Fátima is one of the greatest and most sacred Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. Located 79 miles (128 km) north of Lissabon, a city in the municipality of Ourém and district of Santarém in the Central Region of Portugal is home to the Sanctuary of Fátima.
Sanctuary of Fátima
The Sanctuary, which attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year, is a Marian shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fátima or Nossa Senhora de Fátima, a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, based on apparitions reported to be experienced by three shepherd children in Fátima on May 13, 1917.
The largest Marian Shrine in the world consists of several religious buildings and structures, with Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário being the central building. Other buildings include the Chapel of the Lausperene, commemorating a great oak tree where apparition occurred, a monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Chapel of the Apparitions. All structures of the shrine, including the basilica and colonnade of Fátima, were built from 1928 to 1954.
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary comprises a prominent bell tower and nave, approximately 213 ft (65 m) tall. The basilica was topped by a crown of bronze, which weighs 15,000 lb (7,000 kg). It was designed by Dutch architect Gerardus Samuel van Krieken. The structure boasts 15 altars, 62 bells, a five-section, 12,000-piece organ, and amazing stained glass windows depicting the events of the apparitions,
Apparitions
On May 13, 1917, three shepherd children, Lúcia dos Santos as well as Francisco and Jacinta de Jesus Marto, witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary while they were shepherding sheep. More apparitions occurred in June, July, August, September, and October of that year. The children told adults that they were given revelations, including The Three Secrets of Fatima, a series of events that were supposed to occur. The last apparition on October 13 was accompanied by the “Miracle of the Sun,” in which the sun spun toward the earth. About 70,000 people gathered with the children to witness the greatest phenomena of the age.
After a canonical inquiry, the visions of Fátima were officially declared "worthy of belief" in October 1930 by the Bishop of Leiria-Fátima. Pope Pius XII granted a Canonical Coronation to the venerated image at the Chapel of the Apparitions. Lucia became a nun and lived a long life until her death in 2005, Francisco and Jacinta died of influenza in 1919 and 1920 and were canonized as Saints in 2017.
Pilgrimage
Every year thousands of pilgrims from all over the world gather in Fatima for Marian veneration. Pilgrims are coming year-round, but the main pilgrimage to Fatima and mass celebrations take on May 13 (Feast of Our Lady of Fatima or Feast of Fatima for short) and October 13 (Miracle of the Sun). Some 100,000 pilgrims come to Fátima on these major pilgrimage dates.
Up to eight million pilgrims come to visit Fatima in Portugal every year. Many of the Catholic pilgrims crawl the final distance and approach the chapel on their knees.
