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!!!
Deacon John

 A Tribute to Mari Loli (of Garabandal) who a passed away on April 20, 2009. May God Be with You Always Mari Loli !!... 

MONDAY, JUNE 3, 1963:

Cardinal Wojtyla (future Pope John Paul II) paid
his homage to newly elected Pope John Paul I.

UPDATING OF THE EXTRAORDINARY
PROPHETIC REVELATION OF THE
"LAST THREE POPES YET TO COME
AFTER JOHN XXIII, AND BEFORE THE
END OF THE TIMES" - ALSO, A PROPHETIC
ANNOUNCEMENT OF "THE COUNCIL,
THAT WILL KEEP GOING ON UP TO
ITS PERFECT CONCLUSION."

Image via Wikipedia

On this Monday of Pentecost, at the moment when the bells of the village church were ringing announcing the death of Pope John XXIII, the Blessed Virgin confirmed interiorly to Conchita that "henceforth, there were only three Popes remaining before the end of the times."

The death of the Bishop of Rome was to give rise to many stirs and, apparently, it even questioned the very future of the Council. But "it will go on and reach its normal and full conclusion," Our Lady assured Conchita during that very locution.

The Blessed Virgin prophesied here (unless it was on December 20, 1962) that "one of these three last Popes would have a very short Pontificate." No doubt, this was to be John Paul I, as revealed also to Blessed Padre Pio and to Sr. Lucia (of Fatima), among others . . .

[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 174]

I don't remember much about Pope John XXIII, but I remember Paul VI. As a young motorcycle courier for a local TV station in New York, I stood next to Pope Paul VI and Cardinal Spellman on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan when the Pope visited New York in the 1960's. I even went to the Mass he celebrated in Yankee stadium and received a holy card from the Mass. Guess what? I wasn't a practicing Catholic at the time, but I must of received a special grace from being near the Holy Father, cause a few years later I converted and went back to church! What a miracle!

I remember the short reign of Pope John Paul I and also how happy we were when John Paul II was elected Pope in 1978!!! There was so much modernism running rampart through the Church at that time and we all felt sure that he would stop it!

Now we have Benedict XVI, and again we are hoping for a re-newal of the Church, especially the Liturgy! And if the prophecy is correct, all the events promised by Our Lady at Garabandal are supposed to happen during his reign. Time is getting short. It's not the end of the world, just the "End of the times!", as Our Lady said . . .
Deacon John

MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1963:

CONCHITA "LEARNS" THE DATE OF
THE GREAT EVENTS OF "D" DAY.

The Archangel St. Michael finally gave the exact date of the future "D" day to Conchita alone. She would eventually say to Maria Herrero de Gallardo of Santander, that "by Year 2000, everything will then be near . . . "

In Garabandal, whether it be about the Message or about the so-called numerous prophetic announcements, we note that their revelation and clarification always occurred in a progressive way and in a significantly established order, "D" day being no exception to this "procedure." Thus Conchita learned first about the "very great Church event" that must take place, even before being notified of the Miracle as such: a legitimate respect, also, for the Church Hierarchy action, the dimension of Faith taking over that of "signs," as it should, and as was always the case in Garabandal proper.
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 163]

God and Our Lady respects order and the Church! So when the Church gives an order, like when the local bishop forbade the visionaries from entering the tiny Garabandal church in ecstasy, Our Blessed Lady stopped them at the door and did not allow them to enter when She was with them. Mother Mary said, "Obedience to the Church gives great glory to God!"

If we mortals only believed and acted so. Imagine how holy the Church would be. Imagine how beautiful the Liturgies would be. Imagine how holy and devout all the priests and people would be! Obedience and humility are the keystones to all the virtues and the pathway to heaven! If only we could all walk that path! It's not easy being obedient to the Church! I've struggled with it myself. But thanks to excellent spiritual advice, I see the wisdom of obedience, because then we are doing God's Will, not our own, and on the road to heaven, not hell! I have to always keep in mind the words of Jesus in the Garden: "Father, if it be possible, take this chalice from me; but yet not my will, but thine be done." (Luke 22:42) [Douay-Rheims Bible]
Deacon John

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1962:

THE VIRGIN OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
THE SHROUD OF TURIN: "IT IS THE DIVINE IMPRINT OF MY SON!"

