Today we will go to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas. This Shrine was built in response to Our Lady’s request to the apparition’s seer, St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. When St. Juan relayed her request to the bishop, he asked for a sign. Our Lady provided St. Juan with culturally significant flowers that miraculously bloomed in the middle of winter on Tepeyac Hill. When the seer returned to the bishop with his cloak (tilma) full of flowers, he poured the flowers on the floor, revealing a stunning image of Our Lady which many studies have proven could not have been made by human hand. Upon arrival at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we will celebrate Mass. Following Mass, we will have Back to the hotel for dinner & overnight.

This morning after breakfast we will depart for Holy Family Church, where we will view the tomb of the Jesuit martyr, Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro. During the Mexican Revolution, Fr. Pro was exiled from Mexico due to the great amount of religious persecution. Yet he bravely returned to Mexico and was aided by a clandestine group that helped him hide from the authorities. He assisted many individuals with their spiritual and temporal needs during the persecution. Although he helped many, he was eventually arrested and killed. At Holy Family Church, we can venerate this saint’s relics and ask for his intercession. We will also celebrate Mass here and visit the small yet inspiring museum dedicated to Fr. Pro’s life, mission, and sacrifice. We will continue to the Church of Santo Domingo, which stands on the same site where the first temple was built after the conquest of the Dominicans. This church is also significant for the historical characters buried here, such as Francisco Vazquez de Coronado. Next, we will have lunch near the city center before continuing to the Church of San José del Altillo to see the crypt where Blessed Conchita Cabrera is buried. Blessed María Concepción Cabrera Arias de Armida, known as Conchita, was a model of holiness as a wife, mother, widow, grandmother, and founder. Because of the depth of her writings, Conchita is recognized as a great mystic of the 20th century. She was beatified in Mexico City on May 4, 2019. Time for prayers and personal devotions will be provided. Our day will conclude with another delicious dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

After breakfast, early departure to the Cerro del Cubilete. The Cerro of Cubilete is a special emblematic site for the Cristeros. It was bombed in 1928 by the Mexican government which led to the famous refrain of the Cristero Revolution. It was reconstructed after the Cristero revolution in 1944 and finished in 1950. At the base of El Cerro del Cubilete is the Shrine of Santa Maria de los Martires where we will see the relics of three Cristeros. Then we will visit Guanajuato, where we will immerse into its unique atmosphere, walking through its colorful narrow streets, admiring from outside the architecture of the Juarez Theater, Plaza Baratillo, Guanajuato University. We will also see the Templo de la Compañia de Jesus, one of the largest constructions completed by the Jesuits in Mexico  After a delightful day, we’ll be on our way to hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will depart for San Juan de Los Lagos. We start with a visit to the Cathedral Basilica of Nuestra Senora de San Juan de los Lagos, the second most visited Catholic center in Mexico (after the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe). Our journey will follow to Santa Ana de Guadalupe and visit the house and the Shrine of San Toribio Romo, a martyr. San Toribio is known as the patron of migrants, and we will have time to pray in front of his relics. We will continue to the city of Guadalajara for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we departure for Sahuayo. We will dedicate this morning to St. Jose Sanchez del Rio, the youngest of the Cristero martyrs. He was canonized on October 14, 2016. We will have time to pray in front of his relics. Next, we visit the cemetery where St. Joselito bravely declared his loyalty to Christ. As he was being tortured, he cried out “Viva Cristo Rey!” We then return to Guadalajara. In Guadalajara, we visit the Cathedral with the ossuary consisting of a glass cabinet that exhibits the bones of 23 of the martyred saints of the Cristero Revolution, followed by a visit of the city center with its historical buildings and government palaces, as well as the elegant Degollado Theater. Dinner and overnight in Guadalajara.