She Went in Haste to the Mountain (Page 77)

“He died of joy!”

Beyond the Twilight

In the sight of the unwise,(31) it seemed that everything was finished for him, and that it would have been much better not to have undertaken an adventure so unnecessary, in which none of the many wise ecclesiastics would have prematurely involved themselves.

They closed his eyes and read the prayers for the dead; they placed him in a coffin and his relatives and friends wept; they lowered him into the grave and May he rest in peace. On the next day those still alive went back to their work and play, talking from time to time, about poor Father Luís. The noble Spanish soil fell over the poor coffin(32) of a poor religious who owned nothing. Soon he would be forgotten and there would only remain a simple wooden cross painted black to indicate to the few visitors the name of someone who could have been or done so
much in his life . . .

The twilight of total darkness is only for those who live within earthly limits. For Father Luis was not to remain a prisoner to the darkness. He would pass mysteriously from the nightfall of life to the dawn of a day that would know no sunset.

The trumpet of triumph would sound for the body that had departed on the route to Reinosa. 'Exsultabunt Domino ossa humiliata.' The bones that have been humbled will rejoice in the Lord.

But it will not be necessary to await the final trumpet to have proof of his new life. Here are some notes from his brother Fr. Ramón:

«Father Luis' funeral rites were completed in Oña, and after spending a couple of days with my mother who lived in Bilbao, I went to Garabandal on August 14th. On entering the village the four girls came out to greet me, since they had seen me coming up the final stretch of the road.

They told me that on hearing that Father Luishad died, they had cried with sorrow . . .(33) That the Virgin had also spoken to them about the death of my brother, and that they had said to her, Why don't you tell us, since you know? The girls said, The Virgin laughed. So much! And they made gestures illustrating ‘So much!’

Then Loli handed me the ring rosary that she had received from my brother to give to the Virgin to kiss, and which she had later lost. The Virgin told me so clearly where it was that I found it right away by doing no more than lifting
up a few stones.

__________

The conversation with the girls was pleasant and extensive. They told him:

«That at the third call they felt something inside that they couldn't stop . . . That the Virgin was always the same, although she appeared sometimes with different garments and under a different title . . . That since a few days before August 8th, she had appeared to them individually . . . That she didn't have the same visions
with Mari Cruz as with the others . . . That had been because her mother had kept her shut in the house at times.»

The pleasure that Father Ramón felt from this first meeting was soon disturbed. He was interviewed sometime later by the French editor of Conchita's Diary.

«It was August 14th. I had come from burying my brother Luís. On arriving at Garabandal, a boy from Burgos came up to me and said, The children have said during an ecstasy "What a pleasure! Are we going to speak with Father Luis?" I became depressed. And I thought that this had to be a typical case of autosuggestion. My brother's death had made an impression on the children and the result could be seen! I wanted to leave Garabandal.

—And yet you stayed?

FR. RAMON: Actually I did stay. But it was because those who had accompanied me didn't want to leave . . .

—What happened then?

FR. RAMON: I came back near the children in ecstasy, and I heard again the conversation with Father Luis. After a little while I didn't know what to think. I was truly astounded. The girls were repeating in front of me the words of the Vision. And I heard them describe my brother's death and funeral rites. They were
giving a number of very precise details about the special rites of a priest's burial. They even knew that some exceptions to the traditional regulations in the dress of the deceased had taken place with Father Luis. For example, a biretta had not been put on my brother's head, and the chalice, which should have been held in his hands, had been replaced by a crucifix. The girls also gave the reasons for these changes.

On another occasion, I heard the girls in ecstasy say that my brother Luis had died before making his profession. They also spoke about me and my vows. They knew the precise date, the exact place where they had been pronounced, the name of a Jesuit who had made them at the same time.

You can understand my amazement and my confusion in the face of this string of rigorously exact details, since I definitely knew the girls could not know these things, at least not through human intelligence.»

__________

It appears that all the things that Father Ramón responded to his French questioner, as a whole, did not happen or were not heard on the day of his arrival
on August 14th. Part of these things at least must pertain to what happened on the following days.

31. But the souls of the just are in the Hand of God; and the torment of death shall not touch them.
In the sight of the unwise, they seemed to die; and their departure was taken for misery;
And their going away from us, for utter destruction; but they are in peace.
And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality . . . God has tried them and found them worthy of Himself.
The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds.
They shall judge nations and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign
forever. (Book of Wisdom 3: 1-8)

32. He was buried at Oña behind the ancient Roman monastery church that now is a parish church, in the part of the cemetery holding the remains of the Jesuits who died during the years that the theological seminary was there.

