Around the year 1200, Margrave Henry Vladislav of Moravia built the first church for the “Mater Gentium Slavorum” in gratitude for his recuperation from a serious disease. About 1370, King Louis the Great of Hungary dedicated a pilgrim’s chapel to the Madonna, after his glorious victory over the Turks, which exists to this day. Mariazell and the “Magna Hungarorum Domina” thus, became the most important Hungarian pilgrimage center, as well. Like no other place, Mariazell up to this day maintained a very close relationship with the Catholics of Central and Eastern Europe. The history of pilgrimage to Mariazell is an integrated part of the history Christian Europe. The basilica, in its actual form standing in the midst of the splendid alpine landscape, is a 17th century masterwork of the famous Italian architect Domenico Sciassia. The high altar, a present from Emperor Charles VI, has been done according to plans of Johann B. Fischer von Erlach. The Altar of Grace, which Empress Maria Theresia endowed the splendid silver trellis, was designed by his son Emanuel. The greatest artists designed the magnificent interior decorations of the church and thus, created in this church one of the most important and beautiful religious baroque buildings. The “Magna Mater Austriae”, Austria’s great mother of God, today more than ever, is a symbol of living Christian belief. From 1975 to 1991 the famous Hungarian Cardinal Mindszenty was buried in the Basilica before he could be buried in his finally-liberated homeland. The most impressive recent event was without any doubt the pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II to Mariazell in September 1983. In 1996 the treasuries of the Church hosted the provincial exhibition. The reconstruction of both treasuries, the restoration of parts of the interior and the re-arrangement of the important collection of gifts of faith and gratitude were an important contribution of the festivities of “1000 years of Austria”.
 

Basilica Mariazell
 

Holy Mass: Sundays and holidays: (7) 8, (9) 10, 11:15 AM and at 6:30 PM Weekdays: 8, 10, 11:15 AM and at 6:30 PM Rosary: Daily 6 PM with Benediction Processions with candles: Every Saturday and one day before the most important holidays at 8:30 PM Consecration of devotional objects: Daily at the full hour from 8 AM to noon and from 2 to 6 PM. Benediction of vehicles: Sundays and holidays at 2 PM Confessions: Daily from 8 AM to noon and from 6 to 7 PM
 

Prenotation of Holy Masses: In the northern sacristy or by telephone +43/3883/2595 Treasuries:Open Tuesday through Saturday: 10 AM till 3 PM Sundays and holydays: 11 AM till 3(4) PM Closed Monday Hospitality In the region of Mariazell numerous Inns, Restaurants, Café’s are at the disposal of visitors, offering individuals and groups Austrian hospitality and Styrian specialties. Special inquiries for groups welcome.
 

Places of interestSome highlights of the numerous pastime activities: -Basilica Mariazell with “Magna Mater Austriae” and the famous treasuries. -Cable car to Burgeralpe (from the center of Mariazell) and the “Lumberjack-Country” -Museum of local history and mechanical nativity scene -Shopping in Mariazell’s shops and devotional shops -Visit to a distillery, chandlery, bakery, and pottery -Museum Tramway to idyllic Lake Erlauf (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays Only *)
 

Pilgrims have traveled to Chartres for centuries, long before the present cathedral of Notre-Dame, built in the late 12th century. Notre-Dame de Chartres has inspired pilgrims by its enormous towers, which are visible from miles away. As early as 100 BC the Druids considered this place sacred and converted to Christianity approximately 45 AD. In 876, the Sacred Tunic, worn by the Blessed Virgin at time of Jesus’s birth, was given to Chartres, by Emperor Charles II. Over time many pilgrims have flocked to see this holy relic. In 1194 the town was devastated by fire along with the cathedral; however, somehow the Sacred Tunic had been miraculously saved which inspired all to rebuild the cathedral. Contributions came from all over; people came from all over to work side- by-side on the new cathedral. By 1220 the present day cathedral was complete. During the French Revolution the Sacred Tunic was cut up and dispersed; however, part has been recovered. The cathedral is best known for its 12th & 13th century stained glass windows. The building, built in the Latin-cross-plan and inspired by the Abbey of Saint Denis in Paris, is 428 feet long, and its vault rises 118 feet. Chartres also draws pilgrims to its holy well that is the resting place of 1st century martyrs.
 

In September 1846 two children, recruited as ranch hands near Corps, rested on a hill after lunch. After sleeping about half an hour Melanie suddenly awoke remembering the cows. Quickly Maximin and Melanie climbed the ravine finding the cows grazing peacefully. Suddenly Melanie noticed a light growing in brilliance with a woman seated with her head buried in her hands, crying. Frightened, Maximin said, "Hold on to your stick! I am keeping mine, and if it comes close I'm giving it a good whack!" As the two shepherds neared the figure, she rose and said, "Come near, my children, do not be afraid. I am here to tell you great news." The lady wore a long white dress, slippers decorated with gold buckles and roses, and a headdress capped with roses. The light emanating was brilliant but soft. She continued to weep and spoke about the loss of religion in the area, the desecration of the Sabbath and the profanity of her Son's name. After confiding different secrets to Manimin and Melanie, she began to speak with great hope of the good things to come if people amended their lives. She asked, "Do you say your prayers"? It is very important to do so at night and in the morning". She concluded with, "Well, children, you will make this message known to all my people." When they returned home Maximin immediately told his family about the beautiful lady. Upon hearing the story, their pious grandmother exclaimed, "It is the Virgin that the children have seen. She is the Only * one whose Son reigns in heaven!" When the parish priest heard of the event, he broke into tears. An hour later as he related the story in a sermon, his voice trembled. Many interrogated the children in hopes of trapping them into some contradiction. One May 1, 1852 the bishop of Grenoble published a decree announcing the construction of a shrine on the mountain of La Salette, as well as founding the religious order Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.
 

Bernadette, the visionary child of Lourdes was born on January 7, 1844. On Feb. 11, 1858 Bernadette joined her sister, Toinette and friend Jeanne in search for firewood. As they arrived at and ready to cross a nearby river, Bernadette suddenly heard a "rustling sound of wind". Turning toward a grotto, Bernadette saw a young, lovely lady dressed in white. After rubbing her eyes in disbelief, Bernadette saw the woman beckon her forward. Immediately, Bernadette pulled out her rosary and knelt before the vision. When Toinette and Jeanne returned they found Bernadette on her knees; they had not seen the lady so she proceeded to tell them about her. Although promising them to secrecy, the entire town knew about the incident by nightfall. In the third apparition the lady spoke for the first time. The lady asked Bernadette to return for 15 days. She also said "I cannot promise you happiness in this world but Only * in the next". With each apparition the group of townspeople grew. Messages given were "Penance" and "Pray for the conversion of sinners". Soon a dirt-filled grotto began springing forth water. March 1 brought the first miracle - a woman, nine months pregnant, who had a paralyzed arm dipped her arm into the healing waters and immediately was healed. Next message was to "build a chapel and have people come in procession", and identified herself - "I am the Immaculate Conception". Since March 1, 1858 the Church has recognized 65 miracles at Lourdes and 5000 inexplicable healings have taken place. Almost every part of the shrine, including the grotto, is accessible to those in wheelchairs via ramps or special lifts. The Blessed Virgin appeared to her eighteen times. On Dec. 8, 1933 Bernadette was canonized.
 

