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Thirty-four Arkansas pilgrims experienced the festivities in Fátima, Portugal, Oct. 12-13 for the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun. More than 180,000 people attended a candlelight rosary Oct. 12 and international Mass Oct. 13, praying for peace in the Holy Land and Ukraine.
Cardinal Américo Aguiar, bishop-elect of Setúbal, told the crowd Oct. 12, “When we talk about Fátima we talk about peace, and unfortunately this is a gift that is lacking: It is lacking in our beloved Ukraine and in our beloved Land of Jesus. Therefore, we want to ask our Mother for peace for these places and the world.”
During the last appearance of Mary to three shepherd children on Oct. 13, 1917, following a cold rain, the sun danced in the sky, witnessed by more than 70,000 people.
During the visit to Fatima, the pilgrims attended Mass at the shrine; toured the house of siblings Sts. Jacinta and Francisco, who died when they were children; and prayed the Stations of the Cross at one of the apparition sites.
Arkansas Catholic hosted the pilgrimage Oct. 4-15, starting in Barcelona, stopping at sites in Loyola and Montserrat associated with St. Ignatius, making a five-mile trek on the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) and ending in Lisbon, with a tour of the birthplace of St. Anthony of Padua.
