Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima
to be held without the faithful
 |
| The figure of Our Lady of Fatima is carried in a procession during the 13 May pilgrimage in 2019 (ANSA) |
As large gatherings and assemblies are still prohibited due
to the coronavirus, pilgrimages usually undertaken on the Feast of Our Lady of
Fatima will all be virtual.
By Vatican News
The streets will be empty this year as the world gathers,
virtually, to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. The annual
celebrations usually see thousands of pilgrims making their way to the Shrine
of Our Lady in Cova da Iria in Fatima, on the 13th of every month from May through
to October – the days of the six apparitions of the Virgin Mary to the three
children of Fatima in 1917.
This year, due to the coronavirus measures, 350 groups have
been forced to cancel their pilgrimages. There will be no pilgrims in Fatima
and there will be no faithful present to celebrate this miraculous apparition
of the Virgin Mary on her Feast Day.
Graduality and prudence
Cardinal António Marto, Bishop of Leiria-Fatima and Vice
President of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference (Cep), confirmed this on
Saturday, as the whole country prepared for “phase 2” of its coronvirus
lockdown. “Phase 2” means that after over a month of lockdown, the country is
gradually beginning to open up again. The Portuguese Church is doing so by
enacting the words “graduality” and “prudence”, to ensure that entering phase 2
does not lead to disaster.
The celebrations due to take place on 13 May can therefore
only be followed on radio, television and digital media. Cardinal Marto said
that "even if our hearts would like to be in Fatima, celebrating together
in the same place as in 1917, “this time, prudence advises us not to”. He
explained that the Church’s decision to follow these indications is dictated by
a sense of responsibility "so as not to endanger public health, thus also
fulfilling the evangelical mandate of love of one’s neighbour".
A spiritual journey
To compensate for the impossibility of pilgrims going to
Cova da Iria, the Shrine of Fatima proposes a "spiritual journey",
with suggestions for daily prayers, as an alternative. They can be found on the
shrine’s website at: www.fatima.pt and
on social networks.
Fr Carlos Cabecinhas, the Rector of the shrine of Fatima,
launched a message in which he invited the faithful to join in a
"pilgrimage of the heart", whose path will not be physical, "but
interior". Pilgrims are also invited to light a candle in the windows of
their homes every day until 12 May.
The future reopening
The resumption of Masses with the physical participation of
the faithful in Portugal is scheduled for 30 May. The Shrine of Fatima will
gradually resume its activities, already reopening today for individual prayer,
while the museum space will be reopened on 19 May.
A series of safety measures against contagion, both for
employees and visitors — such as the use of masks in enclosed spaces, respect
for physical distancing and the sanitation of hands and environments — are
planned for access.
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