Fr. Luis Andreu was born in Bilbao on July 3rd, 1925. He was ordained a priest at Oña (Burgos) on July 30th, 1955 by the missionary bishop Federico Melendro, who had to leave his diocese in Anking, China when that gigantic country was overrun
by Maoistic communism. He sang his first Mass on the following July 31st, the feast of St. Ignatius, at the Ignatian sanctuary in Loyola. He was 6 years a priest, and 36 years of age at the time of his death.

33. Conchita writes it down in her diary like this:
The following day the four of us went to sweep out the church.
And while were sweeping, Jacinta's mother arrived very upset, and said to us, Father Luis María Andreu has died.
And we didn't believe it since we had seen him the day before.
We left the church half-swept and went to find out more.
They said that when he was about to die his last words were, Today is the happiest day of my life. What a most good mother we have in heaven!
And he died.

She Went in Haste to the Mountain (Page 76)

Father Luis María Andreu

To Your Faithful, Lord

If Father Luis María Andreu did not die of illness, since no one knew of any in him, then from what did he die?

Let us listen again to Mr. Fontaneda:
«Whenever my wife and I have discussed those scenes that so terribly affected us, we felt a peace and at the same time a deep serenity. And we are only able to come to one answer for the question: From what did Father die? He died of joy!

Even though he passed in a fraction of a second from a completely normal state to the state of a cadaver, a smile remained on his lips . . .

When I returned to Garabandal I heard what the girls said to me about Father and understanding something of the ecstatic conversations in which they had spoken of him and with him all the scenes of that sorrowful early morning of
August 9th in Reinosa held for me a special meaning, in which the Providence of God and the Love of Mary played an important part.

This is the happiest day of my life, Father Luis had told me. I wanted to ask him the meaning of that sentence, since I would think that for a priest the happiest day would be that of his ordination to the priesthood or the day of his first Mass; but I did not have the time. Could his words be an announcement of his entrance into eternal happiness?

All this seems clear when we hear Father Royo, Truly the happiest day in one's life is the day of coming into the arms of God.

And for Father Luis María Andreu, that day was August 9, 1961, at 4:20 in the morning, returning from San Sebástian de Garabandal.»

__________

After all this, we can understand better the case of the first death of Garabandal. The body of Father Luis could not sustain the truth and the joy of what he had seen.

Have not the saints, the great favorites of God,confessed many times that when seeing or hearing certain things about Him, they would have died of joy or of pain, if the Lord had not come especially to their aid? It is clear that Father Luis, left to his own strength by the mysterious disposition of God, did not last more than a few hours with the truth and the joy of Garabandal. And thus he was its first death. But he died with the sign of a martyr, as he sealed the truth of his testimony with the laying down of his life.(30)

His last words were very obligating and grave, leaving no solution except to accept them, for they should be received with the respect owed to the testimony of witnesses who give their life as proof of the truth of their words.

He gave his all to a cause and succumbed, but he lost nothing in pouring himself out. As the preface in the ancient liturgy for the Mass of the Dead states, For to your faithful, O Lord, life is changed, not taken away; and when the place of our earthly sojourn turns into dust, an eternal dwelling awaits us in the heavens.

30. Martyr is a word of Green origin, meaning witness. The early church used it to designate someone who gave public testimony to Christ, or confessed his faith in Christ before the tribunal, even at the cost of his life.

She Went in Haste to the Mountain (Page 75)

“He died of joy!”

Valuable Testimony

It was natural that those who had been witnesses of the events on that afternoon and evening began commenting among themselves on leaving the church. In this group Father Royo Marín said, I'm not infallible; but I am a specialist in these questions; (23) and it appears to me that the visions of the girls are true. I can perceive four positive signs which do not leave room for doubt.

Then Raphael Fontaneda came up and said to him, Father, if the affair is as important as you say, why don't you stay here a few more days to study it better?

Father Marín responded, It's not possible for me to stay now; but this thing is so clear that there's no room for doubt.

And it should be noted that Father Marín had gone up to Garabandal more skeptical than the others; childlike simplicity is not usually the characteristic
of clergy who are cognizant of their diplomas and doctorates.

It was late at night when the troop of travelers that had left Aguilar de Campoo at daybreak began the descent from Garabandal — some on foot, others in the jeep. By deference, Father Luis María was made to go down in the vehicle. During the
trip all could observe that he was overflowing with an interior joy, and he manifested this in a thousand ways, at the same time declaring his absolute
certainty about the truth of what he visionaries had said.

In Cossío it was necessary to wait for those who were making their way down by foot. Father Luis did not get out of the jeep; he was almost asleep when Father Valentín Marichalar, the parish priest arrived. Then he spoke very clearly to the priest in a serious voice:

«Father Valentín, what the girls say is true; but don't repeat around here what I am telling you now. The Church should use great prudence in these matters.»

