Portugal - Lisbon - Fatima - Bom dia.

Portugal meant a trip to Fatima. A familiar name to Catholics as the place where Our Lady appeared to three poor farmer cousins on many occasions starting 13^th May 1917.  I was never clear as to the third. On 13^th May 1981 Pope John Paul 2^nd was shot, the obvious intention was to end his life. He was not expected to live but one of the bullets was deflected (miracle/coincidence) from his heart. He said he was saved by the “Maternal Hand”. Supposed to be sleeping the day after the operations to remove the bullets instead he asked for all the information available to him on Fatima. There in the file was an envelope containing the third message of Fatima, foretelling the shooting of a “Bishop dressed in White” – part of the vision shown to the children and the third message of Fatima. A year later Pope John Paul 2^nd visited Fatima in thanks giving for the saving of his life. He took the bullet that was removed from his body to leave with Our Lady. It was to go into the statue there and uncannily they found that a hole in Her mantle fitted the bullet exactly and that is where it remains to this day - (miracle/coincidence). There are prayers for the beatification of the young seers – Lucia 22/3/1907- 13/2/2005 – she entered a convent of Dorothean Sisters but  later joined the Carmelites; Our Lady appeared to Lucia on three other occasions from 1925 – 1929; Francisco 11/6/1908 – 4/4/1919; and Jacinta 11/3/1910 – 20/2/1920. Now all three are reunited in the beautiful basilica at the shrine of Fatima. The huge square has held one million people and towards the top end is a spring of naturally potable water, shown by a green area, where you can drink the water, cool yourself with it or apply it to areas you would like cured. Of course any claims to cures are asked for to go towards evidence for the beatification (official Sainthood) of the children. There is Our Lady’s statue (and where the bullet from Pope John Paul is) where the rosary and Mass are said very day in the semi-enclosed Chapel of the Apparitions; an area to burn votive candles, a marble path where pilgrims come on their knees to prayer for or give thanks for special intentions. We were going to hear Mass but as usual the sermon was too long and we left. The basilica has porticos with mosaic panels depicting the Stations of the Cross and inside there are gold depictions showing each of the mysteries of The Rosary. At the opposite end of the square is a huge new Church, simple and stunning, and able to seat 9000 people and underneath more chapels and an exhibition of the Heart where you can take a photo placing yourself in the Heart of Our Lady. There were not crowds as I expected, and crass commercialisation. The overall messages of Fatima I interpret as daily prayer and penance for offences to the hearts of Jesus and Mary, and a daily Rosary for peace on the World. I think we are failing there so here’s the answer! The trip to and from Fatima was via the A1 motorway and only took 1 ½ hours each way.  It went through the suburbs of Lisbon (population 3 million) and through an agricultural belt of eucalypts (for paper); pine trees (for the nuts); cork oaks – Portugal is the world’s primary producer; citrus and vineyards. As we left our berth we sailed from the huge harbour back down the Tagus River and into the Atlantic. We passed again, under the “singing bridge”, 25^th April Bridge, named to commemorate the bloodless coup of 1974 and employing the same engineer who designed San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a huge construction carrying road traffic with rail underneath, and spanning 1 ½ miles. It makes an uncanny noise as you approach, increasing as you pass under. There’s no paving, as such, and I presume the noise is caused by the tyres on the mesh which forms the surface to drive on. As you look up you can see the vehicles through the mesh. The sides of the river have numerous monuments and ruins and we enjoyed the views as we lounged on the stern deck. Sipping drinks and basking in the best evening sun we will see for a while. It was Lisbon’s hottest day for years. We had 38C at Fatima. The beaches were crowded as we passed. Apparently the sea temp. varies from 18 where the Atlantic has its influence to 25C where the cyclonic air from the Med. has an effect. I’m running out of rave room. See you again soon. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

oops we're running into some 40 knot winds!! Wrist bands and bombers ahoy!!