St. John Vianney is probably best known in the Catholic Church as being the patron saint of parish priests. Born in 1786, St. John Vianney was twice expelled from the seminary for failing grades - however, he persevered and was eventually ordained a priest and become renowned for his holiness. He become well known for the many hours he spent in the confessional and people came from all over France to seek his spiritual guidance. Today, there is much to see at the shrine related to the life of St. John Vianney. Pilgrims can walk through his house and view the many articles and items related to St. John Vianney including his breviary, rosary, bed, and small library. The old chapel where St. John Vianney used to preach and hear confessions can also be visited.

Considered possibly the most famous saint to Catholics and non-Catholics alike is St. Francis Assisi. Born in 1181, Francis gave up a life of luxury and comfort to begin a new religious movement in the Catholic Church that focused on the poor and living the simple life of holiness. Today, his movement has since turned into one of the largest religious orders of the Catholic Church - the Franciscans. The other person that played a prominent role in the life of Assisi is St. Clare. St. Clare was a contemporary of St. Francis and inspired by his teaching and way of life, she founded a new religious order - the Order of Poor Clares (nuns). There are many stories associated with the life of St. Francis, but one of the more famous is that he suffered from the stigmata - the wounds of Christ. Today, about five million pilgrims visit the shrines dedicated to St. Francis and St. Clare, which includes praying at their tombs. The town of Assisi also offers the pilgrim and tourist an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, and it is often remarked by the visitor that Assisi provides an "authentic feel" of 12th-century Italy.

Although not a "household-name saint" in many ways, St. Rita is nevertheless one of the saints that many Catholics turn to during times of great despair and difficulty. St. Rita experienced all of the following during her life: married woman, mother, widow, nun, mystic, and stigmatist (experienced the wounds of Christ like St. Francis of Assisi and St. Padre Pio). Considered the "saint of the impossible," many miracles have been attributed to St. Rita since her death since the 14th-century. Today, her shrine and convent has much to offer the visiting pilgrim including seeing her basilica, tomb, Eucharistic miracle, artifacts of the saint's life including her wedding ring and habit, monastery of St. Rita, and the crucifix from which St. Rita received the stigmata.

Croagh Patrick, also known as St. Patrick's Holy Mountain, dates back to the fifth century. Here, pilgrims having been climbing to the top of the mountain, just as St. Patrick did some fifteen centuries ago. Tradition states that St. Patrick spent 40 days and 40 nights at the summit in prayer and fasting in 441 A.D. The mountain which rises 2,500 feet, features a chapel at the top. At the base of Croagh Patrick is a wonderful visitor's center.

A popular trivia question about Pope John Paul II's life is this: What was his favorite Marian devotion? The answer: Our Lady of Czestochowa. The shrine featuring this devotion and the cherished image of Our Lady of Czestochowa is located about halfway between Warsaw and Krakow, and is recognized as the most popular place of pilgrimage in Poland. So great was the Pope's devotion to this image that when he often visited countries and shrines around the world, the gift he left them was an icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa - also known as the "Black Madonna." Many miracles have been attributed to the devotion and to this day more than five million pilgrims from around the world visit the shrine.

Along with Lourdes, the most famous Marian shrine in the world is Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. Here, in 1917 the Virgin Mary appeared to three children: Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco. The Virgin Mary appeared over a period of six months with a message of prayer and repentance. There is much to see, do, and visit in Fatima including spending time at the Chapel of the Apparitions (where the Virgin Mary appeared), the Basilica where the tombs of the children lay, and the homes of the three children. Similar to Lourdes, the highlight of the day is the daily evening Rosary procession. The two main feast days and celebration days are May 13 (anniversary of first apparition) and October 13 (anniversary of second apparition).

