MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1962

Headstone honoring site of St. Michael's apparition

ST. MICHAEL TAKES AGAIN HIS
"ACTIVE ROLE" IN GARABANDAL

On the second day of the week of Corpus Christi, the solemn Feast of the Eucharistic mystery and related devotions, the Archangel St. Michael appeared to the children at the very site of the calleja, there where, one year before, he had stood for the first time. This anniversary prefigured another one, that of June 18, 1965, the day on which the angel delivered the second Message of Garabandal to Conchita.

In very impressive circumstances, Mari-Loli and Jacinta again had the vision of the ordeals of the Pre-Aviso, but also the revelation of the future Aviso and even a preview of the conditional Chastisement, although it then seemed that it is inexorably destined to happen, and that only an attitude of "sincere repentance and prayer could kind of prepare us for it." We might sum up here the words of the Blessed Virgin, as later written and signed by the two visionaries Mari-Loli and Jacinta): a very softened commentary of the scenes they had attended that night, and which proved to be much more terrifying yet than the "two nights of tears" (28th and 29th of July 1961).

All through the "events" of Garabandal, Conchita was to receive many insights on the period of the Pre-Aviso but she would be informed, as we shall see later, about the Warning as such only on January 1, 1965. This "explains" her absence on the evening of June 19, 1962.

As to Mari-Loli herself, the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel would eventually (Fall 1962) reveal to her both the year of the Aviso and the lapse of time ("less than one year") between that future extraordinary "event" and the day of the great Miracle.
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 133-134]

These children must have been terrified at seeing these "chastisements" that were shown them. It reminds me of the 3 children of Fatima, when they were shown the vision of hell, with demons and the damned in the fires, tossing and turning. Scary for us, imagine what goes through a child's mind when seeing these visions. And yet, God, and Our Lady did indeed show these visions to the children, at Fatima, and at Garabandal, so that we adults would "get the message" that if we don't be good, don't convert our lives, this is what will happen to us. If an adult received these visions of hell and punishment and chastisements, they would probably either not tell everything or distort the message because they either were to afraid that nobody would believe it or ashamed. Not so with children, who will pass along the message, the vision intact, not thinking of themselves or peoples feelings.

We also now know that the Warning will be followed by the great Miracle with-in the same year. The Warning will prepare the world for the Miracle, so that " all will believe!" I can't wait. I hope I'm around to see these great supernatural events that will manifest the power of God and prove His existence!!! How about you?

Roman Deacon

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1962:

A MOST SIGNIFICANT MARIAN INVOCATION

On this Feast, then, of the Ascension of the Lord, but also of Mary as Queen, the visionaries altered the traditional Santanderinian invocation of "Our Lady Truly Appeared ("Bien aparecida"), Queen and Mother of the Mountain." Instead they addressed her as "Our Lady Truly Appeared, Queen and Sovereign of Everything Created, pray for us." This invocation, celebrating Mary's unparalleled participation in the Kingship of her Son, was in fact the perfect echo of the patristic thought, that had already (1954) allowed Pope Pius XII to attribute this new title to the Blessed Virgin (Encyclical Letter 1955 'Ad Coeli Reginam'), the successor of St. Peter relying abundantly on the very rich doctrine ad hoc contained in the Divine Revelation (Holy Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition).
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 133]

Pope Pius XII was a great Marian Pope and had great devotion to Our Lady of Fatima! As a matter of fact, he saw the Miracle of the spinning sun, which happened on October 13, 1917, many years later in the papal gardens, while he was praying. He also consecrated the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I believe he will be canonized soon as a Saint!

Our Lady has so many titles! This is a new one for me: "OUR LADY TRULY APPEARED, QUEEN AND SOVEREIGN OF EVERYTHING CREATED! It makes sense, when you look at the Miraculous Medal and see the two Hearts of Jesus and Mary joined together! If Jesus , God and Creator, is our King, Mother Mary has to be Our Queen, and her Queenship extends throughout the universe! Amen to that!
Roman Deacon

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, AND SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1962

TWO NEW COMMUNIONS GIVEN BY ST. MICHAEL,
AT THE PINES, TO CONCHITA

The Communions given by the Angel to Conchita at the Pines, on May 16 and 26, were another proof of the extent to which, in Garabandal, there is an essential link between the Eucharist and the Priesthood.

As a complement to what has already been pointed out, may we add here that St. Simon Stock, whose Feastday falls on May 16, received the "rule of the Carmelites" in Palestine, from St. Albert of Jerusalem.

As to St. Philip Neri, whose Feast was celebrated on May 26, he founded his famous Oratory at the end of the sixteenth century; an exceptional example of Marian piety and cheerful holiness, he advocated frequent Communion, even for children, and was even so consumed body and soul, by the fire of the Holy Spirit, that after his death, physicians performing his autopsy discovered that his heart was . . . split open!

