WHAT IS GARABANDAL?: THE FOUR SEERS

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

THE FOUR SEERS

The four visionaries of Garabandal are: (left to right)
Conchita Gonzalez: 12 years old (February 7, 1949)
Mari-Cruz Gonzalez Madrazo: 11 years old (June 21, 1950)
Jacinta Gonzalez Gonzalez: 12 years old (April 27, 1949)
Maria-Dolores (or Mari-Loli) Mazon Gonzalez: 12 years old (May 1,
1949)

Even if they bear the same family name, the four adolescents are not related. They were all born in the village, They know each other well but do not form a "clique." They each have brothers and sisters, except for Mari-Cruz.

Mischievous and very playful, the girls lived happily on the mountain. Nothing made them stand out from the other children of the village. Like them, they shared their time between school and farm work.

Image via Wikipedia

At the time of the apparitions, Mari-Loli's father, Ceferino, operated a small grocery store and a bar. On the ground floor, Loli did the cooking, served meals and greeted customers. This was the social and commercial center of the village.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 18]

How innocent and pure these children were in 1961 compared with the rest of the world! Half way around the world I was living in New York City, marrying my bride and living a very worldly lifestyle; motorcycles, new car, new baby (the first one), and working, working, working; making money, money, money! Who thought about God? Who went to church? Not I!
Deacon John

No comments:

UPDATE: THE CHURCH"S POSITION ON GARABANDAL

The magazine "Garabandal Journal" has updated some information regarding the village of Garabandal, the current Bishop and Pastor.
For many years, while never being condemned, the Garabandal events were under a dark cloud as some of the first bishops (but not all) opposed the events. But the tide started to change with Bishop Juan Antonio del Val Gallo (1971-1991). While he at first did not believe in the apparitions he took a more open position. In 1981, he became a believer and during his reign, he lifted the ban on priests going up to the village and allowed them to celebrate Mass in the village church with the permission of the village pastor. The next bishop, Jose Vilaplana Blasco, was a non-believer, but left in place the positive changes made by Bishop del Val. In 2006, he was transferred to another diocese in southern Spain and Archbishop of Oviedo, Carlos Osoro Sierra, was made Apostolic Administrator of Santander. The Archbishop, building on the positive measures taken by Bishop Del Val, allowed priests visiting Garabandal to celebrate Mass in the village church even if the pastor was not there (he ministered to a number of other villages and was not always in Garabandal). The Archbishop also gave visiting priests faculties to hear confessions.
In 2007, Ed Kelly from the United States, wrote to the Archbishop requesting the current status of Garabandal and received a letter from the prelate, under his own stationary and signed by him dated May 7, 2007, in which he said: "I respect the apparitions and have known of authentic conversions. In light of these events, how can we not always feel the need to open our heart to our mother Mary to tell her that we need her protection, help, spirit, desire, hope and love! I encourage you to continue maintaining this devotion to our Mother."
In 2011, two 50th anniversaries were celebrated in Garabandal (1) for the first appearance of St. Michael on June 18, 1961, and (2) the first vision of Our Lady on July 2, 1961. The celebrations were conducted under the auspices of the Santander Diocese represented by the village pastor Fr. Rolando Cabeza (also dean of the area). During the celebrations, another ban was lifted when Fr. Cabeza, spoke of the apparitions from the pulpit, and read the two formal Messages of Our Lady at Garabandal.
On May 6, 2012, current Bishop of Santander, Vecente Jimenez Zamora (installed in 2007) celebrated a Mass in Garabandal in commemoration of the completion of a restoration project of the village church. In a refreshments period after Mass, he was open and most cordial with all the villagers and visitors. On May1, 2013, the Bishop again celebrated Mass in the village church of Garabandal and prior to the Mass, kissed a crucifix belonging to villager David Toribio that was kissed by the Blessed Virgin at Garabandal. We don't know if the Bishop knew that but we suspect he did.
Bishop Jimenez's Masses in Garabandal were firsts, since no Bishop of Santander had ever said Mass in the village church from the time the apparitions began in 1961.
Deacon John

Subscribe to Garabandal Journal Magazine to keep updated!
GARABANDAL JOURNAL
PO BOX 1796
ST CLOUD MN 56302-1796
SPECIAL OFFER $16.00 (1 year)

WHAT IS GARABANDAL?

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

THE FOUR SEERS

No comments:

Post a Comment

PRO-LIFE RING