WHAT IS GARABANDAL?: "PRODIGIOUS PHENOMENA"

Friday, February 19, 2010

"PRODIGIOUS PHENOMENA"

THE "PRODIGIOUS" PHENOMENA BECOME
MORE AND MORE DIVERSIFIED

During the month of July 1961, a very striking phenomenon proper to Garabandal occurred.
The visionaries in ecstasy, increased in weight so much that two men could barely suceed in lifting them . . .
Without any effort, the girls managed to do this!
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 62.]

I've seen many pictures and video's of this 'phenomena' and it's really amazing! The one posted above shows Mari-Loli easily lifting Jacinta to help her reach the Vision. But what is God and Our Lady telling us with these supernatural happenings? Well, I think it's exactly that . . . to point out the supernaturality of the events! Then by believing in this we are drawn to the "Formal Messages" and can believe in them. As Our Lord proclaimed His Father's Kingdom and called His people to repentance, He worked 'signs and wonders', miracles of healing, changing water into wine, raising the dead, exorcism's, etc., to call attention to His Message of Faith, Hope and Love. And as He ascended into Heaven, He said: "Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned." [Mark 16: 15-16]

We have to believe in the Gospel to be saved, but we don't have to believe in apparitions and what they proclaim. Nevertheless, if God is sending Our Lady down to earth as a Prophetess for our times, are we to ignore what She says, or take and live Her Messages in our hearts and grow spiritually? I personally cannot ignore Our Mother's urgent pleas!
Deacon John

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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

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WHAT IS GARABANDAL?

Friday, February 19, 2010

"PRODIGIOUS PHENOMENA"

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