Garabandal

"She is dressed in a white robe with a blue mantle and a crown of golden stars. Her hands are slender. There is a brown scapular on her right arm, except when she carried the Child Jesus in her arms. Her hair, deep nut-brown, is parted in the center. Her face is long, with a fine nose. Her mouth is very pretty with lips a bit thin. She looks like a girl of eighteen. She is rather tall. There is no voice like hers. No woman is just like her, either in the voice or the face or anything else. " Our Lady Manifested herself as Our Lady of Carmel."

At times the wind rustled her long hair which reached down to her waist. The girls spoke with the Virgin with the utmost naturalness. "We were telling her," they said, "about our tasks, how we were going to the meadows..." and "She smiled at the little things we told her." Our Lady showed them how to treat her: "Like children who speak with their mother and tell her everything...Children who rejoice to see her when they have not seen her for a while."

More Apparitions
After this first apparition there were many more. During 1961 and 1962 Our Lady appeared several times each week. The four girls did not always receive the apparition together. Sometimes only one, other times two or three of them saw the vision. Nor was it always at the same hour of the day. Our Lady appeared many times at night and even early in the morning, in an attitude of sacrifice and penance, at the same hours when Our Lord is most offended by the sins of men. Even so, the girls would arise the following morning, as early as usual, to work in the fields, carrying bundles of grass or wood, or tending the cattle and sheep, without showing signs of fatigue.

The Ecstasies
When the vision appeared, the girls fell instantaneously on their knees, striking the sharp rocks with a loud noise that was frightening, yet they showed no signs of injury. The expression on their faces was suddenly transformed. Their look became extraordinarily beautiful, sweet, one of profound mysticism. There are no words that can properly describe the change. They were completely absorbed in their rapture, unaware of anyone or any material thing around them except for each other. They did no react to pricks, burns or blows. All attempts to distract them failed. Powerful beams of strong light were focused on them, yet their eyes did not even flicker, blink or show any signs of discomfort. Quite the contrary, their eyes remained wide open , expressing a look of intense joy. However, when the girls returned to the normal state, they immediately shielded their eyes from those bright lights which under normal circumstances should have caused permanent eye damage.

During these ecstasies, which lasted from a few minutes to several hours, time did not seem to count. On many occasions they remained immobile in off-balance, beautiful "sculptured-like" positions, heads tilted back, eyes looking up, kneeling on the rocks or bare-legged in the snow. At the end of the ecstasy, they showed no signs of excitation or nervousness, just deep, profound peace and joy.

Participation of the Observers
Many visitors and villagers gave the girls various objects, such as bibles, rosaries, scapulars, medals, crucifixes, wedding rings, etc. for Our Lady to kiss. In ecstasy, the girls raised them up to Her and She kissed them. Then guided by Our Lady, the girls returned the items to their correct owners, even in cases where the person had first confided the object to someone else so the child did not know who the real owner was. Things "kissed" by Our Lady of Carmel have been the instruments of very special favors. Occasionally, these have emitted a mysterious fragrance like that of roses. "Our Lady says", Conchita wrote, "that Jesus will work miracles through the objects kissed by her. Those who carry or wear them with faith and confidence will suffer their purgatory here on earth."

While in ecstasy, the girls often carried a crucifix in their hand which Our Lady had kissed, and as She directed, they extended it for observers to kiss, blessing them with it at the same time. On seeing the girls approach, many witnesses experienced such a tremendous spiritual awakening, that it produced a very deep interior emotion in them. They cried unashamed tears, admitting the supernaturality of what they were seeing, hearing and feeling within them, the very presence of the Mother of God. The conversion of unbelievers and those of different faiths, of souls suffering from religious indifference, the conversions of many sinners, all of which have experienced an increase in faith, hope, and charity.

New Phenomena
Soon after Our Lady of Carmel appeared, the ecstatic walks began. The girls went throughout the entire village - up and down stairways, in and out of homes, at all hours of the day and night, avoiding obstacles without faltering, guided solely by the vision. Frequently, they ran at great speed down the steep mountainside, even backwards, so that it was impossible for the astonished spectators to follow them. Their bodies did not seem to be subject to the law of gravity, but endowed with some sort of spiritual agility. During their high-speed running, the objects entrusted to the girls were sometimes lost. However, upon seeing Our Blessed Mother again, they asked as to their whereabouts and She told them where to find them.

