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.

 

Fifty Years of Garabandal: A Singular Occurrence

A Singular Occurrence August 6, 2012 Dear Friends, Among Marian apparitions, Garabandal is distinguished by the ardor of the embrace of the Mother of God. It was customary for Our Lady of Mount Carmel to kiss the four young girls and to be kissed in return.  Our Lady reverently venerated the sacramental objects offered to her by the visionaries on behalf of others; rosaries, holy medals, missals, and wedding rings. The girls in ecstasy had the uncanny ability to return the appropriate object directly to the owner not knowing beforehand who had presented which object.The final apparition on November 13, 1965 was expressly to kiss the accumulated articles to which Our Lady attached a solemn promise - for those who use these objects with faith, Jesus will perform prodigies.  It is important to recall at the time of the Spanish Civil War, the Asturias, the region in which Garabandal is located, was a stronghold for the advance of Communism in Spain. The faithful of this region and the other adjacent northern areas were forbidden by law to own rosaries, medals and other symbols of Christianity. These objects, which had been passed down through the centuries in devout families, were hidden in those troubled times. Bearers who displayed religious items in public were ridiculed and assaulted or harassed by the authorities.  For the apparitions, small tables were set out to accommodate these objects. A makeup compact was once laid down on one of the tables. This  provoked an outcry against what seemed like a frivolous act, yet the small gold case remained in place. During the next visitation, Our Lady sited the compact and rejoiced, "This belongs to my Son." Later it was revealed that the vessel had secretly conveyed consecrated hosts to those in hiding during the Civil War.  The apparition of August 6, 1962 is by contrast the only known occurrence of the Archangel Saint Michael embracing a physical object.  And so on this day, fifty years ago, in San Sebastian de Garabandal, three Hospitaller Brothers of Saint John of God climbed the ox cart path that connected the remote mountain village to the outside world, arriving unnoticed in the sweltering midday heat. They did not know it, but they had come to receive a mysterious honor from the Prince of the Holy Angels. +++ A sketch of the Saint Born in Portugal in 1495, Joao Cidade Duarte abandoned his family as a small boy. He never returned. He tramped across Europe in violence and plunder as a thieving quartermaster in the imperial infantry. His service concluded, he returned to Iberia a forty year old prodigal with much to atone for.  On the feast of Saint Sebastian, John went to hear a sermon by Saint John of Avila. He was so devastated with loathing for his sins that he turned on himself in fury and for a time sought a life of humiliation for Christ. He was cast into an asylum and cruelly beaten for days. It was John of Avila who came to absolve and release the man who would become John of God.  Raised to holiness, John's heart turned with compassion to his fellow incarcerates in the asylum. With a soldier's knowledge of organization and field medicine, he began to shepherd the homeless, the abandoned, and the afflicted of Granada sheltering them and treating their wounds.  He supported orphans, students, harlots, and the unemployed with his own labor, encumbering himself with their pecuniary debts, often suffering accusations and slandered by those he tried to help. After thirteen years in this way, he died a heroic and saintly death contracting pneumonia while attempting to rescue a drowning companion. He was found in death, kneeling before the crucifix, his face pressed to the wounded feet of Christ. Saint John of God left the world a small band of valiant hearts. The legends of the Order relate that often on the brink of collapse John of God was revived by the angels. Saint Raphael accompanied him on his rounds, healing and imparting the peace of God to the chaos. To this day the image of the Angelic Physician clothed in the habit of San Juan de Dios can be found in these hospitals.  Murillo, on his canvas in the Prado, depicts Saint John of God as frail, struggling under the weight of the invalid he is carrying, menaced by the encircling dark. The saint is accompanied by a powerful archangel who strengthens him, illuminating his face and his path.  +++ Passing before the humble stone church of San Sebastian, the three religious came upon the young visionaries who told them, without affectation, of the wonders that were happening in the village and of the importance of the October 18 Message. The brothers rested under the nine pines of the apparition eating lunch and enjoying the discussion. Conchita accompanied them but she did not eat. She told them Mass had not been offered in the village that day and the Angel would bring her Holy Communion. Until he arrived she would remain fasting.  