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Breakfast in London, Lunch in Paris, Dinner in Barcelona?

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Yes, this is possible and welcomed news! Those traveling from Paris to Barcelona have always had the option of taking a high-speed train, but it had one serious drawback. Due to the fact that France and Spain use different rolling stock, you had the inconvenience of having to change trains near the border between the two countries. With the construction of anew high-speed rail line that links the two cities directly, that problem has been eliminated…no change of trains is necessary.

The upper level in the first class coach. Second class is basically the same, but with more seats. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
The upper level in the first class coach. Second class is basically the same, but with two seats on each side of the aisle. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

The trains clip along at a speed of about 200 mph (320 kph ), enough to get you there in a hurry but slow enough to see quaint French villages with the majestic Alps in the background and then, on the final leg, the beautiful Mediterranean coastline of Spain. For a better view, try a seat on the upper deck (these are bi-level carriages).

The Paris-Barcelona trains run from Gare de Lyon station, one of five stations in Paris.

Le Train Bleu Restaurant inside Gare de Lyon Station (photo courtesy wikipedia)
Le Train Bleu Restaurant inside Gare de Lyon Station. A step back in time to the golden age of travel. (photo courtesy wikipedia)
By happy coincidence one of our favorite lunch spots in Paris just happens to be in a train station: Train Bleu Restaurant  inside Gare du Lyon.  Sit down, have lunch from the set menu (which includes a half-bottle of red) and then at train time you just walk a few yards (meters) directly on to the train.

There are currently two trains each day, with a travel time of approximately 6 and a half hours from Paris to Barcelona making several stops in France and a couple in Spain. In March 2014 that will be increased to four trains per day.

For British travelers this new service will also allow you to take the Eurostar to Paris, change stations and then catch the train to Barcelona.  So it is possible to have breakfast in London, lunch in Paris and dinner in Barcelona.  What a convenience and a great entry for your travel journal!

Those of you coming from the UK might also want to check out Loco 2.  This booking website gets great reviews.

We are big believers in train travel in Europe.  First, the romance of train travel is hard to resist, especially since air travel has long since lost any semblance of romance and the wait to check in can often be longer than the flight itself.  Also, since most train stations are located downtown, you avoid a long (and often expensive) trip from the airport to the city.

Certainly more relaxing than flying....and the food is better!
Why anyone would choose fly rather than take the train eludes me. Certainly more relaxing than flying….and the food is better!

Most importantly, you can actually see the countryside and its people rather than looking down from 30,000 feet.

You can get up, walk to the snack or restaurant car, and socialize with others.  This is the beauty of train travel, it’s definitely more rewarding than just the utilitarian need to get from one place to the other.

So, sit back, relax, meet new friends….whatever. That’s probably the whole reason you’re traveling in the first place.

For a more in-depth look at train travel in Europe we recommend the website called the Man in Seat 61.

 

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Traveling to Medjugorje–Beyond the Hype

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Those familiar with Medjugorje have surely heard about the recent letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding the alleged apparitions in Medjugorje that states in part:  “clerics and the faithful are not permitted to participate in meetings, conferences or public celebrations during which the credibility of such ‘apparitions’ would be taken for granted“. This letter was delivered by the Papal Nuncio to the U.S. and sent to all U.S. Bishops.

Medjugorje Visionary Ivan Dragicevic
Medjugorje Visionary Ivan
Dragicevic

Such talks by visionaries from Medjugorje are something that has been going on in the U.S. and other countries for many years.  Most notable among the visionaries who travel giving talks is Ivan Dragicevic. Ivan lives in Medjugore during the summer but lives in the U.S. during the winter months and normally has a full speaking schedule at various parishes and locations during that time.  During most of those talks he also allegedly has apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To those who oppose the reported apparitions in Medjugorje, this seems a great victory.  To those who believe in the apparitions in Medjugorje, this seems like a severe defeat.

Actually, it is neither, in our opinion.  It is a prudent move on the part of Holy Mother Church to avoid scandal by appearing to approve an apparition that is still under investigation.

This brings up the often-asked question: can individuals still travel to Medjugorje and be loyal to the Magisterium of The Church?  The answer is yes!  The latest directive does not deal with this issue at all.

Saint James Church, Medjugorje
Saint James Church, Medjugorje

As has been the case for many years, pilgrimages are not allowed to be organized at the Parish or Diocesan level, but priests are encouraged to accompany such groups to provide spiritual guidance so long as they do not assume official approval. And, of course, individuals can travel their on their own.

