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The Blood of Saint Januarius liquefies on December 16, 2025

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The miracle of the liquefaction of the blood of St. Januarius, patron saint of Naples, Italy, occurred again on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

According to the Archdiocese of Naples, the miracle took place after Mass in the Royal Chapel of the Treasure of Saint Januarius on the feast of the patronage of Saint Januarius.

The blood of Saint Jamuarius liquefies“At 9:13 a.m. local time, the blood already appeared semi-liquid. At 10:05 a.m., the complete liquefaction was announced,” the archdiocese reported.

December 16 is the third of three annual celebrations in honor of the martyred saint. This date commemorates the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1631, when the Neapolitans requested and obtained the miraculous intervention of Saint Januarius to prevent the lava from engulfing the city.

You can read more about the Blood of Saint Januarius in the Cathedral in Naples here.

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Been there, done that? Here are some alternative Catholic destinations in Europe (according to Grok)

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For those who hate crowds…or have already seen the “biggies” such as Rome, Lourdes, Fatima, etc. we thought we would list a few less-visited, and therefor less-crowded, destinations in Europe.

OK, we cheated a bit here…we asked Grok (the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot from Elon Musk’s company xAI) the question: “Alternative catholic travel destinations in Europe”  …we wondered if Grok knew as much as we did!

We got some interesting answers from Grok. Most were familiar to us, a couple were not…and some Grok missed entirely….

I guess Grok is human after all! But then, so are we. We’ll give Grok a grade of A- and ourselves a B+ ( because we are the experts and should have not missed those two).

Here, according to Grok, are some outstanding “alternative” Catholic pilgrimage or travel destinations in Europe—”places that are deeply Catholic, historically rich, and spiritually powerful”.   

Note: We have also added links to pages on our site for more details (we’re working on the two that we missed).

Austria

Mariazell: The most important Marian shrine in Central Europe, revered by Hungarians, Croats, Slovenes, and Austrians alike. The miraculous image of Our Lady of Mariazell (Magna Mater Austriae) has been venerated since 1157.

Croatia

Križevc:  Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

France

La Salette (French Alps): 1846 apparition of the weeping Virgin.

Lisieux & Normandy: Home of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (the most visited saint’s shrine in France after Lourdes). Grok missed a couple of other places in Normandy.

Paray-le-Monial: Sacred Heart apparitions to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

Pellevoisin:  Apparitions of Our Lady of Mercy to Estelle Faguette (1876), approved apparition.

Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Cap-de-la-Madeleine: (Quebec is too far, so European equivalent: the Tro Breiz in Brittany, France)
The ancient Breton pilgrimage circuit visiting the tombs of the seven founding saints of Brittany. A week-long walking route that is being revived.  Well, we missed this one!  But we do have the one in Quebec.

Souvigny the Cluniac “Holy Trinity”
And, another one we missed…we will get to work on it.  The burial place of SS. Mayeul and Odilo, two of the greatest abbots of Cluny. Sometimes called the “Cluny’s “third mausoleum” after Rome and Santiago.

Germany

Altötting: Germany’s most important Marian shrine (the “Lourdes of Germany”) and the nearby birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI. The octagonal Gnadenkapelle with its silver urns containing the hearts of Bavarian kings is unforgettable.

Kevelaer: The largest Marian pilgrimage site in northwestern Europe (2nd only to Altötting in Germany). 17th-century “Consolation of the Afflicted” image that attracts over 1 million pilgrims a year—yet almost unknown outside the German/Dutch/Belgian border region.

Wigratzbad:  Major apparition site of Our Lady (1936–) and the place where the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) was born.

Hungary

Máriapócs (Hungary):  Weeping icon of the Mother of God (Byzantine Catholic)

Sire:  National shrine of Hungary, coronation church of Hungarian kings.  There are some popular guitars being sold in Hungary under the name Sire, but we think Grok actually meant The Matthias Church (Church of Our Lady) in Budapest’s Castle District,

Italy

Assisi….Grok called it “the Umbrian Holy Valleys”
Here is what Grok had to say…..Beyond the main basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare, visit the hidden hermitages: Eremo delle Carceri, La Verna (where Francis received the stigmata), and the tiny Sanctuario di Greccio (the first living nativity scene in 1223).

