SUNDAY, JULY 16, 1961

Photo most likely taken in 1962 or 1963. Mari Loli receives an invisible host;
her younger sister, Rosoura (Sari) watches in the background.

FIRST REAL COMMUNIONS GIVEN BY THE
ARCHANGEL ST. MICHAEL TO THE
VISIONARIES.

On the Feastday of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Blessed Virgin awakened the four children very early in the morning. They were to receive the first of some fifty real Communions from St. Michael. These occurred either in public or without any witnesses, and at various locations, except the village church and in homes.
That morning, the girls, in ecstasy, climbed, also for the first time, the very steep calleja up to the Pines, where, at 5 a.m., the Archangel gave the Eucharist to Mari-Cruz and Conchita. The latter would receive five or six of her subsequent Communions at this site on very particular liturgical days.

One hour later, also on the 16th of July, Mari-Loli and Jacinta, in turn, received the Eucharist at the site of the "Rock of the Angel" located on a lower level than the Pines and so named because St. Michael had stood there several times.
During the whole period of the apparitions, the visionaries received Communion almost every day, either at the Mass in the village, or from the hands of the Angel when there was no priest at Garabandal. The nine Pines at San Sebastian de Garabandal are what remains from a small plantation of pines and oaks organized in 1947 by the pastor of the village, by Serafin Gonzalez, Conchita's grandfather on her father's side, and by the mayor of the area.

Set on a slightly higher level above the village and with no trees in the area, the Pines, as we will often have the opportunity of mentioning them, are the neuralgic center, really "chosen" for the phenomena and the events of Garabandal past and . . . to come.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 65.]

Again that 'link' to Fatima, Our Lady continuing her appearances to the world as "Our Lady of Mount Carmel." The "Carmelites" in Spain have been a powerful spiritual force for many years prior to this. Remembering St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, who continue to inspire us today with their writings. And of course the Brown Scapular of Our Lady itself, where by wearing it, we consecrate ourselves to Her and She promises to take us under Her mantle of protection. I never take my Scapular off, even in the shower (it dries in minutes) except once when I had a MRI scan and the doctor ordered me to take it off. I felt naked without it and couldn't wait to put it back on!
At Fatima the Archangel acted as an 'Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion' and so he does again at Garabandal. Even the Angels are called to serve! How about you? The church is always looking for holy people to assist with Communion. It's a wonderful, rewarding ministry, especially bringing the Blessed Sacrament to the 'homebound'.
Deacon John