The Miracle of the Host
Above the village is a steep hill on which stands a cluster of 9 pine trees. "One day," said the girls, "an angel with a golden chalice appeared to us at "The Pines". He told us to recite the Confiteor and then he gave us Holy Communion." This wonderful favor happened many times during those days when the parish priest of the neighbouring town of Cosio could not go to Garabandal. It was possible to film some of these Communions, using very bright light. The movements of the lips and tongues of the girls gave the exact idea of a real Communion. On May 2, 1962, the angel told Conchita that God would perform a miracle so that all people would believe: they would see the Sacred Host on her tongue at the moment of Communion and that she should make this known fifteen days in advance. On July 18, 1962, the town was crowded with visitors. At midnight Conchita, who had remained in her home continually surrounded by visitors, entered into ecstasy and went out into the street. At a short distance from her house she fell down on her knees in the midst of the crowd. Lanterns were focused on her. She put out her tongue upon which nothing was resting, as everyone could see. In a few moments, a white host appeared on her tongue and remained there for a few minutes. A businessman from Barcelona, Don Alejandro Damians, standing less than three feet from the girl, secured some very good moving pictures. In the film there appeared 79 pictures of the extraordinary scene. This same witness wrote a report which he submitted to the Bishop of Santander, together with a copy of the film. The number of witnesses on this occasion was very large: there were people from different cultures and social classes. Don Benjamin Gomez, a farmer from Potes, wrote:

"I was standing at less than an arm's length from the girl. I saw very well that her tongue was completely clean of everything. The girl did not move. Suddenly there appeared on it the Sacred Host. It was white, shining and resplendent. It reminded one of the snow when the sun strikes it with its brilliant rays. The girl's face was beautifully transformed into heavenly ecstasy. Her face was angelic I can certify that she was there motionless, moving neither hands nor tongue. In this motionless position she received the Sacred Host. We had enough time to contemplate this marvellous phenomenon without any undue haste, and we were many who saw it. I was an unbeliever until that day. I am not such a Catholic as to be subject to any hallucination or imagination. I had not concerned myself about God until then except to offend Him. I went to confession in April but previous to that time I had not gone to confession for twenty-three years."

The miracle of the host is a true confirmation of the apparitions of Our Blessed Mother in Garabandal and of the reality of her message. But a still greater miracle has been promised.

A Greater Miracle to Come
Conchita has clearly said that Our Lady has promised a greater miracle in Garabandal so that all may believe the apparitions and be obedient to the message. "As the punishment which we deserve for the sins of the world is great, the miracle must also be a great one, for the world needs it." It will occur on a Thursday on the feast day of a saint devoted to the Eucharist, at 8:30 in the evening, and will last for about one quarter of an hour. It will also coincide with a great event in the Church. The sick who come to Garabandal on that day will be cured, unbelievers will be converted. There will remain a permanent sign a "The Pines" as a proof of Our Lady's tremendous love for all her children.

"The sign that will remain," says Conchita, "will be able to be seen, photographed and televised but it will not be able to be touched. It will appear clearly that it is something not of this world, but of God."

Conchita has been granted permission by Our Lady to announce the date of the miracle eight days in advance. With the present means of communication and travel, eight days are sufficient for people around the world to gather. The day of The miracle may be the last opportunity given us by God and may be also Our Lady's last effort to save the world from the punishment already threatened.

Some time ago Conchita wrote, "The Blessed Virgin will not allow me to reveal the nature of The miracle although I already know it. Neither can I reveal the date of it, which I know, until eight days before it is to happen." Before The miracle takes place Our Lady has said that all mankind will receive a warning from heaven.

The Warning
Conchita wrote: "The warning comes directly from God and will be visible to the whole world and from any place where anyone many happen to be. It will be like the revelation of our sins and it will be seen and felt by everyone, believer and unbeliever alike irrespective of whatever religion he may belong to. It will be seen and felt in all parts of the world and by every person."

