SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1966:

CHRIST'S FINAL AND VERY REMARKABLE
LOCUTION TO CONCHITA

Back from Rome, Conchita faced a decisive moment. She knew she would again never see the Blessed Virgin at Garabandal. There was now the matter of her vocation . . .

On February 7, her own birthday, Conchita was the perfect image of trust. She was leaving her village to go to the College of the Discalced Missionary Carmelites, at Pamplona. She was seventeen years old and wanted to become a postulant, then a novice in the Congregation, hoping that she would someday work among the Africans . . .

But behold that, in a second and last locution from Christ, hardly a week after her arrival at Pamplona, Conchita learned, among other things, that the Lord was not calling her to be a religious sister . . . The text of this last "charismatic event" of Garabandal is so rich in meaning that it can only be reproduced here, its obvious spiritual content for one, needing no comment:

"On Sunday, February 13, 1966, at the moment of thanksgiving after Communion, I received both a great joy and a yet greater distress, as well as a disappointment! I heard the voice of Christ telling me:

"Conchita, you came here to the college to prepare yourself to become My bride and, as you say, to follow Me. Are you not saying, Conchita, that you do not want to do My will? Well, now, it is your will that you want to fulfill. Do you want to do like this all your life? I chose you in the world so that you may stay in it, so that you may face the many vexations that you will find there for My sake. I want all that for your sanctification, and so that you may offer this for the salvation of the world. You must speak to the world about Mary. Remember that in June [rather in July 1963, the only previous locution she had of Christ: it must be a small error from Conchita herself - J.S.] you asked Me if you would be a religious sister. I answered you: 'You will find the Cross and suffering everywhere.' I am telling you this again".
"Conchita, did you feel My call to become My bride? No! Because I did not call you."
I asked Him: "And how does one feel Your call to become a religious?"
He told me: "Don't worry about that, you will not feel it."
I asked Him: "Then You do not love me, Jesus?"
He replied: "Conchita, you ask me that? Who redeemed you? Fulfill My will and you will find My love. Examine yourself well. Think more of others. Do not fear temptations. If you are faithful to My love, you will overcome the many temptations awaiting you. Be intelligent, understand what I told you in a spiritual way. Do not close the eyes of your soul. Do not let anyone deceive you. Love humility, simplicity. Never think that what you are doing is great. Think of what you have to do, of what you must do, not to merit Heaven, but to save the world so that it may fulfill My divine will. Every soul that prepares itself, every soul well disposed to hear Me, will know My will. Conchita, I wish to tell you that you will suffer a great deal from now on until the Miracle, for few will believe you. Even your family will think you deceived them. I am the One who has wanted all that. I told you so, for your sanctification and for the world to fulfill the Message. I want to warn you that the remainder of your life will be a continual suffering."
"Do not be afraid. You will find Me in suffering, Me and Mary, whom you love so much."
I asked Him if in Rome also I would not be believed and He did not answer me.
Then He told me: "Do not worry about whether or not you are believed. I am the One who will do everything, but I will also give you suffering. I will be with whoever suffers for Me."
[From 'Garabandal' Book pages 206-207]

"Do not be afraid," Jesus said to Conchita! I remember that those were the first words the newly elected Pope John Paul II said from the balcony at the Vatican before hundreds of thousands of the faithful!

And we shouldn't be afraid because the Lord is with us, walking and sometimes carrying us on our spiritual journey to Heaven! But He says also that we have to work at it, helping all those we meet, including our own family, to believe and live the Faith. And as we live our faith in conformity with the Lord, we will experience suffering. Jesus said we suffer for His sake, His will and the salvation of the world. Amazing! Here we are, little nobodies, helping Jesus save the world! Offer and unite your sufferings to Jesus! It will save your soul!
Roman Deacon

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12 TO THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1966:

In Rome, at the Coliseum, January 13th 1966. Fr. Luna,
Princess Cécileof Bourbon, Conchita and her mother, Aniceta.