That night before retiring, Fr. Valentín carefully wrote down in his diary what Father Luis had said to him so seriously at the time of departure.

On the return to Aguilar from Cossío, a different route was chosen than the one used for arrival, longer but better: through Torrelavega and Reinosa. Continuing the description of Raphael Fontaneda:

«In Cossío we departed in the various cars that made up the expedition. Father Luis was asked to go in my brother's car, but he preferred to come with me since he had made the original trip there with me. He sat down in front next to the driver José Salceda; in the back seat were my wife Carmen, my 8 year old daughter Mari Carmen, and myself.

Along the way we were discussing what we had seen that day . . . Father Luis told us that he had exchanged opinions with Father Royo Marín and that they were both in total agreement.

My wife, as well as I and José Salceda were all impressed by Father's deep and intense joy, as well as his conviction. He spoke without haste and many times repeated these phrases. What a gift the Virgin has given me! I can't have the
least doubt about the truth of what is happening to the girls.

In Torrelavega we caught up with the jeep that had taken us from Cossío to Garabandal; it was stopped with the people from Aguilar de Campoo. Our driver drove up to see if they needed anything and he and Father Luis talked a few minutes with the passengers.

On beginning the trip again, I said to Father, Father, why don't you try to sleep a little? He accepted the suggestion and slept about an hour, until just before arriving in Reinosa.(24) Then he woke up and said, I've slept very well and I'm in
good shape! I feel great. I'm not even tired.

All the rest of us were half asleep, since it was close to 4:00 in the morning. We stopped at a fountain to drink and refresh ourselves. Father Luis then asked the driver if he too had taken something to drink, and José Salceda answered that he had put some water in his eyes, because his eyes had the greater need.(25)

Again on the road, Father returned to his exclamations, I feel myself truly full of joy and happiness. What a gift the Virgin has given me. How fortunate to have a mother like her in heaven! We shouldn't have any fear of the supernatural life. We should learn to act toward the Virgin as the children do. They have given us an example.( 26) I can't have the least doubt about the truth of their visions . . . Why has the most Holy Virgin chosen us! . . . TODAY IS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

He stopped speaking with the last sentence. Then I asked him something, and getting no answer, I said to him, Father, is something wrong?

No, nothing. I am sleeping. And he leaned his heard forward, at the same time letting out a soft sound as if clearing his throat.

José Salceda turned his head toward him and seeing his eyes, shouted, Father is very sick.

Quickly my wife reached for his wrist to take his pulse, and cried out, Stop! Stop! There's no pulse. There is a clinic here. He must be taken there immediately.

I thought that it was only a case of car sickness, and when the car stopped, I went to open the door while saying to him, Don't worry, Father, this is nothing. It will pass right away with a little fresh air.

But my wife insisted, He should be taken immediately to the clinic.

—Don't talk foolishly.

—Look, He is unconscious!

We took him to a clinic a few meters away and the nurse who opened the door for us told us immediately that he was dead. My wife replied that couldn't be. And that something should be done. The nurse gave him an injection, while José Salceda ran to call a doctor and a priest. The doctor(27) came in ten minutes but the only thing he could do was pronounce him dead. The parish priest came right after and administered Extreme Unction.

After the initial shock and anxiety, we began to act. I telephoned his brother Fr. Ramón, who was in Valladolid preaching the Spiritual Exercises to a community of religious. I also called Aguilar de Campoo and a few hours later my brothers and my brother- in-law arrived. Fortunately Fr. Royo Marín(28) also arrived in Reinosa and he accompanied and consoled us. And toward the middle of the morning Fr. Ramón María Andreu presented himself.»

__________

We can imagine Father Ramón's feelings on finding the dead body of his 36 year old younger brother. The news of his passing away had come as a brutal blow. How could he have anticipated such a thing? Concerning Father Luis' illnesses, he knew only of an allergy to grass and hay that caused him to take medicine in the springtime. And he had good reason to believe him full of health, since at Oña he
played sports frequently and during his vacations left with other companions to hike in the mountains. He was a man who walked verymuch. Everyone expected him to be around for many more years.

But the designs of God are inscrutable.

Father Ramón María, who had received the telephone call in Valladolid at 6:15 in the morning, arrived in Reinosa at 11:00 a.m. After praying before the body, he gathered the few things that belonged to his brother, among them a notebook that
he carried in a pocket of his cassock—notebook No. 3—in which he had concisely put down the incidents of the previous day at Garabandal.