In the Cathedral of Gyor in western Hungary lies a miraculous image of the Irish Madonna of Hungary. On March 17, 1697, thousands of people from various faiths witnessed the Virgin Mary painting weep blood-stained (inside the Gyor Cathedral). It was during this time that the Irish people were suffering terribly and experiencing the expulsion of their clergy due to an edict that was issued in this country. The terrible events taking place in Ireland are believed to have led to the Irish Madonna shedding tears of blood. To this day, the very cloth that captured the blood-stained tears is kept at the cathedral. Many of the people who signed their names testifying to seeing the miraculous event included the mayor, all its councilmen, the bishop, priests, Calvinist and Lutheran ministers, and a Jewish rabbi.

If there is one recognizable devotion to many Catholics around the world, it is the Infant Child of Prague devotion. This devotion and image has its roots in the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Prague, Czech Republic. Operated by the Carmelites, the shrine receives several million pilgrims and visitors each year who come to see the beloved statue first-hand. Many miracles and healings have been associated with the Infant Child of Prague throughout the years. There are many traditions associated with the image, and one of them is the changing of the "baby's" clothes throughout the year to reflect the feast days and events of the Church calendar.

A shrine that played a large role in the shaping of Pope John Paul II's life and especially his vocation to the priesthood was Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. In fact, as the shrine was located not far from the pontiff's home in Wadowice, he often visited the site to pray and reflect on life. In fact, it is in his book Gift & Mystery where the pontiff spoke personally about how the shrine influenced his call to the priesthood. It was for reasons like this that Kalwaria Zebrzydowska was considered Pope John Paul II's favorite childhood shrine. Often referred to as the "Polish Jerusalem," the place is considered Poland's second -most famous place of pilgrimage and features more than forty chapels and a basilica. The shrine covers an expansive area and offers the visiting pilgrim wonderful opportunities for walking and reflection. Many celebrations and processions take place throughout the year with the Holy Week events the most numerous and crowded.

Kyemore Abbey in western Ireland is a very popular place for both pilgrims and tourists alike. Home to Benedictine nuns, the abbey's history and traditions date back 1500 years. Today, visitors to the abbey can visit such sites as the Pottery Studio, Craft & Retail Shop, Gothic church, and the very popular Walled Garden. The abbey also features a wonderful and very personable Visitor Centre.

Among the Catholic Church's recognized Marian apparitions is Our Lady of La Salette. Here, at the 6,000 foot-level of the French Alps, the Virgin Mary appeared to two young children in 1846. Similar to the message at Fatima, the Virgin Mary delivered a message of prayer, penance, and conversion." Today, the shrine offers not only spectacular views of the French Alps, but also a wonderful retreat place and setting. Among the key sites to visit at the shrine is the apparition site (marked by statues), the spring that began to flow after the apparition, and the visitor center with the video presentations. If time allows, there are some wonderful walking trails.

Considered possibly the most famous Eucharistic Miracle in the Catholic Church, it is here where in the 8th-century while a monk was saying Mass, that after the consecration of the bread and wine, the host turned into flesh and the wine turned into blood. To this day, the relics of this event can still be viewed in the town of Lanciano and in the Church of the Eucharistic (or Holy) Miracle. This Eucharistic Miracle has been examined in modern-day times by numerous authorities and the final conclusion is "the flesh is real flesh and the blood is real blood." This is also just one of the many pilgrimage sites that Pope John Paul II visited during his lifetime and pontificate.

One of the most popular saints in modern times is St. Therese of Lisieux. Born in 1873, St. Therese has become endeared to Catholics around the world for her "down to earth" holiness and spirituality, which many learned about through her spiritual autobiography The Story of a Soul. Described by Pope Pius X as "the greatest saint of modern times," St. Therese entered the Carmelite convent at age fifteen and died the age of 24. Her spiritual childhood and simplicity became known as the "Little Way." As she lay dying she said, "I do not regret having given myself to Love." Today pilgrims can visit her family home, the Cathedral where she was baptized, the Carmelite Convent where she lived as a nun, and the basilica built in her honor (after her death).

