Fr. Ramon Andreu's Notes: Part Two, Post 45

Dr. Puchol’s death left the seat of Santander vacant, and it was next occupied by Dr. Cirarda.

This one ordered the secretary to publish a Note without his signature, but in an official manner on October 9, 1968.

Later, on the 15th of this same month, he reaffirmed his valor when Monsignor Cirarda send a letter to the Archbishop of Barcelona in which he asked for an explanation of the spirit of Canon 1399. The letter, note, and annexes say:

Bishopric of Santander—about the events of Garabandal, Santander, October 15, 1968.

My dear brother and friend:

Without a doubt you know about some references to the pretended supernatural events of San Sebastián de Garabandal, which date from 1961. As a result of the accidental death of Monsignor Puchol, my immediate predecessor in this episcopal seat of Santander, the propaganda about the supernatural origins of these happenings has been greatly revived in Spain as well as in other countries. This has happened in spite of three consecutive Prelates who have been in this diocese in the last few years and have made declarations against it and have repeated prohibitions of the movements of Garabandal.

According to what is evident in the archive of this Bishopric, the four supposed seers have confessed in spontaneous, coinciding declarations that “all of the things that the people call prodigies or say are divine, are things we did.”

This whole problem was solved in its day by my predecessors with the Holy See, and the Holy Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith has a photocopy of the said declarations and fully proved the prudence with which Monsignor Puchol worked on this problem, according to what we see in Annex II.

For all of these reasons, I decided to publish the “Note of the Bishopric of Santander about the happenings of San Sebastián de Garabandal.” Upon recrudescence the propaganda was finally turned to them in magazines and Spanish papers, at the same time that people began to organize congresses and “Garabandal Centers” in other countries. With this I answer also to the continuous consultations about this theme, whch arrives at this bishopric from different nations in Europe and America (cfr, Annex I).

I ask you to publish this Note in the official bulletin of your Bishopric, if you think it opportune. Please impede the publication of books, pamphlets, etc. in your jurisdiction. Propagandists of the Garabandal movement must be stopped, those things called “Pilgrimages to San Sebastián de Garabandal.”

I am very grateful for your attention, and I remain your brother in the priesthood of Christ.

José María—Annex I—Bishopric of Santander