OCTOBER 1 AND 2, 1983 - I WAS NOT ALONE!

[Alberto Guimaraes]

PEACE AND GOOD!

In that year of 1983, during the first National Franciscan Pilgrimage to Fátima, after joining the Secular Franciscan Fraternity of Braga, I learned that someone else thought like me.

As I have already said, in those days photographs were analogue, the development and respective copies came out of my own pocket and I did not want to hear comments about wasting money that could be detrimental to the family budget.

That is why this Franciscanly poor chronicle will not be illustrated today.

The welcome, the evening celebrations, even the overnight stay in the hotel, which contrasted with the miserable but happy conditions in which I spent the 1981 pilgrimage, everything went very well, and early in the morning I went, as had always been my wish, to do the Stations of the Cross barefoot, wondering whether I would do it alone or if I would find any other fraternity in this pious devotion brought from the Holy Land by the first Franciscans.

After having walked through a few stations alone, I saw a group at the next one, and heard someone doing the respective meditation in a loud voice and with great emphasis, as befits any preacher.

I approached and saw, kneeling in front of the aedicule, a young man who must have been a little younger than me, dressed in the traditional habit of the Third Order of Penance, that is, tunic, cord and cape.

When he got up I noticed that he was walking barefoot, just like me and some people in the group!

It was then, at that moment, that for the first time I felt that I was not alone in my lifestyle project!

I asked someone where the fraternity was from, and that person replied that they were from the port of Leixoes.

I also asked if the young man who presided over the Stations of the Cross was a third brother, and they told me yes.

After all, it wasn't so transcendental for a third brother to wear a habit and, if he wanted and understood, walk barefoot!

One more reason for me to try to find out, in Barcelos, who the Capuchin was who made the habits, and have one made for me.

And then, on future pilgrimages, to Fátima or wherever, I would encourage some of the people from Braga to accompany me in revisiting this detail of Franciscan life.

And so it came to pass! I will return to this topic soon.

Blessings from Jesus, Mary and Francis!

Br. Alberto Guimaraes OFS

Braga - Portugal