Holy Land Pilgrimage November 2024

Happy Feast of Saint Helen!

Today we celebrate the feast of Queen Saint Helena. She was the mother of Constantine, the emperor who legalized Christianity in the fourth century.

⁣It’s safe to say that without her faith, and her son’s backing, Christian Rome and the Holy Land would not be the same as it is today.

⁣It was she who, in her 80s, traveled from Rome to Jerusalem searching for the True Cross. The local Christians brought her to a pagan temple, which she destroyed and had excavated. There she found the empty tomb, the True Cross, the Crown of Thorns, the spear that pierced Christ’s side, and the titulus (INRI). She brought these relics, along with the stairs Christ climbed when He was condemned to death (Scala Santa) with her to Rome.

⁣Before she left the Holy Land, she had a church built over Calvary and the empty tomb, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. She also had a church built over where Christ was born, the Church of the Nativity. They’ve both been expanded, rebuilt, and fought over, but some of her work can still be found in both.

⁣On arrival back in Rome, her son, I’m sure with a little motherly prodding, was busy building some churches here, including Saint John Lateran (the first legal church), Saint Peter’s Basilica (over Peter’s tomb), and Saint Paul Outside the Walls (over Paul’s tomb).

The Scala Santa during restoration.

⁣The Scala Santa she had placed in the pope’s private chapel, where people can still climb the stairs on their knees to this day.

⁣The relics of the Passion are on display in the church built over her home, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.

Speaking of the Holy Land…

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Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Jordan, November 2024

I am only offering two Holy Land pilgrimages in 2024.

A few weeks ago I announced my April Holy Land pilgrimage and it sold out in under 20 minutes. That’s a record for me!

Here's the info for November.

As with all The Catholic Traveler pilgrimages, this one includes daily Mass with our own priest, my favorite local guide, excellent hotels - including a five star resort and a night of glamping in the Dead Sea, amazing meals (we have 20 included lunches/dinners) in some of the best restaurants, unlimited wine with our meals, and all your tips to our local guides, our drivers, and our servers.

Just like the April pilgrimage, paid Substack subscribers and Patrons will have the first opportunity to sign up, beginning at noon Eastern on Tuesday, August 22nd.

This gives you a chance to check your schedule and budget ahead of time.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks!

Mountain