Monte Sant’Angelo (the oldest Western shrine to St. Michael the Archangel) Grok got this one right..it is one of the most visited pages on our site (not sure why,with over 1,000 pages, but it is extremely popular).

San Giovanni Rotondo (Shrine of Padre Pio)

Subiaco & the Sacro Speco  St. Benedict’s cave, cradle of Western monasticism

Slovakia:

Šaštin-Stráže. National shrine of Slovakia – Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, patroness of the country. A beautiful baroque basilica that almost no Western tourists visit.

Slovenia

Žirovci National shrine of Mary Help of Christians

Spain:

Avila (Alba de Tormes).  The walled medieval city of St. Teresa of Ávila plus the Carmelite convents where both she and St. John of the Cross lived and died. Much quieter than Seville or Toledo, yet intensely mystical.

Switzerland:

Einsiedeln.  The “Black Madonna” abbey that has been the spiritual heart of Switzerland for over 1,000 years. Benedictine monastery with perpetual adoration since the 10th century and the largest nativity scene museum in the world.

Sire (Hungary) – National shrine of Hungary, coronation church of Hungarian kings

Wigratzbad (Germany) – Major apparition site of Our Lady (1936–) and the only place where the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) was born

Santo Stefano Rotondo & the Hungarian Chapel in Rome – For Hungarian Catholics, the ancient church with the tomb of St. Stephen of Hungary

Žirovci (Slovenia) – National shrine of Mary Help of Christians

Križevci the Greek-Catholic Cathedral (Croatia – Center of the tiny but vibrant Croatian Greek-Catholic Church

 

Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré & Cap-de-la-Madeleine (Quebec is too far, so European equivalent: the Tro Breiz in Brittany, France)
The ancient Breton pilgrimage circuit visiting the tombs of the seven founding saints of Brittany. A week-long walking route that is being revived.

 

 

 

Santo Stefano Rotondo & the Hungarian Chapel in Rome – For Hungarian Catholics, the ancient church with the tomb of St. Stephen of

 – St. Benedict’s cave, cradle of Western monasticism

 

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Forget the Pilgrims…..the first Thanksgivings Were Catholic

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The image of the puritans, a decidedly non-Catholic bunch, sitting down with the friendly natives for the first Thanksgiving in 1622 is fairly well-documented in most U.S. history books. However, there were at least two Catholic Thanksgivings that pre-dated this event by at least 20 years.

As I was growing up in San Antonio, Texas, our Thanksgiving dinners were always prefaced by a prayer that had been passed down over generations. I never paid much attention to the origin of that prayer, having other things on my mind.  But as I look back on it, I realize this prayer came from what was probably one of the first Thanksgivings on the newly-discovered continent.

My family on my mother’s side came from Spain (actually, the Canary Islands…a territory of Spain off the coast of Africa).  From there they sailed to Mexico (then called Zacatecas, Nueva Espana or “New Spain”), landed in Veracruz and traveled north from there. My ancestor, Pedro Gomez Duran y Chavez, was in this group, led by Don Juan de Onate, as they began their quest to claim Mexico for the King of Spain in 1598.  Such journeys were undertaken with the purpose of both gaining territory and spreading Christianity.

The first Thanksgiving in St Augustine, FloridaThe expedition traveled over 800 miles through unknown territory and  finally came to the banks of El Rio Bravo (the Rio Grande River) almost exhausted.

Onate nailed a cross to a tree and took formal possession of the new land, called New Spain, “in the name of the Heavenly Lord, God Almighty, and the earthly lord King Philip II”.

On April 30, 1598, Father Alfonso Martínez, the Commissary Apostolic, led the members of the expedition in a Mass of Thanksgiving.

