The day has gotten warmer, especially in when under the sun.
After some guidance from the locals, we found the Hotel Coracao De Fatima. We arrived a little early and the hotel could not check us in until after 2pm. Therefore we left our bags at the hotel bag room and went out to explore Fatima.
You would suppose we headed to the sanctuary straight away, in fact, we started looking at all the religious items and souvenir shops. Although not as much as Lourdes, the street next to the sanctuary were still lined with them.
I read in the information brochure that this is a city of approximately 8000 people. I suppose the main income must be from the tourist and pilgrims who come here to visit the sanctuary.
The reason we did not enter the sanctuary first was because of the heat, we needed lunch, and also because we had 2 hours before the start of the English Mass at 3.30pm.
Most of the items were the same as Lourdes but now with the Fatima logo. There were some unique Our Lady of Fatima tiles that are Portuguese art.
We stopped by at a cafe for some sandwiches then headed back to the hotel to check in.
Due to the booking arrangement I get to have my own room! An absolute heaven! Thank you to the boys for allowing me my own room!
It was not quite yet time for Mass so we took a walk around the Sanctuary.
Before I begin, again a brief history about Fatima.
In 1917, three shepherds children were pasturing their little flocks in the Cova da Iria, parish of Fatima. Today the diocese of Leiria-Fatima.
About midday, after praying the rosary, the children were praying when suddenly they saw a brilliant light, thinking it was lightening they hurried home, but as they were going down the hill another flash and they saw on the top of a holmoak, "a lady more brilliant than the sun" from whose hands hung a white rosary.
The Lady told the children they need to pray much, and invited them to return in five consecutive months on the 13th of every month at the same hour. The lady appeared to the children at the same time each month and on the last time revealed to the little shepherds she was the "lady of the rosary".
The church has confirmed the apparitions to be genuine with predictions of events occurring as announced and with sighted miracles.
The Fatima sanctuary is located where the first apparition took place.
As we enter, the first thing we see is the high cross towering over everything. Behind it is the new Basilica.
This is the original Basilica, it reminds me of the Basilica in Lourdes but this one in Fatima appears much younger under the Portuguese sun.
A statue of JPII.
A shot of the golden Jesus.
Statues of the young Jacinta and Francisco.
The Basilica.
The tomb of Bl. Francisco
The tomb of Bl. Jacinta and Lucia.
The big Holmoak under which the little shepherds and the early pilgrims awaited Our Lady's coming and prayed the rosary.
This is the Chapel of Apparitions, built over the exact place where our lady appeared. The spot is marked by the marble pillar on which the Statue of Our Lady is placed.
This was where we held the English Mass. I was very blessed to be invited to participate in that Mass to read the first reading.
The Homily was about family, the importance of unity and peace to start inside the home. The priest urges us to pray together, most especially to follow Our Lady's request to pray the Rosary together at home. He says all this with great urgency, I believe this is needed too, because young children will learn the most from the family, therefore peace, harmony, love and faith must begin inside the home.
Here is the new Basilica. It is ginormous!!
I believe it can probable easily seat 1000+ people!
We later headed back to the church bookstore and gift shop to purchase some souvenirs. We decided if we give money to purchase these items, we might as well give the profit to the church. I brought a book written by Lucia answering some of the many questions asked about the apparition at Fatima. I'm very much looking forward to reading it once I have some spare time.
A worthwhile mention was Sister Maria who helps out in the gift show, she was absolutely lovely. Even when she was so overwhelmed with people needing help, she was always patient and kind with her replies.
We were quite hungry by now so headed for dinner at a nearby restaurant. Portuguese chicken with rice!
We saw other World Youth Day pilgrims in Fatima and they were identifiable by their Tshirts. Not wishing to miss out, we when to our hotel to put on our one as well!
This was when we realized in fact the grey Tshirts this year do not stand out! It will be interesting to explain to other pilgrims what Aotearoa means.
We joined in the Rosary and the candle light procession at 9.30pm. Again, I am overcome by the joy of sharing this moment with other pilgrims from all over the world, there is no barrier to language or age or gender or identity. Catholics out there, never fear, we will never walk alone!!
At the end of the evening, we said a prayer before the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Truly, I know I have been gifted with a rare an beautiful opportunity, my travel takes me across the world and at the same time I get the chance to become closer to God!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
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Location:Av. Duque de Loulé,Lisbon,Portugal
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