On the Feastday of St. Charles Borromeo, a great architect of the Council of Trent and Cardinal Archbishop of Turin, who went four times on a pilgrimage to venerate the famous Shroud of Turin, it appears appropriate for us to deal briefly with the matter of the "Sabana Santa."

That Spanish expression means the "Shroud of Turin" . . . The Blessed Virgin at Garabandal used it formally, at least on one occasion. During an apparition She, in fact, confirmed to Conchita that "it is the divine imprint of my Son . . .", without the visionary having questioned the Vision about this and not even knowing what the expression "Sabana Santa" meant! She gave immediately an account of this remarkable episode to the Marquis and Marquess of Santa Maria, present that day at San Sebastian de Garabandal, and also witnesses of many other events occurring there. As to the "Sabana Santa" episode, I received personally the information from them.

The words of the Blessed Virgin to Conchita were also, so at least we think, confirming the identity of the mysterious crucified man. His imprint -- quite notably, the Vision said nothing about the datation of the Shroud itself -- due to an alpha radiation scientifically unexplainable, was undoubtedly left "to beckon" us to a faith of great depths! In other words, an imprint not man-made, but the work of a transcendent, divine Artist! Furthermore, the "scorching" we see on the body of the victim, as well as his members free of fractures, all that makes us recall those texts of the Book of Exodus describing the ritual of the Paschal Lamb: "You shall let none of it remain until the morning, anything that remains until the morning you shall burn." (Ex. 12:10), and "you shall not break any of its bones" (Ex. 12:46)? A Paschal mystery we will understand later . . . the extent to which, and in what a wonderful way, the "grace" of Garabandal is linked!
[From 'Garabandal' Book, pages 156-157]

When I first read about the Shroud and saw the pictures, I believed it showed Our Lord's dead body right away. I've read a number of different books and articles about this amazing piece of cloth, which is over 2000 years old. I'm also thinking about the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which was divinely painted on the tilma of Juan Diego, who is now a Saint!

Image via Wikipedia

Almighty God created the universe from nothing, and created us from the dust; why can't He continue His artistic work in creating these images also? Do you believe in them or are you troubled with the supernatural world. Even Pope John Paul II believed in them, he went to both shrines to kneel and venerate both images! He's almost a Saint also!!!
Deacon John

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1962:

AGAIN "FEAST OF OUR LADY OF
THE HOLY ROSARY" AT GARABANDAL.
MSGR. BEITIA'S 1st NOTE.

This feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was highlighted by the magnificent ecstasy of Conchita who ran through the village, while singing the rosary for more than an hour. According to the visionary, "the rosary is a very important part of the Message of Our Lady at Garabandal." Recommended by the Blessed Virgin at La Salette, at Lourdes, at Fatima and also at Pontmain, all the Popes of modern times have also advocated it. It is the "Breviary of the whole Gospel," according to Pius XII. The rosary, as recited and even sung at San Sebastian de Garabandal, was already in itself a kind of irrefutable proof of the authenticity of the phenomena for may witnesses, notably for priests fascinated by the quality and the supernatural emotion perceived, when recited (i.e. prayed and at times sung, as we said) by the seers in ecstasy.

On that day as well, the Blessed Virgin kissed Loli's Missal page by page. As to Msgr. Beitia's 1st Note, see hereafter the following days.
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 151]

Yes, the Rosary is a great prayer because it is Our Lady's prayer, given to us through her to St. Dominic. And it is a miniature Gospel, especially if it is prayed correctly by meditating on the
mysteries . . .