CONCHITA'S FIRST TRIP TO ITALY:
ROME, THE VATICAN (S.C.D. FAITH
AND POPE PAUL VI) AND A MEETING
WITH BLESSED PADRE PIO.

On the order of Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, then Pro-Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who had been informed about the Garabandal "events" by the father of the princess of Bourbon Parme as early as the summer of 1965, Conchita at last goes
to Rome.

On this trip with her there were Fr. Luna, Cecile of Bourbon Parme, Aniceta and Professor Medi (University of Rome), former ambassador of Spain to the Vatican.

Cardinal Ottaviana listened to Conchita for more than two hours. Although we still have partial information about their conversation, we know, nonetheless, that Conchita told him the date of the Miracle as well as the nature of the very important Church event that will occur on the same day, while also answering 'presumed' difficulties reported to the Pro-Prefect . . .

Several other important members of the Roman Curia also welcomed the visionary. She would later meet the Pope's confessor and told him also the date of the future "D" day. But, more important, Conchita was to be introduced to Paul VI, in a very private audience attended by only five persons, which took place providentially on . . . January 18th! Undoubtedly, on this very first day of the "Week of prayer for the Unity of all Christians," the visionary told the Holy Father what she knew about the future 'reunification of all Christian Churches,' about 'the Council, the last Popes,' etc . . .

The Sovereign Pontiff will eventually bless the visionary twice in these terms: "Conchita, I bless you and with me the whole Church blesses you."

Taking advantage of a wait of twenty-four hours before her rendezvous with Cardinal Ottaviani, Conchita and her fellow travellers went to San Giovanni Rotondo. There she met a "friend": Blessed Padre Pio! The latter, although not feeling well that day, came nonetheless against all expectations, to greet the visionary . . . as soon as he was told that "Conchita of San Sebastian de Garabandal is also here." The interview was warm, the famous Capuchin constantly blessing
Conchita and assuring her of his prayers.

As to her crucifix, kissed by the Blessed Virgin at Garabandal, Conchita presented it to Blessed Padre Pio during her visit, asking him to bless it. This he did, placing the small crucifix on one of his stigmata, in the palm of his left hand, then covering it with Conchita's hand . . .
[From 'Garabandal' Book, pages 204-205]

Who could understand the ways of God? Everything is so mysterious! It's so true that He is in control and guides us at every moment. We just have to be holy and open to His Will and everything turns out for the better!

Conchita goes to Rome for a meeting with Cardinal Ottaviani and winds up seeing two Saints, Padre Pio and Pope Paul VI. What a wonderful experience that must of been. I probably would have fainted! We wonder what they talked about? Whatever it was that Conchita said, both the Pope and Padre Pio blessed Conchita over and over, which really means that they were also blessing the Garabandal events as well. Praise God!
Roman Deacon

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1965:

THE VIRGIN OF MOUNT CARMEL'S
LAST LOCUTION TO CONCHITA

We do not know for sure if Conchita was granted a last locution or not on that day. To us, that appears very probable, because of the very particular context of this December 8, 1965, date of the Closure of the Council of Vatican II, but also because the visionary, then boarder at the College of Burgos, will tell in 1966 to Sister Maria Nieves Garcia that "until now, every December 8, I had either an apparition or a locution from the Blessed Virgin."
[Excerpt from 'Garabandal' Book, page 203]

And so the supernatural events of Garabandal are winding down, and now begins the times of sufferings for the girls. But not all suffering, cause like us, there are times of joy too; like a marriage, a new baby, travel, birthday parties, baptisms, etc., etc. We all have our ups and downs in life. But because of the unique state of life the girls lived, I believe their sufferings would be greater than most people, remember Our Lady promised them that they would go to heaven.

Well, read the lives of the Saints and see how much they suffered to get there! One thing I remember constantly is that Our Lady said that those who wear the kissed objects would serve their purgatory here on earth, well I'm sure the girls know that and do wear a kissed object.
I do! and I never take it off!!!
Roman Deacon

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1965:

CONCHITA OPENS UP WITH
GERMAN EDITOR ALBRECHT WEBER

The German publisher was at the village on the very day Conchita had her last apparition of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel. During his stay, he had a series of conversations with Conchita, of which he published certain excerpts in 1993, in his fine book, 'Garabandal, The Hand of God.'