One of the most ancient shrines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary is here in LePuy. A 55- foot statue of Our Lady of France on a hill towering over the valley below will greet you. The tall, majestic figure of the Virgin Mary is standing atop a globe, her foot crushing the head of the serpent. She is crowned with 12 stars and is holding the Child Jesus in her arms while he extends his blessing to the world. LePuy is also home to a large Romanesque sanctuary of St. Michel where it rises from the rocks of another hill in the city as if it were part of a mountain. The Cathedral of LePuy lies in the valley between the two monuments. Inside the oriental-looking cathedral lies a beloved statue of the Virgin Mary. The image of the Black Madonna of LePuy is almost an exact replica of the ancient one that was dragged during a mock trial at the time of the French Revolution. Following the "conviction" of the statue, it was beheaded and burned at the stake. The present statue, 25 inches high and made of black marble is of Our Lady seated holding her Son on her knees. According to tradition, the original statue was brought to the sanctuary by St. Louis, the King of France. After the arrival of Christianity, it is said that a woman who suffered with a fever went up to the place of worship and the Blessed Virgin appeared to her and asked that a chapel be built on the site. Later when the bishop visited and outlined the area with a hedge of thorns, was astonished the next morning when the bushes had blossomed into flowers. After seeing the miracle he decided to have a chapel built. Toward the end of the 5th century another bishop of Velay was requested to erect a shrine. The church was built but never consecrated by the bishop because when he arrived found light and music filling the chapel and believed that the angels already consecrated it. By the 6th century, so many pilgrims were traveling to LePuy that a hospice had to be built. Charlemagne visited there twice; later St. Louis, the king of France, donated a new statue and journeyed twice with his queen. 17 kings of France plus a number of saints, including St. Dominic and St. Anthony of Padua also visited. No other shrine has received so many papal visits as Our Lady of Le Puy.
 

In 1871, as the Franco-Prussian War raged on and thousands of French people were losing their lives, a 12-year-old named Eugene Barbedette saw the image of a lady in the sky wearing a black veil, blue robe decorated with golden stars and a crown of gold. Eugene's brother, Joseph, saw the image next and then 2 more children. Adults who came to check on the commotion could see nothing. When the parish priest arrived, the children reported that a red cross began to appear on the Virgin's dress. The priest led the rosary and when they finished, the Lady unrolled a large white banner. Giving a message of prayer and hope, the scroll said, "Pray, my children, God will answer you in a short while. My Son will let himself be moved." The people of Pontmain rejoiced; but suddenly a large blood-red crucifix appeared in front of the Virgin with the words "Jesus Christ" written above it. The Lady became sad. After awhile the blood-red crucifix disappeared and the Virgin stretched out her arms to the children and smiled. Although Only * 4 children were blessed to see her, the town was overflowing with joy. The appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a sign of peace to Pontmain and France. The following day the villagers learned that foreign troops had retreated believing that "A Madonna is guarding the country and forbidding us to advance". The Barbedette brothers later became priests. Our Lady of Prayer is now honored throughout the world.
 

In southern France, near Toulouse, is one of Christendom's earliest shrines. Legend says that the shrine began as a hermitage in a cave near the river Alzou and was founded in the first century by a man names Zaccheus of Jericho. It is believed that Zaccheus, who died in 70 A.D. knew and conversed with Jesus himself while he lived on earth. After the death of Zaccheus, his hermitage grew into a place of pilgrimage and later became one of the most celebrated shrines in Christendom. First, a miracle-working statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was brought to the shrine and thousands of pilgrims who heard about the statue made the journey to Rocamadour to present their petitions to the Blessed Mother. The sanctuary also became well known for the long stairs- 216 steps - that led from the valley below. It is said that the pilgrims would climb these stairs on their knees. Popes and kings began granting special privileges to those who visited the sanctuary. Some of the more famous people that traveled there were St. Bernard, St. Dominic, St. Louis and King Louis XI. Charlemagne, on his way to battle the Moors in Spain, also visited the shrine. The shrine is built against the side of a cliff and offers a breathtaking view of the valley below. A giant staircase leads the visitor to the courtyard of the religious city, which is surrounded by seven churches and chapels. The Book of Miracles holds testimonies of favors granted to pilgrims, as well as countless other testimonies on the walls of the shrine. St. King Louis of France, Charlemagne and King Henry II of England are all believed to have climbed the 216 stairs on their knees.
 

Paray-le-Monial is home to the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Here God chose St. Margaret Mary Alacoque to be the instrument that would lead the world back to Christ through his Sacred Heart. Margaret Mary joined the convent in June 1671 shortly before her 24th birthday and was to experience the joy of mystical union with the heart of Christ. On Dec. 27, 1673 St. Margaret Mary was kneeling alone before the Blessed Sacrament when Christ appeared for the first time. In His first revelation He said to her, "My Divine Heart is so full of love for all, and for you in particular, that it is unable to contain within itself the flames of its burning love. Its needs must be spread abroad by means of yourself, and so manifest itself to all to enrich them with the treasures this heart contains". Jesus then mourned the world's ingratitude, indifference, and coldness and asked Margaret Mary for a communion of reparation on the first Friday of each month. The Divine Heart was then exposed to her, "like a sun, ablaze with a dazzling light". In 1674 Jesus appeared again to St. Margaret Mary and in June 1675, the third and most famous apparition took place as Jesus exposed His Sacred heart again. "Behold this heart which has loved everyone so much that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself in order to testify its love". Christ then asked for the first Friday after the Octave of the Body and Blood of Christ to be set apart as a feast day in honor of his Sacred Heart. He also asked for a "solemn act of reparation" for all the offenses and indignities he had received in his sacrament of love, the Holy Eucharist. Aware that carrying out this mission alone would be difficult for the cloistered nun, Jesus sent a holy Jesuit priest to her. The Holy Mother of God solemnly affirmed St. Claude's role when she told St. Margaret Mary, "If it is given to the Daughters of the Visitation (St. Margaret Mary's order) to know and distribute the devotion to my Son's Sacred Heart, then it is reserved to the fathers of the Society of Jesus to show and make known its utility and value so that people may profit from it by receiving it with the respect and gratitude due to so great a benefit." By the time of St. Margaret Mary's death on October 17, 1690, the devotion was well established in her community and the surrounding areas. Today, devotion to the Sacred Heart is widespread.
 

Pope Pius X described her as "the greatest saint of modern times". St. Therese's writings have captured the hearts of million. The Story of a Soul, her spiritual autobiography, made her world famous. Therese came from a devout and well-to-do family and was the youngest of nine children. At the age of four she suffered the loss of her mother - which affected her deeply. During the following ten years she grew inseparable from Pauline, her older sister. When her sister, Pauline left home to enter the Carmelite convent, Therese fell mysteriously ill. On May 13, 1883 while praying a nine-day novena before the family's statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Therese fell into a deep ecstasy. After a vision in which the Virgin smiled at her, little Therese was cured. A profound conversion took place in the life of the saint on Christmas day 1886 and her shyness and seriousness washed away in an instant; she had received strength and peace to last her life. With her conversion at the age of fourteen, she felt ready to enter the Carmelite order. As the Rule of Carmel allowed Only * those twenty-one and older to enter, Therese would need a special dispensation from the bishop. Throughout her life as a nun, she lived the faith of Christ in a most extraordinary way. She declared "I came to Carmel to save souls and to pray for priests". After suffering from tuberculosis for several years, she gave up her soul on September 30, 1897 delcaring in her last moments "I do not regret having given myself to Love". The figure of St. Therese of Lisieux in the Carmelite Convent Chapel is not her body but a waxen replica of it. Her earthly remains lie beneath the statue. St. Therese once confided to a sister that, after her death, she would send down a shower of roses; and she has kept her promise. It is well known that when a prayer is answered through her intercession, one will receive roses.
 

