LIB'S LABYRINTH: ALT Travel: Fatima Portugal

THE GRAND EUROPEAN PILGRIMAGE TOUR:
Tour 2 Fatima, Portugal
A Place of Adoration - Enter as a Pilgrim

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Entrance at the Fatima Sanctuary

THE FIRST APPARITION: On May 13, 1917, during World War I, God sent to earth the loveliest flower of the ages - His own beautiful Mother, Mary. Lucia, her cousins Francisco and Jacinta, and their mother Marto went to Mass every Sunday. Returning from Mass, mother Marto packed the children's lunches and sent them off with the sheep. Around noon, they opened their bags and ate, sped their Rosary and then chased the sheep up the hill of Cova da Iria. Their game was building castles out of rocks. While they were busy, there was a sudden bright shaft of light that pierced the air, like a flash of lightning, a forerunner of a storm. They quickly gathered the sheep and started downhill when halfway, standing over the foliage of a small holm oak, they saw a most beautiful Lady dressed all in white, more brilliant than the sun. The Lady said, "I come to ask you to come here for six consecutive months, on the 13th day of the same hour. I will tell you later who Iam and what I want. And I shall return here again a 7th time." She asked the Lady, "What do You want of me?"

THE SECOND APPARITION: June 13th was an important day when the Lady from Heaven was to appear the second time. The news of the first apparition had spread all through out the village. Some where curious and followed the children to the holm oak tree. It was around noon when Lucia saw a flash. Our Lady told Lucia, "I want you to come here on the 13th of the next month. Say the Rosary, inserting the mysteries the following ejaculation - "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially most of those in need."

THE THIRD APPARITION: Lucia did not want to go to the cove. Her heart was filled with doom and gloom because her mother kept repeating the words of the Pastor that it was the work of the devil. However, on the morning of July 13th, her every doubt and fear disappeared. Lucia asked, as usual, "What do You want of me?" The Lady said, "I want you to return here on the 13th of next month. Continue to say the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace for the world and the end of war; for She alone can save it."

THE FOURTH APPARITION: Sunday, August 19th, Lucia was with Francisco and his brother John, but Jacinta was not present. Lucia told John to get Jacinta. They rushed and were in time to see the Lady. The Lady said, "I want you to continue to come to the Cova da Iria on the 13th and to continue to say the Rosary every day." Lucia then told Our Lady of her anguished at the unbelief of so many in the reality of Her presence. She asked Our Lady if She would be willing to perform a miracle. Our Lady answered, "Yes, in the last month, October, I shall perform a miracle so that all may believe in My apparitions. If they had not taken you to the village, the miracle would have been greater. Saint Joseph will come with the Baby Jesus to give peace to the world."

Statue of Blessed John Paul II - On Jesus Feet

Lucia asked Our Lady, "What do you wish us to do with the money and offerings that the people leave at the Cova da Iria?" Our Lady said, "Have two litters made. The litters are for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and the money that is left over will help towards the construction of a chapel that is to be builtt.

THE FIFTH APPARITION: September 13th was at hand. The children sought every means of pleasing Our Lady - sacrifices to save sinners from Hell like a rope that Lucia found which she tied around her arm and soon discovered that it hurt. However, they even wore the rope to bed. Lucia and the crowd arrived at the holm oak. Lucia as usual started the Rosary with the people responding. They were almost finished when they had seen a flash. A globe of light appeared, and all holy Queen of Angels was standing over the holm oak. Very humbly, Lucia asked, "What do You want of me?" Our Lady said, "Let the people continue to say the Rosary every day to obtain the end of the war." She renewed her promise of miracle and further mentioned to Lucia, "God is pleased with your sacrifices but does not wish that you sleep with the rope. Wear it only during the day."

Pilgrims arriving for the 5:00 Mass

I bought candles (1.50 euro each) for family and friends

THE SIXTH APPARITION: The morning of October 13, 1917 would be the last appearance of Our Lady. The people of Fatima were in fear and panic. Thousands from all over Portugal came to witness the miracle promised. Nearby communities, towns and villages emptied of people. Some estimated the crowd at Cova da Iria to be at least 70,000. Right on time, Our Lady came with a flash. Her snow-white feet rested upon the beautiful flowers and ribbons that had adorned the tree. Lucia asked the usual question and to heal some sick people and to convert some sinners, etc., among other things. As Our Lady took leave, She opened her hands which emitted a flood of light. While She was rising, She pointed towards the sun and the light gleaming from Her hands brightened the sun itself. The clouds were quickly dispersed and the sky was clear. The sun was now pale as the moon. To the left of the sun, Saint Joseph appeared with the Child Jesus, raised his right hand and make, together with the Child Jesus, the Sign of the Cross three times over the world. Our Lady stood in all her brilliance to the right of the sun, dressed in blue and white robes of Our Lady of the Rosary. Lucia was privileged to gaze upon Our Lord dressed in red as the Divine Redeemer, blessing the world. Beside him stood Our Lady, dressed now in purple robes of Our Lady of Sorrows, but without the sword. Finally, the Blessed Virgin appeared again to Lucia in all Her ethereal brightness, clothed in the simple brown robes of Mount Carmel. While all of this was going on, eyewitnesses said the sun had taken on an extraordinary color, yellow, blue and white, and they could look at the sun without being blinded. Truly a miracle by itself! The sun seemed to be dancing, trembling constantly, and looking like a revolving ball of fire falling upon the people. At last the sun swerved back and rested in the sky.

The miracle promised by Our Lady to the children had come to pass.

http://youtu.be/7sTa3-UfPr0

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Video: Awesome and beautiful nightly Fatima procession

The house of Francisco & Jacinta (we have the same birthday - March 11): two of the three (Sister Lucia) who saw the apparitions of the Our Lady.

The Village of Fatima in the center of Portugal, about 70 miles north of Lisbon, consists of many hamlets. One such hamlet is Aljustrel. In 1915, four little girls had been playing and one of them was Lucia de Jesus dos Santos who was 8-year-old. At mid-day, they sat down for lunch. After finishing they recited the Rosary as was their custom, while during the recitation they noticed an appearance of cloud in the sky, whiter than snow, slightly transparent, with a human outline. The strange figure appeared twice to them again. A year passed, Lucia was out in the fields with the sheep and her little cousins Jacinta and Francisco. Mid-day came - they had lunch, they recited the Rosary and played a little bit as usual. A strong wind shook the trees which made them raise their eyes. There appeared above the trees a form of a young man, more brilliant than a crystal and whiter than snow. He came near us and said: "Fear not! I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me!"