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About Portugal, My Country
Portugal is one of the oldest
nations in Europe having established its continental
frontier
as it is set today on 1297.
Portugal has been an independent kingdom since 1143 When D. Afonso Henriques
rebelled
against his mother to wrestle
the Condado Portucalense away from the Kingdom of Leon .
Portugal is located on the west
side of the Iberian Peninsula, ideally positioned between Spain and the Atlantic
ocean.
Its geographic location along the Atlantic coastline is the reason why Portugal
quickly became an ocean-bound country setting the stage for centuries of sea
adventure and discoveries.
1415 was the year that set the tone for centuries to come. under the
guidance of Prince Henry "The Navigator",
the Portuguese set sail on epic voyages that would make them the first to
discover the ocean routes to India, Brazil,
China and Japan, while at the same time founding settlements on both African
coasts. Traces of this worldwide historic presence may be seen as trademarks of
the Portuguese culture.
The Portuguese language became one of the most widely spoken in the world,
and the Portuguese people were privileged for being exposed to so many different
civilizations.
The vast monumental, artistic and archaeological heritage witness not only the
850 years of history of encounters with distant cultures, but also the presence
in the territory of more ancient peoples (Celts,Suevians, Visigoths, Romans and
Arabs).
Portugal's
natural advantages of a sunny country with such diverse geographic features have
turned the country into a chosen destination for many holidaymakers,
an ideal place for practicing
water sports and playing golf, offering modern tourism facilities, and quaint
and personalized means accommodation, such as ‘turismo
de habitação’ (privately owned homes ranging
from wonderful farmhouses
to manor houses), ‘hotéis de charme’ or ‘Pousadas’.
Portugal is around the size
of Scotland with twice the population and has tremendous variety
both geographically and in its ways of life
and traditions. Along the coast around Lisbon, and on the well-Portugal
developed Algarve
in the south, there are highly sophisticated resorts, while the vibrant capital
Lisbon has enough going on to please most city devotees. But in its rural areas
this is still a conspicuously underdeveloped country, and there are plenty of
opportunities to experience smaller towns and countryside regions that have
changed little in the past century. In terms of population, and of customs,
differences between the north and south are particularly striking. |
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Since Portugal is so compact, it's easy to
take in something of each of its elements.
Scenically, the most interesting parts of
the country are in the north: the Minho,
green, damp, and often startling in its
rural customs; and the sensational gorge and
valley of the Douro, followed along its
course by the railway, off which antiquated
branch lines edge into remote
Trás-os-Montes.
For contemporary interest, spend some time
in both Lisbon and Porto, the only two
cities of real size.
And if it's monuments you're after, the
centre of the country - above all, Coimbra
and Évora - retain a faded grandeur.
The coast is virtually continuous beach, and
apart from the Algarve and a few pockets
around Lisbon and Porto, resorts remain
low-key and thoroughly Portuguese, with
great stretches of deserted sands between
them.
Perhaps the loveliest are along the northern
Costa Verde around Viana do Castelo,
or, for isolation, the wild beaches of
southern Alentejo .
Words are not enough to describe Portugal.
You must go and see for yourself.
It is a trip you will never forget
Portugal emerged as a country in 1143, after
a 15 year rebellion by Dom Afonso Henriques
(Afonso I). Afonso Henriques defeated
his mother Countess Teresa of Portugal,
regent of the County (Condado) of
Portugal and loyal to the Kingdom
of Leon at the battle of Sao Mamede (Batalha
de Sao Mamede) near the town of Guimarães,
in June of 1128.
Countess Teresa was imprisoned and exiled by
her son, and died in 1130. Guimarães is
therefore known as the birthplace
city of Portugal.
