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 Rome
Pilgrimage Itinerary
This schedule is designed to give our group a good taste of Rome
as we experience it together. Venturing off on your own or in your
formed smaller groups is permissible, but not the responsibility
of Ave Maria Singles. We want you to get the most out of our Rome
trip as well as time with the single Catholics of our group. So
please consider this itinerary to be a "home base" schedule
that you can always plug in to. We will work out Daily Mass later.
Saturday, February 17
Travel day
Sunday, February
18
Arrive in Rome and settle into your quarters. Spend the
day in resting or optional tour of:
Sunday Mass as St. Peter's Bascillica
Monday, February
19
The morning tour will include trips to:
San Clemente --The Basilica of St. Clement
for Mass and a tour. This 12th-century church, at street level,
was built over a 4th-century church, which was in turn built over
a Roman house containing a temple to Mithras, and the foundations
are believed to date from the time of the Republic. San Clemente
has been under the care of the Irish Dominicans since 1667, when
the English outlawed the Irish Catholic Church and expelled the
entire clergy. At that time the Order was given refuge at San Clemente,
where to this day they maintain a convent for priests studying and
teaching in Rome.
 The
Coliseum
The construction of the Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Circus,
began in 75 AD and was completed in 80 BC. In the three or so centuries
of its operation, the Coliseum was the scene of much suffering and
death for the edification of fifty thousand Roman spectators. Beast
shows were put on in which exotic animals were put to death. Condemned
prisoners were thrown to wild animals to be torn limb from limb.
Gladiators fought, very often to the death. The Coliseum survives
only as a ruin, though a part of it has been restored so that stage
plays and concerts are now held there. It is, nevertheless, one
of the most impressive historical attractions in the world. (from
"A History Lover's Guide to Rome")
The afternoon tours will include:
The Palatinum
According to legend, Romulus chose Palatinum Hill to found the ancient
city of Rome. This is confirmed by very ancient ruins found right
at the top of this hill. The Palatinum was the place where most
of the luxurious homes of very rich and noble people were concentrated.
The Roman Forum
When the center of the world was Rome, the center of Rome was the
Forum. The most famous, the Roman Forum, was designed by the architect
Vitruvius. For centuries, the Roman Forum was the site of the city's
most important public buildings including the Arch of Septimius
Severus, built in 203 B.C. and the Rostra or public speaking platforms.
The reliefs on the triple arch represented many of Rome's victories
over oriental tribes and the Rostra was decorated with prows of
warships captured during battles. The Roman Forum became the spectacular
showcase of the Empire filled with beautiful statues and architecture.
Mamertine Prison
At the Roman Forum. The miraculous fountain.
Basilica di Ss. Cosma e Damiano--The Church of Ss. Cosmos
and Damian
What is now a chapel of the church of Saints Cosmos and Damian was
once a temple erected by Maxentius and dedicated to his son Romulus.
The church once housed a large hall which formed part of Vespasian's
Forum of Peace. In the apse are 6th century mosaics, among the most
beautiful in Rome, which were restored in 1989.
Tuesday, February 20
San Pietro en Vaticano -- The Basilica of St. Peter
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is the largest church in the
world, and one of the most beautiful. The ground upon which St.
Peter's Basilica stands was once a chariot racing stadium, constructed
during the reigns of the Emperors Caligula, Claudius and Nero, in
the years 40-65.
Tomb of John Paul II
This is a good time to go under St. Peter's to visit the tomb of
John Paul II, as well as other popes buried there.
Optional - The Vatican Museum
It has been estimated that if you spent one minute on every
object in the Vatican Museum, you would be there for 14 years.
 The
afternoon tours will include:
Santa Croce in Gerusalemme--The Basilica of the Holy Cross
of Jerusalem
This Basilica is one of the most sacred places of the capitol of
Christianity. It was probably Constantine who, around 320, ordered
the transformation of the Palazzo Sessoriano into the place where
the relics collected by his mother, St Helena, during her trip to
the Holy Land could be preserved. Here are kept soil from the Holy
Sepulchre, fragments of the Holy Cross , two thorns from the Crown,
the crosspiece from the cross of the penitent robber who was crucified
beside Christ and many other venerated objects. It is one of the
seven churches which are jubilee destinations during the Holy Years.
San Giovanni in Laterano -- The Basilica of St. John Lateran
St. John in Lateran is the Cathedral of Rome, one of the four major
basilicas and the mother of all churches in Rome and in the world.
Founded by Constantine, during the time of Silvester (314-335) it
has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. The current basilica
dates from the 17th century. This area once belonged to the Laterani
family, and was presented to the Church by the Emperor Constantine.
Optional - Holy Stairs
Wednesday, February 21
Wednesday morning is a high point of the trip:
General Audience with Pope Benedict XVI
FREE AFTERNOON
Thursday, February 22
Begins with a tour of:
 San
Paolo fuori le mura -- The Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls
The Apostle Paul, after his martyrdom, was buried in a cemetery
at this site. A shrine was erected, and many Christians came to
venerate St. Paul. The first church on this site was built by Emperor
Constantine in 324 over the grave site. The present basilica is
little changed in appearance since the 4th century.
Catacombs of St. Calixtus
The catacomb is actually three separate burial chambers that were
joined to create a single network. It was opened in the early 3rd
century, as the principal Christian cemetery in Rome, and is named
after the Deacon Callixtus, to whom Pope Zephyrinus (199-217) gave
the responsibility for the catacombs. St. Cecilia was originally
interred here.
The afternoon hours will be spent touring the:
Basilica of St. Sebasitan
The Basilica of St. Sebastian, outside of Rome, along the Appian
Way, is one of the most ancient and venerated of Rome's pilgrimage
sites. A chapel on the left of the church marks the place where
Sebastian, one of the early soldier saints, was buried in the catacombs
below.
The tour will be followed by Vigil Mass and a tour of the:
Catacombs of St. Sebastian
Friday, February 23
Holy House of Loreto Shrine pilgrimage
A special treat in our week in Rome. We travel 3 hours by bus to
the Shrine of the Holy House of Loreto to spend the day, arrive
back in Rome late that evening.
An ancient tradition reports that the Holy House of Loreto is the
same room of the existing Madonna to Nazareth, in Galilea, and here
Mary was born, she was educated and and received the angelic announcement.
No other Pope in history has spoken and written with such abundance,
devotion and awareness about the Holy House of Loreto as John Paul
II. And no other Pope has visited the Shrine of Loreto no less than
four times, as he has (1979, 1985, 1994, 1995).
You can read all about this shrine by going to:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13454b.htm
or
http://www.santuarioloreto.it/eng/default_eng.html
Saturday, February 24
FREE MORNING
The morning and afternoon is FREE to shop for gifts and souvenirs,
or go off in your own groups for private exploration.
Optional - Scavi Tour of the catacombs below St. Peter's
The tours are arranged between 9am and 3pm and lasts for 1.5 hours.
They limit the number of each tour to 10-12 people. I would like
to know if there are others who would like to do this in the morning
so that we could get a group or two together. If you are interested
in signing up for this tour which costs $12, or 10 Euros, please
let us know when we contact you directly.
Vigil Mass (Sunday Obligation)
We will make arrangements for attending a Vigil Mass for our Sunday
obligation.
Sunday, February 25
Shuttles to the airport and departure.
Register
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