🇫🇷 7 Reasons I Love France and Want to Take You There!

Ladies, this is your invitation from Sarah to join her on a "Daughters of Grace" Women's pilgrimage to France in May 2026!

It's this May 4-13th, in the footsteps of St. Thérèse, her mama St. Zélie, St. Joan of Arc ("I was born to do this!"), and of course, all guided, inspired, and devoted to Our Lady. You'll pray at Notre Dame cathedral, the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, Mont St. Michel where we'll seek the archangel's strength and protection, and culminate with a healing of hearts at Lourdes.

The themes of the dignity of women, feminine genius, the theology of the body throughout  a woman's life cycle, and healing the heart of a woman will all be woven throughout the pilgrimage.

Sarah shares her pivotal memory of encountering St. John Paul II at World Youth Day in Paris in 1997 in an atmosphere of joy, gathered with thousands of youth from around by the Holy Spirit. 

In this episode, Sarah shares seven reasons why she loves France and wants to take you there with her. 

1. The country's devotion to Our Lady

2. French saints! 

3. Breathtaking cathedrals (French Gothic architecture 😍)

4. Beauty 

5. Intelligence + Elegance

6. The French Language

7. The Food

The pilgrimage costs $4,199 for the land-only package in which you arrange your travel to and from France, or $4,999 flying from Seattle. 

More info at

https://canafeast.com/france

Want to go, but can't? 

Pray this novena to see if a way might open up through the Little Flower's prayers!

My Novena Rose Prayer

O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose
from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God to grant the favors
I now place with confidence in your hands . .

(mention in silence here)

St. Therese, help me to always believe as you did in
God’s great love for me, so that I might imitate your “Little Way” each day.

Amen

Want to join the free online formation on the pilgrimage themes? 

Sign up at:

