12 august, 2012
The Shrine of Fatima has just received, with great joy, the news that the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, by the Decree of June 19, 2012, has granted to the Shrine’s Most Holy Trinity Church the title of Minor Basilica. The granting of this title is explained by the on-going celebration of the Centennial of the Apparitions.
On the one hand, the granting of the title of basilica to a church building stresses, above all, the special bond of communion with the Pope. Well, this is an important aspect of the Message of Fatima. The Little Shepherds, after the apparitions, manifested a special communion with the Pope, which was shown mainly through prayer. Besides that, the Pope plays an important role in the Third Part of the Secret of Fatima, which was made known in 2000. That is why to pray for the Holy Father and his intentions has become an integral part of the message and of the daily practice of the Shrine.
On the other hand, the granting of this title stresses the love the Pope has for Fatima. As they came to know more and more about the supernatural events which had taken place here, the various Roman Pontiffs more and more manifested their attention to Fatima, as shown specially by the pilgrimages to Fatima of Paul VI in 1967, of John Paul II three times and of Benedict XVI in 2010.
This event now, if, on one hand, fills us with joy, on the other hand, is a responsibility, for the Basilica of Most Holy Trinity becomes for us a permanent reminder of this communion with the Holy Father, as the granting of this title implies, and an invitation for us to intensify our prayers for him.
Fr. Carlos Cabecinhas, rector
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