JULY 1988:

MARI-LOLI AND HER FAMILY ARE
PRESENTED TO POPE JOHN PAUL II

In this Marian year 1987-1988, the couple and their children made a pilgrimage to the main shrines of the Blessed Virgin, with the purpose of "checking out" young Francis's vocation to the priesthood. They were arriving in Rome from San Sebastian de Garabandal where, a few days earlier, July 16, on the very Feastday of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Maria Dolores and Melanie had received their First Communion from the hands of the present pastor, Don Juan Gonzalez himself!

Fr. Robert Francis Lee Graves had previously arranged the stay of the LaFleur's in Rome, and especially their meeting with the Pope. A member of the High Anglican Church, the latter, then a cadet of nineteen years at the prestigious Military Academy of West Point (New York, U.S.A.) had converted to Catholicism on Good Friday 1974.

Because of her role as one of the main protagonists of Garabandal, Mari-Loli was apprehensive about the interview with the Holy Father. But Mother Teresa of Calcutta once again had intervened to comfort the visionary, promising to pray for a positive outcome of her initiative . . . 

Ordained priest in June 1987 in St. Peter's Basilica by John Paul II himself, Fr. Lee Graves, on this July 23, 1988, presented Mari-Loli and her family to the Pope, addressing the Sovereign Pontiff in these words: "Your Holiness, a special blessing for the smallest of your children who come from San Sebastian de Garabandal." John Paul II then exclaimed: "GARABANDAL!" Then he kissed straight away the two little girls, Maria Dolores and Melanie, blessed the young Francis, and thereafter opening out his arms as if to embrace the whole family!

Without endorsing Garabandal openly, the Pope's attitude, might we presume, was expressing here at least some form of a positive spiritual discernment, just like acting also 'personally,' as he had already done the previous year, when receiving Joey Lomangino and his family during their own stopover in Rome on the occasion of the same Marian Year.
[From 'Garabandal' Book, pages 244-245]

I'm so happy to be able to post this today, April 30th, on the eve of Pope John Paul II's beatification. From heaven, may he obtain many graces for us supporters of Garabandal and especially for the remaining living seers: Conchita, Jacinta and Mari-Cruz. And of course we pray daily for Mari-Loli (RIP+), may she rest in peace.

Figurines commemorating the Popes beatification. Image by Getty Images via @daylife

 
There's some great photos of this meeting with the Pope and Mari-Loli and her family in this book, like the one above. Someday I hope to get copies of them all and post them. There is another photo of Mother Teresa encouraging Mari-Loli before she left for Rome. By the way, her children are adorable!

That's the end of the story except for a few pages of reflection on what we have been posting here. I'll try to post some of the important events and words of the seers and also recap with a run down of what the Warning, the Miracle and the Great Sign will consist of. And there is the conditional chastisement. So we are not finished yet!!! Care to comment?
Deacon John

WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE VISIONARIES?

All four of the visionaries are married and have left the village.

Mari-Cruz married Ignacio Caballero in May 1970. They live at Aviles in the Asturias. They have four children, Ignacio-Manuel, Maria- Lourdes, Juan-Carlos and Gabriel.

On May 26, 1973, Conchita married Patrick J. Keena in Long Island (N.Y.), where they live. The visionary also has four children: Maria- Conception, Miriam Fatima, Ana Maria-Josefa, and Patrick Joseph Maria.

Mari-Loli married Francis LaFleur in Brockton, Massachusetts, on February 2, 1974. They live in that State of the U.S.A. They have three children - a fourth having died at an early age: Francis, Melanie Maria and Maria Dolores.

Jacinta married Jeffrey Moynihan, a Californian, at Garabandal, on February 21, 1976. They settled in California. They have a daughter, Maria.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 236]

Remembering that what was written here about the visionaries was from the year 2001, so I really don't know what and where they are now, except we know Mari-Loli died in April 2009. May she rest in peace! I get a few magazines concerning Garabandal and the May-June 2007 issue of "Garabandal International" has a short story about Conchita buying a home in Fatima, Portugal, where she hopes to announce the Great Miracle under the protection of Our Lady of Fatima! I will try to keep you posted of any other updates on these things.
Deacon John

PAUL VI (1898 - AUGUST 6, 1978)

"Servant of God," whose Cause for beatification has already been introduced in Rome, Paul VI died on August 6, 1978, the very Feastday of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, this was a prophetic liturgical day, since he had published his famous Encyclical Ecclesiam Suam (during Vatican II Council), which was to lead to its complete achievement on August 6, 1964. It is no surprise that if this great, very sensitive and cultivated Pope--a "man of genius" as he would also be so described by John Paul II--more a true witness of the Gospel, expressed on many occasions his own personal belief in Garabandal.
[Excerpt from 'Garabandal' Book page 234]

Yes, Pope Paul VI was a great man and I have to thank him with my prayers, each day, for my being a deacon, by petitioning the Lord for his beatification! If he didn't continue the Council after Pope John XXIII died, there would be no married deacons who want to serve the Church!