https://canafeast.com/france

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Transcript

0:53

Ladies, this episode is a little different because it is a personal invitation from me to you to come with me to France. This is an invitation to joy, to friendship, to connection. And to transformation through this women's pilgrimage to France May 4th through 13th, that I'll be leading along with two really wonderful priests. This is the Daughters of Grace pilgrimage that will be following in the footsteps of St. Tore of Listia. Her mama, St. Zalie, Marta St. Joan of a. And all inspired, devoted, and guided by our lady as we begin, um, by honoring her in prayer at Notre Dame Cathedral, which is now beautifully newly restored while we visit the altar at the foot of which she pours out graces at the chapel of the miraculous medal. And then as we conclude with a beautiful healing experience at Lords, the theme of healing a woman's heart is very much at heart. In this pilgrimages design as well as the themes of the feminine genius and dignity of women. And the theology of the body in a woman's whole life cycle. So these are things we'll be talking about and praying about, and really diving into together along the way as we visit Paris. Where St. Lived till she was age four. Lizzie of course where she lived out the rest of her childhood and her convent years. And as we go also to moa Michel this incredible marvel at the, the corner of Normandy and Brittany to honor St. Michael. There a really beautiful place where great graces are also available. And then of course, Lords. So. This is really special, and I've dreamed of organizing a pilgrimage like this for quite a while, a number of years actually, and I'm very excited It's finally coming together. The deadline to register is January 26th, so do check it out, pray about it, see if you can join, and if not, it's okay because I'm actually offering an online formation that will be spiritual preparation for the pilgrims who will come. But it's also free and open to everybody because truly the most important pilgrimage that we make, it's our spiritual journey through life to reach the promised land of heaven. And I'd love to walk with you, um, on that way through the online formation. Or you know, actually going on pilgrimage to France. So in this episode, I'm going to share with you one of my inspirations for this pilgrimage, and then seven reasons why I love France and want to bring you there to experience it yourself with me. So decades ago, in August of 1997, as a young woman in the midst of my college years, I was so super duper blessed to be able to go to World Youth Day in Paris in 1997. To encounter St. John Pauli there. This was such a joyful and transformative and really foundational, informative event for me. I think it really shaped the direction of my life in ways that I would only discover and unpack as the years went on afterwards. But I remember this intense experience of joy, of being part of something so much bigger than myself as I waited in song and prayer. Thousands of other young people from around the world at the foot of the Eiffel Tower for our encounter with St. John Pauli. When he greeted us to open the World Youth Days, we sang the mag, the Teza Magnifico together, and when he came, he sang it back to us. He beheld our joy and he participated in it, and it was just this like joy spiral that grew and grew. I remember a little boy came on stage all dressed in white, and he released. A dove from a pouch that he had around his waist, like basically a fanny pack. And that dove flew up. And St. John Paul two really smiled at it. And like, this is the emotional tone, like the, the feeling footprint that got stamped in my heart. This feeling of spiritual joy, um, in the church and. That's what I want to be the guiding star for this pilgrimage. So with that in mind, let me share with you seven other reasons why I love France and would love to bring you along with me there. First reason, love of our lady, the church in France has this special tender feel, devotion to our lady that is. So inspirational. When you go to daily mass at most places in France, most churches at the end, they will turn to the statue of our lady in that church or chapel and sing a love, sing a a song to her, uh, a prayer song, or just say a prayer to our lady to conclude. Hundreds of years ago, the whole country of France was dedicated, was consecrated to our lady under the title of Our Lady of the Assumption, by one of the kings of France, who was begging our lady's intercession to for his wife to conceive a child so he could have an heir. And he has this beautiful document. In which he instructed devotion to our lady and really like this, this tangible felt devotion. You know, he had specific practices like processions for the feast of our, of the assumption in August. And anyways, he, he really like. Urge the whole country to devote themselves to her and to turn to her, and they just haven't stopped. They're still doing it. And this is so clear when you go to the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which is, I was just, I'm reading my book club book right now, which is Lemi, Zara, or not, not Lemi, Zara. It's the Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo. And I'm at the chapter where he's talking about the Cathedral of Notre Dame and he calls it a symphony in stone and sculpture. And I think that's so apt.'cause you really like the way the, there's so much detail and complexity in Notre Dame Cathedral and in French Gothic architecture, but it's so harmonious. It's intelligent. It takes incredible skill. It's a, a technical feat of triumph, like the, just the engineering, the architecture. But it's done with such. Elegance and lightness and spree spirit, which I'll talk more about in a little bit because actually like intelligence plus elegance, that's another. Part of French culture that I really love. Um, and that's gonna come at number five in my little list here, but this shows forth in kind of like the style of devotion to our lady as well. So, yeah. And of course our lady has appeared in France multiple times. And on this pilgrimage, we'll go to two of those apparition sites, the Lord's apparition site where she appeared in the grotto to St. Bernadette. And. To the chapel