Sanctuary

#SeekingMary

Marian Pilgrimage Day 3

Sanctuary. A memorial for one of the few apparitions officially recognized by the Catholic Church.  The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima is a huge complex made up of basilicas and chapels situated on the very spot where Our Mother appeared to three shepherd children. We spent the rainy day in and around the Sanctuary getting to know about the message of Our Lady and the untold sufferings three very young children had to undergo to be bearers of the secret. Until our very informative guide Inez told us their story, I thought Francisco and Jacinta were only canonized because Mama Mary chose to appear to them. It was easier for me to understand why Lucia would be so beatified. But their prayerfulness, obedience to God’s Word through Mary and forbearance despite sufferings earned them that honor. If such young children can display these godly traits, why can’t the rest of us do the same? 

Sanctuary. That is what Our Lady of the Rosary (the name she revealed to the children on her last apparition) is to people going through life’s trials. She is our refuge, someone we can run to in times of trouble because she gives us peace by bringing us God’s word and she intercedes for our petitions to God.

Reflection: I thought sacrifice was only about suffering, doing things you don’t like, going through difficult situations. Through the visionaries of Fatima, I learned that sacrifice is “to make holy” the things that you do for others. 

Highlights:

• Chapel of Apparition - the heart of the Sanctuary where we heard mass and participated in praying the evening rosary using Tagalog for 1 decade
• Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary where the 3 children are buried 
• Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity whose tabernacle is not visible because not all visitors are Catholics (to prevent sacrileges by those who do not practice our faith). It had 8633 seats
• Houses of Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta
• Museum - Exhibition of Fatima Light & Peace featuring the golden crown of Mary with the bullet that almost killed Pope John Paul incorporated in its center.