The afternoon passed swiftly. At a natural pause in the conversation, Conchita moved discretely away from the group and fell to her knees, head tilted back in ecstasy. As Brother Juan Bosco recorded in his notes, "Still kneeling and in the same posture, the girl made the Sign of the Cross very slowly and devoutly. She said words in a low voice and gently struck her chest three times. She was praying in ecstasy. As the prayer ended, she opened her mouth, put out her tongue as in receiving Communion, withdrew her tongue and closed her mouth slowly. Two of us heard the slight noise of her swallowing something. She held this position and we heard her low voice, audible, but we could not hear it to sufficiently understand the words." Then the ecstasy took a decidedly different turn.  "Then the girl took his (Brother Luis) Scapular in her hands. She stood up, raised the Scapular in a very solemn way as though presenting it to someone. She lowered the Scapular and again dropped abruptly to her knees." Returning the Scapular to Brother Luis, Conchita repeated this gesture for the Scapulars of Brother Juan and Brother Miguel offering each one up reverently. With a concluding Sign of the Cross, the ecstasy ended and Conchita returned to normal with a shy smile.  "Have you had Communion?" "Yes" "Why did you take our Scapulars and raise them up?" "The Angel asked me to do it, to kiss them." "Have you spoken to the Angel?" "Yes" "What did he say to you?" "The Angel knew you. He told me that Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin are happy with you." To this exterior sign was added an interior grace for Brother Juan. "The impression was very great. Particularly, I was stunned and with much interior sentiment of having sinned so many times, and because of this I implored mercy. I have never felt in my life such as strong feeling of the supernatural. Afterwards, as the years passed...this experience has always been present in me. I have great confidence in the love of the Virgin and an accentuated fervor for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I believe the essence of the grace given to us  is our own perseverance in the Order." Brother Juan returned again in 1966 after the apparitions had ended. He was curious to find out if anything similar had happened. Conchita confirmed "the only thing the Angel had kissed had been our Scapulars." This leads one to wonder about the significance of this profound display of angelic predilection and solidarity. Conchita is quite clear in stating that the brothers themselves were pleasing to God.Considering over one thousand priests and religious attended the apparitions and there exists no other record of acknowledgment by Saint Michael, the singularity of the event appears to lend special importance. Brother Juan Bosco, in his notes, believed this reciprocated the high esteem given to Saint Raphael in their community. More generally, the gesture conveyed a salute for the work of the Brothers who in their ministry of attendance and healing and their love for the poorest, the most neglected and infirm reflect the virtues of the angels.  Could there be some further explanation? On July 19, 1936, by decree of the radically secularist government, the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God were declared enemies of the people of Spain. Ninety eight brothers were murdered in the Red Terror. The Soviet backed persecution of the Roman Catholic Church executed six thousand eight hundred thirty two religious, killed tens of thousands of lay faithful in odium fidei, and desecrated and destroyed over twenty thousand holy places. The sons of San Juan de Dios remained with their patients, faithful to the fourth vow of the Order never to abandon the sick except in death. They made no attempt to flee the coming violence.  Seventy one brothers martyred between July 24 and December 14, 1936 were beatified by Blessed John Paul II including more than forty in Madrid and  Barcelona who refused to leave the hospitals and were shot on site. Some were exultant at their execution, commending each other to imminent paradise.Their last words were of forgiveness, pardoning their murderers. All were steadfast.  Could the martyrdom which preceded the apparitions by a quarter century have had an influence on the occurrence of August 6, 1962? It is a wonderful idea to contemplate. At this time, there exists no evidence directly linking the two. Perhaps in the days to come or with the definitive resolution of the Aviso and Great Miracle this extraordinary event may be more completely illuminated.  As we share recollections of the events of fifty years ago we should honor this day, worthy of remembrance for the devotees of  Our Lady of Mount Carmel de Garabandal. This day, the Angelic Patron of the Church of Jesus Christ venerated the Scapular of Saint John of God three separate times. In Union of Prayer, The Workers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel de Garabandal Lindenhurst, NY USA A few small pieces of these same Scapulars kissed by Saint Michael were cast into relic medals in Spain in the 1970s. About 200 were given to the New York Center. To honor this anniversary, we would like to offer these medals gratis to our email list. We would like to give priority to religious and lay men and women who work with the sick and dedicated care givers to the handicapped - these requests should include a "+" in the email subject line. We want to emphasize that no supernatural promise has been made concerning  these medals. We can offer one per request while the supply lasts. Please send an email with BESADO in the subject line to joey@garabandalny.org with your complete mailing address, country and postal code.

