So many wonderful memories!

Our own Mass very close to where the Virgin Mary appeared to
the three Shepherd children on 13 July 1917

Hi Everyone!

Well, as you may have guessed, there have been a few technical problems in keeping this blog. For some reason, electronic devices, including my Tablet, were not charging overnight, although I did manage to take a few pics to share with you.

The group celebrates Mass at the Capelhina, or Chapel of Apparitions

After all of the excitement of 13 July, we were very privileged to be able to celebrate our own Mass in the Capelhinha, or Chapel of  the Apparitions the following morning. It was an extremely early start to the day, with Mass beginning at 5 am!!! All of the group, including our Principal Celebrant, Fr. Jean-Patrice, managed to get up on time, and it was quite atmospheric with the early morning mist rolling into the Chapel. The statue of Our Lady, that you can see in the pics, is actually positioned where she appeared to the children. The column replaces the holm oak that disappeared as countless pilgrims helped themselves to little pieces!

The former royal palace, that King Dinis donated to
Coimbre in 1290 to be used as a University

After breakfast, we headed off to Coimbre, where we visited the museum attached to the Carmel where Lucia was a nun, and where she died in 2005. It was wonderful to see various items that belonged to her, and also the reconstruction of her cell. The huge volume of letters addressed to her, highlighted how very busy she must have been in her lifetime talking about her experiences. There were also many gifts on display, some given to her by various Popes. We were excited to finally see within a Reliquary a small piece of a leaf from the holm oak, all that is left of the poor tree!

View of the Mondego River from the University at Coimbre

Coimbre was a very interesting University town, with the Students out in force engaging in various activities to raise money for the traditional initiation, and graduation, ceremonies. It was extremely lively, and we would have liked to stay longer to listen to the wonderful traditional music and watch the dancing.

A group of student musicians, known as "tunas", play a traditional song,
whilst passers by join in the fun!

However, we went on to visit the Church of St. Anthony of Olivais, built on the site of  the hermitage where St. Anthony of Padua spent his early years as a Franciscan Friar. The church was filled with beautiful blue and white tiles, depicting scenes from St Anthony's life and, in particular, some of his miracles.

Inside the Church of St. Anthony of Olivais

This painting in the Sacristry at Olivais is said to be the
only true likeness of St. Anthony

After a picnic lunch by the river, the group went on to visit the Church of Our Lady of Nazare, where Our Lady is said to have prevented the death of a nobleman, whose horse was just about to fall from a very high cliff. 

View from the famous cliff at Nazare

A few days later, a small statue of her was found on the cliff, and this is now displayed over the altar in the Church. Mass was about to start, so we could not get close to the small statue, so we all had an ice cream instead! Some of our party were disappointed not be be able to swim as the yellow flags were displayed on the beach that you can see in the above pic!

Our final day was again busy with tours of Batalha and Alcobaca Monasteries. We had a wonderful guide, Eugenia, who kept us all interested with so many details of the history, and legends, of Portugal. My lack of battery power prevented me taking pics, but there will be some on line of these world Heritage sites, I am sure.

Mass at the Monastery of Pius XII

We started the day at the Monastery of Pius XII, with the Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary behind the screen, joining us in celebrating Mass. Their singing was so beautiful! We could not believe it when Mother Maria Lucia invited us all to meet them in the monastery. I had exchanged correspondence with her before our visit, so it was a very special experience for me. 

After everyone finally stopped talking (!!!), Mother Maria Lucia spoke to us about the importance of Our Lady's message given at Fatima, and how we must all take this message out into the world. It was a moving experience to hear her words to us. Also, the Sisters' gentleness and tranquility was a wonderful testament to their life of prayer. I am hoping that I may be able to take a group of young pilgrims out to Fatima to spend some time at the Monastery, maybe next year?

I think that I speak for the whole group in saying that we weren't ready to return home! The pilgrims, who came from many different places, were just starting to really get to know one another ,when we found ourselves on the motorway heading for the Airport at Porto. Hopefully, there will be other times when we can come together, maybe in the Holy Land next year!

The group outside St. Anthony in Olivais Church

Ave Maria!

Love

Rina