Pilgrims on the Roads

Tim and I like to drive the country roads in our region of Portugal. Lately we have had to evade many groups of walkers who are on a spiritual pilgrimage along the narrow roads. Although pilgrims are required to wear bright neon yellow vests, the roads lack sufficient shoulders for the peregrinos, and every year some are injured by cars.

Pilgrims rest their weary feet at a roadside cafe in a little village. Signs all over Portugal direct pilgrims to their goal.

Our home is 45 minutes from the Portuguese town of Fátima, a revered religious site visited by over five million pilgrims annually. Thousands of pilgrims walk from all over Europe and across Portugal to this Sanctuary every year, especially in the month of May.

Starting in 1916, a 10-year-old shepherd girl and her two younger cousins reported visions of the Virgin Mary near the town of Fátima, followed by multiple apparitions from May of 1917 through October of that year.

The three peasant children claim to have been visited by Mary, mother of Jesus, multiple times. They never recanted, even under great pressure from their families, communities, church, and government. The children received messages (also called secrets, prophesies, or visions) that carry universal messages of peace — the idea that we must all change our behavior to end violence and the madness of war. Those messages of peace still carry meaning today.

The Apparition also told the children that a miracle would take place on 13th of October 1917. Despite initial skepticism, over 70,000 people travelled to Fatima to witness what is known as the ‘Miracle of the Sun’, when the Sun appeared to ‘dance’ or make unusual movements, with some pilgrims also reporting miraculous healings.

ON THE HOME FRONT

I think we are all pilgrims of sorts, each on a personal journey. Because we are social beings, and we need one another, we are not alone. In the words of Ram Dass, “We are all just walking each other home.” I agree.

In some ways, Tim and I have been on a pilgrimage that brought us to our Portugal home. The internal journey started about four years ago. Since then, we have taken countless steps, made small and big decisions, and found a pace and rhythm that guides our days.

EXCITING NEWS!

Tim had his face-to-face interview with Portugal’s immigration services a few weeks ago. He provided documents proving his identity, residency, and intention to continue to live in Portugal: our rental contract, utility payments, bank account, passport, and so forth. He was approved!!! He now carries an official residency card, which he must renew in two years. This is a really big deal!

My appointment with immigration services will be in Lisbon on June 7. We will spend several extra days in Lisbon to visit various museums, including a new exhibit of the world-famous street artist, Banksy, and the house of Portugal’s most famous Fado singer and poet, Amália Rodrigues.

Subscribe at the bottom of this page to be notified of new posts.

Coming soon: A visit to the ruins of a Roman city.

And a few recent photos from our garden just to brighten your day, clockwise from top left: sunflower, dahlias, marguarites and dahlias (behind), yellow ranunculas, dahlias, sweet peas.