After the Mass that day, the Franciscan priests blessed the tables laden with fish, ducks, geese and items from the expeditions’ stores.  No mention of Turkey though, as it was not likely a local staple.  As they feasted, a play was performed recounting the conversion and baptism of the local Indians.

Now, back to our family thanksgiving in San Antonio.  The prayer of Thanksgiving that I heard growing up goes like this:

“Open the door to these heathens, establish the church altars where the Body and Blood of the Son of God may be offered, open to us the way to security and peace for their preservation and ours, and give to our king and to me in his royal name, peaceful possession of these kingdoms and provinces for His blessed Glory. Amen“.

There are still some descendants of the Chavez clan in New Mexico that celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving on April 30th each year…. not necessarily with feasting but at least with a remembrance.

Although often disputed among some members of our clan, there is another claim to the first Thanksgiving, and that is Saint Augustine, Florida.  Again, it was a Catholic event: celebration between the Spanish and the local Timucuan Indians on September 8, 1565. Sadly, my ancestors and I will have to settle for second billing, as Saint Augustine, Florida would appear to be the real first Thanksgiving in the New World.

So….as Paul Harvey used to say….now you know the rest of the story!

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In defense of the Novus Ordo Mass

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Well, the title of this post will raise some eyebrows…..or perhaps make a few heads explode! 

And, of course, the mere mention of Vatican II will produce the same reactions in some people.  But let’s take a closer look.

As you travel, you will undoubtedly attend a Mass that differs somewhat from what you are accustomed to.

There are many who just wish we would return to the Latin Mass that they knew and loved in the past.  Although I am a convert, and therefore have no memories of the Latin Mass, I can certainly understand their nostalgia for a Mass that seemed more reverent.  As a former Episcopalian, I know we were sometimes called “Catholic Lite”, as our Mass (although we did not call it that), closely resembled that of the traditional Catholic Mass (Episcopalians had two types of worship:  “High Church” and “Low Church”.  “High Church” had the “smells and bells’ along a bit of Latin, whereas “Low Church” was pretty obviously Protestant (although perhaps more Catholic than some Catholic churches today).

The Novus Ordo Missae, often called the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, is the liturgical reform promulgated by Pope St. Paul VI in 1969 following the Second Vatican Council. It replaced the 1962 Roman Missal (the Traditional Latin Mass or Extraordinary Form) as the normative celebration of the Eucharist in the Latin Church, while retaining the Extraordinary Form as a permitted option. Critics sometimes argue it dilutes Catholic doctrine or fosters irreverence, but numerous theologians, apologists, and Church documents defend it as a valid, licit, and enriching expression of the faith.

The Novus Ordo was officially promulgated through the apostolic constitution Missale Romanum on April 3, 1969, directly implementing Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium. This makes it the Church’s normative rite, not an innovation but a development under papal authority.

Claims of illegitimacy ignore this binding promulgation, and even early critics like Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani retracted their concerns after clarifications from Vatican authorities. Pope Paul VI later reinforced its doctrinal integrity by revising the Missal’s General Instruction to explicitly affirm the Eucharistic sacrifice, Real Presence, and ordained priesthood.

One of the big criticisms you will hear from some traditional Catholics, is that Vatican II “protestantized” the Mass.  Far from that, the Novus Ordo explicitly retains and even amplifies core Catholic doctrines that distinguish it from those of the Protestant Reformation.  Protestant observers contributed ideas but had no decision-making power; changes aligned with pre-Vatican II Catholic scholarship, not ecumenical compromise.

These Doctrines include:

♦  Sacrificial Nature of the Mass: The Mass’s sacrificial character is proclaimed at least five times (e.g., in the offertory prayers, consecration, and post-consecration texts), often aloud in the vernacular for greater emphasis, compared to the silent Latin prayers of the pre-conciliar rite.

♦  Real Presence and Priesthood Rubrics: like genuflections, elevations, bells, incensation, and the “Behold the Lamb of God” acclamation safeguard belief in transubstantiation. The priest’s unique role remains central, with processions and adorations underscoring the Eucharist’s reality.

