Checkout that green camper van! Think I’d look good in it? (Stateside of course)
I don’t recall seeing this many campers last year. By the time I left this lot next to the Basilica of the Holy Rosary was full!
Monastery of Batalha
Initially built to celebrate the Portuguese victory of the battle in 1385.
Now it’s a church with museum and tombs of past royalty. You can read an article description here: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/264/
Can you see what’s off with the statue? it may not be as noticeable in a photo.
The king and queen are holding hands until the end of time.
I appreciate how real the king is depicted, double chin and all!
One of the rooms houses the 2 unknown soldiers from WWI below this crucifix that was found on the battlefield.
We were there for changing of the guard. I vacillated between feeling irreverent for taking photos and wanting to capture the moment to share so we can all reflect on what this world had been through.
The Unfinished Chapels
On the backside are the Unfinished Chapels of the Batalha Monastery. Construction on these chapels began around 1437, commissioned by King Duarte as a royal pantheon. They were meant to be a stunning Gothic masterpiece. Look ay the intricate stonework taking shape. But then, in 1511, things ground to a halt. Why? Well, King Manuel I, who took over from Duarte, shifted his focus (and funds) to other projects, particularly the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon. (I got to visit that last year!) Plus, resources were stretched thin with Portugal's expanding overseas empire. So, the chapels were left as they were, a beautiful, roofless testament to a grand vision that never quite reached completion.
One of my nephews asked me to bring back nerf guns. I haven’t seen any of those yet. Think I could get these past airport security?
Our Lady of Nazare
This was the main pilgrimage apparition site before Our Lady appeared in Fatima. Fishermen and military would come pray at this church before going out to sea.
My retelling of the apparition:
A long long time ago right here in Nazare, Christianity had spread. The church here had a statue of Our Lady nursing Baby Jesus. They say it was carved by St Joseph and painted by St Luke.
Then the Moors were coming… this is a recurring theme in Portuguese history. I guess Christian history too. The enemy is always trying to wipe us out.
Anyways… the priests hid the statue in the side of the cliff by the church.
Years and years later peace was back in the country. A nobleman was out hunting on horseback. He was chasing a deer so fast that his horse would have followed the deer off the cliff but a bright light shone with Our Lady and kept them from plunging to their death!
She showed them where the statue was and so it was returned to the church where it is today. Visitors can go back into the sacristy (pictured with blue walls) and up some stairs to get a view of the statue up close.
Another of my favorite stories and churches. It makes me smile to think about.
A small chapel was built on the edge of the cliff they almost went over.
This part of Portugal’s coast is known for their rad waves. (Or is it gnarly?)
This pic is from last year. We didn’t have time to walk over to see the major waves this time.
They were definitely bigger than I would venture in to.
It was another rainy day so after lunch while others were shopping I found my way to a patio.
Goodbye dinner
Brother Jaime was a joy to have on this journey. his smile was always present no matter the weather.
He’s from the US and is now in Mexico founding a religious order for St Juan Diego, the man who saw Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. That’s another important Mary apparition leading to 9 million Mexicans practicing human sacrifice converting to Christianity in the 1500s.
Saying goodbye to new friends is always bittersweet. Praying I see them all again sooner than later!
They left early the next morning after a final Mass together. I’m staying on a few more days to let it all sink in.
Comments