One of the most cherished Marian shrines (a Marian shrine is a church associated with the veneration of the Virgin Mary) in the world is the Holy House of Loreto in eastern Italy. It is here where the original Nazareth home of the Virgin Mary is said to lie. According to legend, the angels transported the home to this area of Italy in 1294. According to tradition, it is believed that the Crusaders may have brought the home to Loreto. Today's research confirms that the materials and measurements of the house fit the original foundations of Mary's home in Nazareth - the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. The home now rests in the Basilica of the Holy House in Loreto.

Possibly the best known pilgrimage site in the world (outside of Jerusalem and Rome) is Lourdes. Here, in 1858 the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous on 18 occasions. A miraculous spring began flowing during the time of the apparitions - a spring which still flows today and has been the source of numerous healings throughout the years. The most prominent place in Lourdes to visit is the Grotto, the very place where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette. Other sites to visit include the birth home of St. Bernadette, as well as the home (a former prison) where St. Bernadette lived with her family at the time of the apparitions. Pilgrims can both drink and bathe in the healing waters of Lourdes (and even ship water home). The two biggest events of each day at the shrine are the afternoon Healing of the Sick procession and the evening Rosary procession. In preparation for one's visit to the shrine, a great recommendation is to watch the 1940's Hollywood movie class The Song of Bernadette.

Located near the friary of Padre Pio is Monte Sant'Angelo, or the Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel. It is here where St. Michael the Archangel appeared in a cave in 490, 492, and 1656. As such, the place has become one of the most visited pilgrimage sites for Catholics throughout the centuries, receiving numerous saints, popes, and royalty as visitors. The cave offers spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding area and ocean.

In central France is Nevers, the city where St. Bernadette Soubirous lived out her life as a nun. The most prominent site here is the tomb of St. Bernadette, which features her naturally incorrupt body. St. Bernadette is the young child who saw the Virgin Mary at Lourdes. Along with visiting the shrine's center, pilgrims can walk along the convent garden (just as Bernadette did some 150 years ago) and view the statue of Our Lady of the Waters, Bernadette's favorite. St. Bernadette died in 1879 at the age of 35 years old and was canonized a saint in 1933.

Although St. Maximilian Kolbe is a fairly well known saint in the Catholic Church, what is not as well known is the Franciscan friary and town he founded just outside of Warsaw called Niepokalanow (translated City of the Immaculata). Here, in the early part of the 20th century, St. Maximilian Kolbe's friary became a busy hive of activity ranging from running a printing press to a seminary to a radio station to a mission house. His monthly magazine The Knight of the Immaculata become a very widely read publication throughout Europe and the Catholic world. As word of St. Maximilian Kolbe's Catholic activities reached the Gestapo, he was later arrested and sent to Auschwitz where he died while giving up his life for a fellow prisoner in 1941. Today, St. Maximilian's friary remains fully functioning and pilgrims can spend time not only visiting the basilica, but also view the saint's original cell.

One of the most visited shrines in the world is Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Mexico City. Here, in 1531 the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill (just outside Mexico City) from December 9-12. The Virgin Mary left an imprint of herself on St. Juan Diego's cloak (tilma), which to this day remains perfectly preserved and can be viewed by visitors from inside the shrine. This icon of the Virgin Mary today remains the most venerated sacred image by the Mexican people, and has even been adopted as a key symbol of Mexican heritage and nationalism. The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is December 12; on this day some half a million to one million people come to venerate the Virgin Mary with great celebration and religious services.

Among the best known places around the world where the Virgin Mary has appeared, is Knock, Ireland. Here on August 21, 1879, the Virgin Mary appeared with St. Joseph and St. John the Baptist to fifteen local villagers. The apparition also included a cross and a lamb appearing on the altar. Those who saw the vision included fifteen men, women, and children ranging from five-years old to seventy-five years old. Many prominent Catholics from around the world have visited the shrine including Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa. Sites to visit at the shrine include the Church of the Apparition, Basilica, and rosary procession. Almost two million people visit Our Lady of Knock shrine annually.