Another of his great works was Humanae Vitae, which confirmed the Church's rules regarding contraception and also warned about the disrespect of human life and that mass abortions was coming next, something unheard of in those days. He also warned that "the smoke of Satan has entered the sanctuary", in regard to all the modernism that was raging through the Church at that time. He suffered greatly because of these scandals and dis-obedience with many clergy. May he be beatified and canonized soon!
Roman Deacon

Image via Wikipedia

 [Photo] The Apollo 11 astronauts, Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., Michael Collins, and their wives receive a papal audience by Pope Paul VI in the Papal Library, St. Peters Cathedral at the Vatican. The GIANTSTEP-APOLLO 11 Presidential Goodwill Tour emphasized the willingness of the United States to share its space knowledge, and carried the Apollo 11 astronauts and their wives to 24 countries and 27 cities in 45 days.

[Coming up: "WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE VISIONARIES?]

CARDINAL AFRED OTTAVIANI (DIED 1979)

Prefect for more than twenty years of the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, which, in 1966, became the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ottaviani was, in his special function of "guardian of the faith," in a good position to evaluate the risks of manipulations and travesties of the Evil One, something that very often occurs in those particular matters of apparitions, visions, revelations, etc. . . These had already begun to multiply rapidly . . . when the Cardinal made, in February 1951, a resounding declaration addressed to the faithful, enjoining them "not to rush!" He maintained this firm position at the time of the Council, when more
particularly in charge of directing the discussions on Divine Revelation . . .

It was therefore, with prudence, that, one might remember, he first listened to Conchita in January 1966, at the Vatican. The initiatives that the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith took, right after his conversations with the visionary, facilitating her meeting Pope Paul VI, in private, allows us to suppose, however, that his opinion was already favorable. . . Not, however, without mentioning how Jacinta herself was to be introduced to Cardinal Ottaviani, in 1975, for we know the astonishing exhortation he then addressed to her: "We must pray a great deal, Jacinta, so that the Church may acknowledge Garabandal," after . . . having told her that 'he believed in the supernatural character of Garabandal'!
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 234]

So, there you have one of the most highest officials, next to the Pope himself, believing in the events of Garabandal! When will the Church approve these apparitions? Not until the Miracle, and the Great Sign, which will prove to the whole world the truth of Garabandal. So we wait, and in the meantime, we are allowed to believe and even go there on pilgrimage because the Church has never condemned Garabandal, but awaits the fulfillment of the prophecies too! By the way, the 101 Foundation does have an extensive Pilgrimage Program regarding Garabandal and even has reservations set aside for plane trips for the Miracle! Check them out at http://www.101foundation.com/ for more information . . .
Deacon John

a video: "Garabandal and Our Lady"

Click here to view video Garabandal and Our Lady This is a video I recorded during one my visits to Garabandal in the Cantabria mountains. Site: www.monsignormoss.com

http://youtu.be/GjjanU86CGM

GARABANDAL TODAY VIDEO

Since 1984 I visited Garabandal numerous times and mostly during the first week in December. Upon my arrival on Dec.2 the surrounding mountains at higher altitude were covered with snow.
When I left on Dec.6 most of it had disappeared.Although the weather was cool Garabandal stayed free of the snow. So all what was needed to climb the mountain was some warm cloths.
See further: www.monsignormoss.com

JACINTA AND MOTHER TERESA, JANUARY 19, 1992

Jacinta and Mother Teresa

In January 1992, Mother Teresa invited Jacinta to come see her. She was then recovering from a serious illness in her noviciate of Tijuanna (Mexico), only a few hours away from the visionary's home at Pasadena (California, U.S.A.). Jacinta thus made the trip on January 19, 1992, on the eve of the Feast of St. Sebastian. The religious Sister enthusiastically presented her to her community: "Here is Jacinta of Garabandal. Garabandal is authentic!" Then, before everybody, she expressed her keen interest for the works and research done on the "events," even inquiring about the new Bishop, Msgr. Vilaplana. Mother Teresa then asked the visionary to pray for her Institute for, she said, "You have only one house, I have dozens of them to take care of."

The famous Foundress, who had already met Jacinta in New York, recalled with her many of the graces received by the visionary, notably the one of seeing the Sacred Heart, for Whom Mother Teresa had a great devotion. Her death, which occurred on September 5, 1997, just a few weeks after having met for the last time, in New York, with Conchita, was to arouse an immense chorus of praise and true admiration.
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 233]

Jacinta in 1999 at her home,

offering a crucifix to be kissed.

 

Both Conchita and Jacinta married Americans and that's why they live here in the U.S.A. We'll here more about that soon.

