TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1961:

THE PHYSICIANS AT WORK . . .
PERFORMING TESTS

Garabandal was an exceptional field of study for theologians as well as for physicians, psychologists and psychiatrists who, as early as June 25, went up to the village as independent observers.
In the first two weeks of July, Msgr. Doroteo Fernandez set up a "Special Commission" made up of three priests and two physicians. These were in charge of investigating the "events" and the girls of San Sebastian de Garabandal. The members of this "Commission" came only three times to the village during the four years that the events occurred.
Commissioned by the bishop, Doctors Jose Luis Pinal Ruiz and Luis Morales, psychiatrist, began their first experiments on July 11.
All kinds of tests were performed on the children in ecstasy. Pinching, burns, pricks, intense light: so many sensory stimulants producing no effect.

"This is no way supernatural. It is a psychogenic reaction to the situation . . . Vulgar hysterical phenomena . . ." Such was Dr. Morales' opinion on the one ecstasy that he had attended. His report, quickly drafted, influenced the negative verdict by the "Commission" concerning the supernatural origin of the phenomena of Garabandal. He, who had really been the "directing head" of the
"Special Commission," completely reversed his position in 1977. In May 1983, during some lectures he gave at Santander, then at Madrid, he publicly defended the authenticity of the apparitions.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, pages 59; 61]

It's amazing how "stiff-necked", as the Bible calls certain people, witnesses to the supernatural can be. Even at the "Miracle of the Sun" at Fatima, where hundreds of thousands of people experienced the signs and wonders, there were a few who refused to acknowledge it as a supernatural event. Perhaps because they were atheists or agnostics, maybe Freemasons, the "Commission" couldn't see the intervention of the supernatural. Of course this all could have been a vision of the devil, but I don't think they believed in Satan or hell either. Like certain leaders in Israel, who accused Our Lord of working miracles by the power of Satan, these "Commission" members were blind too!

Again, at Fatima, certain theologians said that Lucia made up all that she reported Our Lady said, especially regarding devotion to her Immaculate Heart. They blamed it on Lucia's traditional upbringing, saying her mother put all these thoughts in her head or she made it up after the fact. Incredible! You could expect this from the secular media, but from the clergy you expect some faith and common sense. Dr. Morales recanted later on and became a good spokesman for Garabandal, but the damage was done early and many shrugged off the visions as unbelievable.
Deacon John