However the true test of an independent
nation did not happened until 1385
when Joao Mestre de Avis (John of Avis)
with the help of legendary supreme constable
N'uno Alvares Pereira defeated the Castilian
sat the epic Aljubarrota battle
where the Castilians outnumbered the
Portuguese 6:1. John I (Dom Joao I) was
crowned King of Portugal. John I along
with his sons, Duarte (to became the King in
succession), Henry The Navigator, and Afonso
started the "Golden Decades"
of worldwide discoveries (15th and 16th
centuries).
Following its heyday as a world power during
the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost
much of its wealth and status with the
destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake,
occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and
the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a
colony.
A 1911 revolution deposed the monarchy with
the decapitation of King Manuel I and his
son.
For most of the next six decades, repressive
governments ran the country. Antonio Salazar
a right wing fascist ran the country with an
iron fist and a austere economic plan which
slowly buried Portugal deeper and
deeper on its third world status within
Europe. Salazar also held on to the colonies
of Angola, Mozambique and Guinea, having
contributed not just to the deplorable state
of those Countries, but also to a colonial
wars which killed hundreds of thousands of
Portuguese man.
In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed
broad democratic reforms, which had the
opposite effect. Too much freedom too
quickly placed the country in total
"democratic chaos" with union bosses,
corrupt politicians, and left-wing and
right-wing extremists taking turns on
plundering the country, with disastrous
economic and labor plans. Starting in 1976
Portugal granted independence to all of its
African colonies, and a wave of refugees
were poorly assimilated on a society that
does not value ethnicity to this day.
After successive governments led by
communists, socialists and social-democrats
continue its miss-management of Portugal, at
last the social-democratic government of
Prime-minister Cavaco da Silva brought
prosperity and double digit economic growth
in the late 80's and early 90's. It helped
that the Portugal joined the EC in 1986.
Joining the EC, gave the country a boost
with
a flurry of grants and investments that
contributed to new roads, and overall
upgrade of a dilapidated infrastructure.
However with the disastrous miss-management
of the Socialist government of
Prime-minister Antonio Guterres, and the
Social-democratic government of
Prime-minister Jose Manuel Barroso (promptly
promoted to President of the European
Commission) and his successor Santana Lopes,
the country embarked on a 0% growth rate
with a growing economic deficit. Added to
this is the cessation of funds from the EC
without a source of replacement.
In 2005 President Sampaio dismissed the
government and called new elections. The
Socialists were brought to power with the
majority of vote and new Prime-Minister Jose
Socrates impact remains to be seen. Portugal
is currently in economic crisis with 0%
economic growth rate and projections that,
if accounting for the fluctuation of
interest rates set by the central bank, will
be negative in 2006.
Mario Soares, a popular Prime-Minister and
President decades ago, came out of
retirement to run for President in 2006
against his political nemesis Cavaco da
Silva. Cavaco da Silva soundly beat Soares
becoming the current president of Portugal.
Portugal is a founding member of NATO.
General History
Portugal emerged as a country in 1143, after a 15 year rebellion by Dom Afonso Henriques (Afonso I). Afonso Henriques defeated his mother Countess Teresa of Portugal, regent of the County (Condado) of Portugal and loyal to the Kingdom of Leon at the battle of Sao Mamede (Batalha de Sao Mamede) near the town of Guimarães, in June of 1128. Countess Teresa was imprisoned and exiled by her son, and died in 1130. Guimarães is therefore known as the birthplace city of Portugal.
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Castelo De Guimarães
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Batalha De
Aljubarrota
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However the true test of an
independent nation did not happened until 1385 when Joao Mestre de Avis
(John of Avis) with the help of legendary supreme constable Nuno Alvares Pereira
defeated the atilians at the epic Aljubarrota battle where the Castilians
outnumbered the Portuguese 6:1. John I (Dom Joao I) was crowned King of
Portugal. John I along with his sons, Duarte (to became the King in succession),
Henry The Navigator, and Afonso started the "Golden Decades" of worldwide
discoveries (15th and 16th centuries).