My favorite way to pray it is the Scriptural Rosary. This way my mind is always on the Mystery and does not stray . . .

The Missal pages that Our Lady kissed were cut into small pieces and inserted into medals that were struck showing an image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I have a few of these. Our Lady told the seers that "Jesus would perform prodigies for those who venerate the kissed objects!" Many people have reported healings and miracles after kissing the relics. A lot of these reports are being documented, so that they will be used as evidence for the approval of the apparitions by the Church sometime in the future. You can still get a "kissed relic" from 'Garabandal Magazine' and also, I believe, at one of the Garabandal Web Sites on my Favorite Links.

Deacon John

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1962:

THE "BLESSED VIRGIN'S FOOL"

A day to remember for its spiritual teaching . . . The ecstasy of this Monday led Mari-Loli and Conchita to Alfonso's place, the one who was nicknamed, rather unkindly, "the village's fool." Having made the sign of the cross over his pillow and offered him the crucifix to kiss, the two visionaries explained the reasons for their gestures: "The Blessed Virgin told us, 'You hold him in contempt, but I love him' ".
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 150]

Wow! What a lesson for us! How many times have we looked upon certain people with contempt? I know I have. But after reading this statement of Our Blessed Lady many years ago, I really changed my outlook about others and tried to treat everyone equally. I remember how annoying driving in NYC was when at every traffic light there was a hobo trying to wipe my window with a dirty rag and looking for a handout. I went to confession one day (a Franciscan priest) and told him my thoughts about these people. The priest said, "You know, that 25 cents you could have gave the man, could have let him live one more night!" And then I also heard Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta say that she "sends people out to beg, cause that's their job in life, and always rejoices with them if someone gave them something." Boy did that change my outlook! I started to give away quarters like crazy and even my lunch or any fruit I had with me to make these people happy. If the Blessed Mother loves them, I better love them too! What do you think?
Deacon John

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1962:

Conchita.

"THE POPE AND PADRE PIO WILL SEE THE MIRACLE" . . .

Conchita explained Our Lady's remarks to Dr. Celestino Ortiz: "This Miracle will be a very great one. The Pope, wherever we may want him to be, will see it. And Padre Pio as well."

The odd turn of the visionary's statement concerning the location from which the Sovereign Pontiff will see the Miracle, leads us to suppose that he will not be at the Vatican for the great event. (Conchita's own repeated opinion). As to Blessed Padre Pio seeing (in advance) the Miracle, cf. infra, Part III, on October 17-18, 1968.
[Excerpt from 'Garabandal' Book, page 147]

That was an odd way to describe the Pope's witness of the Miracle. I had read before that he would see the Miracle from wherever he was. Now for the first time the statement reads "wherever we may want him to be." It sounds like Conchita is saying the Pope will be at Garabandal for the Miracle. That would be fantastic, if true! We'll have to wait and see. Of course it may mean something else, only God knows for sure . . .

As for Padre Pio, as we will read later on, he did see the Miracle before he died, which was verified by some of his brother friars. We'll hear more about that later too . . .

Image via Wikipedia

Little by little, we are learning more and more about the three great supernatural events that will soon take place to shake up the world, 1. The Warning; 2. The Miracle; 3. The Great Sign. Well that's what mysteries are all about. If we knew everything already, it wouldn't be a mystery. Keep tuned!
Deacon John

MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1962:

Maximina & family with Aniceta and Conchita.

A FUTURE PRIEST . . .

Maximina, a very young widow, had two children, one of them a boy of only a few months when, in 1962, Conchita was told in an ecstasy that he would become a priest. A news that the visionary would tell her aunt later.
[Excerpt from 'Garabandal' Book, page 147]

Interesting prophecy. I'm not going to wonder if it was fulfilled, if Our Lady wants us to know what happened to this child, she will let it be known . . .

