Statue

The Fatima Statues and the Spread of the Message

On October 13, 1930, the apparitions at Fatima were approved by the local Bishop and declared worthy of belief. News of the apparitions had spread around the world, but the message of Fatima was not as widespread.

The story of the first pilgrim journey of the famous Fatima statue was a turning point. It set the stage for the Pilgrim Virgin statue tours that spread the message of Fatima around the world and brought the graces of Our Lady of Fatima to all those who may never have a chance to make a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal.

In 1942, the Silver Jubilee of Fatima, the Catholic Youth Women organized the first pilgrimage of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. On April 8, the statue moved from the Chapel of the Apparitions (the Capelinha) to Lisbon and returned to the Cova da Iria for the services there on May 13.

Four years later, Portugal celebrated the Third Centenary of the proclamation by King John IV of Our Lady as Patroness of Portugal. Ceremonies were held in every parish throughout the nation. Pope Pius XII sent Cardinal Masella to crown Our Lady of Fatima as “Queen of Peace.” (see sidebar about the Crown). The climax of all celebrations was the pilgrimage of the Fatima statue from the Capelinha to Lisbon and back.

Thousands Escorted the Image

About one month later, November 23, 1946, Our Lady’s statue was placed on a gilded stand and carried triumphantly on the shoulders of her people, a walking procession. Thousands escorted the image as it moved from parish to parish. Curious believers and atheists rushed to see the famous statue as it entered Lisbon on December 5, 1946.

Then a most unusual happening occurred. In the small village of Bombarral, about 32 miles north of Lisbon, six white doves were set free by some children. Three doves vanished, but three rested at the base of the statue and remained peacefully at the feet of Our Lady during the entire journey to Lisbon and also during the various ceremonies there.

The Doves Continued Their Vigil

As the statue moved from church to church, the doves continued their vigil. Stories of this touching event were published in papers throughout Portugal.

After the visits to the new Church of Our Lady of Fatima and the Cathedral of Lisbon, the statue was taken on a flower-decked barge across the river to Almada. Our Lady’s doves remained with the statue throughout all its travels including the return trip to the Cova.

When the Bishop of Leiria heard this news, he immediately ordered a dover-cote (shelter) to be built behind the Shrine. He said, “These doves are symbolic of the theological virtues…faith, hope and charity.”

The Pilgrim Virgin Statue Tours Begin

In 1945, the Catholic Youth Organization met again at an international meeting. All the young people present were invited to take part in the first International Pilgrimage to the Cova da Iria in May, 1947.  One of the representatives spoke, “If an image of Our Lady of Fatima went out of the Cova da Iria, it would bring to devastated Europe the message of peace.”

The image was created by José Thedim, the sculptor of the original Fatima statue in 1920. He followed the precise instructions of Sister Lucia in creating the International Pilgrim Virgin statue, which Sister Lucia said was the closest rendition of how Our Lady looked, although nothing could ever capture her brilliance. The first International Pilgrim Virgin Statue was venerated at the Cova on May 13, 1947 and was sent out on an inaugural pilgrimage throughout Europe, first to Spain, the Portuguese Islands and even to Africa, visiting a total of 33 countries.

The Courage to Practice Their Religion Openly

When the statue finally returned to Fatima, there were five faithful white doves at the feet of Our Lady. Many conversions and miracles of body and soul took place during the statue’s journeys. It has been said and written that the people of Alentejo and Algarve were fearful of the civil authorities who threatened anyone who dared show any faith in God. After the visit of the Pilgrim Virgin statue, these people had the courage to practice their religion openly again.

The Patriarch of Madrid then requested the original statue of Fatima visit Madrid and symbolize the presence of Our Lady presiding over the Marian Congress there in May, 1948. The Bishop of Leiria and the Portuguese people were reluctant to have the statue leave the country. Nevertheless, permission was granted as an “extraordinary exception,” never to be repeated again. However, the original Fatima statue made a total of ten trips from the Cova, including its last visit to the Vatican, where on October 13, 2013 Pope Francis consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Our Lady’s Message Goes Out to the World

After the success of the first International Pilgrim Virgin Statue tour, a second statue was commissioned by José Thedim. The second “twin” statue was intended to travel throughout the Americas, while the first would travel throughout Europe. The second statue was blessed by the Bishop of Fatima on October 13, 1947. He prayed that the presence of Mary accompany the statue wherever it traveled.

This statue was brought to the United States by John Haffert, co-founder of the Blue Army. On December 8, it began a coast-to-coast tour of America and has been traveling worldwide ever since, visiting more than 100 countries including Russia and China. The World Apostolate of Fatima, USA, is the custodian of this same statue, which is on a second coast-to-coast tour of America for the Fatima Centenary in 2016 and 2017, visiting more than 100 U.S. Catholic Dioceses in all 50 states. (The first International PVS was retired in the 1980s and remains at the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima, only taken out on special occasions).

The WAF is also the custodian of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue, one of 25 national statues blessed by Pope Paul VI during the 50^th anniversary celebration of the Fatima apparitions on May 13, 1967. After the blessing, this beautiful hand-carved image was given to the United States by the Bishop of Fatima, and was crowned by Cardinal O’Boyle at the National Basilica in Washington, DC in 1971.

Since that time, hundreds of national Pilgrim Virgin statues, modeled after the original, have been blessed at Fatima and travel throughout their various nations. 

The travels of the Pilgrim Virgin statues are the primary ways in which the message of Fatima spread throughout the world after World War II, and continues to spread the message today.  

Pope Benedict XVI confirmed this when on May 13, 2010 at Fatima, he stated: “At a time when the human family was ready to sacrifice all that was most sacred on the altar of the petty and selfish interests of nations, races, ideologies, groups and individuals, our Blessed Mother came from heaven, offering to implant in the hearts of all those who trust in her the Love of God burning in her own heart. At that time it was only to three children, yet the example of their lives spread and multiplied, especially as a result of the travels of the Pilgrim Virgin, in countless groups throughout the world dedicated to the cause of fraternal solidarity.”