Following its heyday as a world
power during the 15th and 16th
centuries, Portugal lost much of
its wealth and status with the
destruction of Lisbon in a 1755
earthquake, occupation during
the Napoleonic Wars, and the
independence in 1822 of Brazil
as a colony.
A 1911 revolution deposed the
monarchy with the assassination
of King Manuel I and his son.
For most of the next six
decades, repressive governments
ran the country. Antonio Salazar
a right wing fascist ran the
country with an iron fist and a
austere economic plan which
slowly buried Portugal
deeper and deeper on its third
world status within Europe.
Salazar also held on to the
colonies of Angola, Mozambique
and Guinea, having contributed
not just to the deplorable state
of those Countries, but also to
a colonial wars which killed
hundreds of thousands of
Portuguese man.
In 1974, a left-wing military
coup installed broad democratic
reforms, which had the opposite
effect. Too much freedom too
quickly placed the country in
total "democratic chaos" with
union bosses, corrupt
politicians, and left-wing and
right-wing extremists taking
turns on plundering the country,
with disastrous economic and
labor plans. Starting in 1976
Portugal granted independence to
all of its African colonies, and
a wave of refugees were poorly
assimilated on a society that
does not value ethnicity to this
day.
After successive governments led by communists, socialists and social-democrats
continued their
miss-management of Portugal, at
last the social-democratic government of Prime-minister Cavaco da Silva
brought prosperity and double
digit economic growth in the late 80's and early 90's. It helped that the
Portugal joined the EC in 1986.
Joining the EC, gave the country a boost with a flurry of grants and investments
that contributed to new roads, and overall upgrade of a dilapidated
infrastructure.
However with the disastrous miss-management of the Socialist
government of Prime-minister Antonio Guterres, and the Social-democratic
government of Prime-minister Jose Manuel Barroso (promptly promoted to President
of the European Commission) and
his successor Santana Lopes, the country embarked on a 0% growth rate with
a growing economic deficit.
Added to this is the cessation of funds from the EC without a source of
replacement.
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Cavaco Silva |
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Jorge
Sampaio |
In 2005 President Sampaio
dismissed the government and
called new elections. The
Socialists were brought to power
with the majority of vote and
new Prime-Minister Jose Socrates
impact remains to be seen.
Portugal is currently in
economic crisis with 0% economic
growth rate and projections
that, if accounting for the
fluctuation of interest rates
set by the central bank, will be
negative in 2006.
In 2006, Mario Soares, a popular
Prime-Minister and President
decades ago, came out of
retirement to run for President
in 2006 against his political
nemesis Cavaco da Silva. Cavaco
da Silva soundly beat Soares
becoming the current president
of Portugal.
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 Fátima
Fatima is a town
in Portugal famous for the religious visions
that are said to have taken place there in
1917.
Fatima is a town (vila) of
approximately 10,000 inhabitants located in
the district of Santarém in central
Portugal,
187 km south of Porto and 123 km north off
Lisbon. Fátima is a parish in the
municipality of Ourém.
A recent attempt in July 2003 to have the
town declared a
concelho was vetoed by President Jorge
Sampaio, causing some controversy. Fatima's
centerpiece is the shrine called the
Sanctuary of Fatima,
built to commemorate the events of 1917 when
three peasant children claimed to have seen
the "Virgin of the Rosary", Our Lady of
Fatima. Fatima now attracts hosts of
believers from far and wide, particularly on
the pilgrimage days, and the shrine has been
developed on a correspondingly large scale.
The large torch-light processions in the
evening are particularly impressive.
The pilgrims gather in Cova da Ion a huge
esplanade in which is built a little chapel
where the Virgin is believed to have
appeared to the children. Around the
esplanade
are a considerable number of shops and
stalls selling all kinds of religious
articles. On the far side of the esplanade
rises the gigantic basilica, in
neo-classical style, with a central tower 65
meters high, the construction of which was
begun on 13 of May 1928. It is flanked by
colonnades linking it with the extensive
conventual and hospital buildings. In the
basilica are the tombs
of two of the three seers, Francisco Marto
and Jacinta Marto, who died in 1919 and 1920
respectively,
and were beatified in 1970. The third seer,
Lucia dos Santos, died in 2005.
