WHAT IS GARABANDAL?: Garabandal

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Garabandal – An Introduction

In my capacity as Director of the Penang Garabandal Centre , I am pleased to introduce you to the subject of Garabandal.

If you have not heard or read about Garabandal, it is the name of a hamlet – San Sebastian de Garabandal – located in the foothills of the Cantabrian mountains in Northern Spain .

That is where four young schoolgirls were subjected to Marian apparitions from 2 July 1961 until 13 November 1965. During this period of time, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared over 2000 times, which makes Garabandal unique in the history of Marian apparitions.The visitations drew huge crowds, and featured alleged paranormal phenomena, much of it filmed or photographed, with thousands of witnesses.

The girls receiving the visions were Mari Loli Mazón (May 1, 1949 – April 20, 2009), Jacinta González (born April 27, 1949), Mari Cruz González (born June 21, 1950) and Conchita González (born Feb. 7, 1949).

In this series of visitations, the Virgin Mary is often referred to as “Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Garabandal”, because she said that she was the Lady of Mount Carmel when the visionaries asked who she was. Besides that, her appearance, dress and hairstyle looked like portrayals of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Lourdes, Fatima and Garabandal are one, a trilogy in an arc drawn through France, Portugal and Spain. Appearances in Spain are the key to the understanding of the Age of Mary in the Church. Garabandal is the bridge between what has happened and what is to come.

During her visitations, Our Lady gave two important Messages for the world. The first message was on the 18th of October 1961 and the second on the 18th of June 1965. The Messages of Garabandal have to do with our conversion of heart. We must ask forgiveness for our sins and strive to lead good lives. God Bless

Tony Lee Director Penang Garabandal Centre

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2 comments:

AnonymousApril 1, 2012 at 10:09 AM
I am not sure where I stand on Garabandal but if true, I think the world is in dire need of a "warning". Unfortunately, so does that other "apparition" at Medj which also states of a warning. That is not to say that Garabandal is untrue. I have more faith in Garabandal than Medj. I don't know if Medj. is trying to grab attention away from Garabandal AND Fatima, but I can see how people would be gradually swayed by Medj.
One question though: If I remember correctly, I had read years ago that when Cuba is allowed to trade with the United States again, that's when the time is close or to that effect.

Have you ever heard this before? I do not have an account at Google so I will sign with my name.

thanks
chuck
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Deacon JohnApril 1, 2012 at 1:20 PM
I never heard that one about Cuba. That has nothing to do about Garabandal. All Our Lady's apparitions are connected in some way and we will let God be God and He will show us what to believe through His Holy Church! Thanks for your comment, Chuck!
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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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