It will happen in the sky, no one can prevent it form happening. We will even prefer to be dead rather than to pass through this Warning It will not kill us. It will be a "correction" of our conscience. It will cause great fear and will make us reflect within ourselves on the consequences of our own personal sins. It will be like a warning of the punishment to come. In this way the world will be offered a means of purification to prepare itself for the extraordinary grace of the Great Miracle.

Jacinta was told by Our Blessed Mother "that the warning would come when conditions were at their worst." The date was not revealed to the visionaries, however Mari-Loli does know the year; and she said that The Miracle will happen within one year after The Warning.

The Punishment
If we do not pay attention to the message, the punishment announced by Our Lady will be visited on the whole world after The miracle. During one of their ecstasies the girls were heard praying for the innocent children but, nevertheless, they shed tears at the same time. Since the day they learned about the punishment they have developed a great spirit of sacrifice. They pray very much for sinners and for priests. They often say that if priests are not what they should be many souls will be lost.

Conchita has written: "I cannot reveal what kind of punishment it is except that it will be a result of the direct intervention of God, which makes it more terrible and fearful than anything we can imagine. It will be less painful for innocent babies to die a natural death than for those babies to die because of the punishment. All Catholics should go to confession before the punishment and the others should repent of their sins. When I saw IT (the punishment), I felt a great fear even though at the same time I was seeing Our Blessed Mother. The punishment, if it comes, will come after the miracle"

When Our Lady spoke to the girls of the punishment, her face assumed a look of great sadness. The girls revealed: "We have never seen her look so serious. When she said the words 'The cup is already filling', she spoke in a very low voice."

A New Message
On January 1, 1965, Conchita had an apparition of Our Lady who told her that on June 18, the fourth anniversary of the apparitions, she would be given another message. Thus, six months before the actual date Conchita revealed this promise of Our Lady.

On June 18 more than two thousand people gathered in Garabandal - French, Germans, English, Italians, Americans and Polish were among the people who joined the groups from different parts of Spain. The Spanish were in the minority, perhaps due to the fact the apparitions had received practically no publicity. The French constituted the largest group. There were journalists, TV cameras from the Italian TV network, and cameramen from NO-DO (the Spanish official documentary news program). Leaving her house at 11:30 p.m. Conchita walked to the road leading to the Pines to the place called the Cuadro. There she was rapt in ecstasy which lasted sixteen minutes. St. Michael appeared to her and delivered the message from Our Lady, which was made public the next morning. It reads:

Message which Our Lady has given to the world through the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel. The angel said, "Since my message of October 18 has not been made known to the world and has not been fulfilled, I tell you that this is my last message. Previously, the cup was being filled. Now it is overflowing. Many Cardinals, many Bishops and many Priests are on the road to perdition and with them they are bringing many souls. The Holy Eucharist is being given less importance (honour). We must avoid God's anger with us by our efforts at amendment. If we beg pardon with sincerity of soul, He will forgive us. I, your Mother, through the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel, want to tell you to amend your lives. You are already receiving one of the last warnings. I love you very much and do not want your condemnation. Ask sincerely and we will give to you. You should make more sacrifices. Think of the Passion of Jesus."

From this message one can clearly sense Our Lady's disappointment at the scant attention paid to her message of October 18, 1961. The Blessed Mother shows her motherly concern for priests and the need to place the Holy Eucharist where it belongs - at the center of the mysteries of our Faith. To urge us to sacrifice, she recommends meditation on the Passion of Our Lord.

Our Blessed mother has told us this is her last message. Because of this she wants all her children to listen to her plea before The warning and The miracle. For the reason that she wishes it, we should propagate this urgent message as widely as possible.