P.O. Box 606, Lindenhurst, NY 11757-0606 Garabandal

Untitled

A Brief Story of the Garabandal Events

 

Garabandal visionaries — Conchita, Jacinta, Mari-Loli,and Mari Cruz

God Delivers His “Last Warnings”
to the World Through Mary

The sacred events occurred in a small hamlet in the Cantabrian Mountains of northwestern Spain. Unknown now, but destined to become a religious shrine outshining all others; its name is Garabandal. Here, on June 18, 1961, an angel, later identified by Our Lady as the Archangel St. Michael, appeared to four unsophisticated young girls to begin a series of appearances and messages for the world extending over four years. ‘

Taken at “El Cuadro” Circa 1961. From left to right: Mari Loli, Conchita, Jacinta, and Mari Cruz

The four children were Conchita Gonzales, Mary Loli-Mazon, Jacinta Gonzales and Mari Cruz Gonzales. None of the girls are closely related. At that time, three were twelve years old and the other only eleven. St. Michael told them that he had come to prepare them for the visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who would makeher first appearance to them on Sunday, July 2, 1961. After this first apparition Our Lady appeared to the girls many hundreds of times, at all hours of the day and night, until her final appearance on November 13, 1965. The great number of appearances by Our Lady, alone emphasizes the tremendous importance of the information given to us, through her, by Almighty God.

The Messages 

Taken circa 1962 or 1963. Jacinta holds up objects including a crucifix to be kissed.

On July 4, 1961, Our Lady gave the girls the fi rst message and told the girls tomake this message public on October 18, 1961. (See Box). The second message was given much later, toward the end of the apparitions. On January 1, 1965, the Blessed Virgin told Conchita that the Archangel St. Michael would appear on June 18 and would deliver a message in her name.

God’s Love Intervenes 

The exact year of this photo is uncertain. Mari Loli, Conchita and Jacinta walk arm in arm during a late night ecstasy. Mari Loli’s father stands to her right (left side of the photograph) Conchita’s brother is also visible behind (right side of the photograph)

via mbmclassictravel.com

Garabandal is essentially a message of hope. Mankind has turned away fromGod and is engaged in much wickedness. In justice, God could either punish mankind Himself or allow us reap the fruits of our own evil. Instead, He is giving us a fi nal chance. He has sent the Blessed Mother to tell us at Garabandal that we can come back to Him, through sacrifice, prayer and penance. Also, His love has not stopped at sending this message of hope. Knowing the hardness of our hearts, our blindness and our skepticism, He is sending us signs we cannot ignore. “It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign” says Our Lord in Matthew 12:38-40. Yet God, out of the unfathomable depths of His mercy and love, is going to give us not one, but two signs. The seers of Garabandal refer to them as: “The Warning” and “The Miracle.”

THE WARNING

Taken toward the end of the apparitions in 1963. Conchita in ecstasy at the pines.

Conchita was advised by Our Lady at Garabandal on January 1, 1965, that Godis going to send upon the world a great supernatural warning. This divine warning will be seen and experienced by every person in the world and will come directly from God. The purpose of this warning is to draw the good nearer to God and to turn the world away from sin. Conchita says that it will be experienced no matter wherever we might be – inside or outside. “It will,” she says, “be like the revelation of our sins, and it will be seen and felt equally by believers and non-believers and people of any religion whatsoever.” This warning will be “very fearful, a thousand times worse than earthquakes. It will be like fi re. It will not burn our flesh, but we will feel it bodily and interiorly. The warning is like a very terrifying thing that will occur in the sky.” To a question whether the warning would cause death, she replied, “If we die from it, it would not be from the warning itself, but from the emotional shock thatwe would experience in seeing and feeling the warning.” We must be careful in our consideration of the matter. The fear of God that is good is the fear that draws virtuous souls to God and prompts sinners to amend their lives. This is the purpose that Conchita ascribes to the warning: “Oh, but after the warning you will love the good Lord very much.” Our attitude towards this warningshould be one of gratitude to God for His great mercy and love. He is going to purify us and He is going to make mankind really aware of Him once again. Our concern at this moment should be to get closer to God, cast sin from our lives and strive to love and serve Him better. If we do this, we will be prepared for the warning when it comes.

THE GREAT MIRACLE

Taken in 1962. Conchita holds up a crucifix to be kissed while in ecstasy

Part of the purpose of this warning is to prepare the world for the great miracle. God’s love and mercy will not stop at making us aware of our own weakness and sinfulness. In addition, He is going to give us a further great sign, this time a positive sign of His love and concern for us. Conchita tells us about this in her Diary in the following words: “The Blessed Virgin Mary advised me of a great miracle, saying that God, Our Lord, would perform it through her intercession…The Blessed Virgin has told me the date of the miracle and what it will consist of. I am supposed to announce it 8 days in advance, that it will come…The sick who are present at the miracle will becured and sinners will be converted…There will be no doubt [left] in the mind of anyone who sees this great miracle which God, Our Lord, will perform through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. And now as we await this great day of the miracle, let us see if the world changes and the chastisement is averted.”