In the presence of Aniceta, Eloisa Deguia (Madrid), and his own sister, the conversations bore, among other major topics, on "the last Popes," on the future "Unity of the Church," on "abortion" as well, about which Conchita, astonished, pointed out to A. Weber that it would cause the Cup of divine Wrath to overflow! The Blessed Virgin had spoken about this unfortunate practice to the visionary, in terms that had left her stunned. Indeed, at the time, Conchita did not understand "how it was possible to kill a child in his (or hers) mother's womb without killing the mother at the same time . . .!"
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 203]

Yes, in the early 60's, we didn't hear too much about abortion, and I myself, probably didn't understand it like Conchita. "How can you kill a baby inside its mother and not kill the mother too?"

Ten years later, the Supreme Court changed all that and almost everyone now knew what it meant by having an abortion, although the media told us that it was only a blob, not a baby. Everything was based on a lie!

My wife and I joined a Pro-Life group at the local church on Long Island, and we began to picket and pray and lobby for Life! We also went to Washington D.C. for the March for Life every January. Sometimes I was the Bus Captain. We brought our children with us wherever we went, unless my wife went alone with a group. Then I would stay home and watch the kids. Those were very active days cause I was also involved with the Workers of Mount Carmel spreading the messages of Garabandal too. I had my own trucking business, so I could work my own hours and then do the other stuff. I thank God for these graces that we received enabling us to serve Him and the unborn!!!
Roman Deacon

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1965:

THE LAST APPARITION OF THE VIRGIN
OF MOUNT CARMEL TO CONCHITA AT
SAN SEBASTIAN DE GARABANDAL:
A "CONVERSATION" OF WHICH THE
SUPERNATURAL AND PROFOUNDLY
HUMAN QUALITY SEEMS TO LEAVE
NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER ABOUT
ITS DIVINE ORIGIN.

Conchita's account of the apparition:

"ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1965, I ALREADY KNEW THROUGH A LOCUTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN AT THE VILLAGE CHURCH THAT I WOULD SEE HER, AT THE PINES, IN A SPECIAL APPARITION, DURING WHICH SHE WOULD KISS DEVOTIONAL OBJECTS SO THAT I COULD DISTRIBUTE THEM, THIS BEING OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.

I strongly desired that this day would come so that I would see again Those who had brought the felicity of God to my soul: the Blessed Virgin and the Child Jesus whom She carried in Her arms.
It was raining but, of course, I did not mind going up to the Pines. I was bringing many rosaries I had recently been given to distribute and which, as the Blessed Virgin had asked me, I had brought to have Her kiss them.

As I was climbing all alone up to the Pines, I was telling myself about the way that I should amend my shortcomings and not fall into them again. I felt embarrassed to present myself like this to the Mother of God without having detached myself from them. . .

When I came to the Pines, I started pulling the devotional objects out of my pockets and, at this very moment, I heard a very soft voice (of course, the voice of the Blessed Virgin, that we can recognize among others) that was calling me by my name and I answered: "QUE! - What!"
Then I saw Her with the Child Jesus in Her arms; He was still dressed in the same way and was all smiles.

I said to Her: I came to bring you some rosaries so that You may kiss them. And She said to me: "I can see that."
I had a piece of chewing gum in my mouth, but when the Blessed Virgin appeared to me, I was no longer chewing; I had stuck it in one of my molars. But She obviously knew that I had it. And She said to me:
"Conchita, why don't you give up your chewing gum and offer it as a sacrifice to the glory of my Son?"
And I, ashamed, took it out of my mouth and threw it on the ground. Then She said to me: "You remember what I told you on the day of your birthday [the Immaculate Conception, 8 December], that you would suffer much on this earth? Have faith in Us and you will willingly offer these sufferings to Our Hearts for the good of your brothers; then, you will feel Us closer to you."
And I said to Her: "How unworthy I am, O Dear Mother, of so many graces received from [both of] You. And you still come to me today to
make lighter the little cross that I now carry."
Then She said to me: "Conchita, I do not come for you alone. I come for all my children with the desire to draw them closer to Our Hearts." And She said to me again: "Give me all you brought for me to kiss." And I gave it all to Her. I had a crucifix with me. she kissed it and said: "Slip it into the hands of the Child Jesus." This is what I did. He said nothing to me.

