Fátima Favorites

Favorite thing: If you want to visit the Children's House you have to go to the information centre first and ask for a map because it is not easy to get there. It takes about 40 Minutes to get there from the tourist office. The are no signs and you can easely get lost.

Favorite thing: Fatima is a small town about 90 minutes from Lisbon - it's easily accissible by bus and it's a well-known pilgrimange site. It's the place where the Virgin Mary appeared 6 times and gave messages to the world. It all started on 13 May 1917, when three young shepards witnessed her first appearance. They were Lucia de Jesus, aged 10, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, aged 9 and 7. She appeared again 5 other times in the following months - always on the 13th day.

Fondest memory: There's not much to see in Fatima, except the the sanctuary - but it's a pretty sanctuary. However there would be much to know - if only this information was made available. The Virgin Mary is supposed to have shared with the shepards 3 misteries. The first one spoke about the end of the WWI and the beginning of WWII, the second was about the former USSR and the third... who knows? It has been said it was the attempt to kill the Pole. For the few who affirm it - thousand others deny it. Apparently the third and last secret is still unkown.

Favorite thing: 13-05-1967 - The Holy Father Paul Vl came to Fatima, for the 50th anniversary of Our Lady's 1st Apparition, to pray for peace in the world and unity in the Church.
10-07-1977 - The pilgrimage to Fatima of Cardinal Luciani, Patriarch of Venice, future Pope John Paul I
12/13-05-1982 - The Holy Father John Paul 11 came on pilgrimage to Fatima in thanksgiving for having escaped with his life, one year before, in St. Peter's Square and, on his knees, consecrated the Church, all peoples and nations, with a veiled mention of Russia, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
25-03-1984 - In St. Peter's Square in Rome, before the Statue from the Chapel of Apparitions, John Paul 11 made once more the Consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with all the Bishops of the world
13/13-05-1991 - The Holy Father came a second time to Fatima, as a pilgrim, on the 10th anniversary of the attempt on his life.

Favorite thing: TIMELINE
28-04-1919 - Beginning of the construction of the Chapel of Apparitions
13-10-1921 - Permission for the celebration of Mass for the first time
03-05-1922 - Provision of the Bishop of Leiria to initiate the Canonical Process regarding the Fatima events
26-06-1927 - The Bishop of Leiria presides for the first time at an official ceremony in the Cova da Iria, after the blessing of the Stations of the Cross
13-10-1930 - By the Official 1 ester "Divine Providence'' the Bishop of Leiria declares the Apparitions worthy of belief and authorizes the cultus of Our Lady of Fatima
31-05-1931 - First Consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary made by the Portuguese Episcopate fulfillment of the Message of Fatima
31-10-1942 - Pius XII, speaking in Portuguese by radio consecrates the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a special mention of Russia according to Our Lady's request
13-05-1946 - Crowning of the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the Chapel of Apparitions (the crown was presented by the women of Portugal, in thanksgiving for Portugal being kept free from the 11 World War), by Cardinal Masella. Pontifical Legate
13-10-1951 - Closing of the Holy Year in Fatima, by Cardinal Tedeschini, Pontifical Legate, who revealed that Pius XII had witnessed, in the Vatican in 1950, the solar prodigy of 13 October 1917
13-05-1956 - Cardinal Roncalli, Patriarch of Venice, the future Pope John XXIII, presides at the ceremonies of the anniversary pilgrimage
21-11-1964 - Pope Paul Vl announces the giving of the Golden Rose to the Sanctuary of Fatima, which was presented on 13-5-1965 by Cardinal Cento, Pontifical Legate

Favorite thing: ALthough there are literally busloads of tourists in fatima every day, you will find almost no food or drinks there. So be sure to bring your own drinks and food. You will need them on a hot summers day.

Favorite thing: In the very heart of the Sanctuary is the first edifice constructed in the Cova da Iria, at the place of Our Lady's Apparitions. A marble pillar on which the Statue of Our Lady is placed marks the exact spot where the apparition appeared. Here converge the four million pilgrims who visit the Sanctuary each year.