Father Luis Marie Andreu
The only other person to see Our Blessed Mother at Garabandal was a 38-year old Spanish Jesuit Priest, Father Luis Marie Andreu. On August 8, 1961, Father Luis was Among the spectators at The Pines when suddenly he became an integral part of the Garabandal drama. He was heard to say, Miracle! Miracle!" Not only did he see The Virgin Mary, but he was shown the forthcoming Great Miracle. The children in ecstasy understood Our Lady to say to him: "You will soon be with me." Although, he had never had any history of serious illness, he died that same night of complete joy. His final words were:

"Oh! What a sweet and lovely mother we have in heaven...how happy I am... what a favour The Blessed Virgin has bestowed on me. How fortunate we are to have a mother like her in heaven!. There is no reason to fear the supernatural life. The girls have given us an example of how we must act with the Blessed Virgin. There is no doubt, in my mind that the things involving the girls are true. Why should the Blessed Virgin have chosen us? This is the happiest day of my life."

With those words, Father bowed his head and died. Our Lady has said, "that on the day AFTER the Miracle his body will be found to be incorrupt."

Our Blessed Mother showed special attention and concern for all priests, repeatedly asking that they come to Garabandal. She gave the girls the ability to recognize them even when they came dressed as laymen, revealing the state of their souls. She taught the children that priests were more important even than angels because by means of their ordination they have the power to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Last Apparition
On Saturday, November 13, 1965 Conchita had her last apparition of Our Lady in Garabandal. She gives the details in a letter of which the following is a literal translation:

"One day in church Our Lady told me in a locution that I would see her on Saturday, November 13, at the pines; it would be a special apparition to kiss the religious objects so that I could give them away afterwards. I was anxious for this day to arrive so that I could see again the Blessed Virgin and the Child Jesus who have implanted in my life the seed of God's happiness.

It was raining but it did not matter to me. I went up to the Pines carrying with me the many rosaries which people have given to me to distribute them... As I was going up I was talking to myself, being sorry for my defects, desiring not to fall into them again, for it gave me much worry to appear before the Mother of God without wiping them out.

When I arrived at the pines, I began to take the rosaries out and heard a sweet voice, that of the Virgin, which you always distinguish among others, calling me by my name. I answered her 'what?' At that very moment I saw Her with the Child in her arms. She was dressed as usual and smiling. I told Her, 'I have come to bring you the rosaries so that you can kiss them.' She said to me, 'I can see it.' I had been chewing gum, but as I was seeing Her I did not chew it; I placed the gum on a tooth. She must have noticed for She said, 'Conchita why don't you get rid of the chewing gum and offer it up as a sacrifice for the glory of my Son?' I, a bit ashamed of myself, took it out and threw it on the ground. She said afterwards, 'Do you remember what I told you on your saint's day - that you would suffer much on earth?... Now I repeat it to you. Have confidence in Us. Then I added, 'How unworthy I am, O Mother of us, of so many graces received through you, and now you have come to me to help me carry the little cross I have." She said, 'Conchita, I am not coming only for you but I am coming for all my children, with a desire to get them closer to Our Hearts.' She asked for the things I was carrying. 'Give them to me so that I can kiss all you are carrying with you.' And I gave her everything. I was bringing with me also a small crucifix which I gave her to kiss. She kissed it and said , 'Put it in the hands of the Child Jesus.' And I did that and He said nothing. I said 'This cross I intend to take with me when I go to the convent.' But he did not reply. After kissing everything She commented, 'My son, through this kiss, will work wonders. Distribute them to the others..." Of course I will do it.

After all this she requested that I tell her all the petitions for others which I had received. She said, 'Conchita, tell me, tell me things about my children. I have all of them under my cloak.' And I commented, 'It is too small and there is no room for all of us.' She smiled at this.

'Do You know, Conchita, why I did not come personally on June 18 to give you the message for the world? Because it pained me to say it myself, but I have to say it to you for your own good and, if you fulfil it, for God's glory. I love you very much and I desire your salvation; to gather you all around God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Conchita, won't you respond to this?' I said, 'If I could be always seeing you, yes; but otherwise I can't because I am very bad...' 'You do all you can,' Our Lady added, 'and We will help you, as well as my daughters Loli, Jacinta and Maricruz...'

She did not stay long with me. She also said, 'This will be the last time you see me here, but I will always be with all my children.' Afterwards she added, 'Conchita, why don't you go often to visit my Son in the Most Blessed Sacrament? Why do you let yourself be carried away by laziness and not go to visit Him Who is waiting for you day an night?'