of the miraculous medal where she appeared to St. Catherine Laboure, whose incorrect body is still there. And we will see that. Um, and I really love the chapel of the miraculous medal. I wear a miraculous medal when I was a young woman doing my study abroad year in Paris. I prayed, I was within walking distance of this chapel from where my lodgings were and I would go there frequently and really begged our lady to help me find. My vocation and if my vocation was to marriage to help me find my future husband, and I promised I would come back with him someday to thank her if she did. And that's what I was able to do. I did meet Nathan and marry him and I, we have come back together and I've thanked our lady so much for him. And then now when I go back now we, I pray for my children's vocations. Okay, so love of our lady. That was all number one. Secondly, French Saints. Saint of EU Saint Marta, her mother, Saint Joan of Arc, John Dark these saints are incredible and I'm so excited to just have you deepen your friendship with these. Strong, beautiful women. Uh, you can see so clearly in St. Joan of Ark's unique mission, right? How she embodies the dignity of women and the feminine genius in, in really like a countercultural way, um, by becoming a warrior just completely trusting God's call to her, though she'd never ridden a horse before, never held a sword before, but her famous. Quote is, I was born to do this. She had that trust and confidence. St. Zalie Martel, who? Oh, I love St. Zalie so much. She is so cool. Really like a relatable woman. I think she really struggled with anxiety, but she. Put her trust in God. You know, despite that like personality tendency, she was a hard worker, but also just totally trusting in God. She was skilled. She prayed so hard for her children. She loved her husband tenderly. She gave good practical advice, but also just had to deal with a lot of real life stuff like lawsuits with neighbors, like household help that was actually working counter to the goals of the family and undermining her authority. You know, she had to organize, uh, the women who worked with her to create the different pieces of lace, and then she pieced them together in her home, which this really skilled task. She was a working mom but home-based, just really incredible woman. Such great love and trust in her heart, and faced her sufferings with great courage. But she's so fun. And when we go to Ellen Song, which is where she lived her life we will see the home where she and Louis lived while they were married together. We'll see the desk that she worked at the stairs where St. Theres came down the stairs, calling out Mama. Calling out for her mom's reassurance at every step. And she must have been little, like two, three years old at this point, and from her work desk, St. Zalie in the living room said you know, I'm here. It's okay. Reassuring her each way. She said theres, and yeah, we'll get to go to a lace making mu, uh, museum of Sison Lace, if you wish. That's an option. Or to the Charles Bridge where she met, uh, or I'm sorry, the, the bridge where she met Saint. Her husband St. Louis for the first time and heard voice inside her saying, this is the one I've chosen for you. And then of course, St. Theres herself the little flower. We'll go to Liz Yu. We'll pray before her tomb. We'll see the childhood home she lived in after her mama died, where she played in the garden, doing her holy play of making little funerals for birdies, and really grew and deepened her own spiritual life. And just get to know her in her little way. More deeply and intimately like, I really like to think of St. Perez as a friend, and I really just want like to introduce you to my friend. Therese in a just a more vivid, more intimate way. She's so cool. And then we'll see Mos Michel, we'll go to Mos Michel and he's not like French per se'cause he's an angel, but they're really devoted to Saint Michael in France. And this shrine of his moss Michel is just incredible. I couldn't leave it out of the itinerary. I think he's really. Active now. And when I went last to Mon Michel, I really like had this sense of him invisibly above that island, like with his spear in hand, really helping defend us, the church ready to intercede, ready to help us get graces. And I have heard that. Mo Michel when I went to confession there, um, during one of our family trips to France the priest who confessed to me said, there are special graces for family life at Mo Michel and that many people come back to give thanks for graces they've received for family life to this place. So I think it'll be very fruitful for us to go there. And then the way we're gonna go there is that you have the option to join me in a 10 mile hike along a Renaissance era dyke along the sea to approach mosam shell just like medieval pilgrims wood, or, you know, pilgrims from of old. They would approach this shrine walking and see it grow larger and larger in their view. So when Nathan and I went to France in May. Of 2025 for our 25th wedding anniversary. We did this hike, this 10 mile hike, and it was. Such a really special experience that I definitely wanted to include that option. Now, if you do not wanna do a 10 mile walk to begin your day, no worries. The bus can just bring you straight to MOA Michel, and you can join us there for the the midday mass. No problem. I bet. Anyway, I wanted some of these like immersive outdoor. Spiritual experiences to be an option that you can have there.'cause we can pray the rosary along the way. We can grow in friendship, you can walk in silence. Really listening to what God is telling, speaking to you. It's, it's really an inspiring landscape and an inspiring way to approach Mohel. And of course, France is just packed full of saints. There are so many other saints we're going to encounter along the way that I haven't mentioned. When we're at the chapel of miraculous metal Saint Louise Demarla, she, her in corrupt body is there. Just inevitably we will encounter other saints along the way. So Saints of France, that is my number two reason, okay? My number three reason why I love France. I wanna bring you there to experience it yourself are the breathtaking cathedrals. So I did mention this a bit already, talking about our lady, but French Gothic architecture, it's