I would have loved to have met Mother Teresa. It would have been one of the highlights of my life, next to the time I assisted as Deacon at Pope John Paul II's outdoor Mass in Queens, New York. I was one of the deacons assigned to hold a ciborium as the Holy Father celebrated Mass and consecrated thousands of Hosts. Then I went into the crowds and distributed Holy Communion to the faithful. What a day! Who could forget an event like that!
Deacon John

MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA (DIED 1997)

Conchita with Mother Teresa, as her son Patrick looks on.

WITH CONCHITA IN NEW YORK

The famous Foundress of the Missionaries of Charity has never expressed any doubts about her profound belief in the divine origin of Garabandal: "It was in 1970 that I heard about the apparitions of San Sebastian de Garabandal for the first time . . . From the beginning, I felt that the 'events' were authentic . . ." (Letter of November 10, 1987 to Msgr. del Val).

During her frequent trips to the United States, notably to New York, Mother Teresa had the opportunity of meeting Conchita who has lived on Long Island since 1972. This was the beginning of a strong human and spiritual friendship that never faltered. This was also for Mother Teresa the providential means of increasing her "inspired" conviction concerning Garabandal. Discretion and prudence alone prevent us from revealing more about the "faith" of that world-famous woman regarding Garabandal.

A Nobel Prize winner in 1979, Mother Teresa is the godmother of Conchita's third daughter, Anna Maria Josefa, baptized on August 31, 1976. In November 1978, Mother Teresa had already offered Msgr. del Val Gallo to have every priest in the diocese of Santander adopted spiritually by a Sister of her own Congregation. The prelate gratefully accepted such a spiritual 'sponsorship.' Unique, even "inspired" in every way, this proposition was made by Mother Teresa to no other diocese in the world!
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 232]

And of course we all know that Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta was beatified on October 19, 2003 by Pope John Paul II. So we have another Saint associated with Garabandal! And what a Saint she was. She is one of my favorites that I pray daily to. I never met her in person, but look forward to seeing her in Heaven!

Yes, Conchita lives on Long Island and from what I read recently, also has a home in Fatima, Portugal. When we lived in Queens, Conchita's son and daughter went to St. Francis High School at the same time my daughter Elizabeth was there. We formed a parents prayer group and I was fortunate to be able to celebrate an hour of Adoration and Benediction with Conchita and her children present, along with my wife and daughter too. Those are great memories that I will never forget!
Deacon John

A Pilgrimage to Garabandal [Video]

MADRE ESPERANZA OF JESUS (DIED 1983)

Of Spanish origin, born at the very beginning of this century, Madre Esperanza de Jesus, Servant of God (1993), is one of these outstanding souls that God sends us from time to time. Already in 1927, she had received the 'inspiration' to give herself to the divine Merciful Love, for the sanctification of priests.
On February 24, 1951, the Lord would also inspire her to proceed to the "Foundation of the Servants of the Merciful Love" to be officially approved by Rome . . . in the following month of August!
Madre Esperanza de Jesus 'learned' about the apparitions of San Sebastian de Garabandal; furthermore, we know that she was firmly convinced of their supernatural character, thanks to the testimony of Miss Emilia Andreo Rubio, who had met the Madre on the occasion of a pilgrimage to Collevalenza, Italy: the religious foundress reacted indeed very positively to the intention of Emilia and some of her friends to go to Garabandal, and . . . only there! She even declared: "You are going to San Sebastian de Garabandal? Good! Good!"

Here, too, we will have to wait to know more about the great contemporary Foundress's strong faith in Garabandal. The process for her beatification is also being pursued.
In 1964, Carol Wojtyla, then archbishop of Cracow, and future Pope John Paul II, during a visit to the Sanctuary, on the Feast of Christ the King, distributed Holy Communion. He had known Collevalenza for already a long time since, as a young priest studying in Rome, in 1946, he used to go there, even spending the whole night in prayer! It was there that Madre Esperanza received the inspiration to create the famous Sanctuary.
It is as Sovereign Pontiff that he was to make a new and very special pilgrimage to the Sanctuary on November 22, 1981, according to the prediction Our Lord had made to Sister Esperanza in the 1950's, and which said that "a Pope will go to Collevalenza"! http://www.collevalenza.it/Anniversario/Papa_Santuario_en.htm
After the Holy Father's visit, the Sanctuary became a "Minor Basilica", in 1982.
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 230-231]

 
There's a great picture in this book showing Pope John Paul II kissing Madre Esperanza on the head! What a humble man he was! I remember when he was elected. I was down at Joey's Lomangino's house, which was being used as a mail-room for distributing Garabandal material, and stuffing envelopes, when the news came. We were so happy, because there was so much modernism creeping into the Church at that time, and I thought to myself, "God has sent us a deliverer!" I believe he did stop the spread of many errors from exploding and causing more harm than they did. Now with our New Pope Benedict XVI, I have those same feelings again. I don't know if it is tied in with Garabandal, but I believe there are some great changes coming to our beloved Church which will make her a beacon for all the world to join! What do you think?
Deacon John