NIGHT OF MONDAY, AUGUST 14 TO TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1961

A sacred serenade was sung for Mari-Cruz

A WONDERFUL VIGIL IN PREPARATION
FOR THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION

The "Vigils," so familiar to Christians during the first centuries and then fallen into disuse, emerged again, as luck would have it, at Garabandal. There was a great deal of commotion during these vigils, the girls moving from one place to another in the village and in the
neighborhood.

The vigil inaugurating the Feast of the Assumption on August 15, 1961, stands out among the most beautiful ones. It began at 2:45 a.m., when Conchita, Loli and Jacinta came out in ecstasy from Conchita's home.

For the first time, they sang Aves, a Noel as well, and a few "Mananitas" or short musical compositions. Then the Blessed Virgin brought them in front of the house of Mari-Cruz . . . prevented by her parents to follow the other visionaries who, once there, started an
improvised song or, more exactly, a sacred serenade!

That night, the candid hymns of the three children traveling through the dark lanes of the village, overjoyed in their ecstasy, symbolized the humble response of the earth to the songs of praise of the heavenly Court celebrating the Queen of angels and men. At about 4:15 a.m., always in ecstasy, they went to the church. The vigil came to an end at 5:00 a.m.

The sacred serenade sung for Mari-Cruz

Wake up, Mari-Cruz
Do you not smell lilies
The Virgin Mary brings you
To help you be very good?

Wake up, Mari-Cruz,
She is coming, the kind Virgin
With a basket of flowers
For a little girl.

Pick up the lilies
That Mary brings you
To help you be good.

Good and holy little girl,
You are very loving
But you do not get up.

[From "Garabandal', Book, pages 89-91]

So amazing! I wish I could hear those childish voices singing these hymns and serenades! Maybe some day we will, at least in the next life where we will get to see God, all in all, and many things will be revealed to us! I guess that what we desire spiritually here on earth, will be fulfilled in heaven. I say spiritually, cause we can't be attached to earthly things and desires if we want to enter heaven.

When the girls were going from place to place in ecstasy in the middle of the night, and remember, there was no street lights or even electricity to power them in Garabandal, they said: "We seemed to be moving in the air, as if we were upside down. we would have thought we were in another world! It was as if we were in broad daylight and sunshine."

Well, they certainly were in another world, another dimension, and a heavenly one. That's what ecstasies are all about. They enter into the supernatural and see things as they really are and what we can't see. Yes, we are surrounded by the other world, with angels and demons, either helping us or trying to destroy us. There's a great battle going on for our souls! That's why it's so important to constantly pray and invoke the angels and saints to assist and defend us. Call on Jesus & Mary all day long! I like the ejaculation: Jesus, Mary, I love You. Save souls!
God bless us all!
Deacon John