As I have written above, it was raining hard. Our Lady and the Child did not get wet. I was not aware it was raining while seeing them, but when I stopped seeing them I was soaked. I also told her, 'O how happy I am when I see you. Why don't you take me with you right now?' She answered, 'Remember what I told you on your saint's day. When you go before God you must show Him your hands filled with good works done by you for your brothers and for the glory of God; now your hands are empty.'

That's all, I spent a happy moment with my mother from heaven, my best friend, and with the Child Jesus. I have stopped seeing them but not feeling them close. Again they have sown in my soul great peace, joy and a desire to conquer my defects so that I will be able to love, with all my strength, the hearts of Jesus and Mary who love us so much..."

Conchita ends with this: "The Blessed Virgin Mary told me before that Jesus does not want to send the punishment in order to distress us but in order to help us and reproach us because we pay no attention to Him. And the warning will be sent in order to purify us for the miracle in which he will show us His great love, and in order that we may fulfil the message."

With this apparition of Our Lady, the cycle of apparitions in Garabandal closed. It will be definitely confirmed on a Thursday at 8:30 p.m. when The miracle takes place. This will mark the beginning of a new era in the history of the salvation of mankind.

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Position of the Church

As always, the Church has acted with great prudence toward the apparitions. It took thirteen years for the Church to give the official approval to the Fatima apparitions even after seventy thousand people witnessed the miracle of the sun.

A special emissary from Holy Office was sent to Garabandal to investigate the witnesses of the apparitions. By special request of the Pro-Secretary of the same Congregation of the Faith, Cardinal Ottaviani, Conchita went to Rome in 1966 accompanied by her mother and a priest. She met with Cardinal Ottaviani and other officials of the Vatican. With Cardinal Marella she was received in a private audience by Pope Paul VI.

For obvious reasons, nothing more can be said regarding this intervention of Rome. However it is necessary to confirm this visit of Conchita to the Holy Office in order to refute rumours that no private audience with His Holiness had been granted to Conchita. He said to her "Conchita I bless you and with me the whole Church blesses you."

The Final and decisive Judgement of these events belongs exclusively to the Supreme Magisterium of the Church. St. Michael's Garabandal Centre accepts any decision fully, from the moment it shall be pronounced.

Questions and Answers

Question:
Regarding the Garabandal major prophecies can you clarify when and what is going to happen in relation to the year 2000 that everyone is talking about?

Answer:
First of all there were many prophecies foretold at Garabandal. Several have already happened. However, I suggest that you read carefully the Garabandal prophecies listed here on the official web site: The Warning, The Miracle, and the Punishment. However, I want to point out two important factors:

1)The Miracle must follow the warning within 12 months, but not necessarily within the same calendar year. This prophecy was told to us by Mari-Loli who Knows the year of The World Wide Warning. She was not told by Our Blessed Mother to announce it or not to announce it. It is not known whether she will eventually tell it or not. Up to now she does not feel she should. She does not know how much time will elapse between the two, only that there could be as much as a 12-month span. She reconfirmed this once again in December 1996. Remember: The Warning first and then The Miracle. Furthermore, we also know that the miracle will happen in the month of April. (The Vigil Jan-April 1988 explains why we no longer consider March and May to be valid.) Conchita knows the exact date and will announce it eight days in advance and the means of communicating the date to the world will (according to what Conchita told me in 1969) be a miracle in itself. She also told me that: "The World Wide Warning must happen Before the announcement of the miracle."

2)When it comes to Garabandal, as far as the year 2000 goes, we must be very careful not to not start putting dates and events together to make them fit into what we think or what others have claimed. However, Conchita did say that an important, happy event of the Church will coincide with the day of the miracle. It will be something that has never before happened during her lifetime. It will not be the result of the miracle but rather a coincidence. None of the four visionaries have ever told to me, or to my knowledge anyone else, that the major prophecies must be completed by the year 2000. For sure, we certainly need to prepare ourselves prayerfully through Our Blessed Mother, as our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II has indicated. He has been telling us that 1997 opens the preparatory phase of the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, which holds a very special meaning for all mankind in relationship to the most blessed Trinity.