Then he was able to converse with Father Royo Marín and from his lips received these statements:
«There is no doubt about Garabandal; the least that one could do is take it seriously. The ecstatic marches are a very clear indication to me. They take place in the darkness, and are so swift that we aren't able to follow the girls. The girls don't look where they are going and they don't stumble over anything; I observed merely slight sliding on top of the wet grass. They hold their eyes wide open but
those eyes are dead to all the sensorial stimulation that affects all of us.

Your brother was very learned; he must have been a good professor. He analyzed the thing well and we agreed on everything.»(29)

23. A few years previously he had published an extensive and very documented Theology of Christian Perfection which had great successes in the latin-speaking countries.

24. An important industrial village in the Cantabrian Mountains to the southwest of Santander.

25. All the cars that made up the convoy came to a stop around a fountain on the outskirts of Reinosa. The passengers got out to stretch their legs and refresh themselves; only Father Luis remained in his seat with the car door open.
Gradually most of the other people gathered around him and asked him questions . . .

After awhile the trip was begun again with the priest's car following in last place. On entering the streets of the city, completely deserted at the time, Father began to say these important things that have been transmitted to us by Mr. Fontaneda, and which were the last words of that true son of St. Ignatius.

26. The girls' relationship toward the Virgin appeared now to Father Luis—after his mysterious trance—as normal and proper. On the contrary, the learned of the Bishop's Commission found in that relationship a strong reason for coming to
their negative position. How could this be with such imbecile and puerile conversations!

27. Dr. Vicente González. The hospital to which they brought the priest was the Clínica Montesclaros (without doubt in honor of the Virgin of Montesclaros who has a sanctuary not far from Reinosa and is held in much honor throughout the region).

28. Father Royo Marín had relatives in Reinosa and this explains his stop there, as he certainly was not aware of the unexpected death of Father Luis María.

29. Father Royo Marín's opinion about Garabandal was very firm. Ten days later, on August 18th, he called from Castro Urdiales (a city on the coast near Santander) to a group of people who wanted to go with him and Father Ramón to Santander to report the news of what had happened.
«I'm sick with a temperature of 104, and regret that I can't accompany you. But you go to the Bishop and tell him on my part, without any reservation, that what is happening at San Sebastián de Garabandal is supernatural with all certainty. That at least is my opinion. And that he has an obligation to go and see what is happening. If he doesn't want to do so, take him if possible . . . There is a grave duty to accept what God does with sufficient clearness.»
After those days in August, Father Royo Marín did not find the occasion to return to the village. Did he change his opinion? In the beginning of 1965 he was in Santander, preaching at a church in the city. One day, having completed Mass, several people went into the sacristy and asked him, Father, what do you think about the apparitions?
«I wasn't able to return to Garabandal. As a consequence, I have no opinion about what happened after my last visit. But concerning what happened while I was there, I have no doubt that it was true.»

She Went in Haste to the Mountain (Page 74)

“Here is where the chapel will be built.”

“We heard him shout the word Miracle!”

Miracle! Miracle!
Miracle! Miracle!

A little after 9:00 in the evening, the second session of that unforgettable day begins. Once again the four girls assemble in the church and before the main altar fall into ecstasy. They breathe deeply. Then they laugh, except for Conchita; she speaks, «Yes, as you wish, as you command . . . We don't care what direction we go. As you say . . . But we haven't given any proof, and the people don't believe.»

Toward 9:40 they get up and leave the church in an ecstatic march. They stop at those locations in the village where ecstasies had taken place, and they pray there . . .

Never had stations been made with such devotion in Garabandal. The people who silently followed the girls during their marches and devotedly accompanied them in their prayers were as if taken up by supernatural emotion. It seemed like the way of the Lord, the way of mercy for that village until then so lost and forgotten. Here the footsteps of God and the Virgin traced their way to people regarded as nothing by the world.

In contrast to this world in a rush to secularization, what a night at Garabandal! And it was not the only one. It appeared destined to consecrate everything—the streets, the corners, the houses, the lonely trails, the quiet fields, the starry skies. In all the places where it could, heaven made contact with the earth; and in all the places it could, the inept human creature raised himself up to the one who watches in all places, near and far across a subtle veil.

Oh noche que guiaste! In a tremulous silence, under an infinite summer sky, all that could be heard were the prayer at the stations and the rhythmic footsteps of the four girls locking arms while in rapture.

Toward the end of the march they were heard to say, «On what day will we see you again, so that the people may come? . . . The people say that this is a sickness of ours, and the young boys have thrown stones at us . . . Well, if you are happy with us, it doesn't matter.»

And when it seemed that everything was going to end, they undertook an ascent to the Pines that all the witnesses have classified as impressive not only on account of the appearance of the four girls, but also because of the speed and lightness of their march.