142 km (88 miles) North of Lisbon, Fátima is
one of the most important shrines of the
world dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
This Sanctuary welcomes millions of pilgrims
and tourists from all over the world. The
fame of this place is the result of the
Apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary to
three shepherd children Lúcia and her
cousins, Francisco and Jacinta that, between
May and October of 1917, witnessed
successive apparitions. The last one, on
October 13th, was confirmed by a miracle
witnessed by 70,000 people "on the day the
sun danced".
1)
Chapel of Apparitions
The very heart
of the Sanctuary.
It was the first edifice constructed in the Cova da Iria, at the
place of:
Our Lady's Apparitions.
The exact spot is marked
by a marble pillar on which the Statue of Our Lady is placed.
Here converge the four million pilgrims who visit the Sanctuary each
year.
2)
The Recinto
On the colonnade in front of the Basilica, statues of four
Portuguese Saints can be seen: St. John of God, St. John
of Brito,
St. Anthony and Bl. Nuno of Santa Maria. From one side
to the other, from left to right, are the following saints:
St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis de Sales, Bl. Marcelino de
Champagnat, St. John Baptist de la Salle, St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligouri, St.
Jonh Bosco with
St. Dominic Savio, St. Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort, St. Vincent
de Paul, St. Simon Stock, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Paul of the Cross and St.
Beatrice da Silva.
The white marble statue in the niche above the entrance
to the Basilica, sculptored by Fr. Thomas McGlynn,
OR, shows Our Lady in one of her apparitions when
she urged devotion to her Immaculate Heart.
3)
Perpetual Adoration Chapel
Placed at the end of the colonnade,
on the eastern side, this chapel
for perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament exposed,
is a place of silent prayer and adoration
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Basilica OF Fátima
4)
Basilica
Begun in 1928 and consecrated on
7 October 1953,
its 15 altars are dedicated to the
15 mysteries of the Rosary.
The painting above the high altar depicts the Message of Our Lady to the little shepherds, prepared by the Angel of Portugal, through their
encounter with Christ in the
Eucharist.
The Bishop of the diocese is shown kneeling on the left side, and
the figures of Pope Pius XII (who consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart
of Mary in 1942, and whose Legate crowned the Statue of
Our Lady in 1946),of Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. Scenes of the
apparitions are represented in stained glass, as well as invocations from the
Litany of Our Lady. In the four corners of the Basilica interior are placed the
statues of the great apostles of the Rosary and of devotion to the Immaculate
Heart of Mary: St. Anthony Claret, St. Dominic of Gusman, St. John Eudes and St.
Stephen, King of Hungary.
The tombs of Francisco and Jacinta are in the Basilica, and, in the
chancel, are the mortal remains of D. José Alves Correia da Silva,
first Bishop of Leiria after its restoration in 1920. |
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5)
Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Which stands in the center of the square,
over a spring found there,
its waters being the instrument of many graces.
6)
House of Our Lady Dolours
Situated behind the Chapel of Apparitions, it is destined to receive
the Sick during the great pilgrimages, and also for retreats and
accommodation for pilgrims in general.
7)
Rectory
A building on the right side of the esplanade,
in the House of Our Lady of Carmel.
8)
House of Our Lady of Carmel
Which is above and behind the Rectory, with accommodation for 250
9)
Berlin Wall
At the entrance of the Sanctuary, on the south side of the Rectory,
one may visit a monument of the Berlin Wall's, consisting of a
concrete segment that was part of it. (The Walls construction started during the
night between the 12th. and 13th. of August, 1961 and its demolition began the
9th. of November, 1989) This segment was offered by means of Virgilio Casimiro
Ferreira, a Portuguese emigrant to Germany and
is here placed as a grateful memorial of God's intervention for the
fall
of Communism as promised at Fatima. The segment weighs 2,600 kilos
(5,732 lbs.) and measures 3.60 meters (11 ft. 9 in.) high by 1.20 meters (3 ft.
in.) wide. The present monument was designed by the architect
J. Carlos Loureiro and was inaugurated on the 13th.
of August, 1994.