The people of French Brittany have always had a great devotion to St. Anne, the Blessed Virgin Mary's mother. It has been told that the parents of the Virgin Mary were childless into their old age until an angel appeared to St. Anne and said, "The Lord has looked upon your tears; you shall conceive and give birth and the fruit of your womb shall be blessed by all the world." The child of this promise was the Blessed Virgin Mary. Early in the seventeenth century, pilgrimages to the area began after St. Anne appeared several times to a simple laborer, Yves Nicolazic. The saint asked him to rebuild the ancient chapel that once stood in the city. Apparitions became frequent and eventually the bishop commissioned a chapel to be built. Anne of Austria and Louis XIII enriched the sanctuary with many gifts, among them a relic of St. Anne brought from Jerusalem in the 13th century. Even the French Revolution could put a stop to the great number of pilgrims visiting the shrine. However, during this time the chapel was ransacked, Carmelites were driven out and the miraculous statue of St. Anne was burned. Today, the shrine continues to attract pilgrims from all over; many come for "pardons" in which pilgrims climb the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) on their knees. July 26th is the day of the "great pardon".
 

Bernadette was born on Jan. 7, 1844 in Lourdes. In 1854 an epidemic of cholera left Bernadette with a painful asthma condition that lasted the rest of her life. Two years later poverty struck the family. In Jan. 1858 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette at the grotto of Massabielle for a total of 18 times. As word spread of Blessed Virgin's appearance, the investigations began. Throughout the apparitions the faithful flocked to the grotto. Finally, in 1862 the bishop acknowledged the authenticity of the apparitions. After Bernadette joined the Sisters of Charity in Nevers, France July 4, 1866 she never spoke of the grotto unless ordered to by her superiors. Taking the religious name, Marie-Bernard, she suffered from recurring bouts of sickness and ill health. One of her religious sisters described has as being deeply pious and possessing childlike simplicity, extraordinary evenness of temper and profound humility. Other sisters recalled Bernadette's youthful charm, spontaneous disposition and playful attitude. However, Sister Marie-Bernard was being led by Jesus to live a crucified life of prayer, suffering, silence and sacrifice. The little child of Lourdes accepted her life with perfect resignation and submission. Suffering from asthma and tuberculosis, she spent the last 24 hours of her life in terrible agony. Her last day was April 16, 1879 - it was just after three o'clock, the same time Christ had died. In agony she stretched out her arms like the crucified Jesus and whispered, "I am thirsty." Sister Marie-Bernard then made for the lat time her majestic sign of the cross that she learned from the Blessed Virgin at Massabielle. With no strength left, her head bowed to the right, she gently gave her soul back to God. Hands clasping a crucifix as two tears rolled down her cheeks. In 1925 her body was ceremoniously transferred her body to the chapel of St. Gildard, where it now rests in a glass reliquary. Her body has remained intact and Only * a thin layer of way has been added to her face and hands. On Dec. 8, 1933 the Catholic Church canonized Bernadette. During this time examiners had exhumed her body on 3 different occasions and each time found it incorrupt.
 

Jean-Marie Vianney was born in the small village of Dardilly, France in 1786. As a young boy he had a deep love and understanding of God and would often instruct other children in the Christian faith. Although he had very little schooling, he entered seminary at the age of 20. Because of minimal education, he had much difficulty with Latin and philosophy, however, through perseverance and providence, he was finally ordained a priest. He was then sent to a small parish in Ars, France, where he remained for the rest of his life. His powerful sermons and personal example of holiness brought the unfaithful back to God. All of France spoke of "The holy man in Ars; go and see him". St. John Vianney, known as the Cure of Ars, received many supernatural gifts from the Lord. Reading souls in the confessional, predicting events, and performing miracles were a few reasons that pilgrims from all over France flocked to Ars to see him. From 1830-1845 an average of 300 people visited Ars daily. In 1858-59 more than 100,000 pilgrims traveled to Ars. To accommodate the pilgrims, St. John Vianney slept Only * two hours a night. He lived a simple life, eating little, wearing old clothing and sleeping on a hard bed. Because he was extremely holy Satan attacked him ferociously. Much diabolical activity in his life was extensive. In fact, the devil set his bed afire! He faced many trials in his lifetime; and gave up his soul to God on Aug. 4, 1859. The Church has proclaimed him patron saint of parish priests.
 

Louis Marie Grignion was born January 31, 1673 in the small village of Montfort, France. He discovered early in his life that devoting himself to the Blessed Virgin was the surest way to reach Jesus and practice his faith. Although his hope was to do missionary work in foreign missions, he was assigned to remain in France. Louis was inspired to carry out his missionary work with apostolic zeal and became a vagabond preacher, traveling many miles on foot throughout his lifetime to become one of the greatest missionaries of the Church. He wrote several books - True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Secret of the Rosary, and Preparation for Total Consecration. Early in his Christian walk he was reprimanded by priests and other influential people for his outspoken condemnation and firm opposition to erroneous doctrines of his day and was asked to leave several dioceses during his travels. Questioning the path on which God had set him, Louis de Montfort decided to walk to Rome to speak with Pope Clement XI. The Holy Father encouraged him in his missionary work and endowed him with the title "apostolic missionary". He returned to France to continue to serve the sick, poor, disabled and illiterate. In 1947 Louis Marie de Montfor was canonized a saint. Three religious orders have developed from the fruits of his work: the Montfort Missionaries, the Daughters of Wisdom, and the Brothers of St. Gabriel. In the small village of St. Lourent-sur-Sevre, near Cholet, lies his shrine and tomb and near the basilica is the home of the Montfort Missionaries. For more information on St. Louis de Montfort, his Marian spirituality and his writings, contact Montfort Publications, Bay Shore, NY 11706. Louis de Montfort predicted that his book True Devotion to Mary would one day be discovered in a buried chest; this proved to be true when it was found in 1842 after it had been hidden away during the French Revolution.
 