On arriving at the top, Loli, who seemed to be trembling a little, said while talking with the Vision, «Yes, here is where the chapel will be built . . . This is a good spot . . . Should we stayhere?»(18) And they knelt down.

They sang a hymn to St. Michael. They kissed something in the air . . . And it was at this moment when Father Luis María Andreu . . . Let us listen to the testimony of Raphael Fontaneda:

«At the Pines, Father Luis was watching the girls closely. It appeared that he didn't wish to lose a single detail of what was taking place.

Suddenly we observed a tremendous excitement sweep over him, and four times—obviously overwhelmed— we heard him shout the word Miracle!»(19)

__________

Not only were the spectators able to observe Father Luis' trance; the girls, swept away from the normal world of the senses, saw him also. This was the first and only time that any person besides the visionaries came into their field of vision.

At the end of the rosary, the four of us were in ecstasy. And we began to walk toward the Pines. And when we arrived there Father Luis María said, Miracle! Miracle!

And he was looking upwards.
We saw him ourselves.
And in our ecstasies we have never seen anyone except the Virgin.
And we saw Father Luis.
And the Virgin told us that he was seeing her and the Miracle.(20)

Several days later Father Ramón María, who had not been in Garabandal on August 8th, learned from the girls something more about the vision of his brother: «He was kneeling with us, drops of shining perspiration on his forehead; and the Virgin was looking at him . . . She seemed to be saying to him, Very soon you will be at my side.»

It was about 10:00 at night. Father Luis came back to normal and «the girls began the descent, saying in ecstasy that they were going to the church. They said this as they usually did in their conversation with the Virgin . . . Father Royo Marín advised those present to run to the church since, according to his expression, The girls had wings on their feet.» (Testimony of Raphael Fontaneda)

If the ascent had been rapid, the descent was almost vertiginous. It is not surprising that the girls lost two rosaries from the ones that had been entrusted to them to present to the Virgin to kiss. One of these belonged to a seminarian. Conchita, who was the one to whom he had given it, mentioned it in the church: she was heard to say, «I lost the rosary . . . The one belonging to the student . . . I feel bad about it. Should I go back? . . . Oh . . . Where did I drop it? . . . Up there? . . . Higher than where we saw you? Oh!»

The other belonged to Father Luis. His was not an ordinary rosary but one of those that were beginning to be used at the time, shaped like a ring, with a cross on top and ten small protrusions to count the Hail Marys. It is put on the index finger on which it is revolved with the thumb. On leaving the church, Loli went up to Father, I've lost your rosary, but the Virgin has told me where it is; Let's go find it. Julia, the mother of the girl, heard this and objected. No, not today, since it is already late. Wait until tomorrow and when there is daylight you can find it.

Father Luis immediately approved Julia's sensible decision, and a little while later said to the girl, Loli, I'm going to leave tonight; when you find the rosary, don't tell anyone except my brother Ramón. If I don't come back, he surely will.

Not many hours later, the hidden prophetic meaning of those words would be revealed. The little rosary was found at the exact location that the Virgin had indicated; but its owner would no longer have a need for it.

The miraculous finale of that unforgettable August 8th, Conchita gives us in her diary:

The people said that we prayed a Credo at the Pines.
That day was the first in which the Virgin taught us to pray.(21)
And we went down to the village in the same state.
And when we arrived at the church, the Virgin left our view.
As the Virgin had not appeared to Mari Cruz for several days, she stayed in ecstasy with the Virgin.
And she went into the church.
And before the altar of the Virgin of the Rosary and St. Michael the Archangel, she began to pray the Creed with the Virgin very slowly.
And Mari Cruz said that the Virgin said the prayer ahead of her in order to teach her to pray slowly.
After the Credo, she prayed a Salve.
And then she made the sign of the cross very slowly, very well. And she talked with the Virgin, and said, Oh, how good that the Infant Jesus comes.
How long it has been since He has come.
Why do you wait so long to come to me and come more often to the others?(22)

This was heard by several people who were close to her: among them were Fr. Luis María Andreu, a seminarian, and Fr. Royo Marín.

18. According to information given to me, on the first day that the girls fell into ecstasy at the Pines — a date that I have not been able to identify with certainty — Conchita was heard to say among other things:
«It seems that I was taken up, without knowing where, to this place . . . I know the name of the Angel: St. Michael. The same as my brother; but my brother without the Saint . . . Then, the chapel will be here . . . But it can't be done here! . . . I don't know how it is going to be done here.»
Recently I questioned Jacinta:
—Did the Virgin tell you anything about the things that should be done here in the village, as for example chapels, a way of the cross?
—From what I remember, the only thing that she asked for explicitly was a chapel dedicated to St. Michael.
—Where? In the place where the chapel is now?
—No, at the Pines.
—When should it be built?
—When the Church permits it.

