The Holy Mass is the unbloody renewal of the Sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, and constitutes the centre of all Catholic spirituality and the most perfect expression of the doctrine of the Holy Church. In the Holy Mass its four principal ends are accomplished in a sublime manner:
Adoration
To render God the worship He Himself desires to receive.
Thanksgiving
To give praise for the innumerable gifts and benefits we have received from Him.
Propitiation
To offer satisfaction for our sins and those of the whole world.
Petition
To humbly ask for the graces necessary for our salvation.
The pilgrimage is not a sporting march nor a mere cultural journey. It is an act of worship. Its heart is the Holy Mass celebrated in the Traditional Roman Rite — the same rite that shaped the spirituality of Christendom for over a thousand years.
The Traditional Roman Rite
All Masses of the pilgrimage are celebrated according to the Traditional Roman Rite, commonly known as the Tridentine Mass or the Mass of All Ages. In this rite, the priest celebrates ad orientem — facing the East, that is, symbolically oriented towards God — in an attitude of adoration, united with the faithful.
The Mass is celebrated in Latin, the sacred and universal language of the Church, which transcends cultural barriers and unites pilgrims of diverse origins in a single prayer. By pilgrimming and participating in these Masses, the faithful enters a living tradition that unites him with the martyrs, the saints and the faithful of all ages.
Gregorian Chant
Gregorian chant holds a central place in the pilgrimage. Recognised by the Church as the proper chant of the Roman liturgy, it elevates the soul and disposes the heart to prayer. Throughout the route, pilgrims sing chants in Latin and in Portuguese, creating an atmosphere of recollection and continual prayer.
The Holy Rosary
The meditated Rosary accompanies the moments of silence during the walk, transforming the route into a true school of prayer and contemplation, which goes far beyond mere physical effort.
United with Our Lady, we walk with our foremost spiritual weapon, in the battle that leads us to Heaven.
Opening Mass and Closing Mass
The pilgrimage begins with the Opening Mass, celebrated at the Shrine of Nazaré — a solemn Mass of blessing and consecration of the pilgrims to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in which Her protection and intercession for the days ahead is invoked.
The route culminates with the Closing Mass, in Fátima, celebrated in thanksgiving for the gift of the pilgrimage and in reparation for the sins of Christendom. It is the moment in which the outward journey unites with the inward journey, and in which the pilgrim renews his consecration to Our Lady.