June 18, 2018
After lunch at Restaurant Mar Bravo, our van climbed up to the historical Sitio the picturesque hilltop village in Nazare overlooking the coast. This is where you can find the Black Madonna / Our Lady of Nazare.
Venda Ginja, liquor store
The tiny chapel of our Lady of Nazare is also called Memory Hermitage of Nazare. The chapel is square and the inside is decorated with blue and white ceramic tiles. According to the legend, it was built in 1182 by Dom Fuas Roupinho after the Our Lady of Nazare saved him from falling off the cliff when he fell off his horse while following a deer.
The inside can only fit two or three people.
The municipality of Nazare was named after the Black Madonna from Nazareth, Holy Land that was given to a monastery in Madeira, Spain by a monk in the 14th century. The statue was brought to Nazare in 711 by a monk named Romano who lived as hermit and died in a grotto on top of the cliff where he was ordered buried by King Roderic according to the monk’s wishes. The statue of the Black Madonna was left in the grotto by the king.
The image of Black Madonna located above the altar is made of wood and up close it really looks very old. They said it’s 468 years old.
Esmolas para o culto (alms for worship)
Very ornate altar
I thought I only dropped coins good for a few candles. I was surprised when 20 lit up. I must have dropped 2 euros. I panicked naku sa dami ng prayer requests.
As usual foremost in my prayer was for my son’s welfare, good health, safety and protection from bad-meaning people. He is starting a new life and it could be challenging.
After applying to dozens of companies around the continent, he finally got called. After three interviews, he was hired with a stipend barely enough to pay for his transportation, a two and a half hour commute each way. Ganyan talaga sa simula. Tyaga lang. Juggling school and work is a good time management training.
He was excited to gain experience and learn new things.
Time to leave Nazare for our pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Fatima.
Dami na naming napuntahan na simbahan. Pag naman hindi pa ako bumait ng todo-todo.
