Traveling to Rome/going on a pilgrimage?

[twosweetgirls]

I very, very much want to travel to Rome or the Holy Land someday. I want to do it so bad I can almost taste it! My Rosary benefactors’ children have all made pilgrimages there–one’s there as we speak–and I was thisclose to flying gunshot with her! (Might have to wait a while until twosweetgirls get a little older, but still. . . )

My questions: have you traveled to Rome (or the Holy Land, or Lourdes, or some other place like that)? Did you go with your parish or by yourself? How much did it cost? Was your walk with the Lord enhanced? Did you gain a better appreciation or devotion to the Blessed Mother? What did you like? What didn’t you like or what would you do differently next time?

Please share you experiences; fire away!

 

[Ancilla]

In November of 2005 I went on pilgrimmage with my Mother to Rome, Fatima, Lourdes, and several places in Spain. I looked into going on our own, but the costs are really too high, and unless you can drive, it’s really out of the question. You’re far better off going with a tour - especially if you don’t speak the language. Also, they usually have the opportunity for daily Mass - if there is a priest on the trip with you, you will definitely have that.

I thought I was going because my Mother wanted to go, but it was truly an inspiring trip. Since then I’ve come to believe that my Mother in Heaven may have been behind the trip.

You would not believe what they actually have there until you exeperience it. We saw relics of the True Cross, the actual chains that Peter was kept in Jerusalem and Rome, and the number of Saints buried in the churches of Europe is unbelievable - we just don’t have that here. I’ll never know how much grace I received from this trip until I’m in Heaven.

Before I went I was on the road to conversion, but I truly believe that my conversion went into high gear upon my return. Everyone commented on the change in me. My walk with the Lord and Our Lady was greatly enhanced by this trip.

The trip cost about $3500 including all meals. We went for 14 days. I wouldn’t leave out any of it. Everyone says how commercial Fatima and Lourdes are, but I’m really not going to worry about all the shops. There are a lot of them, but it is to be expected.

By all means go as soon as you can. In the meantime, see if you can get a couple of videos that tell you about the places you’re interested in. The one thing I would change was the amount I didn’t know before I went.

One surprise was the church at Zaragoza in Spain. The Blessed Mother gave a pillar to St. James while she was still alive. He was a little depressed, so she told him to take the pillar, and build a church. The pillar has the most beautiful aroma - I don’t know how else to describe it. You can touch the pillar, and there is no doubt about the aroma! Some people say that St. James was never in Spain, but I believe that he was, and that Our Lady did give him this pillar with instructions to build a church there. They tried to bomb this church during WWII, and the bombs never went off - they have them on display near the pillar.

For those who believe no explaination is necessary, for those who do not none will suffice.

 

[Lovemyfaith]

We (DH, DD#1, DD#2, and I) leave for Rome on the 19th of January. We were there in November of 2003 last. Every church in Rome is unbelievable, as far as artwork, relics, etc. There are the steps the (it is believed) Jesus walked up to Pontius Pilate; St. Helena had them sent from Israel. The Vatican is amazing, and AND TO SEE THE POPE is just idescribable.
We didn’t do too many of the “ruins” type of tours, Coliseum (well we did see that) and such, but I understand those things are pretty interesting.
We never did get into the Scavi tour this time, oh well I guess we have to go back.
By the way, where we live is 34 degrees as the low today, and we could have just as easily gone to Hawaii instead of Rome, so that tells you what kind of regard we have for Rome.
As far as costs, the dollar is really weak right now, so I imagine food and museums will seem pricey. Since my husband travels a lot for work, we can usually get very good deals on travel. Also, this time of year is best for airfare, if you don’t mind the weather there. I understand there are convents that are available for lodging that are relatively cheap.
Good luck!