Greetings from Spain!!!
We have not been able to find internet to blog, so we have many updates for you... :)
We arrived safely in Lisbon, a beautiful city by the sea, with many white houses, tile roofs, and swimming pools (about all we saw from the plane... had to run off to the train)
We took a train from Lisbon to Santarem, which was great as we got to see the countryside... very beautiful with some hills and lots of crops and green trees... we got to see a tomato farm!
Arrived in Santarem, unfortunately the church of the Eucharistic miracle was closed, but we met with a very kind lady who guided us around the city and showed us where the miracle actually happened in a tiny chapel several blocks away.
We pressed on to Fatima, where we celebrated Mass at our lodging before heading to bed.
The next day at Fatima, we spent the entire day, visiting the Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary first, then heading to the Shrine where we were tremendously blessed to get a time slot to celebrate Holy Mass at the little altar in the Cova, the place where Our Lady actually appeared!!! We then participated in the candlelight rosary and Eucharistic procession, and went to the site where the Angel of Portugal appeared to the children!!! It was a very blessed day.
Today, we drove to the SOLT mission in Calzadilla, Spain, and spent the day with the SOLT priest who is hosting us... Mass and Holy Hour were first in his little Spanish fourteenth-century church... beautiful. We then went to the cathedral in nearby Coria, an incredibly beautiful church, rebuilt in the twelfth century on the old Roman city wall. The retablo behind the high altar was painted gold solidly from the floor to the ceiling, with amazing pillars, designs, niches for statues, and the statues themselves... the bishops of the cathedral are buried in the floor... the beautiful choir stalls with intricate wood carvings were added before Columbus discovered America (!!!).... and the museum attached to the church contained many ancient church treasures.
We also saw a quick 'running of the bulls', a Spanish holiday tradition, and were able to stop in at a world-class Spanish guitar concert!
Tomorrow we head off to Tui, Spain, where we will spend some time preparing for our walk, which we start on Monday!
We are remembing y'all and all your intentions at all the Masses, Holy Hours, and sacred places... please continue to pray for us!
Gracias!! Obregado!! Thank you!! :)
Blogged by Dan
We have not been able to find internet to blog, so we have many updates for you... :)
We arrived safely in Lisbon, a beautiful city by the sea, with many white houses, tile roofs, and swimming pools (about all we saw from the plane... had to run off to the train)
We took a train from Lisbon to Santarem, which was great as we got to see the countryside... very beautiful with some hills and lots of crops and green trees... we got to see a tomato farm!
Arrived in Santarem, unfortunately the church of the Eucharistic miracle was closed, but we met with a very kind lady who guided us around the city and showed us where the miracle actually happened in a tiny chapel several blocks away.
We pressed on to Fatima, where we celebrated Mass at our lodging before heading to bed.
The next day at Fatima, we spent the entire day, visiting the Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary first, then heading to the Shrine where we were tremendously blessed to get a time slot to celebrate Holy Mass at the little altar in the Cova, the place where Our Lady actually appeared!!! We then participated in the candlelight rosary and Eucharistic procession, and went to the site where the Angel of Portugal appeared to the children!!! It was a very blessed day.
Today, we drove to the SOLT mission in Calzadilla, Spain, and spent the day with the SOLT priest who is hosting us... Mass and Holy Hour were first in his little Spanish fourteenth-century church... beautiful. We then went to the cathedral in nearby Coria, an incredibly beautiful church, rebuilt in the twelfth century on the old Roman city wall. The retablo behind the high altar was painted gold solidly from the floor to the ceiling, with amazing pillars, designs, niches for statues, and the statues themselves... the bishops of the cathedral are buried in the floor... the beautiful choir stalls with intricate wood carvings were added before Columbus discovered America (!!!).... and the museum attached to the church contained many ancient church treasures.
We also saw a quick 'running of the bulls', a Spanish holiday tradition, and were able to stop in at a world-class Spanish guitar concert!
Tomorrow we head off to Tui, Spain, where we will spend some time preparing for our walk, which we start on Monday!
We are remembing y'all and all your intentions at all the Masses, Holy Hours, and sacred places... please continue to pray for us!
Gracias!! Obregado!! Thank you!! :)
Blogged by Dan
nice to read and re-read XO - praying lots XO - mom CR
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