As St. Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of "lost things," many Catholics know him all too well. Considered one of the greatest preachers in the history of the Catholic Church, St. Anthony also became known as a "wonder-worker" and miracles were attributed to him during (and after) his lifetime. He lived in the 13th-century and inspired by his contemporary St. Francis, he himself became a Franciscan priest (in 1221 St. Anthony even met St. Francis personally as they both attended the general chapter meeting of the Franciscans in Assisi). Today, there is a great shrine built in honor of St. Anthony and the visiting pilgrim can view many things related to his life including relics, chalices, gifts, and documents.

One of the most famous devotions in the Catholic Church is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This devotion grew even greater during the years of 1673-1675 when Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (a nun) and revealed his Sacred Heart. By the time of St. Margaret Mary's death in 1690, the devotion of the Sacred Heart was firmly established in her community and growing elsewhere. Today, the Sacred Heart devotion can be found in many Catholic churches around the world. Pilgrims visiting Paray-le-Monial can spend time in the chapel where Jesus' Sacred Heart was revealed to St. Margaret Mary.

Just as the Sacred Heart is one of the most famous devotions in the Catholic Church, so is the devotion of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. This devotion began in 1830 when the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure at her convent in downtown Paris. The Virgin asked St. Catherine to have a medal made with the inscription "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." The devotion grew and as more people received the medal and wore, stories of healings grew as well. So great were the numbers of healings and miraculous associated with the devotion, that the medal later became known as the "Miraculous Medal." Today, pilgrims can visit the chapel where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine, as well as can view the saint's tomb (located near the front of the chapel).

In addition to visiting Vatican City (considered the world's smallest country), pilgrims can visit some of Rome's more than fifty major basilicas and churches. Key sites to visit include patriarchal basilicas such as the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which is the actual "parish church" of the Pope (bishop of Rome), Basilica of St. Mary Major, which houses relics of Jesus crib from Bethlehem, Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, which is home to the tomb of St. Paul (under the main altar), and the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls, dedicated to St. Lawrence the deacon and martyr. One other site not to be missed is the Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta). Here, pilgrims can be seen daily ascending the staircase on their knees…..the same 33-steps believed to be originally from Jerusalem that Jesus stood upon while bleeding during the beginning of his crucifixion.

There is no greater Irish "icon" than St. Patrick, and there is no better place to learn about his life than at the Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. Along with visiting the tomb of St. Patrick, you can explore the shrine's interpretative exhibition which provides an intimate view into the life of Ireland's patron saint. In addition, numerous interactive displays also allow an opportunity to get an insider's glimpse into Irish life, history, and culture - as well as the impact of Catholicism and missionaries on the country of Ireland throughout the centuries.

One of the most famous and beloved saints in the Catholic Church today is Padre Pio. A more recent saint, Padre Pio lived during the 20th century and was canonized only in the past decade. Padre Pio became known throughout his life - and after his death - as a man of great holiness and a wonder worker. During this lifetime, Padre Pio experienced the stigmata, that is, the bleeding of wounds similar to Christ's crucifixion. While living, he also became well known as a confessor and people from throughout Italy and around the world came to him for confession and advice. Today, the visiting pilgrim can visit the friary he lived in, see his original cell, and pray at his tomb. A new shrine has recently been built next to the friary, both in order to receive and accommodate the growing number of pilgrims.

During the Middle Ages, the most famous place of pilgrimage outside of Rome and Jerusalem was Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. It is here where the relics of St. James the Greater are said to lie in the crypt. So prominent was this shrine that during the Middle Ages many of the European roads led to Santiago de Compostela. In fact, the shrine became so significant that judges often sentenced criminals from throughout Europe to make a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela as punishment. Today, Santiago de Compostela is probably best known for being a popular pilgrimage route that people bike, hike, walk, and horseback ride along (the path is called the Way of St. James).

