Friday, June 10, 2016

Fatima at last!

We arrived in Fatima with a bit of time before dinner, and so  most of us headed straight to the shrine. There were huge crowds today as it was a Portuguese holiday and there had been a children's procession.  We were saddened at the modernization, and the lack of silence. The basilica was packed but there was much talking and moving  around and the organ was being played so loudly that it was difficult to pray. Outside in the plaza around the cappellina (the little chapel built at the place of the holm oak tree where Our Lady appeared) was much the same. We resolved to make extra acts of reparation ... returning after dinner for a private rosary procession and agreeing to make holy hours through the night... two sisters at a time at the shrine. 


Our guide explained the general location of things in and around the shrine.



The tombs of Jacinta and Lucia in the basilica.

The tomb of Francisco.

This was as close as we could get to Our Lady today ... but we sang and prayed to her there!


Our rosary procession!


 More from  Fatima tomorrow!







1 comment:

  1. I'm getting goosebumps just seeing what you must be feeling in such holy chapels! Our Lady will smile upon you knowing your hearts (as well as hers) is broken-hearted because of the modernism and irreverence. She sees her children singing!

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