Fátima will experience this year its first edition of the Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Christendom, with the aim of rediscovering in Portugal the Holy Tradition of the Church and renewing the evangelizing mission entrusted to this country by the Virgin Mary.
The organizers recall Our Lady’s promise in 1917: “In Portugal the dogma of the faith will always be preserved.” Far from interpreting it as a privilege that invites complacency, they consider it a call to intensify prayer, sacrifices, and mortification for the homeland and for the Pope.
The pilgrimage will take place over three days, covering some of the most emblematic places of Marian devotion in Portugal. The itinerary will start on the first day from Nazaré to Alcobaça and Arrimal, with a 30-kilometer route. On the second day, another 30 kilometers will be walked to Batalha, and on the third day, the pilgrims will cover the final 15 kilometers to reach the Santuary of Fátima.
For this first edition, the organization has planned overnight stays in gyms and sports centers, so it will not be necessary to bring tents. Meals for the three days will also be provided, along with water and fruit on the way. Participants must bring comfortable footwear, a sleeping bag, appropriate clothing, a rosary, and whatever is necessary for rest and personal hygiene.
The route connects two Marian shrines of great history. In Nazaré, an ancient image of the Virgin with the Child is venerated, whose tradition dates back to St. Joseph and St. Luke, linked to the miracle of D. Fuas Roupinho in 1182. And in Fátima, where the Virgin appeared six times to the little shepherds Lucía, Francisco, and Jacinta in 1917, a devotion was born that marked the spirituality of the Church in the 20th century.
In addition to signing up as pilgrims, the faithful can collaborate as volunteers in logistics, the choir, the liturgy, or medical assistance. Donations are also requested to cover expenses, while those who cannot participate in person are invited to accompany spiritually with prayer.