THE CHASTISEMENT

Taken in 1965. Amidst a large crowd of onlookers, Conchita holds up a Crucifix to be kissed

Both the first and second message make it clear that the warning and the great miracle are an attempt by God to persuade us to leave the ways which aregoing to bring down upon us, according to those messages, the full weight of divine justice – a divine chastisement of the world. If we do not heed the messages, the punishment announced by Our Lady will be visited upon the whole world after the miracle. Conchita has written: “I cannot reveal what kind of punishment it is except that it will be a result of the direct intervention of God, which makes it more terrible and fearful than anything we can imagine…” She describes it as “very, very great, in keeping with what we deserve.”

MBM Classic Travel’s “A Marian Pilgrimage of Europe with Miracles of the Eucharist & Shrines of Beloved Saints” , departing this October will be visiting Garabandal, Spain.

For details please email us at travelinquiry@mbmclassictravel.com or call us at:

+63 2 9040187 (landline)

+63 927 8632523 (globe)

+63 906 4343364 (globe)

• +63 949 413 7138 (smart)

Reposted from http://www.mbmclassictravel.com/

Mari Loli Speaks of the Warning

Please zoom+ on this post as it is hard to read and I enlrged it as best I could.
Thanks
Deacon John

Fr. Ramon Andreu's Notes: Part Two, Post 33

 

 

The Bishopric of Santander and Garabandal

 

 

The note broadcasted by the Bishop of Santander on October 9, 1968 produced a wave of letters and articles that demonstrated an opposition to the Bishop’s conclusions about Garabandal.

 

 This is serious because it suggests the state of feelings which were detrimental to the authority and credibility of the Bishop of Santander. This weighs everything down, and it is that which permits the awaited happenings to produce themselves. No one believes that the ecclesiastical authority will pass over the Bishop of Santander and support the happenings of Garabandal in the future.

 

 As a result, it is much more useful as a good ending to everything we hoped, and for us to try to understand the bishops of Santander and the notes they have given.

 

 

 It is certain that Our Mother in Heaven wants everything to arrive at a good end. The position of the bishops, though it seems contrary to ours, is not an impossible obstacle and has its explanation, which, once understood, fills us with faith and confidence as well as gratefulness to the bishops and the commission since we see their conduct as the immense prudence of the Church. In their conclusions, so different from those of the common feelings of others, we see the will of Providence, who has served as that exact instrument, as it has served the seers.

 

 As a preliminary reflection, we should consider the justice that we can establish the charisma and effects in relation to the bishop’s notes, and we can see that there are two points of view.

 

 If the note contains conclusions contrary to our convictions, we judge the intention of what has been written from this conclusion.

 

 And that, by trying to understand the situation and intention of the writing, we deduce what the note produces. We can understand from this point of view when we have a favorable mindset, that we can’t extend the acceptance of the facts because of matters of form and conscience.

 

 

 Also, everything that is said and written about Garabandal, whoever the author, is dependant upon the end of the matter, so they are only personal opinions, possibly very respectable, but none of them have the valor of knowing the resolution. The only thing that has weight or importance are the sworn declarations of the seers, witnesses, and official informants; facts given freely, without any physical, moral, or religious motive, because in these cases it would be null. Also, only official documents from the hierarchy, local or Vatican are valid.

 

 

 With this preamble made, we’ll continue with the history of Garabandal, understanding that the notes have been written in these terms, which everyone knows.

Fr. Ramon Andreu's Notes: Part Two, Post 32

San Sebastián May 4, 1963

Hail Mary!

Mr. Masimo Foerschler,

Dear Sir: I’m going to answer your letter to say that I won’t forget to pray for your son. How was the operation?

You told me that the one who saw apparitions (Lourdes) made a very beautiful grotto and that the devotion of the people is very beautiful as well, but that the other is only comercial and that you’ve seen it. Is this true? You say that you didn’t feel the emotion here, but that the faith of the people and the grotto were very emotional. I thought that it was something else. St. Bernadette’s home was very beautiful.

Well, I have no news from here since there are no apparitions. Regards to your wife and children. Loving salutations from

Conchita González

Pray so that the Virgin’s message will be completed.

The Virgin and her Child will reward you.

Goodbye.

Note: The apparitions ended.

 

Three Meetings With Conchita