(In the church of Garabandal, one can contemplate two central themes in the apparitions: the pelican sculptured on the door of the tabernacle being one of them, the other being quite properly the lamb.)
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 133]

It's interesting how these "Communions", given by the Angel are connected to certain Saints' Feast Day. Of course, at Garabandal, Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Mount Carmel, holding out the Brown Scapular. St. Simon Stock was the Saint who received the revelation about the Scapular and it's many graces attached to those who wear it. I for one, wear a Brown Scapular and never take it off, even in the shower! I firmly believe in its promise that "those clothed in this Scapular will never suffer the pains of hell." Do you wear one? Why not?

I remember years ago, in a church in New York, there were these tiles with the pelican on them. I never could figure that out until one day I read about the symbolism regarding it. The pelican-in-her-piety is based on the legend that in times of famine, the mother pelican opens
her breast and feeds her young on her own blood. The Church uses this to represent Christ's voluntary sacrifice of atonement; He shed his Precious Blood to save us from eternal death!
Precious Blood of Jesus, save us!
Roman Deacon

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1962:

Will Benedict XVI go to Russia?

"THE POPE IN RUSSIA, AT MOSCOW,
THEN THE BEGINNING OF THE
DIFFICULT PRE-AVISO PERIOD . . ."

On that day, Mari-Loli and Conchita received new and prophetic revelations about the future tribulations of the brief yet very difficult time of the Pre-Aviso. Conchita said also during her ecstasy that "Communism will come back also in Spain." The Blessed Virgin also predicted to the visionary that "the Pope would go to Russia, to Moscow," a trip absolutely unthinkable in the political climate of the 1960's. She also added, among other important things, that "as soon as the Sovereign Pontiff would return to the Vatican, successive violent persecutions would break out here and there in Europe." These would be signs that the world, and particularly the Church (people would then believe that She will be on the point of disappearing, etc . . .), were entering into the relatively short, yet very difficult, period of the Pre-Warning.
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 132]

Reading and commenting on this paragraph line by line, we could say that before the Warning comes, things will look really bad and hopeless around the world. Kind of like these days, yes? Communism is back already with the anti-God and anti-Church governments around the world. We even have a communist leader in Venezuela now. Even in England the Church is battling with the government over gay adoption rights and abortion/euthanasia.

The Pope in Russia? It could happen now, cause the Russians are more open to a visit these days. But not in the 60's. Remember the Cuban Missile crisis at that time? The world is at war now, but it could get worse, especially with these small countries developing Atom Bombs. One thing is certain, God will intervene before we blow the world to pieces. Jesus will return and reign in our hearts as King. Just be prepared to endure a lot of trials before He returns.
Roman Deacon

MONDAY, APRIL 30, 1962:

Sister Luisa Maria

A MODEL MOTHER, TRUE MYSTICAL SOUL,
"ENTERS" GARABANDAL . . . JUST
LIKE HER SONS!

Mrs. Andreu in 1985 [the picture shows her behind cloister grill in full habit]. She was celebrating her ninetieth birthday. Deceased in 1991, she received many mystical graces all along her thirty years of religious life at the Convent of the great Basque city of San Sebastian, where, in 1962, she became Sister Luisa Maria, the two first names of her deceased son, Luis Maria (see August 9, 1961 message). She had visited the Visitandine Order one month after her son's death. This choice maybe also linked to the particular devotion that Father Luis Maria had for the mystery of the Visitation. So, mysteriously enough, on this very April 30, 1962, three priests wearing the Jesuit garb appeared to Sister Luisa Maria. One of them, whom she could see full face, was smiling brightly, but did not speak to her: there was her son Luis! The other two had their backs turned to her. Was this not a prophetic vision of her other two sons Alejandro and Marcelino?
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 131]

Well, it just goes to show you, there hope for all of us! This special mother of three priests lived till she was 96 years old, spending the last 30 years of her life in a convent as a cloistered nun. I wonder if they would take me. I'm still young at 70! I always said if my dear wife passed away before me, I would enter some monastery somewhere! The only problem is finding a group of monks who will have me. Maybe, I'll have to start a new order of Monks. We could call ourselves "Monks of the Internet"! What about you? Care to join me?
Roman Deacon

MONDAY, APRIL 16, TO SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 1962:

Mercedes Salisachs in 1950

THE "HOLY WEEK" AT GARABANDAL

Mercedes Salisachs, a Catalonian mother of five children, and also a woman of Letters well known in Spain, became an outstanding protagonist of the Garabandal event. She went to the famous little village four times, her first and overwhelming stay occurring during the Holy Week of April 1962. And quite understandably, since she was then to learn, at the end of the paschal vigil, through Mari-Loli but on behalf of the Blessed Virgin, that one of her sons, Miguel, a young talented artist-painter, killed in a car accident at the age of twenty-one, "was in heaven and that he was 'accompanying' her every day!"
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 130]

This one little paragraph does not tell the whole story about Mercedes Salisachs. I read more about her and her trials in other books about Garabandal. It seems that after her son died she had stopped going to church or even praying, because she was upset with God for taking her son from her at such an early age. Many of us have lost children or loved ones, and we have questioned God with "Why did he or she die and leave me?" But most of us do not lose our faith and stop going to church, as a matter of fact, some of us are brought closer to God because of the death of a loved one. Mercedes wondered if her son was in heaven, and that drove her to go to Garabandal, in the hopes of finding out where he was, heaven or hell! So she asked the girls to ask the Blessed Mother about her son. Each time they asked, Our Lady ignored the question and did not answer. Little by little, as Mercedes watched the girls in ecstasy and saw them talking to Mother Mary, her faith started to return, but so did her conscience. It told her that she needed to go to confession, and she did. Well, guess what! As soon as Mercedes was back in good graces with God through the Sacrament of Confession, that's when Our Lady told the girls that Mercedes' son "was in heaven and that he was 'accompanying' her every day!"

