#AHaLoInEurope: Revisiting Fátima – A Spiritual & Photographic Journey

 

Traveling broadens your horizon. It enriches your mind and your spirit. But traveling uses up a lot of your time and treasure. It would be a waste if you missed something on your trip you should’ve seen or experienced. It happened to me several times and I regretted that so much. If you’re planning a trip, I’d like to help you avoid missing out. So, let my blog show you what to look out for. Prepare for your trip by traveling with me through this post. Or you might still be in the praying and dreaming stage. Manifesting your dream into reality starts here! 

A Happy Solo in Fátima, Portugal

 

Fátima. A place where the Queen of Heaven appeared to remind the world to pray to her Son, Our Lord, for peace and the salvation of souls. It was here where Our Lady’s apparitions and the Miracle of the Sun stirred people’s faith.

 

Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary

After Santarém, it was our next pilgrimage destination. I was blessed to have visited Fátima in 2019. I believe the memories of being at the site where Our Lady of the Rosary encouraged such devotion helped me during the pandemic. Our daily family rosary gave us hope and strength.

Cross in front of the Basilica da Santissima Trindade
(Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity)

Being in Fátima again was a present from God. I have already written about the places there that we visited in my previous blog “#SeekingMary: Finding the Lost in Portugal”. Just click the link to learn about the sights you should be on the lookout for. 

 

After you read that, allow me to take you back to Fátima on a photographic and a deeper spiritual journey. Being less of a tourist and more of a pilgrim this time gave my eyes a new perspective about sights I had already seen.

 

Home of Francisco and Jacinta

The Cross Within

Seeing the photo of the two children on a wall across their house brought home a realization.

View from the window of the House of Francisco & Jacinta

The burden of telling the world about Our Lady’s message rested on such small and fragile shoulders. These shepherd children were canonized not because they were visionaries but because they lived their young lives with extreme holiness.

St. Francisco and St. Jacinta

Together with Lucia, they offered sacrifices for the conversion of sinners like tying a rope directly around the skin of their waists which caused them great pain. They constantly prayed as Our Lady encouraged them to and interceded for the Pope and the many people who asked them to bring their petitions to Our Lady.  

Relief Art of the Shepherd Children on the wall beside Lucia's House

Home of Lucia

 

Having lived longer than her cousins and with more of her life and writings to be studied, Lucia’s sainthood is still undergoing the canonization process. However, she has been bestowed the title “Servant of God.” Her home, like the Martos’, is a place you shouldn’t miss when in Fátima.

 

While there, I was so fortunate to capture this precious image that is evocative of Our Lady’s message: pray, especially the rosary. The light from the window of the room where Lucia was born illumined the rosary on the bedpost and cast a perfect shadow of the crucifix.

 

This next photo is the from the group of statues representing the 2^nd Apparition of the Angel of Peace to the children. You can see it in Poço do Arneiro (Arneiro’s Well) behind Lucia’s house.

 

The Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary) at dusk

and at night was a sight to behold.

 

A new experience for me was the candlelight procession. The first time I was there, the weather did not permit this to be held. Witnessing tiny candle lights flickering out of the basilica till they transformed in front of me into priests, nuns and the faithful following the cross and Our Lady’s image is a memory I will forever treasure.

 

People come to Fátima from all over the world to pray for their intentions, many, I suppose, for their healing. This photo of the cross giving light to the couple with the wheelchair vividly captures these pilgrims’ faith.

Pilgrims' Faith

 

Fátima gifted me with beautiful images. One of them is of a tiny begonia growing by the wall of Francisco and Jacinta’s house.

 

I thought it represented the visionaries of Fátima so well. They were small yet brave in going against a bureaucratic “stone wall.” The children were steadfast despite threats by government officials to boil them in oil if they did not recant their testimony about the apparitions. As my tribute to the courage of the shepherd children, I painted Fatima’s Small Begonias – “Pequenas Begônias de Fátima.”

 

Our Lady of Fátima, pray for us.

St. Francisco and St. Jacinta, pray for us.

#AHaLoInEurope: The Sacred Eucharistic Miracle of Santarém

Traveling broadens your horizon. It enriches your mind and your spirit. But traveling uses up a lot of your time and treasure. It would be a waste if you missed something on your trip you should’ve seen or experienced. It happened to me several times and I regretted that so much. If you’re planning a trip, I’d like to help you avoid missing out. So, let my blog show you what to look out for. Prepare for your trip by traveling with me through this post. Or you might still be in the praying and dreaming stage. Manifesting your dream into reality starts here! 

A Happy Solo in Santarém, Portugal

Visiting Lanciano in 2019 as part of our Marian Pilgrimage was a deeply spiritual experience for me. Imagine viewing the relic of a Eucharistic Miracle! The host turned flesh that was proven to have come from cardiac tissue. The wine turned blood tested to be type AB. I had read about the miracle in Lanciano years ago, so our visit there was a bucket list check.