I told the Blessed Virgin: "I will bring this cross with me to the convent?" She said nothing (about this). After She had kissed everything, She said to me: "Thanks to the kiss I put on these objects, my Son will perform wonders - Distribute them".
This is what I think I'll do. Then She asked me to speak about the wishes of the others, of all those who had given me requests to Her. And I did so. Then She said to me: "Tell me, Conchita, tell me something about my children, I keep them all gathered under my cloak." I told Her: "It is very small, not all of us can find room there."

And She smiled. "You know, Conchita, why I didn't come on June 18th to give the Message for the world? It is because it grieved Me to tell it to you myself. But I must tell it to you, for your own good and, if you accomplish it, for the glory of God. I love you very much, I desire that you be saved and to gather you all here in Heaven, around the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We can count on you, Conchita, can't We?"
And I told Her: "If I could always see You, yes, but otherwise, I don't know. I am very wicked." "Do all you can on your part and We will help you."
She stayed a very short time. She said to me: "This is the last time you will see Me here, but I will always be with you and with all My children." She also said to me: "Conchita, why don't you visit My Son in the Tabernacle more often. He waits for you there day and night."

As I have already said, it was raining heavily, but the Blessed Virgin and the Child Jesus were not at all wet. As for myself, while I was seeing Them, I was not aware it was raining, but after the apparition, I was soaked wet. I said to the Blessed Virgin: "How happy I am when I see both of You. Why don't You bring me to heaven now?"
Then She said to me: "Remember what I told you on your birthday: when you will present yourself before God, you will have to show your hands full of the works you will have accomplished for your brothers and for His glory. At the present time, they are empty!"

And it was all over. The moment of happiness I had with my Mother of Heaven, my best Friend, and with the Child Jesus, is gone. I have stopped seeing Them but I have not stopped feeling Their presence. . ."
[from 'Garabandal' Book, pages 200-201]

Read this over a few times and meditate on its meaning for your life!
Are your hands full of good deeds? Do you offer small sacrifices to God for His glory? There is so much good to do and not enough time to do it!
Roman Deacon

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1965:

LAST LOCUTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
OF MOUNT CARMEL TO MARI-LOLI

The final locution, and what a remarkable one, of the Blessed Virgin to Mari-Loli, then a boarder with Jacinta, at Borja, in the College of the Sisters of Charity of St. Ann where famous Madre Maria Naya herself had spent several years:

"I had a locution from the Most Blessed Virgin. She told me that I would have much to suffer in this world, that I would be subjected to many trials, that this is what would make me suffer most."
I asked Her to tell me if I was to become a sister. She did not answer me.
She told me that She was very happy that I was here in the boarding school.
I asked Her if She would come back to speak with me. She did not answer.
I asked Her to give my father a proof of the apparitions so that he might believe. She told me that he would soon believe in them and that everyone would also believe.
She told me that She was very happy with my sacrifices, but that I ought to be better and more mortified in everything each day, that, as I had done until now, I ought to recite the Rosary every day, a devotion most agreeable to Her, that She loves us all very much, that She wanted us to be very good so that we may soon be together with Her in the glory of Heaven."
Mari-Loli Mazon

A reading, even a rapid one, of the last "interior words" of the Blessed Virgin to Mari-Loli suggests the following few observations:

