A Triumphant Pilgrimage to Fatima

Caroline Shaw reports on the ICKSP Pilgrimage to Fatima led by Cardinal Burke

Throughout 2017, many thousands of faithful Catholics from around the world gathered at the shrine of Fatima to mark the centenary of the Apparitions. In November an international gathering of Catholics joined the Institute of Christ the King’s pilgrimage to Fatima, led by His Eminence, Raymond Cardinal Burke.

Canon William Hudson, whom many readers know, led a group from Brussels. I don’t think any of us realized how large the pilgrimage was going to be until the first evening, when our small contingent walked into the Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary and saw the great church full to bursting, with every seat taken and pilgrims standing 3-deep around the side altars and 10- deep at the back. There were pilgrim groups from every country in which the Institute has an apostolate: the United Kingdom and Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the USA, and even a group from the Institute’s apostolate in Gabon. All ages were represented, with many young children and babies in attendance, and an atmosphere of great joy prevailed throughout the three days.

Institute priests and seminarians worked hard to ensure that everything was as beautiful as possible

© Elrica d'Oyen Gebert

One thing that strikes a pilgrim of a more traditional inclination when first arriving in Fatima, is how modern, even ugly, so much of it is. If one imagined the Cova da Iria as a rocky terrain dotted with olive trees, as described in Sister Lucia’s memoirs, the reality of concrete and modernist architecture comes as quite a shock. One could write a long critique of the architecture and sculpture that has been installed in recent years at Fatima, but that is not for this article. Happily, the first Mass of the pilgrimage, a Solemn High Requiem Mass for the feast of All Souls, was celebrated at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, a traditional and dignified church which houses the tombs of all three seers. Mass was celebrated by Monseigneur Gilles Wach, the Prior-General of the Institute, with Pontifical Assistance from Cardinal Burke. It was the first time that a pre1962 Solemn High Mass (with Pontifical Assistance) had been celebrated in the Basilica since Vatican II, and what a splendid and dignified occasion it was. It was particularly moving to watch the procession into the church of the Institute’s female religious, the Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus, together with the large number of seminarians of the Institute; a great tide of young men and women from all corners of the world who are dedicating their lives to God.

Solemn High Mass for All Souls in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary

© ICKSP

The first night was foggy, and the following morning dark clouds gathered ominously as the pilgrims surged into the ugly modernist Basilica of the Holy Trinity for the Pontifical Mass of the Sacred Heart (this being the First Friday of the month), celebrated by Cardinal Burke. The interior of the basilica is a horror, but it has the advantage of space: it can hold up to 9,000 pilgrims and we numbered, according to estimates, somewhere over 4,000 that morning. This meant that everyone got a good view of Cardinal Burke processing up the aisle wearing his magnificent cappa magna , a sight that few will ever forget. The Institute had transported everything with them to Fatima to ensure that every Mass was as beautiful and dignified as possible – all the vestments and liturgical objects required for each Mass, large carpets laid over the stark marble steps of the sanctuary, glorious vases of flowers and altar cloths on the bare altar. A small army of seminarians and priests worked discreetly and efficiently throughout the pilgrimage to ensure that, at each stage, everything was prepared perfectly and ran smoothly, to the Institute’s impeccably high standards.

Cardinal Burke in cappa magna after the Pontifical High Mass

© ICKSP

During Mass the Heavens opened, and torrential rain rattled down upon the flat roof of the basilica. There was to be an official photograph after Mass, and we all expected it would be postponed. However, just as Mass ended the rain stopped, the clouds parted and a glimmer of sunshine appeared. A great procession of pilgrims followed Cardinal Burke, the priests, seminarians, oblates and Sister Adorers outside for the photograph. It was quite a sight - Cardinal Burke in vivid red at the centre of the large group, flanked by the purple and distinctive blue of the Institute priests, flags flapping in the breeze and pilgrims greeting each other, recognizing friends from other apostolates, and reuniting with priests and seminarians. Spirits were high and there was a tremendous atmosphere of joy that morning.

The break in the weather did not last, and for the rest of the day the rain pounded down without pause. Cardinal Burke delivered three conferences, in French, Portuguese and English, during the afternoon. His talk was excellent, and similar to the one he had delivered at Buckfast Abbey a month earlier. He exhorted us all to pray the rosary, perform the First Saturday Communion of Reparation and embrace whatever suffering comes from witnessing to the truth of our faith, in reparation for our sins and the sins of the world. His belief that Russia must urgently be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in order to reverse the terrible tide of atheistic materialism, resonated strongly.

The afternoon also provided an opportunity for the pilgrims to make the Way of the Cross, a beautiful path cut through the olive groves and rocky terrain that would have been a familiar sight to the three seers. Groups of pilgrims were arranged according to language, and were led by Institute priests. We paused at the site of the apparition of Our Lady on 19 August 1917, the only apparition to take place outside the Cova da Iria. The rain was pelting down so ferociously that we genuflected into swirling puddles, and at times it was difficult to hear the meditations being read by the priest: here was an opportunity to offer a small sacrifice to Our Lady of Fatima, and for many, it was one of the highlights of the pilgrimage.

In the evening, after dark, there was a rosary procession by candlelight to the Chapel of the Apparitions, led once again by the indefatigable Cardinal Burke. The pilgrimage was undoubtedly arduous for him as it was a heavy schedule, but his graceful smile, his patience and humble devotion to Our Lady was an inspiration to us all.

The following day there was to be an early morning Mass at the Chapel of the Apparitions, but the Institute was informed at the last minute by the shrine authorities that a Latin Mass was not permitted there, so it was moved to a gloomy, soul-less chapel in the basement of the modernist complex, which was once again transformed by the hardworking priests and seminarians. The Mass was celebrated by Mgr Schmitz, the Vicar-General of ICKSP, with Cardinal Burke in attendance. There followed a rosary at the Chapel of the Apparitions, after which Mgr Wach re-consecrated the Institute to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. Then, just as the pilgrimage ended, the sun came out. For most pilgrims there were aeroplanes to catch, but the fortunate few who remained were treated to the sight of Institute priests and seminarians wandering in the sunshine, praying their Divine Office, and stopping to give blessings to anyone who asked.

Institute priests at the evening Rosary

© Elrica d'Oyen Gebert

It was a splendid pilgrimage, a time for us all to strengthen our devotion to Our Lady, to assist at beautiful Masses, to pray alongside Cardinal Burke and the Institute, to meet faithful Catholics from around the World, and to renew our trust that in the end, Our Lady’s Immaculate heart will, indeed, triumph.

Group photograph with Cardinal Burke, Msgr Wach and other priests of the Institute

© Elrica d'Oyen Gebert