Fatima

We spent so much time getting to Santiago, it was hard to think it was time to go again. We spent some time this morning in the cathedral enjoying the peace and quiet before the crowds arrived. So that was nice. We also knew that there was an English Mass at 10:30 which we wanted to attend. But we also had decided to take the noon bus to fatima, but how long could a weekday Mass take? Surely we had time. But we didn't count on everyone introducing themselves at the beginning, a delightful old Irish priest as the homilist, and thanks and gifts at the end. So it was a little longer than your typical weekday Mass. But still we gathered our backpacks, caught a taxi and made it to the bus station on time. Spent the next seven hours on the bus, and got to Fatima. Amazingly I had been able to find a hotel on the Internet on the bus and book us a room, so we knew where to go when we got here. We found a delightful restaurant for supper, and then wandered over to the basilica, where the rosary was just beginning. They do it amazingly well, in at least 10 different languages, with singing and a procession at the end. So we are looking forward to our day here tomorrow.
May Our Lady of Fatima fill your hearts with joy this night.