♦  Other Doctrines: Prayers for the dead (implying purgatory), Marian privileges (Immaculate Conception, Assumption), saintly intercession, and papal primacy are all preserved in the texts and feasts.

♦  Revised Lectionary: offers a more comprehensive cycle of readings, drawing from a broader swath of the Bible across Sundays and weekdays, fulfilling Vatican II’s call to nourish the faithful with God’s Word.  Proper prayers now highlight Advent and Easter uniquely each day, elevating these times beyond the older form’s uniformity.

♦  Eucharistic Variety: New prayers alongside the Roman Canon reflect the Church’s ancient diversity, promoting an ecumenical yet Catholic breadth—without diminishing the Canon’s use. Translations make the liturgy immediately comprehensible, aiding newcomers without missals or straining to hear Latin—ideal for evangelization in a “hostile” culture.

♦  Simplicity and Transparency: Streamlined rubrics focus attention on the priest’s actions and Christ’s sacrifice, reducing distractions for the uninitiated.  Rooted in Latin but translatable, it allows inculturation (e.g., local music or gestures) while preserving universality, echoing the Church’s missionary history.  When celebrated reverently—as intended—it fosters deeper participation and conversion, rather than alienating outsiders. A Call for Unity.

The Church teaches both forms enrich the faithful. 

Abuses exist in any rite, but rejecting it outright risks schism. As St. Paul VI urged, let’s celebrate it with the reverence it deserves, trusting the Holy Spirit’s guidance through the Magisterium.

Here at The Catholic Travel Guide we try to list Catholic churches and shrines that are in communion with Rome….both those using the Novus Ordo or those with the Traditional Latin Mass.  Either way, you are going to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which is what the Catholic Mass is really all about.

As for me personally….well, I like the Novus Ordo, at least at our Parish, where we have a sense of reverence, some incense, and even a bit of Latin! 

Now, if we could just get the choir to wear choir robes, process in with the priest, that would be great (can’t hope for a choir loft unless we build a whole new church).

I know quite a few people who do attend the Latin Mass…most of them just feel more at home with it.  Of course, I have met a couple of “holier than thou” types who seem to think those of us who prefer the Novus Ordo are somehow just not Catholic.

Of course, there are quite a few opportunities to attend a Latin Mass…you just have to check around a bit to find one.  

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Blessed Carlo Acutis to be proclaimed a Saint

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In a decree released on May 22, 2024, Pope Francis announced he would convene a Consistory of Cardinals to deliberate the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis as a result of a miracle recognized on that date.

Pope Francis beatified the millenial Carlo Acutis in 2020 in Assisi, where Blessed Carlo had made multiple pilgrimages and where his mortal remains rest.

The Canonization had been scheduled for earlier in the year, but was postponed due to the death of Pope Francis.

Beatification, when someone is declared “Blessed”, usually requires that the Vatican confirm that a miracle took place as the result of that person interceding with God. To be clear, God performs the miracle, not the intercessor.  Two miracles are required before a “Blessed” can be declared a saint

First Miracle attributed to the intercession of Carlo Acutis:

In 2020, the Vatican recognized Acutis’ first miracle: the curing of a 4-year-old Brazilian boy named Mattheus in 2013. The boy was healed from a serious birth defect called an annular pancreas after he and his mother asked Acutis to intercede asking the Lord to grant a miracle of healing

Second Miracle attributed to the intercession of Carlo Acutis:

The miracle recognized on May 22, 2024 is related to a woman from Costa Rica.

On July 8, 2022,  a woman named Liliana prayed at the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in Assisi asking his intercession for her daughter, Varleria.  Valeria was attending university in Florence, and had fallen from her bicycle,  suffering severe head trauma.  She was going to require craniotomy surgery, and the removal of the right occipital bone to reduce pressure on her brain, with what her doctors said was a very low chance of survival.

