Young People Learn the Basics of the Message of Fatima in a 25-minute Workshop

Young People Learn the Basics of the Message of Fatima in a 25-minute Workshop

Catechesis on the Fatima event is given daily in the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity in English, French, Spanish and Italian.

Since yesterday, workshops on the Message of Fatima are being proposed to young people who are on pilgrimage to Cova da Iria, in the context of the World Youth Day Lisbon (WYD Lisbon 2023). These catechetical summaries, lasting approximately 25 minutes, are offered in English, Spanish, Italian and French and take place daily at 10.15 am and 5.45 pm in the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity.

The formation programme begins with a brief introduction to the event and the message of Fatima, followed by a presentation of the protagonists and some key themes, then Fatima is approached in the context of the history of Salvation. The essence of the angelic and Marian apparitions is addressed, using excerpts of dialogues from Sister Lucia's Memoirs. After a brief presentation of the importance of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Rosary, the theme of sacrifice as self-giving and the example of self-giving of the Little Shepherds is emphasised, and, finally, the young people are invited to let themselves be touched by the model of holiness of St Francisco and St Jacinta Marto.

“The purpose of this meeting is to make known the basics of the message of Fatima and the meaning it can have for the young people of this generation,” explains Father José Nuno Silva, shortly before the catechesis he organised with a French group this morning.

“I think that the young people will be surprised by the relevance of the message of Fatima and how, a century later, it continues to offer meaning to the great existential questions with which they are confronted,” reflects the chaplain of the Shrine of Fatima.

As a visual guide for this catechesis, the evocative panel of the Heavenly Jerusalem that covers the curved wall at the back of the presbytery of the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity is used.

“This mosaic and the various decorative elements of the basilica offer us a reading of the Message, anchored in elements that are important to it, such as: the representations of the Little Shepherds, Our Lady and the angel, on the panel; the Lamb; the Cross; or the image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, here represented with a clearly young face”, the priest explains.

This morning's workshop was attended by a group of young pilgrims from France, who are camping in the Youth Village, which the Shrine has created in Park 12, to welcome the young people who are on pilgrimage to Fatima during WYD Lisbon 2023.

The workshops schedule, which will take place from 24 July to 10 August, is available on the page “Living Fatima at WYD”, which gathers all the information for young people to plan and fully live their pilgrimage to Cova da Iria.