29/05/2026
After we disembarked our ship in Lisbon in Portugal we got on the bus and were headed straight to Fatima, one of the biggest pilgrimage places in the world known for a series of apparations of St. Mary. On May 13, 1917, three young shepherd children—Lúcia dos Santos (10) and her cousins Francisco (8) and Jacinta Marto (7)—were tending sheep in a field called Cova da Iria. They reported seeing a vision of a woman "shining brighter than the sun," who identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary (commonly known today as Our Lady of Fátima).
The Virgin Mary reportedly appeared to the children six times between May and October, always on the 13th of the month. She delivered messages focusing on prayer, daily recitation of the Rosary, and peace during the height of World War I.Today, the precise field where the children saw the visions has been transformed into a massive, grand religious complex called the Sanctuary of Fátima (Santuário de Fátima). It attracts millions of pilgrims and tourists every year.The Chapel of the Apparitions (Capelinha das Aparições): A small, open-air chapel built on the exact spot where the oak tree stood during the visions. It represents the spiritual heart of the sanctuary.
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary: A beautiful Neo-Baroque church built in 1928 with a 65-meter (213-foot) central tower. It contains the tombs of the three shepherd children.
The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity: Completed in 2007, this massive, minimalist modern church can seat over 8,600 people, making it one of the largest Catholic churches in the world.