Liliana left a letter at the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis describing her plea.  That same day, the hospital informed her that Valeria had begun to breath spontaneously. The next day, she began to move and partially regain her speech.

On July 18, a CAT scan proved that her hemorrhaging had disappeared, and on August 11 Valeria was moved to rehabilitation therapy. She made quick progress, and on September 2 Valeria and Liliana made another pilgrimage to Assisi to thank Blessed Carlo for his intercession.

We look forward to the future Canonization of what many call a “Saint of the New Millenium”

Source: Vatican News Service

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Movie Review: “The Face of Jesus”

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Movie review "The Face of Jesus"Opening June 3rd in select theaters, the new movie “The Face of Jesus” gives us a fascinating glimpse into the history of the images of the Face of Jesus…some of which are rather obscure. Possibly the most well-known image is on the Holy Shroud of Turin which, of course, not only shows the face of Jesus, but His full body as well.  Then, there is Veronica’s Veil, which is normally on display in Manoppello, Italy.

But there other less well known images….and their history and significance are just now being made known (this movie being one of the means of helping spread this devotion).

Why the movie “The Face of Jesus” fascinated us:

The veil of ManoppelloThe movie introduces us to some of the scientific basis for believing these images to be of supernatural origin.  It also helps us to understand why the images are so treasured and also helps explain the history of several of these images as they were moved from one place to another throughout the ancient world.

But for those not just interested in the scientific evidence; but wanting more, what we found especially interesting in the movie were the testimonies of those who had prayed before the image of the Face of Jesus and the results they reported.

We have mentioned this ad-infinitum, but just to refresh: as Catholics we do not worship statues or images, but we do revere them: they are not the object of worship themselves, but rather a means of focusing their minds and hearts on the holy person or event they represent. They are used to assist in prayer and devotion….a distinction that many critics of the Catholic Church fail to make.  Sadly, even some Catholic make the mistake of saying that we are worshipping an image, although it is a matter of symantics, not the real meaning of their statement.

Click here for the link for the trailer of “The Face of Jesus”

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Flying? Beware….Real ID takes effect May 7

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Air transportation in the U.S. is about to get a bit more complicated.  Wednesday, May 7 is the first day a Real ID compliant license — or another acceptable document — is needed to board a commercial aircraft for domestic travel in the U.S.

It sounds like something of a nightmare at the security checkpoints so we expect a fair amount of confusion as well as disappointment.

What is Real ID?

The law was scheduled to be enforced in 2008 but has been delayed many times.

It will finally go in to effect May 7, 2025.

A Real ID is a state-issued driver’s license or identification card that meets federal security standards. Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, seeking to beef up security surrounding IDs used at airports.   Compliant IDs such as driver’s licenses are typically marked with a star in the upper right corner, though the specific design may vary by state.  States that are already compliant include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, S. Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

But don’t take our word for it….pull out your driver’s license and look.

Obviously if you have a U.S. passport you will be compliant..

According to T.S.A., 81% of travelers at T.S.A. checkpoints already present an acceptable identification including a state-issued Real ID, according to TSA’s statement.  For those who don’t…or aren’t sure, we advise you to check your documentation ahead of time. Note: TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. The companion will need acceptable identification,

If you do not have a current passport or Real ID driver’s license, then in order to obtain a Real ID, Department of Homeland Security says at a minimum you must provide documentation that shows your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal address and lawful status.

Find your states’ requirements and how to get a Real ID on this DHS page.

Alternatives to Real ID:

A valid U.S. Passport or enhanced license are Real ID alternatives.  We recommend that most people have a passport regardless, since you never know when an opportunity to travel overseas will come up, and you will have to have a passport to travel overseas.  And…..that is one less thing you need to do to prepare for your trip……just keep an eye on the expiration date!

In addition to real ID driver’s licenses, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL) issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Vermont are also considered acceptable alternatives.