To add to the confusion is the fact that many Priests, Bishops and Archbishops continue to visit Medjugorje and concelebrate Mass in the church.

Since so many priests have reportedly found their vocations in Medjugorje and the fruits seem widespread, we encourage you to find out for yourself, if you feel called to travel there.

The Church will probably put out some kind of ruling in the future, but what that will be is anyone’s guess.  It will possibly not be outright approval of the apparitions, since they are still on-going, but rather might be approval of Medjugorje as a place of pilgrimage.

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Marian Day Events in Rome October 12th & 13th

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Sunday October 13, 2013 is a day that will see Pope Francis consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as part of the Marian Day celebrations. The original statue of Our Lady of Fatima left Fatima, Portugal on the morning of October 12th and is now in Rome. Various churches were open this morning for Confession and Adoration.  At noon Saint Peter’s Square was cleared of people prior to the arrival of the statue.  At 15:00 the entrance gates will be opened for those who have tickets and then at 17:00 there will be a reception of the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima and a Marian catechesis will be given by Pope Francis.  

The Sanctuary of Divine Love in Rome
The Sanctuary of Divine Love

After that the statue will be transferred to the Sanctuary of Divino Amore for all-night veneration. We expect there to be fairly large crowds here throughout the night.

There will be many Marian groups in attendance on Sunday, including representatives from the following shrines:

Aparecida, Brazil;   Lujan, Argentina;  Lourdes, France;  Czestochowa, Poland;  Banneux, Belgium;   Nazareth, Israel;    Nairobi, Kenya;   Akita, Japan;   Vailankanny, India; and Washington, D.C.

Also in attendance will be a delegation from Medjugorje, including the pastor and other villagers, who were invited to participate. Medjugorje has not been given shrine status, but is currently under investigation and a ruling is expected fairly soon. 

Then on Sunday at 10:30 Pope Francis will preside at Mass and make the Act of Entrustment to Mary.  This is when he will consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  It was the request of Our Lady of Fatima that Russia be consecrated to her immaculate heart.  

There has been some heated debate as to whether this was ever done, although Sister Lucia supposedly said that the consecration was accepted.

The events will be televised on EWTN; Salt+Light TV; Vatican TV and others. They will also be time-delayed so that you can watch them during the daytime wherever you live.  

 

 

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Pope John Paul II & Pope John XXIII to be Canonized April 27

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As expected, the date for the Canonizations has been set for April 27, 2014. This is Divine Mercy Sunday, a day which Pope John Paul II designated as a Feast Day in 2000.  It is a floating feast day, occurring the first Sunday after Easter each year.  

The approval process for Pope John XXIII was “fast tracked” by Pope Francis, since they did not have proof of a second miracle required to become a Saint.  But the Pope has the authority to do so. 

The dates will allow enough time to prepare for what will be a momentous event in the Church.  Pope Francis alluded to the fact that many pilgrims would be coming from Pope John Paul II’s native Poland and he did not want them traveling hazardous roads in winter time to get to Rome for the Canonization. This was a pretty good indication that it would take place in the Spring, and what better day than Divine Mercy Sunday.  And Pope John XXIII, best known for the fact that he is the one who called for the Second Vatican Council, was something of a surprise because it was thought he would be more of a caretaker Pope rather than one who made major changes.

If you wish to attend you will find many tour companies offering anything from a short stay to a 10-day (or longer) pilgrimage.  We suggest you read our page on how to check out our articles on choosing a Catholic tour company  as well as how to check out a tour operator’s reputation for some hints on making the right choice.

 If you plan to attend on your own, be sure to make arrangements with a hotel or travel agency that you can trust.  Most are trustworthy, of course, but with the large number of people expected it is wise to be cautious.  To arrange tickets for the event contact the Pontifical Household.  Tickets are free, but will be in limited supply.

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Pope Francis will meet with Medjugorje representatives October 10th

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The tiny village of Medjugorje in what is now Bosnia & Herzegovina (formerly Yugoslavia) remains one of the visited places in Europe for Catholic pilgrims, attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year….an estimated 35 million since the apparitions were first reported in 1981.  It still lacks Vatican approval, however, and still has many detractors as well, which makes it somewhat controversial.

