Fr. Ramon Andreu's Notes: Part Two, Post 41

As one can observe, this is purely orthodox. With this message, the bishop Dr. Beitia made the following Note public:

“The name of Garabandal and the events that have occurred in this small mountain village of our Diocese have produced during these years and have arrived, for all social means, nearer to our country and our European continent. International agents have divulged graphic information and special reports. They speak of apparitions of Our Lady the Virgin Mary, of spiritual messages, of the Most Holy Virgin’s desires. At the same time it asks us to authorize these events, since they want to unite with other venerable Marian avocations known worldwide.

The Bishop of Santander has recognized the ample documentation during these years of everything that has happened there. He has not closed the “file” on this matter. He will always receive gratefulness for the portions of judgment that he has submitted. There have been three official notes which have appeared to be trying to orient the judgment of the faithful. This will be the fourth. His present conclusion is the same as his previous ones. The Commission understands the clarification of the facts and has not encountered reasons to modify the judgment they have already made. They are of the opinion that there is no supernatural evidence in the events, and they have been examined carefully.

In consequence it follows that this diocesan authority moves providential opportunities to artificially ensure that the atmosphere of confusion does not increase by massive propaganda at the margin of the words and the spirit of the holy ways through news, articles, newspapers or magazines, graphic information, notes or itinerary or other similar methods.

We remember that according to Canon 1399, my fifth, “By my right, books and pamphlets that refer to new apparitions, visions, prophecies, or miracles or that introduce new devotions are prohibited if they do not observe the prescriptions made by the Canons.” We know that until this moment we had not conceded to “print” any book, pamphlet, article, or note of this kind. We extend this by saying that under our diocesan authority, the same prohibition of any publication or information that has not passed through the censor of the diocese of Santander will be prohibited.

We ask all faithful Christians to abstain from increasing the atmosphere of confusion in San Sebastián de Garabandal caused by the apparitions and spiritual communications by going there. It is evident that we have not found any material that condemns the Church, nor the doctrine, nor the spiritual recommendations that have been divulged on this occasion. They contain an exhortation to prayer and to sacrifice, to the Eucharistic devotion, and to groups dedicated to Our Lady in traditional and laudable forms in holy fear of God, who is offended by our sins. They simply repeat the current doctrine of the Church on this subject. We admit to the good faith and the religious fervor of the people who go to San Sebastián de Garabandal and they deserve the most profound respect and we want to support them in this fervor so that they will fully trust in the hierarchy of the Church and her magisterium, together with our recommendations that are continuously published.

The priests have special importance through their intervention, and also in the active form of their participation and collaboration in the development of the events, even when in the form of simple spectator. We prohibit and in an explicit and formal manner their attendance without expressed license, individual to each case, of the diocesan authority, declaring that the licenses are suspended “ipso facto” in the diocese of Santander, and for those who disobey—this is the warning. The Supreme Holy Congregation of the Holy Office has had contact with the diocese of Santander to obtain the needed information in these serious events. Santander, July 8, 1965. Eugenio, Bishop A.A. of Santander.”