Although a lesser known Marian Shrine, Our Lady of Saragossa (sometimes spelled Zaragoza) is home to miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. The statue today lies in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar and remains the most famous shrine in Spain outside of Santiago de Compostela. Many saints have visited the cathedral throughout the ages including St. Ignatius, St. Teresa of Avila, and Pope John Paul II visited the shrine and recited the rosary during a worldwide broadcast. Many Spanish children visit the shrine prior to their first Holy Communion.

One of the most popular devotions in the Catholic Church today is the Divine Mercy Chaplet. This devotion derives from the visions St. Faustina experienced from 1931 to 1938 of Jesus entrusting her with the mission of spreading his Divine Mercy. An image of the Merciful Jesus was made in response to the revelations, and to this day the image remains one of the most recognizable in Catholic churches around the world. Pope John Paul II not only canonized Saint Faustina, but also instituted the Feast Day of Divine Mercy in the Catholic Calendar (the feast day occurs on the Sunday after Easter). Pilgrims visiting the shrine can view one of the authentic paintings of the Divine Mercy, as well as pray before the tomb of St. Faustina. The shrine has become one of the most famous in all of Europe in recent years.

A well-known saint, St. Catherine played a prominent role in the Catholic Church and its teachings. In fact, she is only one of three women to earn the title Doctor of the Church because of her tremendous spiritual wisdom and insight. One of her most famous writings is titled Dialogue of St. Catherine. An interesting fact about St. Catherine is that she was the youngest of twenty-five children!

Ten years after the events at Tepeyac Hill, the Virgin Mary appeared to another Juan Diego…..Juan Diego Bernardino. The Virgin Mary showed him a miraculous spring and on the following day, she left a burnt image of her in an oak tree - which still exists to this day. The image is today known as Our Lady of Ocotlan, or Our Lady of the Burnt Oak. A basilica in the Virgin Mary's honor has since been built and the "heavenly-carved image" is enshrined in it.

Tlaxcala and the surrounding area is home to several prominent Mexican shrines. For this reason, the city is often called the "Lourdes of Mexico." At San Miguel Del Milagro Shrine, according to tradition Saint Michael the Archangel appeared to seventeen year-old Diego Lazaro (different from St. Juan Diego of Guadalupe) in the 17th century on several occasions and revealed to him a nearby miraculous spring - a spring which exists to this day and is filled with stories of healing throughout the centuries.

If there is one place many Catholics wish to visit at least once in their lifetime - it is the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica in Italy. It is this place that more than one billion Catholics from around the world called home. It is also here where some of the world's most prominent religious and tourist sites are located. There is so much to see here for the visiting pilgrim - inside St. Peter's Basilica one can view the famed Pieta while also simply taking in the "awe" of the vastness and beauty of the place, which is considered one of the largest churches in the world. It is also here where under the high altar lies the tomb of St. Peter himself. At the nearby Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, one can view some of the world's most treasured works of art and historical documents. It is also here where visitors can view the famed The Last Judgment painting by Michelangelo.

One of the newest and most popular places of pilgrimage in Europe is Wadowice (30 miles southwest of Krakow), the birthplace and hometown of Pope John Paul II. Born in 1920, Pope John Paul II lived in Wadowice until he moved to Krakow at the age of 18, to pursue university studies. Throughout his pontificate, Wadowice always remained close to the Pope's heart and he often reflected on his hometown and youth in his writings and speeches. Along with visiting the church where the Pope was baptized, the "star attraction" is the home in which he was raised - and has since been turned into a museum for visiting pilgrims and tourists.

Located in Western Herzegovina and close to the border of Croatia. It was here on a hillside in 1981 that the Virgin Mary appeared to 6 young children on a hillside. The next day, the children returned and she appeared to them once again. From that day forward, the Virgin Mary has been appearing to these same six people, now adults, every day and has been giving them messages and revealing secrets of what the future holds for the world. It is reported that there are 10 secrets that will be revealed- 3 of the visionaries have received all 10, the other 3 have received nine. It is reported that these secrets are chastisements for the world and that they will begin during the lifetimes of the visionaries.