WHAT IS GARABANDAL?: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1963:

Monday, November 8, 2010

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1963:

Conchita in ecstasy

Awakened by a mysterious interior uneasiness, Conchita went to the church at around 5:30 a.m. with her mother. Before the church doors, she fell into ecstasy . . . The Blessed Virgin first "wished me a happy birthday," adding these profound words (almost identical to those said, in 1858, to Bernadette in Lourdes): "You will not be happy on Earth, but, yes, you will be in Heaven!" She also revealed to her other "future events" about which the visionary was told "not to make known" . . .
[Excerpt from 'Garabandal' Book, page 179]

Saint Bernadette Soubirous Image via Wikipedia

Those "words" of Our Lady to Bernadette have always stuck in my mind, "I can't promise you happiness here on earth, only in heaven." And I've repeated them to others when I thought they needed to hear them. Think about it. Are we ever really happy here? Sure there's moments of happiness, like a birthday party, a wedding, a new baby, etc., but the next day or even hours sometimes, comes some problem, some sadness, some trouble. In Heaven it will be total happiness for all eternity! Imagine that! I can't wait! In the meantime we can offer up our unhappiness to the Lord in reparation for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
God Bless
Deacon John

Uncorrupt Body of St. Bernadette Image via Wikipedia

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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?

Monday, November 8, 2010

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1963:

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