19. Father Ramón was also astounded when they told him about this since he knew that his brother was known for being a calm person, and he himself could never remember having seen his brother in a state of excitement.

20. This does not refer to a miracle, but to THE MIRACLE. The visionaries, especially Conchita, have repeatedly spoken of it. It is something still to be realized, a very important chapter in the history of Garabandal, still sealed in suspense. What she is telling us in this episode about Father Luis María Andreu is that on that night of August 8th, 1961, he was able to view beforehand, by a most singular favor of the Virgin what neither the visionaries nor anyone else has as yet seen, although it has been foretold for everyone.

What we will see then—when the great day arrives—or whom we will see is still a mystery . . . The fact that Fr. Luis was not able to survive after his ecstasy at the Pines might make us recall this passage from Exodus (33: 18-20):
Moses said: Show me Your Glory. I beseech you.
And God answered, I will let My splendor pass in front of you, and I will pronounce My name before you.
I have compassion on whomever I will. And I show pity to whomever I please.
You cannot see My face, for man cannot see Me and live.

How can the fragile and weak human creature contemplate the Supreme Being—Who infinitely surpasses man— without disintegrating?

But the desire remains, and we can only repeat Moses' request and the passionate urge of St. John of the Cross:

Reveal Your presence.
And show me the beauty of Your face.
Regard the suffering of love
That can only be healed by Your presence,
And your countenance.

God alone can strengthen us to contemplate his marvels.

21. From the beginning the Virgin taught the girls to do all things well, especially those things more directly concerned with God; and she instructed them above all in their way of acting. It seems that on this day she began a more complete course of instruction on this theme, adding explanations by word and lessons by her example.

If the reader has previously encountered in Chapter 5 many of the things that are now being brought forth, it should be understood that Chapter 5 attempted to present in advance a panoramic view of what the summer of 1961 was like in San Sebastián de Garabandal.

22. Of the four visionaries, Mari Cruz was the one who had the least number of apparitions and the first one from whom they were taken away. Why is this? God alone can answer this question.

And no disfavor to the girl can be concluded from this, since if it is true that there may be human obstacles to the Divine Action, it is also true that God can distribute His gifts to whomever He pleases, without doing wrong to anyone. The inequality can be recalled with which He acted toward the children in the communications at Fatima.

Because of this, could there have formed in the heart of Mari Cruz a form of bitterness or even envy to which the many visitors contributed by their preferences for the other girls? At present we do not have information to answer this.

She Went in Haste to the Mountain (Page 73)

“One is a Jesuit, and he said mass very well.”

Spectacular Day!

August 8th of the year 1961 was to be a day especially marked in the unfolding of this history.

At 5:45 a.m. on that day, in the freshness of the early morning air and under a clear sky that was beginning to lighten up, a caravan of automobiles including
a jeep left Aguilar de Campoo in the province of Palentia. Pulling away from the towering castle, which from afar appears to give the city a crown of crumbling stone walls, the cars got on the highway that would bring them to Cossío by way of Cervera, Piedras Luengas, Polaciones and Tudanca.

When the convoy arrived at Cossío, it was well into the morning. Father Luis María Andreu was among those traveling in a car with members of the Fontaneda family. In Cossío, they parked the cars and the jeep made three trips back and forth to bring all the passengers up to Garabandal.

Fr. Valentín Marichalar, the parish priest, very happy to see that Father Luis María had come, spoke to him, You've come at the right time, since I have to go to Torrelavega today. I'll give you the keys to the church, and also entrust you with
the care of the parish during my absence.

Father Luis was pleased to accept and joked with Rafael Fontaneda.(12) Let's go, friend, since today I'm the pastor of Garabandal.

Obviously this was an honor and privilege for him. Mr. Fontaneda was sure that Father Luis was extremely interested in everything about Garabandal since his first visit, although he had not revealed his opinion. Father had talked about visions in general, of their forms and types, of the importance of psychological studies for a suitable judgment on these phenomena. It was seen that he had
a passionate interest in the subject.

Acting as pastor, Father Luis had the tower bells rung for Mass. And though it was a work day, many people came, both strangers and people from the village. «Some twenty people, among them Conchita, Jacinta and Mary Loli received Holy
Communion.»(13)

«The Mass that Father celebrated»—Rafael Fontaneda assures us—«was exceptionally said. All those present were impressed.»

__________

Of this there can be no doubt, since there were so many witnesses. To what was this due?

«At first, some attributed it to the presence of the visionaries. Later, it was related to the fact that this was going to be Father's last Mass, and that somehow he had an unusual premonition.

