In the footsteps of Sr. Lucia

This morning we headed north across the border into Spain, visiting first the Dorothean Convent in Tui. Sr. Lucia lived there for 17 years, and it was there that she had the famous apparition of Our Lady of Fatima over the altar, with the Holy Trinity. The chapel no longer looks the same, but the sisters there were very welcoming. We prayed and sang for awhile, and one of the sisters told us about Sr. Lucia’s life there.

Then we drove to the convent of Pontevedra, where Sr. Lucia lived for 3 years. Her room there has been made into a chapel, which we visited, as well as the actual chapel which has a large, beautiful statue of Our Lady which has been seen to cry real tears. We also went to the courtyard where the little Boy Jesus appeared to Lucia while she was a postulant. The small wall shrine there was made possible by donations from Americans! It was in this convent that Lucia received the revelation of the First Saturday devotion. After more prayers and singing and time for quiet prayer, we took a group picture and then had to go.

This beautiful statue greeted us as we entered the convent.

Praying in Sr. Lucia's room where Our Lady appeared to her ... now a little chapel.

Also Lucia's room ... the painting on the wall depicts the apparition.

The courtyard where Jesus appeared to Sr. Lucia as little boy...with the little niche statue from Americans!

A picture of Sr. Lucia when she was living at the convent.

The lady in the tan cost is our tour guide, Helena.  She is an amazingly kind and knowledgeable woman, and we love her! The other woman to the left of her is the caretaker of the convent, since no sisters live there anymore.

It was pouring rain as we walked the several blocks to our bus ... but nothing could dampen our spirits! It was fun to see the reactions and expressions on faces as the 24 of us went single file through the streets in the rain!

We also made a short visit to the nearby parish church which was one of the stops on the pilgrimage route to Compostella. It was beautiful, but no pictures were allowed! Then we headed back to Braga, visiting the cathedral there before returning to our hotel at Bom Jesus. The cathedral had an amazing double organ, painted wooden ceilings, and statues of the apostles and doctors lining the walls. There were beautiful altars and statues, and a unique area with tombs of the bishops of Braga.  It was the first church we visited where there was not an opportunity to sing.

See the pipes from the two massive orns?

Such a cute Infant of Prague!

Bishop's tombs

Sr. Michael Marie points out St. Michael saving the souls in purgatory!

As we returned to Bom Jesus we took the tram ride up the hill. That was fun! The tram is over 100 years old and is operated with hydro power.

 Afterwards a number of us were able to walk down the stairs of the shrine (all 360+ of them!) and many also walked back up...another opportunity for reparation!

This place is a massive monument of Faith!

Little chapels like these are all along the path and have scenes  from Passion within.

And beautiful statues and shrines inside the church at top provide perfect places fo quiet prayer