 

But I had never heard of Santarém, much less about its eucharistic miracle. So, when I found out it was included in our itinerary, I did my research. I learned that like the one in Lanciano, this is ranked among the most famous eucharistic miracles recognized by the Church. And its story is even more dramatic. Just reading about it and relating the story to my son and some friends already gave me goosebumps.

 

Before I take you to Santarém, let me tell you the story first. Sometime in the 1200s (there are conflicting reports on the exact year), there was a woman whose cheating husband caused her so much grief. She went to a witch to find a solution for her heartache. For her to cast a spell over the husband, the witch needed a consecrated host. Out of desperation, the woman agreed to steal it. She went to the Church of St. Stephen and received Holy Communion. She then took the host out of her mouth and wrapped it in her veil or by some accounts a linen cloth. As she was walking from the church, people noticed blood dripping from her veil. In great fear, she rushed home and hid the still bleeding host in a chest/drawer/cabinet.

 

Later that night, as she and her husband were sleeping, they were awakened by brilliant light emanating from the hiding place. Some versions tell of an angel watching over the host. Terrified, the couple repented of their sins and spent the night in prayer. The next morning, the parish priest, upon learning about the miracle, brought the Sacred Host to the church where it continued to bleed for three days. He had it encased in a receptacle made of beeswax.

 

But that wasn’t the only miracle. Another happened in 1340. When the relic was to be taken out of the tabernacle for veneration, the wax receptacle was found broken into pieces. The Sacred Host was now encapsulated in a crystal reliquary. Nobody knew where the new receptacle came from. It appeared miraculously. The crystal with its precious relic was placed in a silver-gilt monstrance where it is kept up to this day.

It was there at the Igreja de Santo Estêvão (Church of St. Stephen) also known as the Igreja do Santissimo Milagre (Church of the Most Holy Miracle) that we had the great privilege of being allowed to have mass said by our pilgrimage leader, Fr. Javier,

 

and of viewing the relic. It reposes in the Eucharistic throne above the altar.

 

At the right side of the altar, you can take the stairs to the second floor to venerate the Sacred Host. Each person is given a brief moment to go up the ladder to the relic and say a prayer. Please note that photographing the relic that close is not allowed.

 

The miracle continued over the centuries when fresh blood would occasionally flow from the relic. In some instances, the image of our Lord was formed. One witness to this occurrence was St. Francis Xavier. For me, it was enough of a miracle to witness the reality of Jesus making His presence felt in the Sacred Host.

 

When it’s your turn to visit the Shrine of the Holy Miracle in Santarém, don’t forget to pose by the blue and white print showing the crystal ampoule in which the Host was miraculously found. It’s in the front façade of the church. That’s the exact spot where a future saint, the Blessed Carlo Acutis, once had his solo pic taken. The Eucharistic Miracle of Santarém was one of those documented in his website.

(ctto of the photo of Blessed Carlo Acutis which I found online)

 

In honor of our visit to Santarém, I painted this bird of paradise in watercolor.

 

“Ave do Paraíso de Santarém” 

(Bird of Paradise of Santarém)

 

It’s inspired by a photo I took of the pocket garden behind the parish office of the Church of St. Stephen.

Addendum: After first publishing this blog, something kept gnawing at me about the subject of my painting. Upon reflecting on it, I realized the significance of the flower to the place: Jesus is the bird bearing humanity on His wings back to Paradise. In the original photo, if you zoom in on the flower on the left, there is a bright red spot beside the blue floweret. While painting, I was intrigued by that spot because I couldn’t figure out what it was. For me, it represents the blood that Jesus shed for us and that gushed from the Sacred Host in Santarém.

My prayer for all those reading this blog: May God grant you the grace to see with the eyes of your spirit the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. And may He bless you with the chance to visit places where Eucharistic Miracles have proven this truth. 

#AHaLoInEurope: Óbidos – A Queen’s Bounty

Traveling broadens your horizon. It enriches your mind and your spirit. But traveling uses up a lot of your time and treasure. It would be a waste if you missed something on your trip you should’ve seen or experienced. It happened to me several times and I regretted that so much. If you’re planning a trip, I’d like to help you avoid missing out. So, let my blog show you what to look out for. Prepare for your trip by traveling with me through this post. Or you might still be in the praying and dreaming stage. Manifesting your dream into reality starts here!

A Happy Solo in Óbidos, Portugal

 

Can anything evoke imaginings of medieval days more than a village favored by queens? A walled town with a towering castle. Winding streets bursting with colors.

 

Picturesque little shops tempting you to sample their wares.

 

Radiant blooms

 

and quaint curios adding rustic beauty to its cobbled lanes.

 

Such is Óbidos, the Vila das Rainhas (Town of the Queens), A UNESCO Creative City and voted as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. This walled town is one of the best-preserved in Europe and the finest model of a traditional Portuguese village. It dates back to the Celtic period. What adds to its appeal is its authenticity. Around a hundred inhabitants still practice their craft and live in the pretty, blue or yellow-bordered, white-washed houses within the walled district and 3,000 in the town proper.