After the death of Christ, when the great era of Christian evangelization began, so did the persecutions. Those who had known Jesus personally during his lifetime were singled out as special victims of severe abuse, torture, and murder. Mary Magdalene, her brother, Lazarus, her sister Martha, the holy women Mary-Jacob and Salome and Maximin along with 72 disciples were put on a boat without sails or oars and pushed out to sea to die. The Lord guided them to the mouth of the Rhone where they dispersed into the local province, spreading the Good News. Mary Magdalene and Lazarus journeyed to Marseille, where they evangelized the local inhabitants. A few years later Mary Magdalene settled in a cave in the mountains of Ste. Baume to spend the last years of her life. Unbeknown to her at first, superstition and pagan worship pervaded this area known for its mysterious grotto and sacred forests. In prayer, penance, and reparation Mary Magdalene worked to fight off the evil spirits and demons that enslaved the souls of those living there. She sought to Christianize the mountains with the Presence of the One whom had risen from the dead just a few years earlier. She planted a cross in the ground to symbolize the One True God. The shrine of St. Mary Magdalene receives more than two hundred thousand pilgrims annually. The grotto of St. Mary Magdalene is among the most spectacular in its natural beauty and grandeur with a commanding view of the Mediterranean Sea. Mary Magdalene died around the year 75 A.D. and is buried at St. Maximin in a crypt.
 

A seventeenth -century champion of the poor, St. Vincent de Paul devoted his whole life to serving the needs of the less fortunate. His name and missionary work have spread to the far corners of the earth. Born on April 24, 1581 Vincent de Paul was ordained a priest in the year 1600. At the time he had great ambitions to live with all the comforts of a modern life. During his early years as a priest he worked as a chaplain for Queen Margaret de Valois and served as a tutor to the powerful de Gondi family and the income he received allowed him to live very comfortably. While ministering to the de Gondis family, Vincent began noticing the great inequities between the rich and the poor. In 1617 Vincent established the first "Confraternity of Charity" - both the order and the confraternity had missions of serving the poor and he became well known throughout Europe as his missionaries traveled from Ireland to North Africa and France to Poland. Twenty-five of his houses were established during his lifetime. The body of St.Vincent de Paul resides in a chapel in the motherhouse of the Congregation of the Mission in downtown Paris at 95, rue de Sevres.
 

These two cities located in West Germany were devastated in World War II; however, their prominent cathedrals survived. Cologne was settled by the Romans in 38 BC, and the Roman Emperor Claudius made it a Roman capital naming it in honor of his wife, Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinesis in 50 AD. It was the Holy Roman Empire’s largest and richest city from the 11th to 16th centuries. It gained importance in 1194 after it acquired the relics of the Three Magi, the Wise Men who brought gifts the infant Jesus. Needing a home worthy of their importance, work began in 1248 on the Kolner Dom, a magnificent Gothic cathedral, where the relics remain today. At the time this cathedral was built, the Kolner Dom’s twin west towers, at 515 feet, were the tallest structures in the world. Cologne is known for eau de cologne, the toilet water/perfume first produced there in the 18th century, as well as its many restaurants, bars, shops, museums, and Romanesque churches.
 

In 1330 while the priest, Heinrich Otto was celebrating Mass he accidentally knocked over the chalice containing the blood of Christ. As the blood spilled across the corporal, an image of the crucified Christ with eleven surrounding thorn-crowned heads appeared on the cloth. He quickly hid the piece of linen under the altar and not until Mass was over did he take a closer look at the corporal. Re-examining the corporal, Fr. Otto noticed that the images made visible by the blood had become decidedly sharp and clear; he, again, hid the linen under the altar. Not until a few days before his death did he reveal the event. Upon his deathbed he confessed the secret and the Miraculous Corporal was immediately found and enshrined. Word of the bloodstained linen spread quickly throughout the nearby villages and soon thousands of pilgrims traveled to see the Holy Corporal. Miracles, healings and conversions were numerous among those who visited. In 1445 Pope Eugene IV recognized the Eucharistic Miracle as authentic; Just three years earlier he had confirmed another Eucharistic miracle in Ferrara, Italy. Walldurn is a small town situated near Frankfurt, Wurzburg, Heidelberg, and Heilbronn, Germany. The major pilgrimage period for the shrine lasts 4 weeks beginning on Trinity Sunday and is known as the "Pilgrimage to the Holy Blood".
 

Munich or ‘home of the monks’ is Germany’s third-largest city and one of its most appealing. This region is rich in shrines and churches and many are architectural masterpieces. Munich is a center of art, music, business, and its annual beer festival, Oktoberfest. Bavaria has always been a religious community and continues to be primarily Roman Catholic. The 11th century produced three princes who became popes: Clement II, Damasus II and Victor II. Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) has two onion-domed steeples. The cathedral houses its architect, Jorg von Polling, as well as several early rulers of Bavaria. Asamkirche is also known as Church of Saint Johannus Nepomuk but is actually named for its builders - brothers named Cosmas and Egid Asam. It is a small church that is attached to Asam’s house which houses in a glass case the skeleton of the saint that it was named for, a 14th century Bohemian monk. Andechs, is a hilltop Benedictine monastery and one of the most popular shrines in Bavaria. It houses religious relics brought from the Holy Land 1000 years ago.
 

Oberammergau is known for its wood-carvers and especially, for its carved Christmas crèches; many houses in the village are elaborately frescoed. Oberammergau is a typical Bavarian alpine village close to Innsbruck, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Zugspitze. Bavaria is rich in religious history but well known for its Passion Play that is staged once every ten years which is a portrayal in 16 acts of the final days of Christ’s life. In 1632, the Bubonic plague or Black Death was rampant in Europe. In time it reached Oberammergau and 10 % of the population was taken. Fearful, the Catholic people of this town promised that if their village could be spared, they would sacrifice a year every decade to re-enact the final days of Christ. This promise was extended to their descendants. Originally, it was necessary for the players to be natives of Oberammergau; presently, it is still necessary to have lived there at least 20 years. All are amateurs who devote themselves full time in these roles. Nearly half of the population (2,000) are actively involved in the production. Nearby in Ettal is the Benedictine monastery and the castle of King Ludwig II at Schloss Linderhof.
 

On August 21, 1879 14 people witnessed an apparition of the Blessed Virgin, Saint Joseph, and Saint John on their parish church outer wall. While it was pouring rain on them, the apparition remained dry. The Virgin was dressed in a white cloak and wore a golden crown. Immediately the small parish church became a place of pilgrimage and soon drew people from neighboring towns and then all of Ireland. A huge basilica opened in 1976 and over 200 visions have been reported of the Blessed Virgin. Knock is numbered among the dozen apparition sites to receive canonical sanction. The town has been transformed from a quiet village to a bustling town with souvenir shops, parking lots, business facilities and a major airport.
 

In Knock we join Mary in a spirit of unity and prayer. Here, the Mother of Christ appeared in prayerful contemplation with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist. This apparition took place on August 21, 1879 - Margaret Byrn saw an unusually bright light near the church after locking it up. Mary McLoughlin also noticed a bright light, as well as some "statues" up against a wall as she passed by the church to visit a friend. After her visit to the Beirnes, Mary McLoughlin was walking home with Mary Beirne when Mary Beirne noticed a bright light and some "statues" leaning against the building. "Those statues are moving…it is the Blessed Virgin Mary!" Immediately, she ran home to inform her family of the incredible news. Word traveled through town. They all saw the heavenly vision. Three figures were bathed in a beautiful light. The Mother of God was clad in a white robe with a brilliant gold crown on her head. Her hands were raised toward heaven in prayer. On her left was St. John the Evangelist. He was dressed like a bishop and was holding open a book, while his right hand was raised in the air as if preaching. On the Blessed Mother's right was St. Joseph. He was standing in a humble stature with his hands joined together and shoulders bent toward Our Lady. All the figures were slightly above the ground with Mary slightly higher than the other two. To the left of St. John stood an altar with a lamb on it facing the figures and behind the lamb was a cross. The vision lasted for two hours with 15 witnesses ranging in age from 6 to 70 years old. Soon thousands of pilgrims were journeying to Knock where many miracles and cures were reported. The story of Knock consists of Only * one apparition. However, Our Lady of Knock shrine, along with Lourdes, is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for the sick and handicapped. During the early years after the apparition, people left their crutches hanging on a wall as a sign of their healing.
 

