[Oratory 2007] Fatima, sign of hope for the humankind

Fatima, sign of hope for the humankind. 

Commemorative oratory of the 90 years of the Apparitions of Fatima

António Aparício e João Paulo Quelhas (text), António Cartageno (music) | Philharmonic Orchestra of Beiras, under the direction of Mário Nascimento

October 11, 13 and 14, 2007

Auditorium | Paul VI Pastoral Centre (premier, October 11, 2007)

Basilica of The Most Holy Trinity (presentations on October 13 and 14, 2007)

The Shrine of Fatima premiered on the afternoon of October 13, 2007 – on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the last apparition of Virgin Mary in Fatima –, in the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity (at the time, Church of the Most Holy Trinity), the oratory Fatima, sign of hope for the humankind, a cultural initiative part of the celebrations of the 90 years of the apparitions of Fatima. The premier of the oratory, that took place on October 11, in the Auditorium of Paul VI Pastoral Centre, had a second public presentation on October 14,  afternoon in the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, followed by many more in other places around the country. 

366 people were involved in the creation of the piece, eight soloists (five children and three adults), one choir composed of eleven choir groups (six from Leiria, four from Beja and the Children’s Choir of the Shrine of Fatima) and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Beiras, with forty-seven musicians. The conductor Mário Nascimento was in charge of the direction of the piece.

With the text prearranged by António Aparício and João Paulo Quelhas, based on Fatima in Lucia’s own words, and with music by composer António Cartageno, the oratory gave voice to some of the moments that determined the history of the apparitions in Fatima. The Shrine of Fatima afterwards released it on DVD.