Someone asked me once: "What if Garabandal was not true, that the prophecies never come about, that all those involved just die and nothing happens?" I responded that I would be sad that these hoped for events would not happen, and that all I believed about the apparitions was false, but my faith in the Church would not be weakened. But I firmly believe in Garabandal, as much as I believe in Lourdes, La Salette, Fatima, and so many other apparitions of Our Lady, but I would be obedient to the Rome's decision and immediately delete this Blog Site! So far the Church has not condemned Garabandal and it is still under investigation.

How about you? Would your faith be shaken if the Church condemned Garabandal? Why not post your thoughts here. Lets have a discussion!!!
Deacon John

MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 1962:

The three Brothers with Mari-Cruz and Jacinta.

FEAST OF THE "TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD":
CONCHITA AGAIN RECEIVES HOLY COMMUNION
AT THE PINES, FROM THE HAND OF ST. MICHAEL,
IN THE PRESENCE OF OUTSTANDING WITNESSES

Three Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God arrived at San Sebastian de Garabandal on this August 6, from the "Instituto Psiquiatro de Mondragon, the site of their apostolate. Visiting the
village for the first time, they climbed up to the Pines. There they found Conchita with the three other girls. They offered to share their breakfast with them. But Conchita told them that the Angel (St. Michael) was to give her Holy Communion. Amazed, the Brothers of St. John of God were effectively to witness the "event," unable, of course, to see the Host. Nevertheless, they took superb photos of this ecstasy . . .
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 144]

Witnesses are the most important people regarding an ecstasy. And if they are Religious (priests, brothers, etc.) they are more qualified to report what they have seen. Of course, not all witnesses will believe in the supernatural events, many are closed minded, and not child-like to accept God's intervention in the world. I remember one priest friend, (he died a few years ago) who had gone to Lourdes, seeing all the sick people there, all the commercialization around the place, who said to me he didn't believe in Lourdes! Imagine that! I was shocked! I always say, "Let's not put God in a box." Who are we to say God can't or won't do this or that. This is a big problem with today's generation, they want to scientifically prove everything! My response to a priest once who said that Jesus only rose in the spirit, was, "It takes faith to believe in the bodily resurrection!" Let's pray for an increase of faith in all the world. Amen.
Deacon John

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 too 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?
Deacon John

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 73! 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?
Deacon John
p.s. Actually, I did find and join an Internet Monastery called "Invisible Monastery of Charity and Fraternity" http://digilander.libero.it/monast/inglese/index.htm
Thousands of people, lay and ordained have joined together across the Internet world in prayer and brotherhood. Check us out!

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 theGarabandal 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!
Deacon John 

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1962:

A discreet illustration of the "presence" of St. Joseph at San Sebastian de Garabandal: on the liturgical Feast of "the greatest of all saints," Mari-Loli, in ecstasy, addressed (in the wonderful night of March 18 to 19), the following short word to Fr. Jose Silva, who had just gone up to the village for the first time: "The Blessed Virgin wishes a happy birthday to Padre Jose." This happened when no one had recognized the priest "dressed in lay clothes."
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 125]

St. Joseph Day (March 19) is very popular where I come from (New York City). There's a beautiful custom that the Italian people have. They bring home made bread, called St. Joseph bread, to church and the priest blesses the small round loaves, and these are given to the poor. I miss all that.

The girls had a special gift to be able to tell when a priest or medical doctor came to the village dressed in lay clothes and unknown to anyone. They boldly went up to them to say hello and ask for a blessing. When asked about medical doctors, they said they have the gift of healing and are picked by God for their vocation, just as a priest is called and picked by God to heal souls. Very interesting!

Of course everyone knows that Jose is Spanish for Joseph, that's why the girls wished him a happy birthday. We are supposed to celebrate our patron saint, whom we were named after. Mine is Saint John the Evangelist; which Saint is your patron?

