Fr. Ramon Andreu's Notes: Part Three, Post 1

Sept.-Oct. 1962

My school Sept.-Oct. 1962

Synthetic Report

“Does the Virgin act visibly?”

“What is occurring in San Sebastián de Garabandal, Santander?”

“San Sebastián de Garabandal is a village situated on a mountain about 7 kilometers above Cossío. From this point of reference, Cossío, the highway passes closer to San Sebastián de Garabandal.

It is a varied countryside on a mountain with Pines, in whose skirts the simple village rests. Its inhabitants are peaceful, honorable workers. Until the events, which we are going to discuss, the village represented a dark place with old traditions. One is like ours: at sunset, a woman—she’s the mother of one of the seers, Jacinta—runs through the streets ringing a little bell to invite her neighbors to pray for the souls in Purgatory. They also pray the holy Rosary daily in the Church.

There is not the remotest feeling of religious fanaticism.

The roads that go through the country are full of crops in the stony wilderness. There is a riverbed that is full of boulders that rests below the mountain of pines.

The Actors

The names of the girls are:

María Concepción, 12 years old (Conchita).

Jacinta, 12 years old.

María Dolores, 12 years old.

María Cruz, 11 years old.

We will add that none of the girls are sisters or cousins.

Besides María Cruz, the others have enjoyed strong health and robust complexion. Their mental development at this age is normal for the villages. Compared to a child of this age who has been educated or is from the city, they would seem about 9 or 10 years old.

They are poor, humble, working families. Their fathers are normal, with the temperaments of men from the north country, from Santander.

They have an excellent and prudent pastor, full of zeal for his parish. The young boys and youth have the virtues and vices customary to their ages. Everything is normal.

The girls are not distinguishable from the others in their manner of being, nor in their performance in school, nor in catechism, nor for anything exemplary. This also includes mischievous occurrences normal for their age.