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10)
The monumental organ, mounted in 1952, has about 12
thousand pipes.
11)
Via Sacre
The Holy Way is composed of 14 little chapels in memory of the
Passion of Our Lord. and a 15th corresponding to the Resurrection Beneath the
Calvary there is a Chapel dedicated to St Stephen of Hungary. The first 14
Stations were offered by Catholic Hungarian refugees in western countries, and
were inaugurated on 12 May 1964: the 15th on 13 October 1992, in the presence of
the Ambassador of Hungary, the country now liberated from Communism The Holly
Way begins at the south Rotunda of Saint Teresa, and follows the path which the
little shepherds took when going from Aljustrél to the Cova da Iria. |
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12)
The
Big Holmoak
Under
which the little shepherds
and
the early pilgrims awaited Our Lady's coming, and prayed
the Rosary.
13)
Paul
VI Pastoral Center
Inaugurated on 13 May 1982, by Pope John Paul 11,
as a center for study and reflection on the Message of Fatima,
and of the problems of the modern world, in the light of
the Gospel.
The two auditoriums have seating for 2.124 and 700, and
accommodation for 400 pilgrims.
High Cross
At the extreme south of the esplanade, it commemorates the closing
of the Holy Year in 1951.
Monument to Pope Paul VI
Marking his pilgrimage to Fatima, on 13 May 1967.
Monument to Pope Pius XII
Erected as gift from German Catholics (1961)
14)
Valinhos
(400 meters from Aljustrel): the site of Our Lady's 4th apparition,
on 19 August 1917, marked by a monument
15 )
Lago do Anjo
Where the children received the first and third visit
of the "Angel of Peace" (Spring end autumn of 1916). |
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16)
The Homes of the Little Shepherds
At the bottom of the garden of Lucia's home is the well, where the
"Angel of Peace", the "Angel of Portugal", appeared for the second time.
"Upon this woman, the masterpiece of God's creation, would be bestowed many
titles, each vying with the other to reflect in some manner her beauty, her
dignity, her uniqueness, the qualities of her love. She will be called 'Mother
of Divine Grace . . . Seat of Wisdom . . . Cause of our Joy . . . Spiritual
Vessel . . . Mystical Rose . . . House of Gold . . . Ark of the Covenant . . .
Gate of Heaven . . . Queen of Angels, Prophets and Apostles . . .' But no title
will be greater than 'Mother of God.'
The Rosary of the most Blessed Virgin. The word Rosary comes from the Latin word Rosarium, a rose garden. The Rosary is a garden filled with lovingly repeated invocations to Our Lady, God the Father and the Blessed Trinity.
The Rosary of Our Lady consists of fifteen decades dedicated to fifteen mysteries in the life of Jesus and Mary.
It is piously believed that the Rosary was given to St. Dominic by Our Lady while he was combating the Albigensian heresy in
the South of France, early in the thirteenth century. It is also believed that the Rosary was in use long before that time as
"a poor man's Psalter," the 150 Hail Mary's taking the place of the 150 Psalms.
Whatever its origin, it has proved to be a powerful weapon against evil, and as Pope Leo XIII declared, the best and most
fruitful means of invoking Our Lady. Mary herself has called for its recitation many times, most notably at Fatima in 1917.
St. Louis De Montfort, the great and extraordinary preacher of the Rosary said: "Let me place the rosary around a sinner's
neck and he will not escape me." St. Dominic, great promoter of the Rosary said:
"A day will come when our Lady will save the world by the Rosary."
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