Reflection by: Dominic Chua
Chronicles of a pilgrim – Day 14 – FATIMA
#sequelachristi2024
Today was a very memorable day, let me tell you more about it.
We started the day with mass, at the Chapel of the Apparitions, where I had the privilege to do the mass readings. Standing at the ambo, I felt a sense of nervousness and honor. As an introvert, speaking in front of others is always a challenge, but I found a sense of peace in the significance of the moment. It felt meaningful, knowing that my voice was being used as a vessel for something greater.
After mass we had a quick breakfast back in the hotel, before starting our tour around the Shrine of Fátima. Learning about the history of Fátima was very interesting. Essentially, on May 13, 1917, Mother Mary appeared to 3 children, Francisco and Jacinta, siblings, and their cousin Lucia, telling them to return on the same date of every month until October. During the apparitions, many doubted the children’s claims and demanded proof. The 3 children were treated horribly by the public and were even kidnapped for 3 days. On September 13, 1917, during the fifth apparition, Lucia asked the Virgin Mary to perform a miracle to help the people believe. Mary responded, instructing them to wait until the 13th of October, promising that a great sign would be given. This promise was fulfilled on October 13, 1917, during the famous “Miracle of the Sun” witnessed by tens of thousands of people, believers and skeptics alike. The sun appeared to dance, change colors, and move erratically in the sky, which many took as confirmation of the children’s testimony. What I learnt from this was to have the courage in the face of doubt. In life, many people will judge and doubt the things that we do or that we believe in, and the story about the 3 children reminds us about the value of standing firm in your beliefs, even when others might not understand or agree.
We also visited the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. We were immediately greeted with the High Altar and this golden arc that reads “Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima, pray for us”. Did you know that the golden mosaic arc that reads is a gift by Singaporean pilgrims? The tombs of the 3 children were there as well, with their tombs designed to fit their personality. For example, Francisco, who has a strong love for nature can be seen with birds on his tomb and a statue of him with a sheep on his lap.
After the tour in the Sanctuary, we headed to the village where the 3 children used to live, and it was really interesting to see how simple and humble their lives were. It made me think about how such an incredible story could come from such an ordinary setting. Even after all these years, their story has had such a big impact, which was fascinating to reflect on.
We then headed for lunch, and we visited the town of Batalha. The town was beautiful, and it was nice to take in the surroundings and unwind a bit.
The highlight of my day, the candlelight procession after the rosary. Never would I expect myself to be a statue bearer in a candlelight procession in Fátima. Initially when I was asked if I wanted to help out at dinner, I was genuinely not very keen and even worried because what if I dropped Mother Mary? It would’ve been so embarrassing… But as I pondered about it, I started to realise how big of an honor and opportunity it was. As we were walking to the sanctuary with our driver Luiz, I was so nervous. As I didn’t really know what I had to do, all I knew was that it would be heavy and I had to carry her, all the different scenarios were racing through my mind. However, during the rosary, I immediately felt calm and all the nerves went away. Eventually it was the big moment when we went behind to get ready to walk out. Walking through the crowd with the candles glowing all around felt really powerful—it was a moment of connection, not just with the people around me but also with something bigger.
As I was reflecting on the day, I am very grateful for Luiz, our coach driver, for giving us this once in a lifetime opportunity during the candlelight procession. And what stood out to me was when we thanked him for it, he said “ Don’t worry we are brothers in christ.” I think that was a very heartwarming moment for me. Even though we come from different places and backgrounds. It reminded me that shared faith can create a bond that goes beyond just words—it felt genuine.