Fr. Ramon Andreu's Notes: Part Three, Post 31

Fr. Luís Andreu, S.J.

On August 8, 1961, we met Fr. Royo Marín O.P. in San Sebastián de Garabandal. Fr. Luís María Andreu S.J. had come with us; this was his third time going to Garabandal since July 29th.

On previous trips I observed through Fr. Luís Andreu’s conversations and comments to the girls that he was very interested in what was happening with them even though he never announced an opinion. He made us some explanations about knowing through feelings, degrees of vision that exist, the importance of psychological knowledge, etc.

On August 8th, we met Fr. Valentín Marichalar, the parish priest of San Sebastián de Garabandal, who gave Fr. Luís the key to the Church, asking him to be the priest for the day since he had to go to Torrelavega. I observed that Fr. Luís was very happy and he said to me: “Faito, today I am the pastor of Garabandal,” and he joked with me in this way.

The Mass that he celebrated in the Church in San Sebastián de Garabandal was extraordinary because of the number of people who attended, and how emotional they all became.

The girls had an ecstasy in the morning. Fr. Luís was very near them and as on other times, he took notes about what the girls did and said. During this ecstasy, there were moments in which Fr. Luís seemed amazed. Those nearest to him could observe how during a few moments silent tears fell down his face, from a feeling that he was in the presence of something extraordinary.

When I spoke of this to his brother Fr. Ramón María the following day, he was surprised, since he was not familiar with this emotional side of his brother. “I have never seen him cry,” he told me.

On the afternoon of the ecstasy the girls acquired a speed going up to the Pines and descending from them in ecstasy. During the time that they were in ecstasy in the Pines Fr. Luís was watching the girls very closely.

It seemed like he didn’t want to miss a single detail of what they were doing. Suddenly he looked at them as though a special emotion invaded him and he pronounced twice in a loud voice: “Miracle, miracle!” Then he was silent and the girls began their descent saying, in ecstasy, that they were going to the Church. They said it, as always, while in dialogue with the Virgin.

This descent to the Church was vertiginous. Fr. Royo Marín, O.P. advised those present to run to the Church, where the girls were going, saying this: “Run to the Church because the girls have wings on their feet.”

Afterward, during the descent, Fr. Royo Marín, O.P. said: “I’m not infallible, but I am a specialist and I affirm that what the girls see is true. I have four different sets of notes that leave no room for doubt, they can’t be confused.”

I went near him and said: “Father, if this is as serious as you say, why don’t you stay here a few more days?” He responded to me: “Nothing is lacking; this is clear and it cannot be anything else.”