FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1965:

AN IMPORTANT LOCUTION OF OUR
LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL TO CONCHITA,
CONCERNING MSGR. BEITIA, HIS
SUCCESSOR, MSGR. PUCHOL Y MONTIS,
AND FR. LAFFINEUR AS WELL

This was the anniversary of the Blessed Virgin's first apparition, when she entrusted Conchita with a little message destined for Msgr. Beitia and already clearly insinuated during the seer's previous June 18 famous public ecstasy, a personal message he was to receive shortly after, thanks to Francisco Sanchez-Ventura. We ignore its content, but on the following 8th of July, he was to publish his second Note, the longest and most complete, the most open also of the two he wrote concerning the question of the supernatural authenticity ofGarabandal.

The bishop of Santander having tendered his resignation, Msgr Vincente Puchol Montis succeeded him on this same 2nd of July and was enthroned on the following August 17, 1965.

Msgr. Puchol was a native of Valencia where he was born 1n 1915. We will see more about him . . .

Our Lady of Mount Carmel also had words destined to Fr. Materne Laffineur (see November 20, 1962).
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 198]

Not much to comment on here, except that the late Fr. Laffineur became one of the great apostles of Garabandal, spreading the Messages and events throughout the world. Here's an excerpt from Garabandal Magazine about him:

One of the first to step forward is an elderly but stout- hearted Frenchman, a veteran of two world wars with sixteen decorations and citations for bravery, by the name of Fr Materne Laffineur.

Fr. Laffineur has been to Garabandal some eight or ten times, has witnessed the girls in ecstasy, and believed! Now he is intent on doing something about it. He returns to his native France, has some leaflets printed and begins to give lectures. His listeners are impressed by the sincerity and objectivity of this eyewitness to the events and some come to help him. One such person is Fr Alfred Combe, a pastor of a parish just outside of Lyon. Later he will become Fr Laffineur's successor as leader of the French Garabandal movement and will play an important part in the worldwide diffusion of the Message.

And here is a short article he wrote on the Priesthood:

Garabandal and the Priesthood
By Father Materne Laffineur

Together with a devotion to the Eucharist, Garabandal teaches a great devotion for the priesthood. Our Lady teaches the girls to pray often for priests. Loli said one day, "I often pray for them, especially for those who wish that they were not priests. I pray that they may at least go on saying Mass."

They have the greatest reverence and affection for all members of the clergy, so much so that they are often reproached for "giving a warmer welcome to priests than to lay people."

In spite of the imprudence and unsettling hostility of certain priests, the children have never been heard to utter the least criticism of them or to show them the least discourtesy. They even make a special point of praying for them, especially for those who cause the children to suffer for reasons unknown to them.

To everyone expressing surprise at this, Loli replies, "When in the presence of an angel and of a priest, I would greet the priest first and it is to the priest that I would bow first of all."

That does not prevent them from from being nice little Spanish girls with a liveliness that reminds us of certain answers given by their illustrious compatriot. St. Teresa of Avila!

One theologian, a young priest and a fine one at that, asked Conchita:

"If you think that a priest has more power than an angel, whom would you prefer to see, the angel or me?"

"Oh, the angel of course! He is much better looking than you!"

Another cleric, deciding to put the little girls through one of those psychological "tests", asked Conchita this strange question:

"If your parish priest were neither a man nor a woman but an animal, what kind of animal would you like him to be?"

"A lamb."

"Why?"

"Because he would be like Jesus Who sacrificed Himself for us."
Roman Deacon

SUNDAY, JULY 2, 1961:

On the Feastday of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary [traditional calendar], the two angels, who appeared one on each side of Our Lady, were St. Michael and St. Gabriel, the Angel of the Annunciation but also the Angel of supernatural dreams and prophetic revelations, more particularly those related to the divine and universal plan of the salvation of humankind. Gabriel appeared but once at San Sebastian de Garabandal.

[Isabel Daganzo, an artist painter, under Conchita's guidance, drew several sketches of these first apparitions. In one illustration of the Blessed Virgin with the two Angels, an "Eye" is drawn at the top.]

The "Eye of God" ("ayin" in Hebrew, "ophtalmos" in Greek): what a theme! This word, or expression, in its singular form rarely used in the Bible, is then applied explicitly to the divine omniscience and providence. Given the four previous manifestations of the Shekinah, the eruption of this "Eye of God" who "alone probes the loins and the hearts" and who plunges down into everything and
everyone, is not surprising.

The iconographic signal here is absolutely correct: in Holy Scripture, indeed, right prevails over left, and top over bottom. In the children's vision. the Eye, placed above Mary, effectively designates Yahweh, who dominates all creation, all times and History itself.

At Lourdes, during Her last apparition, July 16, 1858, Mary (the Immaculate Conception) manifested herself to Bernadette, "more beautiful than ever," and not without a profound reason, since it was the Feast of "Our Lady of Mount Carmel" . . .

At Fatima, it was the same, Mary having also appeared, for the fourth and the last time on October 13, 1917, under the title and the form of "Nossa Senhora do Carmo." These were undoubtedly prophetic signs of her later "manifestations" at Garabandal: consequently, a fulfilled rendezvous!
[Excerpted from "Garabandal" Book, pages 44, 45.]

As I said before, this was the link that made me believe in Garabandal immediately, "Our Lady of Mount Carmel." I started to wear the "Brown Scapular" around this time (1970) and have never taken it off! It's interesting about the two Angels appearing with Our Blessed Lady. At Fatima, just St. Michael appeared. I wonder if this was a first in the history of Marian apparitions? God has a purpose for everything so there must be a deeper meaning for this besides the fact that it related to the Feast Day! Theologians say that St. Gabriel inspires us with Godly thoughts and gives us the "Strength of God"! That's how we can combat the evil one. Of course we have to ask for these gifts, they don't just come to us. Try it! I do ask every day! But, of course, I am very devoted to the Angels anyway.
Deacon John