U.S. passport or passport card and DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), Permanent resident card

Are you confused yet?  Well so were we.  Hopefully the information provided will help,

No Real ID or passport? Expect delays

What we’re watching: TSA says if you don’t have a Real ID or acceptable alternative it would be helpful to bring along “anything that can help us confirm your , such as your name and current address.”

“You may need to undergo identity verification and subject to additional screening,” TSA said on a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session.
TSA recommends these passengers allow themselves an extra hour to pass through airport security.

“Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (e.g., passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint,” TSA said.

How will airports handle Real ID transition?

All airports are different and have different layouts, so this is a hard question to answer.  Our best advice is always get to the airport at least two hours before your scheduled departure.

Be on the lookout for signage or TSA officers there helping and guiding passengers to the appropriate areas.

How it works: Go to your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a Real ID.

In some states, you can order a Real ID and others you’ll need to make an appointment with the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The deadline’s approach is causing panic in some states with long lines and high demand for appointments.

The scramble to get appointments has also created a “perfect storm for cybercriminals to take advantage,” Ian Bednowitz, LifeLock general manager, told Axios, noting “scammers are capitalizing on the confusion and urgency.”

Can a temporary Real ID be used to fly?  “Temporary paper IDs aren’t accepted at our security checkpoints,” the TSA says, “so you should plan to bring another acceptable form of ID (such as a Passport or military ID) with you to the airport.”

The deadline isn’t pressing for everyone. You only need a Real ID by May 7 if you’re over 18, flying domestically soon and don’t have a passport, or if you have to enter a military base or a secure federal building.  However, we recommend your getting one just to be prepared.

Here’s a treat:  Krispy Kreme has announced that it is marking the Real ID deadline of May 7 with a free glazed doughnut giveaway, in shop or via drive-thru…no ID or purchase required.  Limit one per customer.

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Funeral of Pope Francis set for April 26

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According the Holy See Press Office,  here are the details of the funeral of Pope Francis:

The 88-year-old pontiff had been well aware of his fragile state, especially in view of his recent illness. As early as 2015, Pope Francis had expressed the desire to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), a fifth-century church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was so devoted to Mary and her basilica that after each of his more than 100 trips abroad, he would visit it after returning to Rome to pray and meditate.

No pope has been buried in Saint Mary Major since the 17th century, when Pope Clement IX was laid to rest there.

The funeral rites take place in three parts, called stations:

The first Station: certifying the death

This takes place in the pope’s private chapel, after medical professionals have certified his death. Until recently, this stage had taken place at the pope’s bedside.

After the body lies in rest in the chapel, the cardinal serving as the pope’s Camerlengo — the pope’s chief of staff — will make the arrangements for the funeral. He is also tasked with running the Vatican until a new pope is elected. The current Camerlengo is Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, appointed by Francis in 2019.

As has been done for centuries, the Camerlengo will formally call the deceased pope by the full name given to him when he was baptized as an infant — Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

Another ancient rite will also take place after the declaration of the pope’s death: the defacing of the pope’s ring. Each pope wears a custom-made ring with an engraved image of a man fishing from a boat, hearkening back to the gospel of Matthew, where Jesus calls St. Peter a “fisher of men.” This Fisherman’s Ring, with the name of the current pope engraved over the image, could act as a seal on official documents. The Camerlengo will break Francis’ ring and smash the seal with a hammer or other instrument to prevent any other person from using it.

The pope’s apartments will also be locked, with no one allowed to enter; traditionally, this was done to prevent looting.

Translation of the body of Pope Francis:  Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Catholic Church, presided over the rite of translation of the body of Pope Francis on April 23, which began at 9:00 AM with a moment of prayer.  The procession then passed through Santa Marta Square and the Square of the Roman Protomartyrs and exited through the Arch of the Bells into Saint Peter’s Square and enterd Saint Peter’s Basilica through the central door.

The Second station: Viewing the body

The deceased pope will be dressed in his simple white cassock and red vestments, then placed in a simple wooden coffin. While previous pontiffs, including the late Pope Benedict, have been buried in the traditional triple coffins made of cypress, lead and oak, Francis instead chose a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc. This will be carried in procession to Saint Peter’s Basilica, where the public viewing will take place for the next three days.