It was assumed that Pope John Paul II was a believer in the apparitions and he reportedly asked to fly over the village whenever traveling in that area. With his devotion to our Blessed Mother, Pope Francis might be assumed to be favorable toward the apparitions as well, since when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires he approved the visits of one of the visionaries (Ivan) to his diocese.   Back in the late 1990’s he received Fr. Jozo, who was parish priest at the time the apparitions were first reported.  It was reported that he asked Father Jozo to bless him during his visit.

A new development is the announcement this week that he has granted an audience to a delegation from Medjugorje that includes the pastor of the parish as well as other priests here.  We wonder if the decision might be near to grant Medjugorje Shrine status.  It is not quite approval of the apparitions themselves, but certain a step along that road.

 

 

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New Calendar of Upcoming Events on Catholic Travel Blog

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You may notice on our Navigation Menu that we have added a “CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS” link.  We are in the process of putting up a calendar of various Catholic events around the world.

There are so many events around the world that we felt this might be a good way to list them all in one place.  

We welcome any contributions….if you know of an event that might be of interest to Catholic travelers please let us know at  info@thecatholictravelguide.com

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Air travel disruption in France Sept 10th & 11th

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A strike by air traffic controllers that we mentioned previously began September 9th and will extend through September 11th.  If you are traveling to or from the country on these dates check ahead just in case.

These strikes are normally announced in advance (as this one was) so it is fairly easy to schedule your travel plans around them.  Travel insurance sometimes covers them, but usually not if they are announced at least 90 days in advance.  

France is the most visited country in Europe….especially for Catholics…it has often been called the “Eldest daughter of the Church”.  So don’t let these periodic strikes deter you.  They tend to be fairly common but with advance notice you can usually work around them.

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Saturday Prayer Vigil Televised from Rome

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If you are not in Rome right now, you can still watch the special prayer viigil that Pope Francis will be leading on Saturday September 7.  It will be televised on Vatican TV and also EWTN.

Here is the schedule as far as we know it:

5:45 pm Priests will begin hearing confession in designated areas under the Bernini colonnades. Pope Francis has asked that the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) be made available throughout the evening because “true peace springs from a heart that is reconciled with God and one’s brothers and sisters.”

6:30 pm  A reader will read Pope Francis’ September 1 Angelus address in which he called for the Day of Prayer and Fasting for peace.

7:00 pm Vigil begins when the Pope will greets the crowd and the ancient hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” is sung, followed by Marian prayer to Our Lady Queen of Peace

– The Marian icon “Salus Populi Romani” (health or protection of the Roman people) is carried by four Swiss Guards from the obelisk in the center of the square while two girls carry bouquets of flowers.

– Pope Francis will lead the recitation of the Rosary, which will include readings from the poetry of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. 

Afterward a reflection will be offered by Pope Francis

– Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

– Office of Readings. John 20:19-29  (25 minutes of prayerful silence, music)

– Eucharistic benediction

The event is expected to end at 11:00 p.m.

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Date set for Canonization of Pope John Paul II ?

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According to Newsmax, they have confirmation from a highly placed Vatican source that April 27th will be the date for the Canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII.  

That would fit our theory that it might take place on Divine Mercy Sunday (April 27, 2014) since Pope John Paul II is the one who designated the first Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.  

We are making every effort to confirm that this is true…so check back later.

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Update to Pope Francis’ September schedule

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The regular weekly Papal Audiences will resume on Wednesday, September 4th.  The audiences are normally cancelled during July and August, as they were this year.  Most audiences are held in Saint Peter’s Square unless there is inclement weather.  Tickets are free, but should be arranged in advance.  

To order tickets you can contact the Prefecture of the Papal Household by mail or fax.  Those from North America can also request tickets through the North American College.  Those from Australia can contact Domus Australia for help in getting tickets.

A few private companies offer tickets for a fee…although the tickets they get are free they usually can get you closer to the front.

Consult our website for details on attending a Papal Audience in Rome.

There will also be a Papal Mass for Catechists on Sunday September 29th in Saint Peter’s Basilica and tickets are also required for that.  

Please note that Pope Francis leads the Angelus in Saint Peter’s Square at noon on Sundays.  An exception will be Sunday September 22nd when he will be making a Pastoral visit to Cagliari, Sardinia to the Shrine of Our Lady of Bonaria. Tickets are not required to attend the Angelus.