Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima

Pilgrimage as a sacrifice

From 13 May, pilgrims continue to make requests to Our Lady and submit themselves to the sacrifices incorporated in the pilgrimage.

Namaacha has the waterfalls, which these days feel the weight of water; Mount M’ponduine, where South Africa can be seen from the top; but we do not speak of Namaacha without the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima or the pilgrimages coming to mind.

The reference is 13 May, the date of the first time that the Saint appeared to the three little shepherds, Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, at Cova de Iria, Fátima, in Portugal. The year was 1927.

The Sanctuary in Namaacha is relatively more recent, erected in 1942, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Apparitions of Fátima. Mozambique was still a Portuguese overseas province. The inauguration was two years later, in 1944, with thousands of pilgrims from Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane flocking to the place.

Preserving the first architecture, in Manueline or flaming style, although with a renewed color, so many years later, starting on 13 May, pilgrims continue to make requests to Our Lady and submit themselves to the sacrifices incorporated in the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary. After last year, the number of ceremonies has been reduced due to the pandemic and this year is also threatened, it may not be too difficult to imagine the requests for which pilgrims are willing to make sacrifices.

▶ How to get to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima: https://bit.ly/3tBbhJL

Issue 66 Mar/Apr | Download.