Saint Peter’s Basilica will remain open for the faithful who wish to pay their respects to the late Pope on Wednesday April 23 from 11:00 AM to midnight; on Thursday April 24 from 7:00 AM to midnight; and on Friday April 25 from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

The pope’s body will be left in the plain, open casket during this viewing period in order to emphasize the pope’s humble role as a pastor, not a head of state. The earlier practice would have been to place the body on top of a tall raised platform, called a catafalque; this ended with the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI in 2022.

At Francis’ funeral, after the public viewing, a plain white cloth will be placed over the pope’s face as he lies in the oak coffin, a continuing part of papal funerals.

Pope Francis’ coffin to be sealed in rite on Friday evening.

Pope Francis’ coffin will be sealed during a liturgical rite held in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday, April 25, at 8:00 PM.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, will preside at the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin of the late Pope Francis, ahead of the papal funeral on Saturday morning.  The liturgical rite will be attended by several Cardinals and Holy See officials.

This will mark the end of public viewing in St. Peter’s Basilica, which has seen tens of thousands of people pay their respects to the late Pope.

As his mortal remains lie in state, over 50,000 people have filed past the Altar of the Confession in the 24 hours since the Vatican Basilica opened to the faithful on Wednesday morning.

St. Peter’s Basilica remained open until 5:30 AM on Thursday, closing for an hour and a half before reopening at 7:00 AM.

At the Altar of the Confession, the Cardinal Camerlengo  presided over the Liturgy of the Word, at the conclusion of which the visits to the body of the Roman Pontiff commenced.

The coffin was sealed during the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin on Friday, April 25.

According to the Vatican News Service, The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations requested the presence of Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Pietro Parolin, Roger Mahony, Domenique Mamberti, Mauro Gambetti, Baldassare Reina, and Konrad Krajewski for the Rite of Sealing of the Coffin.

Those assisting the Rite also included Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari, Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, the Canons of the Vatican Chapter, the Ordinary Minor Penitentiaries of the Vatican, the late Pope’s secretaries, and others admitted by the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, Archbishop Diego Ravelli.

The Funeral of Pope Francis:

The funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday April 26 in front Saint Peter’s Basilica.   It was earlier thought that it would be inside due to cold weather, but with highs around 70°F (21°C) and there will likely be a large number of people assembled on the plaza.

Masses will continue to be said in Francis’ memory for nine days after his death — a period called the Novendialis. This ritual was inspired by an ancient Roman tradition prescribing a mourning period ending on the ninth day after a death.  The Novemdiales Masses will be held each day at 5:00 PM (GMT +2) in St. Peter’s Basilica, except for the Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, which will take place at 10:30 AM in St. Peter’s Square.

Third station: Burial

Most popes are buried in the grottoes underneath Saint Peter’s, and since Pope Leo XIII’s burial at St. John Lateran in 1903, every pope has been buried at Saint Peter’s.

According to Francis’ wishes, as expressed in his last will and testament, his body was buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major,

After so many journeys from Rome to visit Catholic communities in countries across the globe, and so many visits to this basilica for prayer and meditation, It seems fitting that, at the end of his life’s journey, Francis would make one last trip to the church he loved so much to be laid to rest forever.

After a few final prayers and sprinkling of holy water, the coffin was placed in its final location inside the church. Only later will the area be opened to the public for prayers and veneration.

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FRANCE (Paris) Annual Paris to Chartres Pilgrimage

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The Paris-Chartres Pilgrimage occurs every year on the Saturday before the Feast of Pentecost in early summer.  Although primarily for young people, it is a multi-generational, multi-national gathering of Catholics who draw closer to God through the centuries-old act of pilgrimage.

The walk is roughly 62 miles over 3 days—beginning at daybreak on the Saturday before Pentecost, and ending with an afternoon mass on the Monday after Pentecost.