Also a minor incident may have contributed to it: when going to pour the cruets, they were found empty. The server ran to a neighboring house to find wine, and soon came back with it; but there was a suspicion that it might have been spoiled. Father Luis collected himself a few moments in prayer — his eyes closed, his hands in front of his breast — then he made a sign to serve the wine and the Mass
proceeded with complete serenity and devotion. All this, united to the excitement of the apparitions of the evening before and the waiting for those that were expected that day, could have had a decisive influence upon the collective devotion and fervor in the celebration of the Mass. It is certain that the people, on leaving the church, commented on the silence, the piety, and the spirit of faith with which the celebrant and congregation were united in intimate communion before the altar.»(14)

__________

There was nothing else new on that morning; but everyone was waiting, since the girls had announced an apparition for slightly after lunch, at 2:00 in the
afternoon. At that time, all four girls, accompanied by a large crowd, went into the church.

«At 2:11 they went into ecstasy. They smiled, especially Jacinta. Mari Cruz gestured timidly.»

__________

These are the first words that Father Luis wrote down in his notebook. Then he began putting down what he was able to hear of the conversations.

«The Father» — writes Raphael Fontaneda — «was next to the girls, and as he had done on previous occasions, was carefully writing down all that they did and said. But he seemed extremely absorbed in the ecstasy, and those closest to him saw silent tears run down his cheeks.(15) Obviously he felt the presence of something extraordinary.»

__________

Father Luis was not the only one taking notes; there were two other spectators who also were taking down notes so that the main points would not be forgotten; a seminarian from Aguilar named Andrés Pardo, and the renowned Dominican priest, Antonio Royo Marín.

From the notes of one or the other, we know that among other things Conchita said to the vision:
«You know what I'm telling you? That you must give a sign; that . . . only one sign . . . at Lourdes and Fatima you gave a sign . . . Do you want me to show you all that I brought you? (She presents the rosaries and medals.) You have to kiss them . . . How do I look with the short hair? Are you coming this evening? Oh, how nice! . . . How old are you? . . . Oh . . . Three more than I? Six? Oh, yes! I am twelve . . . six more . . . eighteen. Seven more than Mari Cruz.»

__________

Conchita was not the only one talking. Loli asked the reason why the Angel hadn't come. She insisted then in the same request for a sign:

«Give one right now! You always say that you'll give it, that you'll give . . .»

__________

Jacinta took part in the conversation too, asking among other things whether on that night they should be in pairs again as at other times, each pair in a different house . . . (16)

Naturally they talked about the priests that were there that day:

«Two priests came today; one is a Jesuit, and he said Mass very well . . . What is his name? Something like Andrés . . . The Dominican . . . In Santander we saw many Dominicans . . . Father Juan(17) told priests not to come. Why did he do that?»

Father Luis was writing down the incidents of the ecstasy minute by minute:
«2:19: Loli makes a brusque gesture to fall forward. 2:24: Conchita cries. (Was it because of what had happened in Santander? She had just mentioned it). A few seconds later Loli falls and Mari Cruz supports her, holding her up by her back. 2:35: The four fall—we tried to hold them up. They remain with their gaze upward, without blinking. 2:40: They get up and kneel down. 2:43: They go backwards toward the altar of the Virgin of the Rosary; falling down backwards
in front of it with their backs on the ground, they begin to pray the rosary . . . 2:47:
They get up and continue the rosary on their knees. A hand is waved in front of their eyes, and they don't blink; they blink sometimes by their own efforts, but very seldom. A certain rigidity is noted in their jaws . . . When beginning the litany there is almost an appearance of losing equilibrium again . . . They finish the
prayer with an Our Father to their Guardian Angel, a Salve to the Virgin of Mount Caramel and an Apostles Creed to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The ecstasy ends about 3:00.»

__________

However, during this ecstasy something was predicted for the evening. And the thing would not be insignificant, since they were heard to say, «How long is it going to be? Two hours? . . . Where are we going to be kneeling?»

12. Son and Nephew of Rafael y don Antiano Fontaneda Ibañez, owners of a well-known business.

13. From the notebook of material taken down by Father Luis María himself on that day in Garabandal, and which his brother Ramón now possesses.

14. Sánchez-Ventura, page 115. (Spanish edition)

15. On the following day at Reinosa when Father Ramón María Andreu was informed of these details, he could not hide his amazement, since he stated, He had never seen his brother cry.

16. The one who took down the words of Jacinta and Mari Cruz was a seminarian named Andrés Pardo. He has now been a priest for several years and served on the National Commission on the Liturgy.

17. This seems to refer to the pastor of Carmona, Father Juan González Gómez, a native of Garabandal, who soon adopted a hostile or negative attitude toward the events, and was opposed to priests going up to the village. All those in the
village called him Father Juan or simply Juanito.

