Review 2024: third Fatima procession in Basel to the Spalentor
On the evening of May 17, 2024, a Fatima candlelight procession took place in Basel with flags, brass music, lots of singing and prayer. About 330 people, including families and young people, took part in the procession. The occasion goes back to the apparitions recognized by the Catholic Church in Fatima, Portugal, when the Blessed Mother Mary appeared for the first time to three shepherd children on May 13, 1917. She promised to help people as a heavenly mother and warned of coming crises and punishments if humanity did not improve. At her last apparition in Fatima on October 13, 1917, 70,000 people witnessed a great miracle of the sun that made the doubters believe.
Far across the Rhine, the “Ave, Ave, Ave Maria” could be heard, which resounded through the loudspeaker system and the many participants in the procession sang along loudly. It was a solemn procession at dusk along the banks of the Rhine. The cross and altar boys led the way, then various Marian flags and then people of all ages – including many young people and families. In the middle of the procession, a magnificently decorated statue of the Blessed Mother of Fatima was carried by four men dressed in suits, behind them a music band. During the procession, the participants sang the rosary and prayed other prayers. They carried lighted candles in their hands to express their veneration to the Blessed Mother. Flyers with information about Fatima as well as Miraculous Medals and Rosaries were distributed to passers-by.
The destination of the procession was the Spalentor, where the Mother of God is venerated as the patron saint of Basel. There, at the end, the participants made a consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. For, as Mary revealed in Fatima in 1917, praying the Rosary and devotioning her Immaculate Heart are the last means of salvation for the time here on earth.
In his speech, the young Father Zahner explained on the basis of an incident in Genoa how Mary generously responds to the requests of the people. God wanted to become man through Mary, according to the same principle he wants to lead people to salvation through Mary today. Therefore, man should entrust himself to her with all his heart.
The “Militia Immaculatae”, a Catholic movement founded in 1917 by St. Father Maximilian Kolbe, invited to this procession. The aim of this association is to promote the devotion to Our Lady, especially through the distribution of Marian medals, known as “Miraculous Medals”, but also the prayer of the Rosary. St. Father Maximilian Kolbe is known in many places because he voluntarily gave his life in the concentration camp in Auschwitz in 1941 for a family man who was imprisoned in a hunger bunker.
Fatima processions in Basel have a history: In May 1952, the public veneration of Our Lady of Fatima in Switzerland began with a large Fatima procession in Basel with 20,000 participants, followed by a pilgrimage through more than 250 parishes. 3 years ago, on the 70th anniversary of this veneration, the Militia Immaculatae Basel began this procession for the first time, which has taken place annually since then.
More pictures
See below. Click on it to enlarge:
Images: Copyright MI-Basel. May God reward the photographers.
