An abode of peace

Ranjita Biswas

This May 13, Pope Francis was in the Portuguese town of Fatima, about 125 km north of capital Lisbon. Tens of thousands of people were there too to witness the canonisation of two children of a shepherd’s family. A hundred years ago, on the same date, the brother and sister duo Francisco and Jacinta Marto had witnessed an apparition of Mother Mary in the field while grazing their flock of sheep.

As the legend goes, on that day in 1917, the children and their cousin Lucia dos Santos were out in the field in a place called Cova da Iria when they saw a dazzling light. They thought it was lightening and while hurrying home, they saw ‘a Lady more brilliant than the Sun’ from whose hands hung a white rosary. The apparition appeared at the same place on the 13th day for five consecutive months.

The children said the Lady with the Rosary revealed to them three secrets — apocalyptic messages foreshadowing the Second World War, the rise and fall of Communism and the death of a pope — and urged them to pray for peace and turn away from sin. Unfortunately, nine-year-old Francisco and seven-year-old Jacinta died of influenza two years later. The story narrated by the children was first doubted by their parents and the local Catholic church, but slowly gained believers and was eventually accepted as authentic by the Vatican in 1930. The kids were canonised last month.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Fátima, symbolic of Mother Mary, has been built at the spot where the children witnessed the apparition. Thousands of pilgrims visit the Basilica from all across the world every year. 

Fatima itself is a pretty little town with the Basilica, obviously, its mainstay. Walking around the roads and lanes, buying little mementos and tasting local food give a flavour of the Portuguese town. However, first, the Basilica… The approach to the beautiful Basilica is through a vast plaza. Yet, do not be astonished to see many pilgrims moving toward the church on their knees, padded to soften the pain, with rosary in hand to pay homage. Much like our devotees, who want to make a wish or express gratitude for fulfillment of a wish.

By the side of the plaza, shops sell candles in all sizes, some so huge, they seem almost as tall as a child’s height. On the sides of the plaza are gorgeous modern monuments built in the theme of piety.

Inside the Basilica, there are 15 altars dedicated to the 15 mysteries of the rosary as well as the tombs of the two children who had the vision. Their cousin Lucia dos Santos was the main narrator of their tale. She died in 2005. Now she is awaiting beatification, the first step towards becoming a saint.

The construction of the Basilica of the Holy Trinity began across the plaza in 2004. The design for the striking modern neo-classical building was selected after an international competition and it was awarded to Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis. The entire building is in white, as also the statue of ‘Our Lady’, creating an atmosphere of peace. Glass panels at the entrance have passages of holy scriptures  in many languages, including Hindi. 

Fátima has also been long associated with St John Paul II. The Polish-born Pope credited the Virgin Mary with saving his life in 1981 when a would-be assassin shot him on Fátima’s feast day — 13 May — in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican. Remember one of the three secrets?