9-day Trip for D. Alvaro’s Beatification
Including Barcelona, Montserrat, Torreciudad,
Barbastro, Zaragoza, Toledo, El Escorial & Madrid
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September 21, 2014 - Sunday
HOUSTON / BARCELONA
Today we depart Houston International Airport for our flight to Barcelona,
Spain, arriving the next morning. Meals are served on board.
September 22, 2014 - Monday
BARCELONA
This afternoon we arrive in Barcelona, where upon our arrival we meet our
Pilgrimage Tours’ tour director and immediately proceed to our hotel for
check-in.
Next we visit and celebrate Mass at Montealegre Church.
Following Mass, we visit the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, one of the
largest churches in Europe. Dinner and overnight in Barcelona.
September 23, 2014 – Tuesday
BARCELONA / MONTSERRAT / TORRECIUDAD / BARBASTRO
This morning we enjoy a motor coach tour of this cosmopolitan city
including a drive along the famous Las Ramblas Boulevard. Late morning
we depart Barcelona for the scenic mountaintop sanctuary of Montserrat.
We enjoy a tour of the grounds where we see the Statute of Our Lady of
Montserrat or Black Madonna. In the afternoon we depart for Torreciudad
to visit its Shrine. St. Josemaria was brought to this Shrine by his mother
when he was two years old after being healed of a serious illness where
doctors had lost hope for his survival. Devotion to Our Lady of Torreciudad,
a Black Madonna, dates back to the 11th century. Following Mass at the
Shrine, we continue on to Barbastro to visit the places related to the life of
St. Josemaria Escriva, including the house where he was born, the school
he attended, the store where his father worked and the promenade where
St. Josemaria walked with his father as a young boy. Dinner and overnight
in Barbastro.
September 24, 2014 – Wednesday
BARBASTRO / ZARAGOZA
This morning we depart Barbastro and celebrate Mass at Perdiguera, a
small town near Zaragoza, where St. Josemaria was pastor a few weeks after
his ordination. In the early afternoon, we depart for Zaragoza for a visit of
the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pilar. Tradition tells us that Our Lady
appeared to the Apostle St. James when he was preaching the Gospel in
Spain, to encourage him in his apostolic work and to build a church
dedicated to the Virgin Mary. We spend time visiting the Basilica and its
museum, as well as the San Carlos Seminary where St. Josemaria studied
to become a priest. Dinner and overnight in Zaragoza.
September 25, 2014 – Thursday
ZARAGOZA / MADRIDWe depart for and arrive in Spain’s capital, Madrid,
to attend Mass at the Basilica of San Miguel in downtown, where St.
Josemaria worked as a young priest. In the afternoon, we visit some of the
locations linked to the early history of Opus Dei in Madrid, and Bishop del
Portillo. It will include the Atocha District, the Academia DYA, the Patronato
de los Enfermos, the Escriva's apartment (1929-1931), the Churches of San
Gines, El Salvador, San Nicolas, and Our Lady of Atocha; the Plaza de
Chamberi and the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, the tolling of its bells
were heard when St. Josemaria saw Opus Dei. Dinner and overnight in
Madrid.
September 26, 2014 – Friday
MADRID / TOLEDO
Following Mass this morning at Iglesia de Santa Soledad Torres Acosta, we
visit the world famous Prado Museum, housing masterpieces by many
famous artists including Fra Angelico, Bosch, Rubens, Van Der Weyden,
Velázquez, Ribera, Tintoretto, Goya and many others. Following our time at
El Prado, we enjoy an excursion to visit the city of Toledo. Here we see the
city’s walls, where we enter to visit the stunning Gothic Cathedral. Here we
see wonderful masterpieces, including a spectacular baroque high altar and
two paintings by El Greco. We also visit the Monastery of St. John of the
Kings. The outside walls of this edifice are adorned with chains once worn
by Christian slaves of the Moors. Late afternoon we return to Madrid for
dinner and overnight.
September 27, 2014 – Saturday
MADRID
This morning we drive to the venue for today’s Beatification of the Opus Dei
prelate, Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, successor of Saint Josemaria Escriva, the
founder of Opus Dei.
In the afternoon, we enjoy some free time in
downtown Madrid, before having dinner at a local restaurant in Madrid.
Overnight in Madrid.
September 28, 2014 – Sunday
MADRID / EL ESCORIAL
Today we attend a Mass of thanksgiving celebrated by Bishop Javier
Echevarria, Prelate of Opus Dei. Following Mass, we enjoy a visit to nearby
El Escorial to visit its monastery and basilica. After our tour of the basilica
we return to Madrid for dinner and overnight.
September 29, 2014 - Monday
MADRID / HOUSTON
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our return flight back home.
Though our pilgrimage draws to a close, its blessings will last a lifetime and
its graces are certain to draw us closer each day to the Lord.