A great story and a good lesson for us. There's a time to be born, and a time to die! But we really never die, we just pass on to a New Life in God, [Our Lady said "it's like walking from one room to another."] and we never leave our loved ones who stay here on earth. We will be able to see them and pray for them while we await their day to fly to heaven. The saints say that as long as the person on earth is in a 'state of grace', our family members in heaven can see us! That's another reason to keep ourselves free of mortal sin, praise God!
Roman Deacon

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1962:

A new Sacramental Communion given by St. Michael to Conchita in ecstasy at the Pines, on the Feast of St. Hermenegild, a Martyr of the Eucharist honored as the "Clovis" of Spain . . .
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 130]

{clovis: noun
king of the Franks who unified Gaul and established his capital at Paris and founded the Frankish monarchy; his name was rendered as Gallic 'Louis' (466-511)}

Hermenegild, who lived around the year 550, son of King Leovigild of Visigothic Spain, lived in a milieu very similar to ours. The world he knew was infested with the wicked and subtle heresy of Arianism as today we live in a world which has abandoned God and given itself over to the subtleties and vices of Modernism and Liberalism. Many of the stratagems, deceits, confusion and denials of the True Faith were as present in his time as they are in our own. The consequences of the operation of such factors were as disastrous for the poor souls that he knew as they are for our own friends, family, acquaintances and ourselves. Always present was the need to stand firm against the baleful clamour of the outside world in order to save his own soul and the anxious state that any good soul endures when he sees loved ones led astray on the broad road to Hell. Hermenegild did not begin his earthly pilgrimage as a Catholic. For many years he lived outside of the Church, the only Ark of Salvation, while he practiced the heretical rites of Arianism. His zealous Catholic wife, Indegundis, brought about a profound change in the future martyr. He renounced Arianism and in so doing brought upon his head the kingly anger of his wrathful father who called upon him to surrender all the authority and privileges which the prince enjoyed with his brother Reccared. Unfortunate as it is to mention, the newly converted royal did not meekly lay down the material advantages which being the heir to Arian Visigothic Spain had procured for him and he took up arms against his father and brother. By God's Good Providence Heremenegild was successively beaten in battle, betrayed to his enemies and stripped of all the earthly power and pleasure that he had hoped to enjoy along with the spiritual advantages which his conversion had brought him. Hard was that lesson which Our Lord taught him for did Our Saviour Himself not say "You cannot serve both God and Mammon"?

Hermenegild was reduced in rank and exercise and this would have been the extent of the royal anger had it not been for Leovigild's second wife who prevailed upon him to have his son imprisoned. In the confines of the dungeon to which he was condemned in 586, Hermenegild learnt the true value of his Faith. Not only did the prisoner accept his fate with a submission totally in contrast with his previous warlike manner but he even imposed upon himself further sufferings such as fasting and wearing a hairshirt. Thus little by little the former prince rose above the petty considerations of his earthly state as the state of his own sanctity rose ever higher. Finally there arrived the hour of temptation, of deliverance and of martyrdom. His father sent to him an Arian Bishop to deliver to him Holy Communion, validly consecrated, but from the hands of an Arian heretic, adding that if his son received Holy Communion thus, he would be raised to all his former privileges. The pounding of the noisy world of men reached Hermenegild but faintly now and he rejected with scorn the apostolic emissary of his father. Enraged Leovigild had him instantly executed. The fruits of Hermenegild's heroic suffering and death were destined to flower under his brother Reccared who brought all of Visigothic Spain back into the bosom of Holy Mother Church when he ascended the throne of his deceased father.

No doubt dear friends of Garabandal, that Our Lady is teaching us to persevere and be strong in the Faith, even in our private lives. How many times are we not tempted to render lip service only to the True Faith and to Tradition and not to expose our unmortified flesh to the ridicule of human respect, in our families, our jobs, and even in our church! Not even in the darkness of his living tomb where the public gaze did not fall would Hermenegild forsake his God who he knew saw all things and always and to whom he would have to render a most exacting account. Are we, dear faithful in Christ, equally willing to say to the secular world and all its errors: "Get thee behind me, Satan" or is our faith a chest of cloaks which we change in accordance with the seasons? Saint Hermenegild pray for us that we may each of us meet the temptations of apostasy with that heroic firmness with which you merited the crown of martyrdom and life eternal.
Roman Deacon