Witnesses /

António Bastos

Pilgrim

Former seminarian of the Santarém seminary, of Vale de Figueira, classmate of Formigão and companion of Avelino de Almeida there; he had lost his faith about ten years before and went to Fátima on 13 October 1917 reluctantly, only to accompany relatives. Avelino de Almeida's article in Ilustração Portuguesa of 29 October 1917 is addressed to him.

From Vale de Figueira (Santarém)The surrounding regionAttitude beforehand: Sceptic1 passage · 13 October 1917
13 OctSecond-handSaw itLetterSceptic
As told by Manuel Nunes Formigão
English

Antonio Bastos of Valle de Figueira, who was my fellow student at the Seminary, had lost the faith and had not known what it was to pray for a good ten years. Well, he told me today that having gone to Fatima much against his will, solely to accompany members of his family, mocking everything and everyone along the way, at the sight of the prodigy, he was converted, prayed with devotion, began to pray the rosary every day, and was getting ready to make a general confession*.

Português

O Antonio Bastos de Valle de Figueira que foi meu condiscipulo no Seminario tinha perdido a fé e não sabia o que era rezar ha uns bons dez annos. Pois disse-me hoje que pois tendo ido á Fatima muito contrariado unicamente para acompanhar pessoas de familia, troçando de tudo e de todos pello caminho, á vista do prodigio, se converteu, rezou com devoção principiou a rezar o terço todos os dias, e estava-se preparando para fazer uma confissão geral.

He read the articles by Pinto Coelho, and convinced himself in view of what he said that he had been the victim of an illusion.

Leu os artigos do Pinto Coelho, e convenceu-se em vista do que elle dizia de que tinha sido victima de uma illusão.

DCF III-1, Doc. 166 · letter · 24 Oct 1917 (11 days later)Scans (2)Link
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