Fatima In Portugal Moves Mountains
Fatima, Portugal is one of the few places on earth that
everyone, be they christians or not, associates with the word
miracle and deep faith. It was once a poor village in the Beira
region where the economy was in a profound depression and there
was just enough to get by on and life was a big struggle. But
one day the appearance of the Virgen Mary or as others have
called them the Marian Apparitions changed the life and fame and
everyone referred to the Virgen as Our Lady of Fatima. It
rapidly became a great sanctuary of pilgrimage, and today it is
one of the most important ones in all of Europe. Messages from
Fatima On May 13th 1917, at a time when one part of the world
was in war with the other and when people needed spiritual
guidance and something strong to believe in, the Virgen Mary
made her appearance to three young children who were taking care
of their sheep near their village called Aljustral. For the next
five months, the Virgen Mary called upon these children in the
same place called the Cova de Iria and on the same day. As it to
be expected, who was going to believe Lucia who was 10, 9 year
old Francisco Marto and his sister Jacinta who was 7. The
messages that the Virgen had passed on to them seemed so unreal
and far fetched, predictions that seemed so futuristic for these
simple towns people. They probably expected religious advice and
preaching, but the message that three children had to pass on
was more of a political warning with a moral basis to it. The
Virgen wanted to express the idea that if the Soviet Union
converted to Catholism and opened its borders to the free world,
all of which could probably avoid more wars which always
produced horrible endings. She also indicated a strong desire
that the Berlin wall be knocked down so that the poeple of the
world could unite and become one, all under Catholism. She also
warned that the highest representation of the Catholic church
would be in danger. Everything she told the shepards seemed hard
to understand but as we can see nowadays, everything has come
true. For me the most shocking predictions that we have lived
through is the terrorist attack on Pope John Paul II's life. But
back then it was a test of faith which we can see today has been
passed quite well by the people. Fatima's Colossal Square Soon
after the appearances, many people gathered at the spot where
the Virgin appeared and so a small chapel was built and a figure
sculptured by Jose Ferreira Thedim of the Virgin. But in 1922 a
bomb destroyed it and a new one was immediately built and in
1928 the Basilica del Rosario was finished. Ever since that
glorious day, Fatima's history has taken on new dimensions and
meaning for the whole world. It has become a study place for
those wanting to follow a religious life as there are about
seventy religious buildings and more than ten religious schools.
When you arrive in the immense plaza that surrounds the
Basilica, other than contemplating the splendorous church, you
will come across people who have decided to make their way to
the Appearance Chapel' on their knees. There is a special path
starting at the entrance and leading up to the chapel, going
around the back part, where people light candles and ending up
at the main altar in the front. In front of the chapel there is
a column that shows you exactly where the Virgin appeared. To
the right of the oratory there is the Big Oak tree ( having had
to be replaced once ) where the three shepard children would
wait for the miracles. In the centre of the square is a statue
to the Sacred Heart, in the exact same place where a stream of
water came forth during the period of the miracles. And inside
the Basilica lay the tombs of the three shepards who have graced
Fatima with their courage and continuing faith. Room for all I
imagine that right from the beginning, the people of Fatima
opened their homes to all wishing to share the religious
experience that was happening at that time. Since then, many
hotels, youth hostels and camp grounds have been built to
accomodate the heavy influx of tourism. All hotels or pensions
have restaurants and the majority of them are located on the Rua
Jacinta Marto or Rua Francisco Marto. One excellent place to eat
where I have personally been is the restaurant called Tia Alice.
It is placed in an old wine cellar ( therefore the decoration is
as if you were in a nicely decorated cave) and the food is
exquisite. Be sure to reserve well in advance. In the town Cova
de Iria, about 2 kilometres away, there are more accomodations
which can be easily reached by rented car. Spend a few days in
Lisbon too as it is the centre and capital of Portugal and
offers interesting sights to see.