Our Lady of Fatima's Crown - crafted by Portuguese jewelers (CATH CAUCUS)

National Catholic Register ^ | July 12, 2020 | Joseph Pronechen

[Marchmain]

For the last 74 years, one of the most recognizable royal crowns in the world is the one worn by Our Lady of Fatima at her shrine in Portugal.

Pilgrims in Fatima can see this crown on the original image of Our Lady of Fatima during the anniversaries of the apparitions and other great celebrations. Her canonical coronation took place in Fatima on May 13, 1946, when Venerable Pope Pius XII sent Cardinal Benedetto Masella, his pontifical legate, to personally preside over this coronation of Our Lady of Fatima, Queen of Peace and of the World, as Pius XII named her.

This exquisite crown for Our Queen was the work of Casa Leitão & Irmão, jewelers of the Portuguese crown, located in Lisbon. The crown was made by Jorge Leitão’s grandfather.

“We had 12 people working on it for three months. It was an amazing job,” explained Jorge Leitão (LAY-tow), who is carrying on a centuries-old family tradition as managing director of Casa Leitão & Irmão (Leitao-Irmao.com).

“It was done with only gold and precious jewels that were given by the Portuguese to Our Lady of Fatima. I would like to emphasize the ‘giving.’ No money was involved. The crown was made for free by us.”

[Marchmain]

The path to the crown began in 1941, when a group of Portuguese women launched a national campaign to specifically collect jewelry — not money — to make a crown for Our Lady of Fatima. They brought thousands of pieces of gold and gems to the shrine, which then entrusted Casa Leitão to design and complete the unique crown using the gold and the 2,992 precious stones. “It was made like the crown of a queen,” Leitão said.

Portugal has long revered the Blessed Mother as “Queen.” King John IV of Portugal crowned Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception, as “Queen of Portugal” in 1646 by royal decree. “From that day on, no Portuguese queen had a crown because Our Lady is the Queen of Portugal for almost 400 years,” Leitão explained.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Yeah, BLM, go tear that statue down and you’ll get folks to agree to go along with you. Hee, hee, hee.....

[CharlesOConnell]

Sing a song
Ave Maria de Fatima
Words & piano
No voice track

https://billkeevers.wordpress.com/2020/07/01/ave-maria-de-fatima/