like nothing else. And you will see that at Mo Michel as well as at Notre Dame. It is into stone form. Like that is what these cathedrals are. And the song that I think it is, is the Magnifico. Like that's how I feel about. Notre Dame de Shark Cathedral and Notre Dame de Parri. It's like if you could articulate our ladies Magnificat and put it into stone form, this is what these cathedrals would be. So. Again, just this combination of intelligence, of harmony and order and beauty and the physical, you know, the concrete, the stone, the glass. It's very tangible and concrete, but it's also so spiritual because it lifts your mind and heart to heaven. There's a spiritual element to it that speaks to something very deep about who we are as human persons and then, and who you are as a woman, body and soul. You are like that, right? You have a body that's matter, that's tangible, physical, and you have a soul that's spiritual and that expresses itself through your body, which is really right at the heart of what the theology of the body is. Okay? So breathtaking cathedrals and architecture. I just can't wait for you. Like, it's one thing to see pictures, right? And you're gonna take pictures there. You've seen the pictures. But to experience it in person, to walk through the doors of those cathedrals, to look up at the vast ceiling, to see the light filter through the stained glass windows to just. Hear that sort of murmur or, that, you know, that echoes in the cathedrals as, as pilgrims and tourists are circulating, viewing it, or even better to hear the prayers and songs of the holy mass in this setting of these cathedrals, which is the whole point of them, right? The, the whole point of a cathedral is to be a place where mass is celebrated. That is just the most incredible thing. When Nathan and I went to Moosa Michel for our wedding anniversary, we were able to join the religious brothers and sisters who are now in residence there for morning prayer. And for mass and hearing them sing inside the Abbey Church of that's at the tippy top of Mohel. And then to hear that prayer song echoing through the, the holy sacred sanctuary space there of, in this French Gothic style, it's just otherworldly. There's just like no recording could ever capture it. You just have to experience it and be there really like. Be transported by that experience. Okay, so that brings me to point number four about why I love France and wanna bring you there to experience it yourself, and that is beauty in general. And this does relate to my other content area that most of my, my Delight episodes are about, but like being able to experience beauty, joy, delight. That's what it's like when you're, you know, driving around the countryside of France, seeing the beautiful sacred art, when you behold the intricacy of the lace of Elliance, such as Saint Zalie Maid there's just this gift, this genius for beauty. That is. Part of French culture that shows up in so many ways. And I would really love for you to experience that, to be transformed by it, and then to be able to come home looking for how you can incorporate that into your daily life in little ways. For example, today I, I have this rose perfume that my mom got me for Christmas. She actually got it from a perfume maker that is based in Paris and like just smelling that. That scent of rose with some complex other scents in it. Like it just brought this little note of beauty into my ordinary day and I was thinking about you and this podcast episode in France and St. Torres, of course, as I was smelling that rose. But there are little ways that you can do this in your own life to, you know, draw out and focus on beauty, to draw it into your daily life. And I think being in France for 10 days will be a school of beauty for you. It'll be this rich font of inspiration for you for how you can do that to live a more beautiful life. And beauty is spiritual as well, right? So, right. It's like this, this wedding of physical and spiritual. Okay. Point number five, why I love France and wanna bring you there to experience yourself, this other aspect of French culture. Which is the, the harmonious synthesis of intelligence and elegance. So they're, they're truly, they value excellence information, know how s affair, you know, technical skill and ability and, and being smart. Their education system really focuses on cultivating the intellect. And you know, there is just so much intellectual achievement that comes out of France and that has for just centuries, for millennia, really. You know, if we look back at the, the birth of the universities in Paris St. Thomas Aquinas who lived in Paris, and yeah, and just so many thinkers, writers, authors there anyway, there just show this value of intelligence, but it's not blunt raw intelligence. It's intelligence plus elegance. It's intelligence with spirit, with charm, and. There's just something really compelling about that, something really attractive and uplifting, I think. And it just warms my spirit. You know, I'm a, I'm a West coast American girl, right? So I, I grew up in this pretty casual culture more forthright and I'm, greatly inspired. By these values like, oh, okay, maybe there is something to not just being super casual all the time, but to being elegant, elegant in thought, how you express yourself and how you interact with others. I remember just the, the great respect. And like almost chivalric Gentlemanliness in some of my interactions with other young French people young men that year that I was in, in Paris as a college student. The, the friendship and really elegance and intelligence through the friendship with the women that I met as well, the other young women. And just all the people that I met there. There's this, this spirit, this charm, this ra that. This country's culture really has in a unique and special way, and I love for you to experience that as well. So that's reason number five, intelligence plus elegance, courtesy, like COIs that came from France. So yeah,, I hope that will inspire you as well. Okay. Moving on to two reason number six, and this is. This is the French language. I just love the French language. I love hearing it around me. I love the challenge of speaking it. I love sort of like how it shapes my thoughts when I try to express myself in