Portugal: Fatima Pilgrimage
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Pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal
During this pilgrimage to Fatima, you will be completely and profoundly transformed by Mary at the Shrine of Fatima. A trip specially designed for pilgrims.
It is indeed the peace of the heart that you will come to seek here during your pilgrimage to Fatima. “There is a ‘Fatima mystery’ which favors the opening of souls and which urges pilgrims to ask for the sacrament of reconciliation.
A bit of geography for your pilgrimage to Fatima:
The location of the Sanctuary of Fátima , Cova da Iria, Portugal. It was until 1917 an unknown place located in the parish of Fátima, in the municipality of Ourém. As lovely as it is, this small rural town of less than 8000 inhabitants located about 120 kilometers north of Lisbon, Portugal.
History of Fatima Shrine:
This year 1917, a religious event that profoundly changed the history of Fatima and its importance took place, when three young shepherds, Jacinta and her two cousins Francisco and Lúcia, witnessed successive apparitions of Our Lady of Rosary. Initially considered with reserve by the Church, but already venerated by the people, this phenomenon would only be recognized in 1930 by the Bishop of Leiria. From then on, the development of this locality was such that Fátima obtained the status of town, in 1977, then of city, in 1997.
Basilica of Fatima:
During your pilgrimage to Fatima, you will discover the sanctuary of Fatima. It consists of the great Basilica of Fatima (dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary), preceded by a huge esplanade, and several chapels and churches (the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, among others) . Outdoor celebrations and torchlight processions are important highlights during your pilgrimage to Fatima.
Our Lady of Fátima is the name under which the Virgin Mary is invoked as she would have appeared to three children in Fátima , a small village in central Portugal , six times during the year 1917 . These apparitions, whose message bears on prayer and the last ends , were at first the object of mistrust, both on the part of the civil authorities and of the religious authorities. In 1930 the recognition of these apparitions by the Roman Catholic Church reinforces the popular success of what becomes a great world center of pilgrimage .
7 DAYS/6 NIGHTS PROGRAM of the Pilgrimage to Fatima:
Begin your pilgrimage to Fatima with an overnight stay in Lisbon. Then continue to Santarem and the Church of St Stephen , site of the oldest recognized miracle, before arriving in Fatima for the next 5 nights.
Note:
This pilgrimage to Fatima is designated for those who want to pray and spend time in Fatima. The first 3 days will be a visit with your local English-speaking guide. The following 3 days will be dedicated to private prayer and reflection. During the last part of your journey, you will have the freedom to choose your program in order to feel the best spiritual experience of your choice.
Upon arrival at Lisbon airport, welcome to the arrivals hall by your local English-speaking guide. Your driver takes you on a panoramic city tour. A visit to the monastery of St Jerome, built in thanks to the Virgin Mary for having guided Vasco de Gama during his journey. Next, admire the Belem Tower. You continue on the 25th of April Bridge, the oldest bridge that joins the Tagus River in Lisbon. Then you will pass in front of the monument of the discoveries. This memorial commemorates the great explorers who brought Portugal to a state of health and power during the Age of Discovery. Admire the Basilica, the square of the Marquis of Pombal.
Your last stop will be the church of ST Antoine to celebrate mass. this church is built on the site of the birth of ST Anthony of Padua, John Paul II visited the church in 1982. He visited this church on his way to Fatima, to pray to Saint Mary in thanks for saving him from murder when it was attacked the previous year. Then, check in at your hotel and enjoy a good welcome dinner and a good restful night.
Today we will travel north to the old town of Santarem. In Santarem, visit and attend mass at St. Stephen’s Church, which holds (13th century) a Eucharistic Miracle: The Miracle happened when a woman longed to change the ways of her unfaithful husband and consulted a witch . The witch agreed that she would cure the husband’s infidelity in exchange for a consecrated host. The woman committed the sacrilege, but when she came out of the church, her hand in which she had the host began to bleed. she was bleeding so much that her parishioners thought she had cut off her hand. The woman ran home and hid the bloody host in a chest. When her husband arrived home, the wife told him what she had done, and later that night, there was a light emanating from the trunk. She and her husband began to kneel in front of the trunk. The next morning, husband and wife brought the Host to the priest. It was then moved to the Church of St. Stephen where another miracle occurred; the miraculous host was initially put in a wax container, however, when the priest opened the tabernacle to view the host, the container was found broken, and the host was found encased in crystal.
Road to Fatima with a visit to the hamlet of Aljustrel, the home of the three shepherd children. Visit of the parish church and the parish cemetery of Fatima before checking in at the hotel for dinner and one night.
