ZAP
Virgin Mary sculpture in the chapel of appearances, Fatima
“If faith was in the hands, the Luxembourg territory would not come to welcome so much devotion.” The images are all over the country.
A pilgrimage annual a Wiltsz It is a great pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatimabut in Wiltz, in Luxembourg. It happens this Thursday, May 29, having started the night before.
The celebrations, in the hill ‘Op Bäessent’, bring together more than 20,000 people and are the highlight of devotion to Fatima, is the largest religious party in Luxembourg. But they are not the only ones in the country. Not nearby.
As Images are all over the country: “There are images of Our Lady of Fatima in many churches of Luxembourg. Portuguese lay people, over the course of more than 60 years of emigration to the grain-distance, have been extraordinary and bold ambassadors and evangelists of our religiosity, traditions, language and culture,” says Father Rui Pedro da Silva, leader of the Portuguese-speaking Catholic mission in the southern Luxembourg.
To the portal, the priest, scalabrinian missionary, points out that the images of Our Lady of Fatima are very important In the Luxembourgue Catholic community, it has a huge impact on Portuguese immigrants.
This devotion so strong in Luxembourg Our Lady of Fatima is related to the fact that the largest community immigrant in the country being the Portuguese community.
And are very present, Both in the capital or in the north and in the south: “In the north of the grain of the grain, if it were not for the region of the Wiltz Sanctuary, the images that are found in Ettelbruck, Diekirch, Vlandaen, Echeternach, Vianden, among others where there are consisted Portuguese parish priests, are also important.”
“In the south we have very venerated images in Bettembourg, Differdange, Didelange, Esch-sur-alzette, Rodange, Rumelange where, in October or May, there is the recitation of the Rosary, novenas and public processions,” he continues.
“Many churches remain Open all day Because they have inside a image of Our Lady of Fatima, much sought after by the Portuguese and Lusophone. There are Portuguese who even have key Church”Says Father Rui Pedro.
“If faith was in the hands, the Luxembourg territory would not arrive to welcome so much devotion,” he says.
Defining the most important image is complicated: “I do not know what are the most important images in Luxembourg, as this is very difficult to define. However, WILTZ is undoubtedly the one that welcomes the most pilgrims due to the Diocesan pilgrimage of May, which has always happened on the holiday of the Lord’s ascension solemnity (Thursday, May 29)”.
In this pilgrimage, it is not always the same person to preside over the celebration: in one year, is the archbishop of Luxembourg, the following year a guest bishop of Portugal or Lusophony. In 2025 Wiltz’s pilgrimage will be presided by D. Nuno Brás, Bishop of Funchal.
In a clear connection of Wiltz to the Sanctuary of Fatima, there are many Portuguese who, during the holidays and on May 13, make “a Visit ´Obrigatory` to the Sanctuary of Fatima. ”But there are also many Portuguese, many of these ancient emigrants, who go to Luxembourg on purpose to visit the Wiltz Sanctuary.
The Portuguese living in Luxembourg also have “very rooted” devotion to São Bento da Door Openaccording to the most frequented sanctuary in Portugal.
