figure out how I could possibly fit this trip into my schedule. Tell me Fr. Z, is this a once in a lifetime chance, or would you do it again in the future?
Comment by Tiny — 12 May 2008 @ 11:59 amI would be happy to do more tours and pilgrimages. I just don’t want to have to organize them.
Comment by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf — 12 May 2008 @ 12:25 pmNow if only my husband and I had $8000 of expendable pilgrimage money in our back pocket…
Oh well, Jesus awaits us in the dumpy little Adoration chapel near our house. To broke couples: an ice cream cone then a holy hour make a great date!
Comment by Agnes — 12 May 2008 @ 1:10 pmI wanted to go myself, but the difficulty of getting from California to New York and back on top of the trip is just too much. Alas.
Comment by Melody — 12 May 2008 @ 8:11 pmIf it pleases Fr. Z, I can add a few details that I’ve learned, upon my inquiry from Suzanne Parran, Group Operations, Corporate Travel Service, Inc.:
1. The hotel is the Hotel Diana, http://www.hoteldianaroma.com (nota bene: roma) located on the Via Principe Amedeo. I know from my own experience that one could fuss about the location, yet the hotel is two blocks down from the central train station Termini and the major subway center, and two blocks up from Santa Maria Maggiore, Santa Pudenziana, and Santa Prassede – all must-sees for their mosaics. Closeby is Santa Maria della Vittoria (with Bernini’s sublime “St. Teresa in Ecstasy”), Boromini’s San Carlo al Quattro Fontana (which competes with San Ivo for his masterpiece), Bernini’s own architectural masterpiece Sant’Andrea al Quirinale, the Opera, the Redemptorist church (I forget the name), the Aula Ottogona’s sculptures, and the museum of the Palazzo Massimo (of ancient Roman art and more splendid mosaics), and Santa Maria degli Angeli (built into the old Roman baths).
2. Mrs. Parran adds that the hotel is “subject to change until approximately 60 days prior to departure”. I pray that Fr. Z or Mr. Madrid will note such a change on this website.
2. Should the hotel and its location not be to one’s taste, Mrs. Parran says that it is NOT possible for one to make one’s own accommodation in another hotel.
3. She says that it is possible to make different air arrangements (say, if you wish to go earlier or stay later). $500 would be reduced from the Pilgrimage’s cost. She adds: “You would also not be responsible for the air tax and government fee of $350.00 per person.” If you wish to make your own flight arrangement, there is a land-only wavier form to fill out.
4. If you wish a single room, Mrs. Parran says that the charge for of a single room is a $500 supplement.
I’ve been to Rome 9 times. The tour that Mr. Madrid and Fr. Z have sketched out looks like a very good one, if my experience is worth anything, the tour hitting all the highlights, and with a few extras thrown in. For those who have never been to Rome, this Pilgrimage it seems to me – aside from its spiritual benefits – is a good way to learn city for a future visits. I would recommend to the hosts that they prepare a list (1) of reputable places to change money, and (2) recommendable restaurants both in the area around the hotel and also throughout the city, restaurants of all different prices classes and various Italian/Roman cuisines.
Great thanks to Mr. Madrid and Fr. Z!
Comment by Sid Cundiff — 13 May 2008 @ 8:25 amFather Z,
I would still love to work with you in the future.
I do only Catholic pilgrimages. I use excellent family run hotels, never charge extra for single supplements. I have many happy return customers.
I’m traveling now (and again in June) if you’d like to follow along on my blog: http://www.thecatholictravelogue.com/ and see what I’m all about.
Please keep me in mind next time. And of course I would plan it all out, organize, advertise and handle all the inquiries.
Thanks!
Comment by Mountain Butorac — 16 May 2008 @ 2:35 pmMountain