Deacon John

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1961:

Conchita and Padre Alejandro in 1964

ARRIVAL OF PADRE ALEJANDRO MARIA ANDREU, S.J.,
AT SAN SEBASTIAN DE GARABANDAL,
FROM VENEZUELA

In the inn belonging to Conchita's father, Our Lady warned Conchita, in ecstasy, that a missionary was in the village. He was Alejandro Maria Andreu with his brother Ramon, coming for the first time to meet the visionaries. Manifesting her predilection for this particular priesthood, the Blessed Virgin revealed to Conchita several personal details about the life of Alejandro, then a missionary in Venezuela since the age of eighteen.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 100]

The three brothers were all Jesuits, Fr. Luis, Fr. Ramon and Fr. Alejandro.

I just found out that Fr. Ramon died in November 2004 at the age of 81 in California.

The mother of these three priests, entered a convent in Spain and was professed a nun after the death of Fr. Luis.

Notice that Our Lady knows all our personal details . . . That could be embarrassing to some of us! Dear Mother of Mercy, pray for us!

And slowly many witnesses have passed on as we await the prophecies to be fulfilled in our life time!

I always wonder if I'll be around for the Warning and great Miracle? I'm 73 years old now and only the Lord knows how long I will live. Actually, I'm surprised I lived this long. My family has a history of dying young (in their 60's) and I was a sickly child until I reached my late teens. So we never know!

I have a promise to keep on the day of the Miracle that I vowed to God many years ago! I hope to fulfill that promise!

Deacon John

MONDAY, AUGUST 28 - TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1961

Muriel, Fr. Ramon Andreu and Mr. Foerschler

THE "SYMBOLIC" BAPTISM OF
MURIEL CATHERINE

Muriel Catherine, a nineteen-year old woman from Paris, of a Jewish father and a Protestant mother, was practicing no religion when she met Ascension de Luis from Burgos. The latter taught her a few rudimentary notions of the Catholic faith. The two friends went up to Garabandal on Monday, August 28, Feast of St. Augustine, the most famous convert in the Church history, except St. Paul.

At about 12:30 a.m., on August 29, they attended an ecstasy of Mari-Loli and Jacinta, who spoke about Muriel to their Vision. The visionaries then exclaimed: "She is not baptized!. . . Come, let's help her . . . Ah, because of her parents! . . ." Loli suddenly stretched out her arm, and grasped a bottle of holy water that a priest had given her to throw towards the apparition as a "test." The girl opened the bottle and threw the contents upwards, in front of her. But instead of following its normal course, the water mysteriously bent its path, and in its inexplicable trajectory, fell as a little shower on Muriel.

Muriel already had faith. But to be baptized, she had to wait until she came of age, the parents being opposed to her initiative. She was baptized in the cathedral of Burgos, at twenty-one years of age, on October 20, 1963, under the name of Maria del Carmen Catherine. She can be considered as a figure of the Synagogue called to be "baptized," or of the Church arising from the Synagogue.

Muriel represents the first of three cases of a typical "conversion" linked directly to Garabandal. The two other cases are those of Maximo Foerscher, an Evangelist, and of Barbara Painter, an Anglican Protestant.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 98.]

What a beautiful story of Our Lady's desire that all people's enter the holy Catholic Faith! It also reminds me of the Scripture written by St. Paul regarding the conversion of the Jews:

"For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, of this mystery (lest you should be wise in your own conceits) that blindness in part has happened in Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles should come in. And so all Israel should be saved, as it is written: There shall come out of Sion, he that shall deliver and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And this is to them my covenant: when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, indeed, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are most dear for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance. For as you also in times past did not believe God, but now have obtained mercy, through their unbelief: So these also now have not believed, for your mercy, that they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded all in unbelief, that he may have mercy on all."
(Romans 11:25-32)

As a matter of fact, as we shall read later on, the Great Miracle at Garabandal will bring everyone in the world into the Catholic Church, yes even the Moslems too! Praise God! Wow, will we be busy then teaching our neighbors about Jesus & Mary and all the Truths of our blessed Faith. Hey, you better get brushed up on your catechism so you can be a good teacher and pass on our beloved Faith!!!
 Deacon John

MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1961: THE ANGEL OF GOD WILL COME BACK

The next day, the four young girls went back, at the same time of the day and to the same spot, to wait for the Angel. The whole village then knew about the apparition. On their way up the visionaries put up with a few jeers. Unimpressed, they recited the rosary at the calleja. But the Angel did not show up. "If he was really the Angel, he will come back," the teacher, Mrs. Gomez (see note below) assured them. . . At 10:00 p.m., while the girls were beginning their evening prayers, each one heard in her room a voice saying: "Do not fear! You will see me again."

Dona Serafina Gomez, (pictured above) the schoolteacher to whom, on the same
evening (Sunday, June 18), the visionaries reported their experience. She trusted the visionaries and, far from showing a priori an opposition, she suggested to the girls, who had taken refuge in the church after their ecstasy, to recite one station (see note below) before the Blessed Sacrament in thanksgiving for what had just
happened.

The "station" is a Spanish devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and consists in reciting six Our Fathers, six Hail Marys, six Glory Bes, a Creed and a Salve Regina, with the invocation "Long live Jesus in the Holy Sacrament! May He be loved by all!"
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 30.]

Notice that the girls were saying their prayers before bed time! A good lesson for us who forget this important part of the day. We would all sleep better if we said some good Act of Contrition and a few Our Fathers, Hail Marys, Glory Bes to fall asleep with! The three seers of Fatima also said the rosary before the Angel appeared to them, but a short one that only repeated the Hail Mary, Hail Mary, Hail Mary, etc. over and over. That changed into a full rosary after the Angel instructed them and Our Lady told them to pray the rosary every day for world peace . . . Our Lady also said that Francisco would have to pray many rosaries in order to get to heaven! And we think we say enough prayers! He was only a child of 9 with very few sins, if any. I probably will have to say millions of rosaries until the end of the world to get to heaven!!!

Deacon John

MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1961: THE ANGEL OF GOD WILL COME BACK

The next day, the four young girls went back, at the same time of the day and to the same spot, to wait for the Angel. The whole village then knew about the apparition. On their way up the visionaries put up with a few jeers. Unimpressed, they recited the rosary at the calleja. But the Angel did not show up. "If he was really the Angel, he will come back," the teacher, Mrs. Gomez (see note below) assured them. . . At 10:00 p.m., while the girls were beginning their evening prayers, each one heard in her room a voice saying: "Do not fear! You will see me
again."

Dona Serafina Gomez, (pictured above) the schoolteacher to whom, on the same
evening (Sunday, June 18), the visionaries reported their experience. She trusted the visionaries and, far from showing a priori an opposition, she suggested to the girls, who had taken refuge in the church after their ecstasy, to recite one station (see note below) before the Blessed Sacrament in thanksgiving for what had just
happened.

The "station" is a Spanish devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and consists in reciting six Our Fathers, six Hail Marys, six Glory Bes, a Creed and a Salve Regina, with the invocation "Long live Jesus in the Holy Sacrament! May He be loved by all!"
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 30.]

Notice that the girls were saying their prayers before bed time! A good lesson for us who forget this important part of the day. We would all sleep better if we said some good Act of Contrition and a few Our Fathers, Hail Marys, Glory Bes to fall asleep with! The three seers of Fatima also said the rosary before the Angel appeared to them, but a short one that only repeated the Hail Mary, Hail Mary, Hail Mary, etc. over and over. That changed into a full rosary after the Angel instructed them and Our Lady told them to pray the rosary every day for world peace . . . Our Lady also said that Francisco would have to pray many rosaries in order to get to heaven! And we think we say enough prayers! He was only a child of 9 with very few sins, if any. I probably will have to say millions of rosaries until the end of the world to get to heaven!!!
Deacon John