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SITE INSPECTION: PORTUGAL        Page 4

Fatima 

For many Catholics a visit to Portugal is incomplete without a visit to the Fatima shrine.  Fatima is in the Leira region about 75 miles north of Lisbon.  You won’t see any signs until you’re a few miles away.  We meet up with a guide who promptly tells us the apparition of the “Lady of the Rosary” actually occurred in Cova de Iria, not Fatima. You know the story.  On May 13, 1917, three children (Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco) were pasturing when appeared “a Lady more brilliant than the sun”, from whose hands hung a white rosary.  The lady told the children to pray faithfully and that she would appear five more times at the same hour on the 13^th of each month.  About 70,000 people witnessed the last apparition on October 13, 1917. 

Today, the Chapel of Apparitions stands where the apparitions occurred.  Masses here run frequently, in multiple languages.  The dominant structure at the site is the Basilica, which contains 15 altars dedicated to the 15 mysteries of the Rosary.  The structure has stained glass depicting scenes of the apparitions.  The Basilica also houses the tombs of Francisco and Jacinta, both of whom died before reaching adulthood.  Lucia is a nun who lives to this day.  About 4 million pilgrims visit the site each year.  Many come to get water from the spring at the sanctuary.  Our guide tells us water started appearing from the spring soon after the apparition. 

We make the short drive to the Aljustrel, the village of the three children.  The place has clearly undergone commercial transformation with vendor stalls hawking souvenirs and plasticware. The children’s homes appear pretty much the way they were in 1917.  In Jacinta/Francisco’s home (they were brother and sister), you can chat with a relative and view some old family photographs.  Lucia’s home is a few houses away and also attended by a relative.  A few steps down from Lucia’s home is a Well, which is the site of an apparition of the “Angel of Peace” in the summer of 1916. 

Leaving Portugal 

For many Americans, Spain is a destination but Portugal is not.  While Spain truly deserves the reputation it has, to fail to see Portugal is to miss out on a little country with a rich history that has so much to offer.  I have seen Portugal but I’ve truly only scratched the surface.  I have yet to see Madeira, the Monastery at Belem, the 51 Lisbon museums, and (heaven forbid!) sing Fado.  I am determined to find out why the Portuguese live so long.  Is it the climate? The olive oil and the seafood? The Port wine? It can’t be the Fado, can it?

Page 1 - First Impressions of Lisbon. Mafra

Page 2 - Lisbon Sights and Algarve

Page 3 - Estoril and Cascais

 

 

December 7 - 10, 2011 -- Albuquerque, NM

 

 

 

 

 

 

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