She Went in Haste to the Mountain (Page 72)

On August 3rd, the first ecstatic falls occurred.

In Crescendo

With the coming of August, summertime month par excellence, when Santander and its seaside resorts were overflowing with people, the influx of visitors coming from all regions into Garabandal acquired an accelerated pace. And at the same
time, the events themselves also seemed to follow an accelerated pace as they increased in number and became more attention-getting.

On the first day of the month, as we have mentioned, things began with the beautiful addition in the recitation of the Hail Mary: Holy Mary, Mother of God and our Mother.

On August 3rd, the first ecstatic falls occurred together with many other phenomena, culminating in Conchita's return back to town after eight days
in Santander, as previously described.

On August 4th, a Friday, the episode of the tape recorder took place.

On August 5th, among other things, everyone's attention was strongly attracted by an ecstatic march at tremendous speed going from the Pines all the way down to the church. Conchita was heard ardently asking pardon for having gone to the beach, and with no less ardor she implored the apparition to make a visible miracle so that everyone would believe.

Father Valentín wrote down in his notes:
«At two in the afternoon Loli, Conchita, and Jacinta went up beyond the Pines; there they knelt down and asked, Where are we going? To the church? And they undertook the descent in ecstasy.

At the church they stopped first before the main altar. Then they went to the altar of the Immaculate Conception and prayed a beautiful rosary—Conchita leading, the others answering. All this lasted about an hour and a half.

In the evening, toward 9:30, they returned in ecstasy to the church. I was at the gate when they came and I wanted to stop them, but I was unable. They went in front of the main altar, knelt down and began to speak. Conchita asked pardon for having gone to the beach and movie theater. Conchita wept. They also asked very
insistently for her to perform a miracle. And they asked why Mari Cruz was not seeing her.»

__________

The absence of Mari Cruz can be explained as due to pressures exerted on her parents, who were already doubting and upset, so that they kept her secluded far from the locations and phenomena of the other three. We know for example that during the days of August one of her aunts from Madrid was there, and she and some other people told the mother, The child is sick and so are the others. For
that reason, they took her to the pastures whenever they could.

Although I cannot way with certainty that it occurred on this day, I am inserting something here which has been told to me and which reveals quite well the visionaries' concern during those days. Mari Cruz and Jacinta were taken up into ecstasy near the water fountain, and the people gathered around them. the final light of day was fading. The wife of Augusto Fernández saw that her son, crippled with infantile paralysis, was next to the children in the middle of the crowd, and she feared that something might happen as the crowd pressed against him. She boldly made her way up to him to protect him from a possible avalanche of curious spectators. She reclined on the ground at his side, trying not to interfere with the vision of those behind her, and he had the chance to have her head
almost leaning on Mari Cruz, whom she heard saying in a whisper:

«Look. The people don't believe. They only believe that we are crazy and foolish. Come. Perform a miracle. Even though it is only a little one . . . So that they might believe. Let three stars fall now.»

A few seconds later—to everyone's surprise and with almost everyone unaware of the reason—three shooting starts crossed brilliantly across the sky.

On Sunday August 6th, the girls had an ecstasy in the evening at 9:30 sharp. During the recitation of the rosary, heavenly music was heard that lulled those hearing it and stirred up devotion as the girls were heard chanting the Hail Marys slowly, rhythmically, and fervently. They came out of ecstasy at 10:12; and then to conclude this ineffable evening of communication with heaven, as on so many other occasions, they went to pray a Station before the Blessed Sacrament. The girls did not pray badly, far from that; but the spectators were struck by the
contrast between the two prayers. The second, although devout and well said, did not have either the voice, or the rhythm, or the feeling, or the cadence of the first. It was evident that the girls in ecstasy were before something or someone that
transformed them.(10)

On August 7th, a Monday, there were more ecstasies. For example, one occurred at 2:00 in the afternoon to all four girls together.(11) It appears that this was one of the days in which the Virgin told the girls to stay in their homes without going
outside because of the deluge of strangers. In this way the Virgin protected the girls from the crowd's indiscreet enthusiasm and curiosity and allowed them a little rest.

10. Fr. Valentín ends his notes of August 6th like this: «Afterwards they prayed a station in the natural state. What a difference in their prayer!»

11. Another, still more interesting, after it had become dark. During it they made their way to the places where they had previously had apparitions; the village fountain, the apple tree in the calleja, the cuadro, the Pines. In each one of these
places they knelt down with devotion for some time, and then departed. The tour ended in the church.

«It was a dark night; but they told me that they saw as though it were daylight.» (Fr. Valentín)