To travel from France to Rome in the 19th century was no small endeavor! Pauline and her companions would have to face nothing less than driving a coach over the Alps, through wild and abandoned territory infested with bandits. The small band of travelers braved constant danger to escort a weak, sickly girl across the countryside.

For her part, Pauline endured continual, excruciating pains. Her companions pitied her, and tried to ease her suffering. But she didn’t want to slow down their already laborious journey. Only when her sufferings were most intense would she yield and stop a while to rest. But only a very short while. Then, showing no fear of danger or pain, she would insist on pursuing the journey.

When the party reached Chambéry, Pauline herself lost hope. She resigned herself to die far from home and far from the Vicar of Christ. Then, due to her extreme weakness, she lost consciousness for two whole days.

The students in the convent of the town made a novena to St. Philomena for Pauline’s recovery. At the end of this novena, she was doing much better. In fact, she was well enough to pursue the journey to Rome.

The snow was very deep on the road over the Alps. Even with their powerful horses and the valuable aid of sturdy mountaineers, their progress was slow and difficult.

As they reached the summit of Mount Cenis, a glorious horizon came into view. They stopped for some time to enjoy the magnificent panorama that stretched before them.

As they gazed on this wondrous view, a beautiful child suddenly appeared. No on knew where he came from. Without a word, he approached the carriage where Pauline lay. He smiled sweetly and presented her with a beautiful white rose, which had a delightful perfume. Then he disappeared as quickly as he had come.

The guides had never seen the child before, and could not imagine who he might be. They declared that the rose could not have bloomed in the mountains. No such flowers were found in these regions of snow.

The little incident was a consolation for the travelers after all they had been through. Pauline’s companions saw in it a symbol of the beautiful present she was about to make the Holy Father - the gift of the Living Rosary, of which the white and fragrant rose was such an appropriate symbol.

Pauline describes their arrival in Italy.

"On our arrival in the Italian plains, we were forced to travel by night, as the heat of the day was excessive. I had no fear of brigands or of evil spirits since we were under the protection of Our Lady and St. Philomena. We made sure to have their medals hung on the carriage, and we likewise gave one to each of the horsemen. It was eleven o’clock at night when we reached the foot of the mountain of Loreto, and though warned that the roads were not safe, we pushed on in the hope of soon reaching the House of the Holy Family (now the Basilica of Loreto), which we did as the dawn was breaking over the hills."

In Italy, the invalid had a serious relapse. It looked so bad that all hope was lost of saving her life. But once again she recovered enough to press on after a few days’ rest. During this last stage of her journey, the attacks of her illness were frequent. She arrived in Rome in an almost unconscious state.

The nuns of the Sacred Heart at the Trinitá dei Monti received her most affectionately. Her condition was so bad that it was simply unthinkable that she should leave the convent. Thus, after a long, dangerous journey, she had to halt at the very threshold of the Vatican. She could go no further.

The Blessed Mother and St. Philomena were with her, taking care of all her needs. The Pope soon heard of her arrival in Rome. Aware of her weakness and exhaustion, he resolved to go himself and visit his "dear daughter".