French. I love seeing the language written around me, so I don't know if everybody will resonate with that, but, I think that intelligence plus elegance really is expressed through the language as well. It's just inspiring for me to have experiences with the French language. Okay. Reason number seven. I think everybody will be able to relate to and connect with this reason. And this is the Food of France. This is the delicious, yummy food. And what I would like to focus on is not just, you know, hot cuisine and an elegant sit down multi-course meal. Of course the French do that so well. And to be honest, that's actually not at all what this pilgrimage will be about. We will have a dinner cruise along the scent. So that will be really fun to dine together while viewing Paris, that will be fun. But even the simple basic food is so decia in France. Bread, the baguettes, the croissants, the cheese just a cup of hot chocolate All those things are so yummy. Now, for those of you who like me, are trying to go gluten-free, dairy free, don't worry. There's still lots of other delicious food in France. The salads are so good, so fresh and vibrant and such wonderful flavors. And then. Yeah, as I was saying earlier, like just simple, fair, simple food is really good there. I'm thinking now of croc messier, this delicious little French sandwich that you can get at even what like would be the equivalent of fast food places for us. But like most quick service places in France, you where you could get ama here. That's a really delicious. Option that you don't need to spend much to enjoy. And that also can inspire you when you come back home, like how can you incorporate a bit of French flavor into your cooking or cook a meal that is French inspired, you know in these, these days where it is winter in North America, especially as we get like further away from Christmas and, and it's just, it's still winter. I find like at least once a year, I really like to make a i, I actually make it for Nathan's birthday, which is the Feast of St. Joseph. So yay. It's always a solemnity and it's always an exemption from Lenin. Fasting and observances. So for his birthday, many years, I'll make him B. And it's so hearty and rich with the red wine and the beef and the onions, the pearl onions, and the broth. Anyway, I think you're gonna have a lot of delicious meals if you are able to come to France. But you know what, even if you don't come to France. That's okay. How can you, do this at home on your own? Do a DIY, you know taking some inspiration from French cuisine to just liven up your menu, planning for your week at home, just for an ordinary week. So, seven reasons why I love France and would love to bring you there to experience it for yourself. Number one, love of our lady. Number two, the saints. Number three, breathtaking cathedrals, especially French Gothic architecture. Number four, beauty in general throughout the countryside. The art, the just cultural objects. Number five, intelligence plus elegant. Number six, the French language, and number seven, the food. So please do join me if you can. I will have information in the show notes of this episode. There's one price if you fly in and out of Sea Tac Airport, uh, Seattle's airport. So that's$4,999. But you can join us from wherever you are in the world through the land only option. And then you arrange your own transportation in and out of France, and that's$4,199 USD. Now, if you are like your hardest, stirred. And you would love to do this, but you just don't see how you can, maybe the finances are the obstacle, maybe it's schedule or your responsibilities with work and family and caretaking and all of that. I do invite you to join me for this free online formation, which will also be linked in the show notes. We'll have Frenchy Fridays for several weeks and we will dive deeper into these themes and saints that I have talked about. And also, I just wanna say this, sometimes we think we can't go or we don't see the way forward though. But there is a way, and it is God's will for us to go. And we just need to hold this desire and bring it to the father's heart and just ask like, simply like a childlike father, I would really love to do this. May I, and. Sometimes we're holding ourselves back and you really could do it. If you made some bold choices or what I'm going to invite you to do is to join me in a novena to st. Theres, just put this as an intention and start this very simple saint. Theres Noa and well, I'll pre praying this together. I'll be praying it with you and for you so that whatever graces God wants you to have. That you know, whatever desires of your heart are stirred up or whatever those rep desires represent, that God will grant you graces and favors to give you what you need most. So I'll conclude with this prayer and I will put it pop right into the show notes as well. Okay. So here is the prayer and I'm also gonna put my work email in the show notes so that if you have questions about the pilgrimage. You can email me and ask them. Okay. So to conclude with our sister, our friend Saint Res, in this novena prayer, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Oh, little re of the Child. Jesus. Please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love. Oh, little flower of Jesus. Ask God to grant the favors. I now place with confidence in your hands. And I pray that God will gather up a beautiful group of women to join me on this pilgrimage, and I pray specifically for my heart's desire, which is that 40 women will join, and that every woman who feels tugged or called in any way to this journey, spiritual or physical, that she'll be given grace's. Particular to what her heart most needs and that she'll be blessed and transformed and helped. Okay. And then, so that was the end of the mention your petition part. Now I'm gonna continue Saint, theres, help me to always believe as you did in God's great love for me, so that I might imitate your little way each day. Amen. And the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Alright, well ovo and just be sure to look for how you can delight in God's gift of life to you today. Delight in your vocation, whatever that may be. And remember that the Lord delights in you. You are his delight and his beloved catch you in the next episode.