-- The phase, henceforth near, of the "great doubts and denials" that Loli was about to go through, is implicitly predicted, as well as an existence punctuated by difficulties of many forms (which indeed is very much the case!);
-- Our Lady does not reveal to the visionary that she would see her again a few days before the "D" day, something which, on the other hand, she told Conchita in 1963;
-- The Blessed Virgin, we must note, remains silent on Mari-Loli's question about her possible religious vocation; She does not tell either when "her father (Ceferino) will believe at last" (this will happen on June 2, 1974, in absolutely remarkable conditions and circumstances); [Mari-Loli's father, Ceferino Mazon, was to receive 'his' proof on June 2, 1974, the very day of his passing away, also of Pentecost . . . just when the celebrated "Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima," then going through Spain, came through San Sebastian de Garabandal.]
-- Mary insisted again, and in her own way, on the value of the prayer of the Rosary (Mari-Loli was to find in her future husband, Francis LaFleur, the one who would help her to persist with fervor in this main Marian devotion); and
-- Finally, just as She would later tell Conchita during her last apparition, on November 13, 1965, the Blessed Virgin expressed to Loli Her keen desire, almost a promise, of welcoming her as well as "all of them" (the four visionaries) in the glory of Heaven.
[From 'Garabandal' Book, pages 199-200]

What a promise! Imagine being promised Heaven by Our Lady! But we already have that promise in many ways . . . Devotion to Our Lady's Rosary promises Heaven for those who devotedly pray it; especially the First Five Saturday Devotion; Wearing the "Brown Scapular" is another promise of Heaven; How about the promises of Our Lord regarding the First Friday devotion , Receiving Holy Communion for Nine consecutive First Fridays in reparation for the
offenses committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus promises Eternal reward in Heaven. There are many more . . . how many do you take advantage of, these wonderful Gifts from Heaven? Hey! Don't wait for your last day on earth to do these devotions, you might not make it!!!
Roman Deacon

SUNDAY, JULY 18, 1965:

From Left in 1947: Luis, Marcelino, Maria Luisa, Ramón and Rafael.

LOCUTION AND APPARITION OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN OF MOUNT CARMEL
TO CONCHITA . . . ABOUT FRS. MARCELINO
AND ALEJANDRO ANDREU, S.J.

The solemn Feast of St. Sebastian in the village (thanks to a special ecclesiastical indult) also a key day in the events, a day which was, as in the previous years, to be amply "emphasized" at San Sebastian de Garabandal.

Father Marcelino Andreu celebrated Mass at the village. During his sermon, Conchita was favored with a locution from the Blessed Virgin who, moreover, appeared to her at home at the end of the same day. The visionary learned then that Fathers Alejandro and Marcelino Andreu "would see" the Miracle, just like had been the case for their brother Luis (August 8, 1961). Astonishing enough, Fr. Alejandro was to die on August 9, 1989, at Caracas, very precisely at 4 a.m., the same day and at the same time as Luis in 1961! He was about sixty years old. As to fr. Marcelino, he was to die on June 17, 1998, at Bilbao, after a long illness (leukemia). Thus, the meaning of the apparition to Mrs. Andreu (see April 30, 1962) of her son Luis and of the other two Jesuit priests whom she had seen only from their backs, emerged, at last!

In various degrees, the four Andreu brothers had been, all of them, "witnesses" of the phenomena that occurred at San Sebastian de Garabandal; furthermore, all "saw" or will see the great Miracle; Luis, Alejandro and Marcelino before the future "D" day, Father Ramon on the "D" day itself, since we know, according to some valuable documents, that in the twenty-four or forty-eight hours following the Miracle, the latter, accompanied by the "skeptical" Padre Justo,
O.F.M., will sing the Te Deum . . . !
[From ;Garabandal' Book, page 198]

Father Ramon also died in November, 2004 of Cancer. after serving since 1971 in a parish (St. Kevin's) in California. So all the brothers who were Jesuit priests, have gone on to eternity. And that's where they will see the great Miracle! If we die before it comes, we too will see it in eternity, especially because we have been so interested in the Garabandal events.

Where do you want to see the Warning, Miracle and great Sign? For myself, I want only what God wants, so if He allows me to be here, great! If not, so be it, I hope to be in Heaven looking down on you!
Roman Deacon