Melted Candles at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima
As expected there were a lot of pilgrims here at Fatima. I wasn’t sure if there are any tourists here but I suspect that, like me, most are just here because it was along the way. People were still taking photos outside the church and sacred areas but I guess that is part and parcel of being internet enabled these days. Apart from the churches and chapels here there are also parts here which are open to the public. There is a rather large area where pilgrims can offer candles much like how it is done in churches except this was on was much bigger.
Candle Burning Area of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima
Smaller churches would usually have an area where the faithful can offer candles. These candles are usually small votive candles. Other churches have dispensed with the candles and now use led candles which are much cheaper to maintain. You don’t have to keep getting rid off all the wax every time. I always wondered about this practice but I guess it is the thought that counts. Anyway, the Santuary of Our Lady of Fatima also has this place but here people seems to be just throwing their candles are the pit which is constantly burning candles. It was rather unsightly to see all these partially melted candles but I guess it is because those are the type of candles which are available here which are the long types. I don’t think the pilgrims would bother arranging the candles nicely since the area was so hot that the candle would be bent out of shape and fall within a few minutes.
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