Can I Visit Fátima and Lourdes on the Same Pilgrimage?

Yes, you can visit Fátima and Lourdes on a single pilgrimage. Select International Tours offers a comprehensive Fátima, Lourdes, and Spain pilgrimage that combines these two renowned apparition sites with sacred destinations in Spain. This journey allows you to experience Europe’s most significant Marian shrines in one meaningful trip.

Why Is Fátima a Major Pilgrimage Site?

The Sanctuary of Fátima stands at Cova da Iria, near the town of Fátima in central Portugal, where the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children at a small holm oak tree in 1917. The children, later known as St. Jacinta Marto, St. Francisco Marto, and Venerable Lúcia dos Santos, witnessed six apparitions of Our Lady between May and October of that year.

Mary promised the children that a divine miracle would occur on October 13, 1917, during her final monthly appearance. On that day, approximately seventy thousand spectators gathered at Cova da Iria. They witnessed what became known as the Miracle of the Sun.

People say that on that day, the sun appeared to dance in the sky, moving closer to the earth and the onlookers who had been drawn there from all over Portugal, Europe, and other parts of the world. Witnesses described the sun as a shining silver disk that spun in the sky, shooting dazzling rays of many colors across the countryside.

They saw it plummet towards the earth in a jagged pattern before returning to its usual position. Journalists and others worldwide reported the event, which lasted about ten minutes. Believers built the original Chapel of the Apparitions in 1919, two years after Our Lady requested the construction in her honor. The first Mass was held there on October 13, 1921.

What Can I See at the Chapel of the Apparitions?

In 1922, anti-clerical activists bombed the small wooden chapel in opposition to the growing Catholic pilgrimage movement. The statue of Our Lady escaped damage because Maria Carreira, a local woman devoted to protecting it, had taken it to her home the night before. The chapel was rebuilt and reinaugurated on January 13, 1923.

Today, the Chapel of the Apparitions forms the heart of the Fátima Shrine. The statue’s pedestal stands at the exact spot where the small holm oak tree once grew; the tree beneath which Mary appeared to the children. Pilgrims gradually removed the original tree branch by branch as relics, but a large holm oak now grows beside the chapel to mark the sacred site.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary forms part of the Sanctuary of Fátima. Inside, a mosaic depicts the Blessed Virgin’s coronation by the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This scene represents the fifth glorious mystery of the Rosary.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, built between 1928 and 1954, is another centerpiece of the Sanctuary. Built in neo-baroque style, the Basilica houses the tombs of the three shepherd children, a marble statue of Our Lady, and striking mosaics depicting the coronation of the Blessed Virgin by the Holy Trinity. After the Catholic Church declared the visions worthy of belief in 1930, Fátima became one of the world’s most important pilgrimage destinations.

Pilgrims can attend daily Mass, rosary recitations, and the torch- and candlelight processions that take place every evening at the Sanctuary of Fátima.

Why Visit Lourdes?

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in the French Pyrenees is one of the world’s most visited Marian apparition sites. Here, the Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in 1858 at the Grotto of Massabielle.

During your visit, you can immerse yourself in the baths, filled with spring water that St. Bernadette discovered when Mary instructed her to “drink from the spring and wash yourself.” Pilgrims believe the water provides spiritual and physical healing, and the Catholic Church has officially recognized 70 miraculous healings that occurred there.

The pilgrimage experience includes daily Mass, continuous rosary prayers at the Grotto, and the evening candlelight procession through the sanctuary. Many pilgrims describe the candlelight procession, where prayers in dozens of languages blend with flickering candles, as the most moving moment of their journey.

What Sacred Sites Are Included in Spain?

The pilgrimage travels through northern Spain between Portugal and France, with stops at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, believed to house the tomb of St. James the Apostle, and the village of Garabandal, site of reported Marian apparitions in the 1960s. Optional extensions can include the Jerónimos Monastery and St. Anthony of Padua’s birthplace in Lisbon.

Select International Tours offers this Fátima, Lourdes, and Spain pilgrimage for individuals and groups. Daily Mass is included, and experienced guides accompany pilgrims throughout the journey.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does a Fátima and Lourdes pilgrimage typically last?
   Most combined pilgrimages last 9 to 12 days, allowing sufficient time to experience both sites meaningfully, with stops in Spain. Select International Tours can provide specific itinerary details and duration options.
2. When is the best time to visit Fátima and Lourdes?
   Both sites welcome pilgrims year-round. Yet, May through October offers the warmest weather and coincides with significant feast days. The anniversary of the Fátima apparitions (May 13 and October 13) and the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11) draw especially large crowds.
3. Do I need to be physically fit for this pilgrimage?
   While the pilgrimage involves walking and standing during Masses and processions, most activities are accessible to pilgrims of varying mobility levels. Both Fátima and Lourdes sanctuaries accommodate wheelchairs and offer assistance for those who need it.