The holy mountain of Croagh Patrick lies 2500 feet above sea level in northwestern Ireland. Tradition says that St. Patrick fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights in 441. However, before Christianity came to Ireland, the people in the area worshiped the pagan god Hugh on the top of Croagh Patrick, but when St. Patrick arrived at the summit he banished all demons and snakes from the mountain. From then on, the site became a place of Christian worship and it is believed that the first church was built on the summit sometime around the year 824. Every year on the last Sunday of July, thousands of pilgrims assemble and "following in the footsteps" of previous generations, many pilgrims climb the rocky slopes barefoot as an act of prayer and reparation. To climb St. Patrick's Holy Mountain is to be a true pilgrim. The journey upward involves prayer, penance, and self-denial. The journey to the top includes three traditional stations where pilgrims say designated prayers and perform short spiritual exercises. Near the entrance is a statue of St. Patrick welcoming the pilgrims; the first station is found partway up the mountain; the second station is at the summit; the third station is located on the Lecanvey side on the descent. The climb up and down the mountain takes one and a half to two hours each way. Croagh Patrick Mountain has gold in it; however, because of the religious significance of the mountain, the Irish government has banned all mining operations.
 

The first writings of St. Patrick's Purgatory, or Lough Derg, go back to the 784 A.D. Annals of Ireland. The shrine is located on a remote island on Lough (lake) Derg in county Donegal in northwestern Ireland. Prayer, conversion and reparation remain the major themes; during a typical three-day pilgrimage to the isolated island, pilgrims fast from all foods and liquids, except water, from midnight to the afternoon of arrival at Lough Derg. After arrival, the pilgrim will continue the fast for the remainder of the three-day period, except for one light meal daily consisting of bread, water, tea and coffee. Upon reaching the island by boat, pilgrims remove all footwear and remain barefoot during the entire stay. The first night consists of a "sleep fast" - pilgrims spend the night performing various stations in or near the basilica. These stations consist of prayers, meditations, and spiritual exercises. Pilgrims are allowed to sleep during the second night. The three days are spent mostly in quiet prayer (but not mandatory), with continuous walking, standing, and kneeling at various assigned stations or penitential "beds". One station would include visiting the Blessed Sacrament in St. Patrick's Basilica, then going to St. Brigid's Cross near the outer part of the basilica, walking over rough stones around the "bed" while reciting the rosary, then repeating the process on one's knees, and then with arms outstretched saying three times, "I renounce the world, the flesh and the devil". Why would one go to St. Patrick's Purgatory? For some, it is a place of solitude; others, a place of thanksgiving for a favor received; others, it is a place for reparation for past sins. Lough Derg is a challenge to the body and soul and often pilgrims leave with a renewed vigor to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 

Emperor Constantine recognized Christianity as a religion and ordered the construction of churches and basilicas throughout Rome beginning in the 4th century. In 330 he ordered St. Peter's Basilica to be built on Vatican Hill and with freedom to practice faith openly, Christian pilgrims from all social levels, traveled to Rome and began praying at the tombs of Peter and Paul. Today, there are more than 50 major basilicas and churches.
 

Bari was established in the 4th century with much history to follow - after the fall of the Roman Empire it went from Ostrogoths, to Lombards, then Moslems, then Byzantines, then Normans in 1071. Later, was under control by Aragon, Spain, the Hapsburgs and the Bourbons. The Basilica di San Nicola in Bari was Only * remaining building after wars. Places of pilgrimage include Monte Sant’Angelo and San Giovanni Rotondo. St. Nicholas of Myra in Lycia (now part of Turkey) Because of his zeal and holiness soon became bishop, but was imprisoned during the reign of Diocletian. He was originally entombed in his cathedral at Myra, but in 1087 Italian soldiers removed Saint Nicholas’s body and transported it to Bari where was enshrined in the presence of Pope Urban II. His year of death varies from 345 to 352 He is patron of children, scholars, and sailors. Saint Nicholas has had many legends involving the giving of gifts, thus, the Santa Claus connection.
 

St. Clare, also born to a well-to-do Assisi family, became a devoted follower of Francis in 1211 after hearing his Lenten message. They shared each other’s desire to give fully to a life of contemplation. On March 18, 1212, the 18-year old Clare and a close friend secretly went to the Portiuncula, a small chapel, where Francis and his friars dressed her in the Franciscan robe, cut her hair to consecrate her to a life of penance and thus, formed what is known as Francis’s Second Order. The first sister to join the order was Pacifica di Guelfuccio, Clare’s friend. Soon after, Clare’s sisters Agnes and Beatrice and their mother, Ortolana joined the order. The order was initially called the Poor Women of Saint Damian’s. In 1215 Pope Innocent III granted Clare the privilege of taking the vow of poverty - forbidden to hold property of any kind and “…content to serve the Lord in poverty and humility”. She died in 1253 and was canonized two years later. Her feast day is August 11 and intercession is sought in cases of eye disease and in childbirth.
 

Another precious relic in the Basilica of St. Rita is the Eucharistic Miracle of Cascia and has a story of its own. In 1330 a dying farmer called for a priest. In his eagerness to respond to the call, the priest quickly grabbed a consecrated host from the tabernacle and lodged it in his breviary rather than putting it into a pyx. When the priest opened his breviary he found a bleeding host and the pages were stained with blood. Closing the book quickly and feeling fear and remorse, he returned to Siena. Immediately he confessed the bloodstained pages and host to Blessed Simone Fidati. After absolving the priest of his sin, Blessed Simone retained the breviary for further investigation. As with all Eucharistic miracles, numerous tests were conducted on the relic. It was later discovered that when the bloodstained breviary page was viewed through a weak microscope or held up against the light, the image of a sad bearded man appeared. The image is also visible in photographs. Today the relic resides in a stone crystal tabernacle of the basilica.
 

From time to time God has provided visible miracles in this sacrament of love to help the Doubting Thomases of the world. The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano took place during the 8th century when a Basilian monk was saying Mass. Moments after the consecration, the priest, who had been doubting the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist, found himself holding a host that had changed into flesh. The wine had changed into blood, clotted up and split into five pieces of different shapes and sizes. The humbled priest raised his head and revealed the event to his parishioners. When the news spread, the faithful came from everywhere to behold the miracle. Twelve centuries later, the sacred relics have remained incorrupt. The flesh has retained the dimensions of the original host and the blood has remained coagulated. The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano has been subjected to numerous scientific tests, and the latest conducted in 1970-71 has confirmed that "the flesh is real flesh and the blood is real blood". The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano is myocardium (muscular heart tissue), blood type AB. There are no preservatives of any kind, yet the species are incorrupt, despite 1200 years of exposure to the atmosphere and to various investigations. As Louis Pasteur once said, "A little bit of science averts people from God, a lot of it, takes us back to Him". The miracle defies all human explanation.
 

