Faith Journeys: Journeys of the Saints
Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione in 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy, led an extraordinary life marked by mystical experiences and deep devotion to God.
Ordained as a Capuchin friar in 1910, he gained widespread recognition for bearing the stigmata— wounds resembling those of Christ. Despite controversy and scrutiny from church authorities, he was canonized a saint in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. His legacy endures through the global popularity of the Padre Pio devotion and the healing miracles attributed to him.
St. John Paul II, original name Karol Józef Wojtyła (canonized April 27, 2014), was the bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005.
Maria Faustyna Kowalska, also known as Saint Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, was a Polish Roman Catholic nun and mystic. Her visions of Jesus Christ inspired the Roman Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy and earned her the title of "Secretary of Divine Mercy.
St. Francis of Assisi (1181–1226) undertook extensive travels, forsaking wealth for a life of humility and service to God. His pilgrimage to Rome secured papal approval for the Franciscan Order. Journeying to Egypt during the Fifth Crusade, he sought peace with the Muslim Sultan.
La Verna became a sacred pilgrimage site where Francis received the stigmata, symbolizing his deep connection to Christ's suffering. His travels throughout Italy, from Assisi to Gubbio, embodied a commitment to poverty, love for nature, and a profound spiritual legacy, establishing him as a venerated figure known for compassion and devotion
Following his last great missionary journey, Apostle Paul returns to Jerusalem and faces arrest. Transported to the Roman provincial capital of Caesarea, he undergoes trial and is eventually sent as a prisoner to Rome to appear before the emperor’s court.
The narrative in the Acts of the Apostles vividly recounts Paul's perilous voyage to Rome, including a shipwreck in Malta, supported by rich historical detail. This passage stands out in the New Testament, boasting a compelling evidential confirmation of its historical accuracy.
The Acts (28) describes the survivors' welcome in Malta, showcasing the islanders' kindness and their response to Paul's miraculous survival from a snakebite. Perillo Tours brings the Book of Acts to life, inviting you to follow in the footsteps of Apostle Paul, where historical, meteorological, and nautical details align with remarkable accuracy.
In Acts 16, prompted by a vision, Paul ventures to Macedonia. In Philippi, they convert Lydia, heal a tormented girl, and face imprisonment, leading to the conversion of their jailer. Acts 17 sees Paul preaching in Thessaloniki, encountering opposition, and seeking refuge in Berea. Trouble persists, and Paul is sent to Athens, where he delivers the renowned "Areopagus sermon." In Acts 18, after Corinthian work, Paul sails to Syria, stopping briefly in Ephesus. His encounters reveal the challenges and triumphs of spreading the Gospel.
Let’s follow Paul’s route – by land and by sea!
Cyprus was Paul’s first site on his missionary path. The island was ruled by the Ptolemies of Egypt until it was annexed by Rome in 58 BC. Many of its rock-cut tombs follow Egypt’s peristyle fashion. Mark Antony gave the island to Cleopatra as a wedding gift, but it was restored as a Roman province after the Battle of Actium (31 BC).
"Here they went into the synagogues on the Sabbath and took their seats. After the passages from the law and the prophets had been read the presidents of the synagogue sent them a message...'Brothers if you would like to address some words of encouragement to the congregation please do so.' Paul stood up, raised his hand for silence and began to speak: 'From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised." [Acts 13:13-23]