Italian Adventure Re-Cap
- katbezner
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
Dearest Readers,
Happy March! I am finally unwound and no longer sluggish from our Italian adventure! While it is bittersweet to be back in the reality of everyday life, re-living our memories is priceless and truly mind-boggling. I still cannot comprehend how we maximized our time to see so MUCH in only 9 days! We were incredibly fortunate to travel with 44 other pilgrims and experience the wonder and tradition of the Universal Catholic Church and the rich history of Rome. Traveling with my husband, parents, and dear family friends was the extra cherry on top of an Aperol spritz!
I did throw 4 coins into the Trevi Fountain - legend says that tossing coins into the fountain will ensure a return visit to the “Eternal City - Rome!” Colten and I certainly HOPE to return in the future! Experiencing the wonder of this city with him was very special.
Content from this trip will be shared for months and years to come! I can’t help myself from sharing my top 5 highlights! (How I managed to narrow this list down to 5 shows that I truly have become more decisive as a person…haha!)
My favorite Major Basilica was St. Mary Major!
There are only four Major Basilicas in the entire world (and all located in Rome, Italy), which are:
St. John Lateran
St. Mary Major
St. Peter’s
St. Paul’s Outside the Walls
Since 2025 is a Jubilee Year for the Church, the Holy doors of each church are opened for pilgrims to travel through. A jubilee year only occurs every 25 years (unless an extraordinary year is implemented). The intention of a jubilee year is to offer grace and forgiveness to the body of the Church! The doors opened on Christmas Eve 2024 and will close on January 6, 2026.
Our “Must Go Back and Explore Some More Spot” was Assisi, Italy!
Home of St. Francis and St. Clare and the burial home of Blessed Carlo Acutis! The dreamy beauty of Assisi captivated my attention! Picture rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves sprawling out as far as your eyes can see. Hearing the Chruch bells ring throughout this serene town was straight out of a movie!
Truffles on everything, “Grazie!” (thank you)
Pasta with truffles - delish
Bruschetta with truffles - perfecto
Truffle butter - dreamy
Pizza with truffle drizzle - yep, also so yummy
Tasting authentic pasta dishes with quality truffles has me drooling just thinking about it! Going to little local markets was a great deal of fun! I want to take a page out of the Italian’s hosting book. We were told before the trip to expect meals to be several courses and at least two hours long! Italian restaurateurs intend to offer their guests an experience—you are meant to linger, laugh, and savor the experience. I love this mentality—communion at the kitchen table should not be hurried and rushed!
Sweet Prayer time at the Basilica of St. Augustine!
This Church has an amazing side Chapel that showcases a brilliant marble statue of the Madonna of Childbirth. You see Mary gently holding baby Jesus in her arms. In this holy space, you are encouraged to pray for couples desiring to grow their families, expecting moms, and mothers. When prayers are answered, you are encouraged to return to the Basilica and leave a photo or memento of your answered prayer at the Madonna of Childbirth Statue. This was a wonderful highlight and sure left an impression!
My special Jubilee Year Rosary Keepsake!
A wise friend told me about a wonderful sentimental keepsake for a Jubilee year. You purchase a rosary with the image of the four major Basilicas on the four Our Father beads. You carry that rosary through each of the four Holy Doors to commemorate the trip and have a tangible prayer tool to bring back home with you!
I could go on and on about our experiences, and I feel humbled to have been given the opportunity to travel.
Was it hard to take time off from work? Absolutely!
Was it nerve-wracking to get all our “ducks in a row” to travel across the pond? Lol, YES!
Was it a little daunting to work with an international travel company? Yes, but having someone responsible for getting our tickets for entrance to Churches, museums, etc. was incredibly helpful! It really helped give you “The Lie of the Land,” as our phenomenal British tour guide would say!
Was our schedule filled to the brim? Yes, but it was 1000% worth it. We had much more free time built in than I anticipated. Our group of 44 people was not always together all the time, which I think had benefits, especially for such a large group.
It was a fantastic trip, and I believe our group can now say this experience has given us the confidence and tools to plan a return trip down the road!
Lady K’s One Thing:
Here’s my One Thing after sharing 5 Favorite things! ;)
A Lenten Reflection inspired by some amazing, faithful women in my life and the Blessed is She book “Under the Olive Tree”
In Christ’s Agony - how can I embrace Him?
We are all called to different roles… to serve others and walk with them through all of life’s many seasons.
“It might be a role of:
PRESENCE
AID or
PROMISE”
At times, we may be walking with a friend/sibling/relative in an AIDing role, actively helping them. At other moments, we might be challenged to walk with that same individual as a PRESENCE, simply listening to them without offering solutions.
The Lord gives us the grace to do this, for it is not by our own merit.
As we journey through the desert and prepare for the Passion, let’s take inventory of how the Lord wants US to walk with Him during His darkest hour.
Am I Simon, helping the Lord carry the Cross?
Am I Veronica, tenderly wiping the face of Christ?
Am I Mary, Mary Magdalene, and John standing nearby, locking eyes with Christ, saying, “I am here Lord, but utterly powerless”?
Am I Pontius Pilate’s wife, plagued by dreams begging him to reconsider Jesus the Nazarene’s death sentence?
Am I the thief mocking Christ? - (Luke 23:39) Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.”
Am I the repentant thief hoping against hope to have a small place forever with Him in Paradise?
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