Fr. Ramon Andreu's Notes: Part Two, Post 34

Msgr. D. Fernandez

On June 18, 1961, the history begins with visions that include mystical phenomena, corraborated by thousands of people among whom are theologians, priests, doctors, and men of the village. All have seen, except for rare exceptions, the intervention of Our Mother in Heaven. As a result, there is a spiritual current that cleanses the piety of the assistants, the converts, etc.

On August 26th of the same year, Bishop Doroteo Fernández’s Apostolic Administrator published the first note, which said this:

“Before the constant questions we made about the naturality of the happenings that have occurred in San Sebastián de Garabandal, and with the desire to orient the faithful in the right interpretation of these times. We believe ourselves obligated to study the happenings as a pastoral duty.

With this end we name a Commission of people recognized for their prudence and knowledge of doctrine to inform us, with a guarantee of objectivity and competence regarding the happenings.

In view of the report that has been presented to us, we believe that it is premature to make a definitive judgment in pronouncing the natural origin of the phenomena in question. There will be nothing right now. We are obligated to affirm the supernatural origin of the events that have occurred there.

In view of this, and with the condition of a definitive judgment of the facts that are produced in the future, we declare:

1. It is our desire that the priests, diocesan as well as those not from the diocese, and the religious of both sexes, will abstain from going to San Sebastián de Garabandal at present.

2. We advise the Christian village not to frequent the mentioned location without an ecclesiastical report about the situation.

With these provisional measures we certainly don’t hinder divine action over souls, but the opposite effect. We take away the spectacular character of the happenings, and enable the light of the truth. Doroteo, A. de Santander—Santander August 26, 1961.”

In the note, as we see, he communicates that the commission will act, and that at the moment he is not obligated to declare the supernatural nature of the events.

Nevertheless, this note makes a tacit recognition of a celestial origin and expresses the desire not to hinder divine action over souls, a test that the commission has observed. It does not prohibit the faithful from attending the ecstasies; it only asks for prudence and it is clear that it has observed the spiritual benefits, and he does not want to cut this precious river of Grace. The advice is to avoid excesses.

It seems that the mind of the Apostolic Administrador was sincerely favorable to the events and their supernatural nature even though he cites that there is not enough evidence to define it as such.

The phenomena continue with the four girls as protagonists, will new types of manifestations like ecstatic marches, falls, etc. This continued until October 18th of the same year, the date given by the girls as Our Mother in Heaven dictated, when there was a message for the world that said:

“We have to make many sacrifices and do a lot of penance and we have to visit the Most Holy often. We have to be very good because if we are not, a very large punishment will come to us. The cup is already filling up and if we don’t change, the punishment will come.”

It is certain that many were disallusioned when they heard this message, thinking that it seemed insignificant.

If they were disillusioned, the Bishop certainly gave them more reason with his note. They were not prepared to hear celestial words, supposing that is what they were. They awaited a glorious miracle, something spectacular, against the note. When it was not produced, they were disillusioned.

The marvalous events spurred spirituality but the message didn’t. It was a plain demonstration of the inversion of values that the note tried to forewarn.

Those who were witnesses believed during the prodigious tests, but it seemed to them that what they said was not very important. They didn’t understand that the girls were asking with urgency, in a fixed place, “the cup is filling up,” and to redouble their sacrifices and their penance, that what they were already doing wasn’t good enough, the gravity of the situation asked for much more. And, a new fact, a certain vision of forewarning, they asked for many visits to the Most Holy. If the Holy places were always full of adorers, then the modernists would not dare take them away or undervalue them. At that time there was time to save them through our efforts, but, by not understanding the message, they did not do it. They also urged a change in lifestyle, “we have to be very good,” and if it did not happen, “a punishment will come.”

This message which is so clear, but because of lack of meditation, and because of shock from the tests that were proven, was not understood. Some believed it to be the fruit of a simple composition in the place of the girls, imbued with religious ideas, or simply a recommendation of the cycle, without any greater transcendence than that of a sermon from a good predictor of things. They didn’t judge the value, but they reaffirmed their petitions more and more and their text.

Unfortunately, the reaction was small and lukewarm, as we know from the text of the second message. A serious warning for believers to fill themselves with strength and willingness to perform the received recommendations.