The trek takes 8,000-10,000 pilgrims from paris’ Church of Saint-Sulpice at 6 a.m. on June 4 and the journey of faith and foot  through the French countryside to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres (the pilgrimage used to start at Notre Dame de Paris, but since the fire at Notre Dame in 2019 the starting point has been changed).

Pilgrims are organized into groups of 20-60 people, that are referred to as “chapters”. Participants brave the weather, blisters, and humble food and accommodations as an act of faith and an act of reparation in these modern times.

There is be Solemn Mass every day in the Traditional Roman Rite. Those who join the pilgrimage will have the opportunity to sing and pray in both English, French, and Latin.

On the way of the pilgrimage route the French have the venerable custom of singing the Rosary in French.

The pilgrimage begins on the morning of the Vigil of Pentecost, with Mass. The following day, the Solemnity of Pentecost, Solemn Pontifical Mass will be sung in the French countryside. The concluding Mass will be celebrated the afternoon of Monday, June 9, Pentecost Monday, in Chartres Cathedral.

The theme of this year’s pilgrimage is For our Holy Mother the Church.

It is reported a record number of pilgrims (approximately 16,000) have registered for the pilgrimage in 2025.

Click here for the official Chartres Pilgrimage  website in English.

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Statue of Mystical Rose added to Vatican Gardens

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From Vatican News Service regarding Mary, “Mystical Rose”:

The prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith blessed a statue of Mary, “Mystical Rose”:
Statue of Rosa Mystica
Statue of Rosa Mystica

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, blessed a statue of “Mary, Mystical Rose” at the Vatican on Monday of Holy Week 2025.  The statue, donated by Pope Francis, was placed in a shrine close to the Sacrament Fountain in the Vatican Gardens.

This follows the decision last summer by the Dicastery saying there is no objection to devotion to Our Lady under that title.

 

Among those present for the blessing, in addition to Cardinal Fernández, were the two secretaries of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop John Joseph Kennedy and Fr Armando Matteo; as well as the secretary-general of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Archbishop Emilio Nappa.

A ‘green light’ for devotion to Mary, Mystical Rose:

Last July, the Dicastery released a decision, based on the new norms regarding alleged supernatural phenomena, granting the “nulla osta” authorizing public devotion to Mary under the title “Mystical Rose,” in connection with messages purportedly received between 1947 and 1966 by visionary Pierina Gilli.

The decision also permitted the dedication of churches and sacred places to Mary under this title, with the corresponding image.

The judgment of the Dicastery:

In a letter accompanying last July’s decision by the Dicastery, Cardinal Fernández wrote that one does not find “negative moral aspects or other critical aspects related to this spiritual experience” of Pierina Gilli. “Rather,” he said, “one can find several positive aspects that stand out in the messages as a whole.”

 

The reported  apparitions of Mary under the titles of “Mystical Rose” and “Mother of the Church”;

The apparitions are connected to the locality of Fontanelle, located south of the town of Montichiari in the Italian province of Brescia.

The visionary, Pierina Gilli, was born into a peasant family, and worked as a housekeeper and nurse in a hospital, leading a very simple life until her death in 1991 at the age of 80.

Her mystical experiences occurred over two different periods, the first dating back to 1947, when Our Lady is said to have appeared to Pierina, presenting herself under the titles “Mystical Rose” and “Mother of the Church.” On Mary’s white robe, Gilli says she saw three roses: one white, one red and one yellow, symbolising prayer, penance and suffering.

The second cycle of apparitions took in 1966 in Fontanelle. Here, on 13 May, a significant Marian date, Our Lady indicated a particular spring to Pierina as a place of purification and source of graces. As early as 1966, work began on building a sanctuary on the site, which took the form not of a church, but of an open amphitheater. On one side, there is a chapel for the celebration of the Holy Mass; on the other, a second, smaller chapel surrounding the spring indicated by the apparition.

Click here to read more about the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Rosa Mystica” in Fontanelle, Italy.