In 1263 a Bohemian priest, who did not believe in the transubstantiation of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the host and wine, went on a pilgrimage to Rome to ask at St. Peter's tomb that his faith might be strengthened. On his return, the priest stopped in the city of Bolsena to celebrate Mass at the Church of Santa Christina. As he raised the bread at the moment of consecration, the host began to bleed profusely and drops of blood fell from the Eucharist on to the corporal. Startled, the priest immediately wrapped the Eucharist in the cloth. As he left the altar, a few drops of blood fell on the marble floor. After informing Pope Urban IV of the event, the priest and bishop of Bolsena were ordered to bring the host and bloodstained corporal to Orvieto, where the Holy Father was living. In honor of the Eucharistic miracle, the Pope asked St. Thomas Aquinas to write the proper of the Mass honoring the Blessed Sacrament; he also wrote the hymn "Tantum Ergo". After 'composing' the Mass of Corpus Christi, St. Thomas Aquinas was blessed with a miracle: the corpus on the crucifix before him came to life and said, "You have written well about me and my sacrament, Thomas. What do you ask of me now as a reward?" "Only * yourself," answered the saint. A year later, the Feast of Corpus Christi was instituted throughout the Christian world. In the chapel of the Cathedral of Orvieto is a reliquary containing the holy corporal. Every year on the Feast of Corpus Christi, a magnificent procession of the holy corporal passes through the streets with over 400 participants. Other events include re-enactments of historical events, medieval suppers, a procession of medieval ladies with music and dances.
 

The house of the Holy Family lies in the Shrine of Loreto in central Italy and is one the premier treasures of the Catholic Church. Scientific and archaeological studies continue to affirm what the faithful have believed for centuries: that Jesus, Mary and Joseph once lived in this home. So how did a home that was built in Nazareth wind up on a hill in central Italy? According to legend, in 1291 the Blessed Virgin Mary's house was transported by angels from Nazareth to Croatia and later, in 1294 to the hill of Loreto. Today's research methods confirm that the building materials used in the house correspond to those used in the basement of the home still in place at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Furthermore, various graffiti cuts of Jewish-Christian origin found in the stones also resemble those found at Nazareth. The Holy House of Loreto is highly significant in Christianity and tradition strongly asserts that, first, the Blessed Virgin was conceived and born in this home. Second, that it is the place where Mary grew up and received the angel's invitation to be the mother of Our Lord. Third, it is where Jesus returned every day after work. To realize the mystery of the Incarnation took place within these walls is truly humbling. More than 50 pops have made pilgrimages to Loreto.
 

Among the many people who have visited Loreto and its Holy House of the Blessed Virgin have been saints-to-be, princes and more than 50 popes. It is believed that the Holy House is the home of the Blessed Virgin that has been flown from the Holy Land to its present site by a band of angels. It is believed that ‘the angels felt that the house, which had been turned into a church by the Apostles in the first century, needed to be moved because Nazareth had fallen into the hands of Muslim invaders in 1291’. Pietro di Giorgio Tolomei in 1470 recorded that ‘the angels first took the house - containing a statue of the Virgin made by Saint Luke - to Tersatto in present-day Croatia in 1291. It was moved three years later, again by angels, to the Italian village of Recanti. Eight months later it was moved again, and then a fourth a short distance. Within a year the Virgin revealed the origin of the house to a holy man in a dream. The people of Recanti investigated and learned that the building that was once in Nazareth and had vanished had mysteriously appeared in their village. (Recent investigations have shown that the stone of which the house is made is not found in the area of Loreto, but common in Nazareth.) The Holy House quickly became a shrine. The basilica, started in 1468 and completed in 1587, includes the work of many of Italy’s foremost architects: the façade is by Donato Bramante, the dome is by Giuliano da Sangallo and beneath the dome is the tabernacle by Andrea Sansovino plus more than two dozen artists. The shrine became a parish in 1482 and came under papal protection two years later. In 1920 Our Lady of Loreto became the patron of airmen and air travelers. Feast of the Holy House is December 10.
 

Francesco Forgione was born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy into a pious Catholic family, and from a very young age had a great love for Jesus Christ and strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1903 he entered the monastery and in 1910 was ordained and transferred to several sites. Later known as Padre Pio, he arrived at San Giovanni Rotondo, where he remained for the last 50 years of his life. Padre Pio received many graces in his life and is considered one of the great mystics of this century. The list of extraordinary gifts is overwhelming: prophecy, bilocation, the reading of souls, the odor of sanctity, discernment of spirits, spiritual direction, and miraculous healings. He received visits from Jesus and Mary and had daily communication with his guardian angel. The greatest gift of his lifetime, the stigmata, was given to him in 1918, wherein he was pierced with the five sacred wounds while praying before a crucifix. He bled from these wounds until his death. The devil tormented this gentle priest throughout his lifetime. Oftentimes, he bore cuts, bruises and marks that the devil had inflicted during nightly punishments. Padre Pio was especially devoted to the salvation of souls in purgatory and stories tell of souls in purgatory appearing to him and thanking him for a Mass said in their honor. The saintly priest gave up his soul on September 23, 1968 and on September 23, 2001 he will be Canonized by Pope John Paul II. The shrine of Our Lady of Grace houses the tomb of Padre Pio. He was the first priest in history to receive the stigmata.
 

Padua was St. Anthony’s last home and he is entombed in the Basilica of Sant Antonio. He was born to a noble family in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195 and educated at Lisbon Cathedral School. He joined the Augustinian Canons Regular as a teenager and studied at Coimbra. In 1220 Anthony was inspired to follow in the footsteps of the Franciscan Order. He arranged for a release from the Augustinians and became a Franciscan the following year and traveled to North Africa. Illness forced his return, but his ship was driven off course and he landed in Sicily. He made his way to Assisi where he lived in solitude and penance in the hermitage of Monte Paolo, but news traveled of his inspirational preaching. Francis requested Anthony to preach against heretics in northern Italy and southern France and assigned him to teach other friars in theology. He had superior knowledge of the scriptures and combined with powerful personality, his reputation grew. When Francis died in 1226, Anthony remained in Padua until his death in 1231 at the age of 36. Saint Anthony is prayed to for the return of lost objects. He was canonized in 1232 by Pope Gregory IX; Pope Pius XII in 1946 made him a Doctor of the Church.
 

Home for 50 years, and tomb of Padre Pio. Born Francesco, he was a sickly child but deeply pious and at age 15 entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars in Morcone. In 1903 he became a Franciscan known as Brother Pio and in 1907 took his final vows. In 1916 after various prolonged illnesses he arrived at the monastery at San Giovanni Rotondo and remained there until his death in 1968. On Sept 20, 1918 he received the stigmata - the marks of Christ’s wounds at the Crucifixion on his body - the first priest to bear these since St. Francis in the 13th century. Many miracles and intercessions occurred through him. Padre Pio developed a huge following including a young Polish priest, Karol Wojtyla, who became Pope John Paul II. During the beatification of Padre Pio on May 2, 1999 Pope John Paul II said, “I had a chance to meet him personally, and I thank God for allowing me today to enter Padre Pio’s name in the book of the blessed.” That day Pope John Paul gave communion to a woman, Consiglia de Martino, who Padre Pio is credited with miraculously curing of a life-threatening chest ailment in 1995. He once said, “I want to be Only * a poor friar who prays.” “In books we learn of God, in prayer we find Him. Prayer is the key that opens the heart of God.”
 

