Dear Diary....

Tuesday Day 5

After breakfast we wandered down to the medical centre for Mick and Ivy who were both in wheelchairs. They had to go and see a doctor, to register what their ailment was, so that in the big service on Wednesday, if there was a miracle, and someone, anyone was healed, it could be documented. I think that's wonderful! It can only be a miracle if the proper paperwork is in order! I guess even Spiritual Pilgrimages have admin departments!

Once this had been done, we went up to the Chapel of Sorrows for Morning Prayer and Mass. Initially this should have been in the Chapel of Apparitions, but we suspected a typo on the itinerary, as there were a couple of hundred people that were there for a service. The service took place in smaller wood panelled chapel, with a fantastic Stained Glass window on the rear wall. It's one of my favourite photographs that I took. The mass was then followed by a talk but a nun from the London party. I apologise, her name escapes me, I think Fr Kevin mentioned it on the bus to Nazare, but I have to admit it was an entertaining talk. One quote that she made that I remember was that “I'm not tactless, just Honest!” I thought that was wonderful, and probably applies to myself too more than I'd like to admit.

Following mass we then headed back to the coffee shop. I restrained from a Danish, as my jacket was starting to feel a little snug!

Lunch followed again back at the hotel, soup, salad, a meat, and fruit, after which we had a half day excursion. First we went to the houses of the seers, which while very old, and basic, were immaculately kept. We also saw a statue that had been made depicting the third visit of an angel prophesising the visitation of Mary to come 6 months later. The area is an obvious tourist attraction, and every house front is selling pottery, linens, food and drink and clothing.

After this we went to Aljustrel, the Parish church and cemetery. This was a beautiful place, with fantastic palm trees outside. The weather helped loads, as it had fined up tremendously, and was getting very warm. Inside was a hushed silence while people prayed. Fr Gray came in shortly after to advise that he had just been approached by the Grandmother of Madeline Mccann, who had now been missing for 2 years, asking that we pray for her safe return.

Finally, on our half day excursion, we visited a Super ‘Tat' shop, a massive place on the outskirts of town selling all things ecumenical. The store could have easily been IKEA, or B&Q, but it did exactly what it said on the tin, rows and rows of Ecumenical tat!

After dinner back at the hotel, soup, salad, a meat, and fruit, we all made our way to the Capelhina. The big mass, festival day was the following day, and we knew that we could expect a few more people. We knew that at the festival we could be getting in the region of 500,000 people, but I didn't expect this amount the night before, but that certainly looked to be the case. We were at the top of the big square, looking down to the steps of the Basillica, and all you could see was a carpet of candles, held by people in their little plastic cups. It was a beautiful site to behold, and my pictures don't do it justice. The procession happened as per every night.

We stayed there for an hour or so. People went back as they wanted, as it was getting cold. The same Irish voice then came on reciting the rosary. It was a very spiritual lovely feeling, which I can't express through words, so I'm not going to try!!

Wednesday Day 5

Festival Day.

Fr Corbett had already told me that he was planning to get up early this morning to be at the mass at the Basillica for 0700. This meant that I was up down early in the TV room waiting for breakfast, and managed to catch one of my favourite shows American Chopper on the Discovery channel. Nothing religious about that, but it made my day.

Breakfast, it happened.

Fr Spicer had already asked me the night before, and I'd happily accepted to carry the flag that day in the procession. Reg had also forewarned me that I would be dragged out before the start of the parade and put at the front, as Portugal and England are friends with one another. So after breakfast, we collected our things (This was after the flag was removed and restapled to the pole as it upside down), and we set off for the Square.

Upon arrival I was whisked away to stand in the procession at the very near front of the parade. I was stood behind a woman carrying the Australian flag. The procession very slowly began to start creeping its way around to the very top of the square. We had very serious looking military people either side of us. We made our way to the top of the square and turned to the left to walk to the centre. I saw my mum and Andrew on the right hand side, and gave them a big cheesey grin. Couldn't manage a wave as my hands were full. Then we got to the centre of the square, and started to make our way forward with the Basillica what felt a good mile off in the distance. Now, I didn't feel nervous, bearing in mind I was doing this in front of 500,000 people, or as I like to say, half a million! But as I walked on, I couldn't help but take in the awesome spectacle of this many people.

As I neared the front, and got past the big statue of Jesus, I got hit in the side of the head with a load of rose petals! Now I'm not sure if it was aimed at me or not, but there was only one bunch and they were thrown at me. I noticed later that the statue of Mary had them cascaded at her, later in the procession, so took it to be a sign of someone's allegiance and love of our great flag.

Once I reached the Basillica steps I was led up to stand on the left of the Colonnade, and face the people, as many more flags and banners went past me. And there I stood for the duration of the service. A lot of which I couldn't understand, as the mass was in I assume Portuguese, but picked up on some of the tunes from the singing bits. I was a bit cheeky at the start of the service, I took a wide picture of the people in the congregation and sent it to half a dozen of my friends back in the UK, with the message ‘I just processed through this lot, 500,000 people with the Union Jack Flag!'

At the end of the service before we processed out the Bishop came round showing the Monstrunce with the Blessed Sacrament to the sick. Shameless tourist again, as I was in a perfect position to get some great pictures.

As the mass finished we processed down the steps to the Capelhina and out the back.

Before the very end of the service I managed to get out the back and make my escape. I still don't like large crowds, and headed to the café for a quick coffee while waiting for the others, then back to the hotel for a lunch of Prawn Cocktail, Braised Steak, with potatoes, Carrots, Peas, Leaks, Gravy and stuffing, followed by a delicious Tiramisu, cheese, biscuits, and coffee. OK, it was really soup, salad, one meat, 2 veg and a fruit bowl!

The afternoon was a much quieter affair with Stations of the Cross with Fr Cornish outside the Verbo Divino Chapel, then free time for the rest of the day.

That evening after mass in the Chapel we had a talk by Dr Gill James about what life in the Parish meant for her, followed by dinner, and relaxing in the bar, followed by an early night.