Question:
Lately, I have heard there is a letter of disapproval as of October of 1996 regarding the Garabandal apparitions issued by Bishop Jose Villaplano, the present Bishop from the Santander Diocese. Is this true? Please name the source of whatever answer you give.

Answer:
Let's get one thing clear once and for all. The Garabandal apparitions have NEVER BEEN CONDEMNED NOR ARE THEY NOW DISAPPROVED. That information has been circulated by an anonymous person or persons to give the impression that Garabandal as of October has been "disapproved." "laid to rest" and other such deceiving descriptive words (The English version of the letter you are referring to, that I have seen has a few very serious translation errors which in those cases actually changes the meaning.) We do not now and never will deal with accusations by those who refuse to acknowledge who they are. Unfortunately so-called "reliable" sources magnify this false attitude by copying and even publishing it without verification. The truth of the matter is that the letter in question is not, I repeat IT IS NOT an official or even a public declaration of anything new regarding Garabandal. The apparitions have been and continue to be classified as "natural" not "supernatural." Exactly what does this mean? It means that in no way can the church call it "supernatural" until the prophesied events take place, that is: The Warning, The Miracle, and The perpetual sign. These three supernatural events are unchangeable. Only the fourth major prophecy which is the chastisement is conditional. It depends on whether or not we fulfil the messages of Garabandal given to us by Our Blessed Mother. So because it was the Bishop's own choice not to go public with what we have known right along, (in his letter) out of respect for him and his decision, neither will we go public with it. What the Bishop does say is that: "I don't find it necessary to have a new public declaration..., I accept the decision of my predecessors..." The mimeographed form letter is at least two years old and given only to those how inquire about the position of the church. I first saw it about a year ago, and did not consider it to be anything new or even worth mentioning. No new prohibitions were imposed. Everyone and anyone is free to go to Garabandal, live the messages and make them known. The previous Bishop, Bishop Juan Antonio del Val Gallo, (the only Bishop who actually witnessed the girls in ecstasy while he was still a young priest) removed all the restrictions and prohibitions during the 1980's except one which we reported in The Vigil years ago. Any priest who wishes to offer Holy Mass, of course, must get permission from the local pastor. This is no different from any other Catholic church anywhere else in the world. The visions or any other visions not approved by the church are not to be preached in the village church. Furthermore, while there, Holy Mass may not be offered outside the village church of San Sebastian. (Bishop Del Val may be seen in: Garabandal the Eyewitnesses the only video in the world where he appears during an exclusive interview and reaffirms that the Garabandal Messages are theologically correct. In August 1996 Jacinta visited with Bishop Villaplano, with her family. She asked the Bishop for his permission to accept an invitation to attend a Marian Conference in Mexico. At first he seemed reluctant but then gave her his approval. She was allowed to attend and permit the audience to venerate her crucifix kissed by Our Blessed Mother at Garabandal. She also accepted an invitation to Canada, in November 1996.

Jesus has told us at Garabandal: "Do not be concerned whether they believe you or not, I will do all!!!"

What Science says about Garabandal

What Does Science Say About Garabandal?
Many Eminent doctors have studied the events and have visited the persons involved at Garabandal. No one has so far found any satisfactory scientific explanation for these events. All agree that what occurred at Garabandal is something humanly unexplainable and something which merits attention and respect. One thing is clear - we find ourselves before certain facts for which science can find no explanation.

After years of Observation, a child specialist has certified that the girls have always been completely normal and that the ecstasies do not fall under any known physiological phenomena. Dr. Ricardo Puncernau, a well known Barcelona neuropschiatrist states: "In the presence of these facts it is difficult for the doctor to give a merely natural explanation... From a strictly scientific point of view one cannot deny, at least thus far, the possibility of a supernatural cause in all these phenomena." Dr. Gasca Ruiz and Dr. Ortis Gonzalez , who have also studied these phenomena state, "To keep silence would be true scientific cowardice on our part. We do not find any convincing scientific explanation capable of explaining such phenomena."