In this city the saint founded the Church of the Osservanza. St. Bernardine remains one of the Catholic Church's greatest preachers. Born in 1380, at the age of 17 he joined a confraternity of Our Lady and devoted himself to the relief of the sick. In 1400 when a terrible plague broke out in Siena, Bernardine took control of the local hospital and worked tirelessly for four months alleviating the pains and sufferings of the patients, sacrificing his life to help the victims of the plague. Joining the Franciscan Order, in 1403 he was professed and then pursued a solitary life for the next 12 years. In 1417 he began preaching in Milan and quickly grew a following, which led him to preach throughout Italy. In his sermons he preached penance, denounced the evil of the times, and urged the faithful to return to the gospel. After a lifetime of missionary work, he died in the monastery of the Conventuals. Many miracles were reported from those who visited his tomb in Aquila. Remembered always for popularizing the devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. St. Catherine lived solely on the Eucharist for the last 7 years of her life. Pope Nicholas V canonized Bernardine a saint in 1450.
 

Catherine was born into nobility and blessed with beauty, intelligence, strong virtues, holiness, liveliness and artistic talent. Many asked for her hand in marriage, but she refused all in favor of joining a group of Franciscan tertiaries. Throughout her religious life she experienced miracles, ecstasies and visitations from Jesus and Mary. While praying one Christmas Eve, Our Lady appeared to her. The Blessed Mother handed to Catherine the Christ Child wrapped in newborn linen. Trembling, Catherine accepted Jesus into her arms and cradled him. There were many reported healings Catherine performed. While working with a hoe in the convent garden, one of the nuns cut her foot badly. All rushed to the scene and when Catherine arrived she looked up to heaven, said a prayer and miraculously healed the wound. There were many other mystical events - God once permitted her to hear the angelic choirs after the Elevation of the Host. She wrote the treatise The Seven Spiritual Weapons. Many of her writings came as a result of Satanic visitations. Satan continuously tempted her into evil thoughts and acts, but Catherine soon had the ability to discern evil. She learned that a deep sense of humility preceded a vision from heaven. During these ecstasies, one would become aware of her or his faults, past, present and future. Once the soul was "cleansed," Jesus would enter bringing profound peace. Conversely, when Satan appeared, blasphemies and doubts crept into the soul, especially concerning the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Catherine gave up her soul to God on March 9, 1463. Miracles continued afterward with her body emitting a beautiful fragrance at the time of her burial. For days the sweet scent filled the cemetery, yet no flowers were in the vicinity. The sisters exhumed her body 18 days later but found no signs of decay. The body was placed in the convent for her sisters to view her sacred remains. Several years later Catherine appeared to one of the sisters where she expressed her wish to be placed in the small chapel, with her body in a seated position. On May 22, 1712, Catherine of Bologna was canonized. Since 1463 her body has remained incorrupt, although her skin has darkened. St. Catherine is patron saint of artists.
 

Francis was born in 1181 in Assisi, Italy. At 20 he went to war, was captured and imprisoned for a year. During this time he became extremely ill. It was then that God planted the first seed of conversion in him and he began to question life's priorities. However, once he recovered he thought again of becoming a successful knight. When another war broke out he, again, joined the fight. Traveling through the city of Spoleto on his way to the war he fell ill. While recuperating in a nearby village he heard a voice say, "Who can do most for you, servant or master?" Francis answered, "The master." "Why then do you follow the servant rather than the Master?" The second seed of conversion had been planted. Soon after, while wandering around the Assisi countryside, Francis came upon the ruins of an old church called St. Damian's. The church was in a terrible state of disrepair. While praying before the crucifix, Jesus spoke three times from the cross to him: "Go, Francis, repair my Church, which is in ruin." Interpreting the message literally, Francis decided to raise money to help rebuild St. Damian's Church. To raise money, he took material from his father's store and sold it in the marketplace; however, when the priest at St. Damien's heard how the money had been raised refused to accept his offer. His father found out about the incident and filed suit against Francis for theft. Francis appealed to the bishop who ruled that the money be returned to his father. In obedience to the Church, Francis returned the money and then went one step further. Stripping himself of his own clothes, Francis handed them over to his father and renounced the world's goods. Living in near poverty on his own, Francis began to rebuild the church of St. Damian's begging on the streets for his food. In time he attracted a number of followers. An informal rule for his brothers was written which included absolute poverty, good works, and preaching. In 1209 Francis, along with his brothers, journeyed to Rome, where Pope Innocent III approved their rule. In 1224 Francis received the stigmata, the five wounds of Christ. The first stigmatist in history, he bled and suffered from these sacred wounds until his death. This was all part of Francis's complete transformation into the living image of Christ. Late in the year 1226 he, again, fell seriously ill. Fulfilling his final request, the friars brought him to the Portiuncula and speaking his last words Francis said, "I have done my part, may Christ teach you to do yours." With that the saint gave up his soul to God and was canonized just 2 years later. His remains lie in a triple urn on an altar in the Basilica of St. Francis on the hill of Assisi. During the Christmas season of 1223, Francis built the world's first-known nativity scene. Francis attracted women as well as men to his way of life. The first to follow was St. Clare of Assisi. On March 18, 1212 Francis placed her in a Benedictine convent near Bastia. When St. Clare's family learned where she was living, they came with weapons to remove her from the convent, but were unsuccessful. In time, Clare founded the Order of Poor Clares, a group of women who followed the teachings of St. Francis. Living a life of humility, charity, mortification and obedience, she soon attracted many others to the order. Within a short time all three of Clare's sisters and her mother joined the Poor Clares - wearing no sandals, sleeping on hard ground, and abstaining from meat were just a few of the strict rules of the order. Meditating on the Passion of Christ and reciting the Office of the Passion often reduced her to tears. The center of her life was the Holy Eucharist; so much so that several sisters testified that when she received the Holy Eucharist, she trembled all over. A Eucharistic miracle is also associated with the saint. In 1240 Assisi was attacked by enemy troops climbing over the walls of the monastery. Although terrified by the invasion, Clare placed the Blessed Sacrament before the door where the soldiers were attempting to enter. After she prostrated herself and wept before the Holy Eucharist, silence was heard and the troops had mysteriously retreated. Clare bore sickness for many years and suffered in agony. Shortly before she died, Clare confided to one of her sisters that she desired to have the Pope approve the rule of the order before she died so that she could kiss the papal seal. On August 10, 1253 her wish was fulfilled, moments before she died. Within 2 years of her death she was canonized.
 

