Day 2 - Fatima

After our short visit to Nazare, we headed to Fatima which was a short drive away.    I had briefly read some materials about it being a pilgrimage site with lots of chapels on a big square, but it was not what I expected. It was mostly a very modern worship space at one end (easily seating 2000+ people) and moderate sized traditional church at the other end, with an open square and raised platform for an outdoor service seating 300,000.  Multiple indoor services are held daily and outdoor services on the 13th of each month fill the square.  Fortunately we were not there on the 13th. 

The site became a pilgrimage site after three shepherd children reported seeing a glowing image of the Virgin Mary in a field on May 13, 1917 an again on the 13th of the month for 6 months.  Many others came out to witness this manifestation. The children reportedly received prophesies about the end of WWI, world peace, the assassination attempt on the pope in 1981, and the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. 

This is the shrine to the Virgin Mary where she appeared to the children.  The devout will walk on their knees for several hundred meters to this site to pray.  There were a lot of people sitting in pews and praying, but weirdly there were also people walking up to the railing before the alter and snapping selfies in front of it.  I'm not Catholic, but I found it disrespectful to say the least. 

You can see the covered stage in front of the church where priests lead worship on the outdoor square. 

I liked the art on the high alter.  It was modern, but not abstract.  The angels were beautiful but not over done.  The painting was very unique.  Since the whole site was just over 100 years old, the paining was not blackened and faded like so many historic painting are in old churches. 

The stained glass was also modern.

Looking the length of the square from the steps of the church.  I can't imagine this being filled with people. 

Modern nativity sculpture

Very large modern crucifix sculpture on the square. 

The whole experience was weird from a Protestant perspective. I find basis and creation of this site unfathomable. I respect that others find it deeply moving, but I felt a bit like a spectator.