 

From the Celts to the Romans, to the Visigoths, to the Moors, Óbidos was finally conquered by the Portuguese in the 12^th century. In 1282, the soon-to-be queen Isabel de Aragon expressed admiration for its beauty. Because of that, King Dinis gifted her with Óbidos for their wedding. Since then, it has been the exclusive property of the Queens of Portugal until 1883.

 

Let’s discover what the queens found enchanting here and what you should look out for when it’s your time to visit the town their majesties have graced.

 

Stepping off the bus, I already felt the old-world magic of Óbidos beguiling me.

 

After a short walk, we reached the ancient walls that encircle the whole town and entered through Porta da Vila, the main town gate.

 

Keep your eyes peeled as you enter the gate. Just inside it is a balcony decorated with the iconic azulejos. The blue and white tiles from 1740 depicts the Passion of Christ. Its painted ceiling features a crown of thorns. This niche between the outer and inner walls serves as an oratory, a small chapel.

 

You can walk over the 13-meter high battlements encircling the town for panoramic views if you’re adventurous enough or have the time or don't have vertigo. The steps are immediately to the left of Porta da Vila. As for us, we headed straight to Rua Direita, the main and only real street of the town.

 

The main street is lined with postcard-pretty flowers, galleries, shops and cafés.

 

This tops my list of the best shopping streets that I have ever strolled through in all my travels. Not because it offered bargains and must-have items but because it exuded charm with a capital C. I actually didn’t even go on a buying spree and just purchased one special item, but I had a wonderful time soaking up the ambiance.

 

I suggest taking a leisurely walk up Rua Direita. Try to notice the arty-crafty things that you'll encounter along the way.

 

Turning from the busy main street into a quiet alley led us to the tree-covered Praça de Santa Maria (Saint Mary Square) where the town’s main church is located.

For pilgrims and plain tourists alike, the Igreja de Santa Maria (Church of Saint Mary)

 

is a must-visit because of its interior: it’s azulejos-lined walls and painted ceiling dating from the late 1600s,

 

the fine Baroque retábulo,

 

valuable paintings especially the one on the right side-altar depicting the “Martyrdom and Life of St. Catherine of Alexandria" by the renowned artist Josefa de Óbidos.

 

And don’t miss the nobleman’s tomb on the left side of the altar which is a masterpiece from the Portuguese Renaissance period dated 1525. It was completely carved from stone and is protected as a National Monument.

 

Uphill (don’t worry, it’s not a steep climb) is another church, the Igreja de São Tiago (Church of St. James) which is now a bookstore, the Livraria de Santiago. 

It’s sad that it’s no longer used as a church. In our last pilgrimage, our leader made the comment that fewer people are going to European churches to attend mass. Many just come as tourists. Or maybe Óbidos just had too many churches for its small population. There are two other churches and a chapel we didn’t have time to see.  

 

Crowning our tour, atop the hill, is Castelo de Óbidos. This castle has been used as a military fortification since the Roman occupation. It also functioned as a royal palace and is one of Portugal’s greatest medieval castles. The main building where the king’s room was located now houses a pousada  (in Portugal, a luxury hotel in a restored historic building). I wish we could’ve spent the night there. Or would that be too scary with ghostly royals keeping you company?

 

One of the things that you absolutely must try is the Ginja de Óbidos or ginjinha, a cherry liqueur served in chocolate cups. It was concocted by 17^th century monks who steeped Morello cherries in brandy.  It’s sold in many stores in Rua Direita and costs 1 Euro for a shot.

 

Chocolate and cherry! I didn’t let that experience pass me by – drinking the delicious liqueur then eating the cup. That was my one special purchase I previously mentioned. My roommate Leni and I each bought a set of 10 cups with a small bottle so our families can enjoy it for the Christmas holidays. (Best refrigerated till you’re ready to drink it.)

 

Last suggestion: after you exit the town gate, go across the street from the Tourist Center  to view the Aqueduto de Óbidos. This aqueduct streamed drinking water from a spring in Usseira over 3 kms. of vineyards and orchards to the town’s fountains. It’s not as impressive as the one we would later see in Segovia but it’s picture-pretty enough.

 

Óbidos not only charmed me but also stirred my artistic passion. It was sparked by a sight I beheld as we meandered along Rua Direita – a single white calla lily holding court like a queen amidst a foliage of green framed by a saffron yellow wall that just captivated me.

 

I painted that snapshot in watercolor and named it “Rainha Lírio de Óbidos” (Queen Lily of Óbidos). It’s the best souvenir I can ever have of “The Wedding Present Town” (another name by which Óbidos is known).

Óbidos was not in my bucket list but I’m so blessed the Lord brought me here. God’s bucket list for me is way better than my own.