The most famous miracle-worker of the 18th century, St. Gerard is the patron saint of motherhood. Born on April 6, 1726 and dying at the young age of 29, he is the perfect role model for young adults and anyone striving for holiness. From a young age he offered his services to the Church and served the bishop of Lacedogna. Although severely ill-treated by the prelate, he served the bishop faithfully until his death. He then returned home giving a third of his earnings to his mother, a third in alms to the poor, and the balance in stipends for Masses for the souls in purgatory. At age 23 Gerard left home and joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer as a lay brother. In time everyone recognized Gerard's superior work ethic and St. Alphonsus Liguori, the founder of the order, realized the young man's sanctity and shortened his novitiate. Because of his gift for reading souls, the Redemptorist fathers brought Gerard on their missions and retreats. He experienced the gifts of ecstatic flight, bilocation, prophecy, and infused knowledge. When the archpriest of Muro was murdered 50 miles away, Gerard knew of the incident immediately. Often he read the mental wishes of others at a distance and on one occasion he read the bad conscience of an archbishop with such accuracy that the prelate repented and completely reformed his life. His reputation for holiness became well known and several communities of nuns received him as their spiritual director, as well as being spiritual advisor to other priests. Brother Gerard possessed a deep love for the poor with a concern and compassion similar to that of a mother for her children. During the last weeks of his life his intimacy with God soared and reportedly, he was once carried through the air for a distance of half a mile.
 

Obedience, meekness and cheerfulness marked her character. Vulgarity and ill-mannered behavior offended her deeply. A person of innocence and a lover of chastity, she was murdered that the age of 12 while defending her purity. She shed her blood in order not to betray the Lord and to protect her assailant from committing a terrible sin. Maria Goretti was born October 16, 1890 to a family that lived in poverty. After her father's death from malaria, her family moved in with the Serenelli family. As a pious girl, Maria prayed the rosary often, was especially close to the Virgin Mary, and greatly devoted to Jesus. Knowing the family was poor, a generous store owner once gave Maria an apple and a sugar cookie, which she immediately put in her bag after thanking him. When the store owner questioned if she was going to eat them, she replied that they were for her brothers and sisters. The Serenelli family abused alcohol, posted pornographic pictures on their walls, and had no faith. The son, Alessandro, developed a liking for Maria and one day attempted to rape her. Maria struggled and told Alessandro, "No! No! It is a sin! You will go to hell." He pulled her dress up and began stabbing her with a knife. Seeing blood everywhere and knowing he had wounded her mortally, Alessandro ran to his room. In her final hours she received Holy Communion, the last rites, and was made a Daughter of Mary. Witnesses said that she had a miraculous vision of the Virgin Mary. Her road to sanctity culminated in the forgiving of her murderer, Alessandro Serenelli. "Yes, for the love of Jesus, I pardon him, and I want him to come with me to paradise. May God forgive him because I already have". Alessandro, sentenced to 30 years in prison, remained unrepentant until one night he had a dream in which Maria Goretti approached him with lilies in her arms. As he received the lilies from her, he experienced a complete conversion of the heart. After serving 27 years in prison, he left to spend the rest of his life serving as a gardener at a monastery in penance. Maria Goretti was beatified on April 27, 1947 - she is the Only * saint ever to have had family members present at the canonization ceremony.
 

The most celebrated of shrines is that of St. Michael the Archangel at Mont Sant'Angelo. Six popes, along with St. Francis of Assisi, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Bridget of Sweden, St. Gerard majella, St. William of Vercelli have pilgrimaged to this site and have knelt before him to as for his protection in their endeavors. The first apparition occurred in 490 when Elvio Emmanuele lost his best bull. He finally found it kneeling in a cave. Since he was unable to approach it he shot an arrow at it. Mystically, the arrow turned around and struck the man instead. Elvio explained this to the bishop who ordered three days of prayer and fasting. On the third day, St. Michael the Archangel appeared to the bishop saying, "I am Michael the Archangel and am always in the presence of God. I chose cave that is sacred to me. There will be no more shedding of bull's blood. Where the rocks open widely, the sins of men may be pardoned. What is asked here in prayer will be granted. Therefore, go up to the mountain cave and dedicate it to the Christian God!" However, the bishop ignored the angelic order. Two years later when the Christian city of Siponto was at war with the pagans of Odoacre, the bishop begged for mercy and obtained a truce and asked for three days of prayer and penance. When St. Michael again appeared to him, St. Michael promised the bishop victory if the townspeople would attack the enemy. Soon a violent storm engulfed the village of Odoacre, thus saving the people of Siponto. The bishop lead a procession in thanksgiving to the top of the archangel's mountain, however, nobody dared to enter the grotto. Later in the year when the bishop consulted the Holy Father on the archangel's previous order, St. Michael appeared for a third time and ordered him to enter the grotto. Following his instructions, the bishop entered the grotto and found an altar covered with a red cloth and a crystal cross. At the entrance an imprint of a small foot was found, confirming the presence of St. Michael. After the third apparition, the bishop commissioned a chapel to be built. Upon completion the bishop dedicated it but did not consecrate the church since it had been consecrated by St. Michael. (it is the Only * building of worship in the Roman Catholic Church that has not been consecrated by humans). In 1656 the last apparition of St. Michael the Archangel took place. When a terrible plague engulfed Italy, the local bishop prayed to St. Michael for protection. The plague ceased. The name Michael in Hebrew means "Who is like unto God."
 

The Holy Shroud, believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, is a rectangular length of woven linen cloth. On the Shroud is the image of a man whose wounds correspond with whip marks, head wounds from the crown of thorns, nail wounds, and a wound in the side as in the Crucifixion. It is normally kept inside a sealed silver reliquary in the cathedral; back to early 1350’s it was displayed in Lirey, France. However, it came into the possession of the House of Savoy at Chambery, France in 1453 and in 1578 was taken to Turin. In 1171 William Tyre noted that the burial shroud of Christ was preserved in the imperial palace in Constantinople; in 1203 Crusaders noted that the Shroud was displayed in Constantinople and the image of the Lord was clearly visible. The Shroud has barely escaped destruction by fire three times and most recently in 1997 when a fire did extensive damage to Turin’s 15th century cathedral. The Shroud has been subjected to many scientific tests and many disputes. Turin is 320 miles northwest of Rome in the regional capital of Piedmont, offering some of Europe’s most spectacular Alpine scenery. The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, the Chapel of the Holy Shroud and Royal Palace are in the heart of the city of Turin. Nearby is the Church of San Lorenzo, designed by Guarino Guarini, the priest who designed the chapel. He also created Turin’s Palace of the Academy of Sciences, and Palazzo Carignano, the birthplace of two kings and meeting place of Italy’s first parliament. North of Turin is the Matterhorn (Monte Cervine) which borders Italy and Switzerland and Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco), Europe’s highest mountain peak.
 

Our Lady of Guadalupe is probably the most famous image in all of Latin America. On Dec. 9, 1531 the Blessed Virgin appeared to Juan Diego, and Indian, at Tepeyac, where the Aztecs worshipped the mother of their gods. Juan was instructed to have the bishop build a church on the site. She, again, appeared 3 days later to Juan. This time the Blessed Virgin told him to pick flowers and take them to the bishop. Juan wrapped the flowers in his cloak, and when he opened the cloak in front of the bishop, there was the Virgin’s image. Today, Juan Diego’s cloak is enshrined in its own altar in the Basilica. In 1910 Pope Pius X declared the Virgin Patroness of Latin America; in 1935 Pope Pius XI declared her Patroness of the Phillipines. December 12 is the feastday of Our Lady of Guadalupe.