Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, Fatima, Portugal
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, Fatima, Portugal
In the year 1917, in a mountainous region at the center of Portugal, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, appeared six times to three young children. This year on 13th May,the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope Francis is leading the canonization ceremony for Francisco and Jacinta Marto in Fatima, Portugal, on the hundredth anniversary celebrations of the first apparition of Mary the children experienced, where His Holiness will be joined in prayer by Catholics from all over the world.
I grew up in Goa, India, during the 1950's and 1960's where the devotion to our Lady of Fatima was popular in all households, in chapels and villages of all churches throughout Goa. Feasts and litanies in honour of Our Lady of Fatima are widely celebrated all over Goa, and popular hymns are also sung everywhere.
In view of this great milestone, our trip to Portugal this year in March was a privileged and significant one, as my wife and myself got a chance to fulfill a lifelong wish to go on a holiday to Portugal along with our 2 daughters and son-in-law, and more importantly for having included in this tour to pay homage to Our Lady of Fatima by visiting the Holy Shrine on the 100th anniversary of the apparitions. We will hold this memory close to our hearts forever and cherish it as long as we live.
In fact, today, I feel that my spirit, belief and devotion in this regard has been rekindled for having lived to witness the centenary. I wish a happy and joyous feast day to all.
In the year 1917, in a mountainous region at the center of Portugal, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, appeared six times to three young children. This year on 13th May,the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope Francis is leading the canonization ceremony for Francisco and Jacinta Marto in Fatima, Portugal, on the hundredth anniversary celebrations of the first apparition of Mary the children experienced, where His Holiness will be joined in prayer by Catholics from all over the world.
I grew up in Goa, India, during the 1950's and 1960's where the devotion to our Lady of Fatima was popular in all households, in chapels and villages of all churches throughout Goa. Feasts and litanies in honour of Our Lady of Fatima are widely celebrated all over Goa, and popular hymns are also sung everywhere.
In view of this great milestone, our trip to Portugal this year in March was a privileged and significant one, as my wife and myself got a chance to fulfill a lifelong wish to go on a holiday to Portugal along with our 2 daughters and son-in-law, and more importantly for having included in this tour to pay homage to Our Lady of Fatima by visiting the Holy Shrine on the 100th anniversary of the apparitions. We will hold this memory close to our hearts forever and cherish it as long as we live.
In fact, today, I feel that my spirit, belief and devotion in this regard has been rekindled for having lived to witness the centenary. I wish a happy and joyous feast day to all.
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