Our Lady of Fatima of Lewiston

Marian Advocation of Lewiston (New York)

La advocación de Our Lady of Fatima refers, in its universal origin, to the Marian apparitions referred to by the pastoralists Lucía dos Santos, Jacinta and Francisco Marto in Fátima (Portugal)between 13 May and 13 October 1917; that is the historical basis of Fatima's devotion in the Catholic Church.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of Fatima refers, in its universal origin, to the Marian apparitions referred to by the pastoralists Lucía dos Santos, Jacinta and Francisco Marto in Fátima (Portugal)between 13 May and 13 October 1917; that is the historical basis of Fatima's devotion in the Catholic Church.

In case of Lewiston, Nueva Yorkthe documented history does not refer to a local apparition itself, but to the foundation of a sanctuary dedicated to Fatima by the barnaby parents in the vicinity of the Niagara Falls. The complex is officially known as National Shrine Basílica of Our Lady of Fátima and presents itself as a center of Marian devotion and pilgrimage linked to the spirituality of Fatima.

There is no local tradition of apparitions in Lewiston with documentary safety in the sources consulted; it is therefore appropriate to distinguish clearly between the universal tradition of Fatima y la concrete history of the American sanctuary, which is a devotional reception of that advocation.

The image and the sanctuary

Devotion focuses on a image of Our Lady of Fatima, usually understood in this context as the Marian representation associated with the advocation of Fatima; however, in the sources consulted there is no complete technical description of the material or the authorship of the venerated image in Lewiston, so these data should be left as no consta.

The temple where it is venerated is the National Shrine Basílica of Our Lady of Fátima, en Lewiston, State of New York, United Statesnear the Niagara Falls. The very widespread description of the sanctuary is characterized by a large dome which represents the Earth balloonon which the Virgin rises, surrounded by statues of saints from all over the worldIt is also linked to the presence and mission of the parents.

In the sources provided it is not certain if the temple also has the canonical condition of minor basilica, National sanctuary o diocesan sanctuary in the legal-ecclesial sense, so that end must be expressed as no consta if it is not verified in specific official documentation.

Sponsorship and coronation

It is not clear that this advocation has a Official patronage on the city of Lewiston, on the county or on the diocese in the canonical terms of a formal patronage; the verifiable is its condition of Marian devotion sanctuary In that town.

Nor does it include, in the sources consulted, a documented canonical coronation of the venerated image in Lewiston; therefore, the prudent and correct formulation is: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

The main feast associated with Our Lady of Fatima is celebrated the 13 Mayand the memory of the apparitions culminates in the 13 October; these dates belong to the universal tradition of Fatima and are maintained as devotional reference also in Lewiston.

The shrine of Fatima in Lewiston is presented as a place of pilgrimage and Marian devotion; the presence of a basilica / sanctuary with universal iconography - the Virgin over the world and surrounded by saints of various nations - underlines the Catholic and missionary scope of this devotion.

The sources do not contain reliable data on Annual flow, number of pilgrims or specific popular traditions specific to Lewiston; by rigour, these details must remain as no consta.

Link to the Rosary

El vínculo con el Rosary is essential in the very advocation of Fatima, whose full name in the Catholic tradition is Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima.

In this shrine of Lewiston, this relationship is expressed in a natural way: devotion to Fatima refers to the prayer of the Rosary as a Marian response par excellence, and the iconography of the place - the Virgin raised over the world and surrounded by saints - reinforces the idea of a universal intercession that the Rosary contemplates and meditates on.

If the document is to be extended with more historical precision, it should be verified in official sources of the sanctuary and of the local diocese. date of foundation, el exact canonical status and any act of coronation or dedication; with the sources available here, these ends remain as no consta.