Today will surely be a memorable experience. Your pilgrimage to Fatima will begin: You pray and meditate at one of the apparition sites of our Blessed Mother. Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children; Lucia (10 years old), Jacinta (7 years old) and Francisco (9 years old). These apparitions took place monthly from May to October 1917.
Historically, as the whole world was in real turmoil, Our Lady’s most important message during this time was to pray for world peace. The destruction of the world at this time in history was also mentioned by Our Lady in her Fatima messages, and more specifically, in her second secret for children.
Our deeply thoughtful day begins with a visit to the Little Chapel of the Apparitions. This simple, yet modern, chapel is the site where the Virgin Mary first appeared on May 13, 1917. Continue with a visit to the stunning neoclassical church, the Basilica of Fatima: Our Lady of the Rosary. This sacred space contains the tombs of Saint Francis, Saint Jacinta and Sister Lucia.
Admire the monument commemorating the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the square. Due to Our Lady’s consistency in her messages to pray the Rosary, this Fatima basilica also has fifteen altars, dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. During your visit to the Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that have been received here.
Visit the Museum with the exhibition: Fatima: Light and Peace. Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica. Continue with a visit to the stunning neoclassical church, the Basilica of Fatima: Our Lady of the Rosary. This sacred space contains the tombs of Saint Francis, Saint Jacinta and Sister Lucia. Admire the monument commemorating the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the square.
Due to Our Lady’s consistency in her messages to pray the Rosary, this Fatima basilica also has fifteen altars, dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. During your visit to the Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that have been received here. Visit the Museum with the exhibition: Fatima: Light and Peace. Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica. Continue with a visit to the stunning neoclassical church, the Basilica of Fatima: Our Lady of the Rosary. This sacred space contains the tombs of Saint Francis, Saint Jacinta and Sister Lucia. Admire the monument commemorating the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the square.
Due to Our Lady’s consistency in her messages to pray the Rosary, this Fatima basilica also has fifteen altars, dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. During your visit to the Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that have been received here. Visit the Museum with the exhibition: Fatima: Light and Peace. Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica. This sacred space contains the tombs of Saint Francis, Saint Jacinta and Sister Lucia. Admire the monument commemorating the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the square.
Due to Our Lady’s consistency in her messages to pray the Rosary, this Fatima basilica also has fifteen altars, dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. During your visit to the Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that have been received here. Visit the Museum with the exhibition: Fatima: Light and Peace.
Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica. This sacred space contains the tombs of Saint Francis, Saint Jacinta and Sister Lucia. Admire the monument commemorating the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the square. Due to Our Lady’s consistency in her messages to pray the Rosary, this Fatima basilica also has fifteen altars, dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary.
During your visit to the Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that have been received here. Visit the Museum with the exhibition: Fatima: Light and Peace. Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica. this basilica of Fatima also has fifteen altars, dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary.
During your visit to the Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that have been received here. Visit the Museum with the exhibition: Fatima: Light and Peace. Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica. this basilica of Fatima also has fifteen altars, dedicated to the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary.
During your visit to the Basilica, you will be able to feel, through the Love of Our Lord and Lady, the many graces that have been received here. Visit the Museum with the exhibition: Fatima: Light and Peace. Continue with a visit to the Holy Trinity Basilica.
After free time for lunch, we will experience the unconditional love of Christ by participating in the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra. The “Sacred Way” marks the path taken by the shepherd children of Fatima until their first appearance with Our Lady. It is made up of fifteen small chapels in commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord.
The fifteenth station, the Resurrection, is near the Chapel of Calvary, dedicated to Saint Stephen, King of Hungary. The day ends with a visit to Valinhos, the site of the apparition of Our Lady in August 1917 and the first and third apparitions of the Angel. Your night will end with private devotions, and a candlelight procession, requested by Notre-Dame (1917). Enjoy dinner and a comfortable night’s rest in Fatima.
the next three days will be dedicated to private prayer and reflection at the Shrine of Fatima. During the latter part of your journey, you will have full discretion over how you want to spend your time so you can have the fullest spiritual experience possible.
Note: There will be no guide accompanying you during the last three days of this pilgrimage to Fatima.
Today you will enjoy an early morning breakfast, followed by a transfer to Lisbon airport for your return flight(s) home.
- Return flights European city – Lisbon
- 6 nights with breakfasts in a 4 star hotel.
- Transfers as per itinerary
- 6 dinners
- Wine with dinners
- Assistance from a professional local guide
- Visits and admissions fees according to itinerary
- Catholic priest available for spiritual direction in the Shrine of Fatima
- Daily and spiritual activities
