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]

Image by Jim, the Photographer via Flickr

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? Do we visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently? There is so much good to do and not enough time to do it!
Deacon John
 

SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1965:

ACCORDING TO ST. MICHAEL'S
EXPRESS INSTRUCTIONS, CONCHITA
MAKES THE MESSAGE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC

At 2:00 p.m., after returning to her home, the visionary transmitted the Message received on the previous day, writing the first three copies of it on ordinary stationary paper [see copy above], and mentioning the "bishops" and "cardinals" in the first two copies only because of her being too deeply moved by such a "Warning," however motherly, from the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel. She will say later that if (from the third copy) she was writing only "many priests," the reason was that "I thought that all of them (priests, bishops and cardinals) are priests." 

Msgr Beita himself was to receive from Conchita, a few days later, thanks to

Dr. and Mrs. Jean Caux, a copy of the Message.

[From 'Garabandal' Book, pages 196-197] 

St. Jose Maria Escriva. Image via Wikipedia

Yes, Conchita, they are all priests! So we see how much she respected all priests! And of course, so does Our Blessed Lady, who loves Her priest-sons, and weeps when they fall into sin or lead others into sin and error! And Our Lady's constant Message was to "Pray for priests!" Why? Because they are our spiritual fathers and if the are holy, we are holy. Think about it!
Deacon John

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1964:

The handwritten stupendous revelation which Conchita
wrote to Fr. Ramon Andreu about his deceased brother Luis.

A STUPENDOUS PROPHETIC REVELATION
MADE TO CONCHITA ABOUT THE
DECEASED FR. LUIS MARIA ANDREU

On August 2, 1964, Conchita sent this short note to Padre Ramon Maria Andreu:

"Dear Fr. Ramon, on 18 July, I had a locution, and in this locution the Blessed Virgin told me that, on the day following the Miracle, your brother will be taken out of his grave, and his body will be found incorrupted. Father, I told no one I had this locution, except to a young lady who is the only one to know this."

Transferred from the cemetery of Ona, in 1975, Fr. Luis's remains henceforth lie in a very small niche in the ossuary of the Jesuit cemetery of Loyola. The prophetic event already partly filled, of the complete decay of his body, then of its future "restructuring" through a divine supernatural intervention, will be unique in the whole history of the Church and of humanity. It will be the only known case of a "totally reversed necrotic process." To this day, we number, in fact, only a few cases of "reversed necrotic process, only in part" (J.S.)

The discovery will be made on the day following the "D" day, that is, if not a Good Friday, at least a Friday of Easter liturgical Time. It was precisely during the Holy Week of the year 1961 that the famous Madre Maria Naya predicted to the Spanish Jesuit "the nearing end of your earthly pilgrimage."The complete "restructuring" of the priest's body, thus associates him in a mysterious way with certain prophetic texts of Scripture bearing on "the life and spirit being breathed on the dry bones" (Ezek. 37:1-14). Considering the undeniable eschatological dimension of Garabandal to which this event is so obviously linked, it is impossible not to think especially of the similar phenomenon that occurred at the very moment of the death of Jesus: "The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised (Matt 27:52)".

However, it is not said that Fr. Luis Maria Andreu is to be "raised from the dead." Here, the absolutely unprecedented character of the miracle will lie in the very and only "recomposition" of his body, which, as Conchita again pointed out in September 1965: "Fr. Luis will be found exactly as he was at the time of his burial": completely reconstituted! Real and preserved, better said,
"incorrupted"!

[From 'Garabandal' Book, pages 182-183]

Well, another great mystery of Garabandal! You know that after Fr. Luis died, he spoke to the girls and even taught them to pray in other languages! And Our Lady said he was with Her! Which goes to show you that we (if we merit it) go straight to Heaven when we die, leaving our bodies to turn to dust. At the General Resurrection at the End of the World, God will reconstitute our bodies and infuse our souls back into them. Then will come the final judgment, and the good will go to heaven with their glorified bodies, and the damned will return to hell with their deformed bodies, which will suffer along with their souls for all eternity!!!

I know where I want to go, do you? Think about it!
Deacon John

SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1962:

A LAST ECHO TO THE "TWO NIGHTS OF SCREAMS"

To complete the remarkable week when the two "Nights of Screams" occurred, Mari-Loli and Jacinta wrote and signed a second text:

"The Blessed Virgin told us that the world has not changed in any way: . . . few will see God; . . . the Chastisement is coming . . . The cup is filling up . . . May the good pray for the wicked . . . Be good, all of you, be very good."

[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 137]

Very strong words of from Our Lady, relayed by the girls. Are they true? Could Mary say these things to us? I would say yes! Read some of the words She has spoken at other approved apparitions like Fatima and Akita, Japan, where Mary warns the world of coming chastisements if it does not change for the better. The world is certainly worse now than ever, what can we expect except to be chastised because of our sins. If your child puts his or her finger into a electric socket, you will yell at him or her to stop. Why, because you love your child and don't want him or her to get hurt. If he or she goes back a second time to stick their finger in the electric socket, you now smack (chastise) that child to make him or her stop so that they don't hurt or even kill themselves. So it is with Our Father in Heaven. He loves us dearly and wants all souls to be saved by the Precious Blood of Christ, but if we are hurting or killing ourselves (sin and hell) He will intervene and chastise us!


I just happen to read God's Wisdom in Psalm 37: "Do not fret because of the wicked; do not envy those who do evil," says the Lord. If you get a chance read this psalm about the wicked and what happens to those who reject God!

Our Lady, who knew the Psalms by heart, says "pray of the wicked" and that we should "be very good." Let's do that!
Deacon John

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1962:

1965, Loli at sixteen with her father, Ceferino

GARABANDAL AND . . . "ORIGINAL SIN"

Ceferino, owner of the village Cafe, [father of Mari-Loli] . . . was the father of ten children. On this March 31, 1962, his wife Julia was giving birth, on the first floor, to a little girl, Lupita.
Falling into an ecstasy at that very moment in that same house, Loli learned from the Blessed Virgin that she had just had a baby sister. Then the visionary was heard crying out: "what, so small, and "sin" already in her?" Fr. Laffineur himself, present that day at Garabandal, left his precious testimony about that most significant "episode."

This fundamental truth of the Christian Faith, of experience as well, concerning "original sin," was recalled several times with new light in Garabandal, thus prophetically "corroborating" the Teaching of the Magisterium (v.g. John Paul II and his remarkable Catechisis of 1986), often ill-received by many contemporary theologians on such an important matter.

Without going here into the details and the richness of that fundamental doctrine of the Church, we may at least point out that the "sin" of her little sister mentioned to Mari-Loli by the Vision was obviously neither an actual sin, nor a personal one. It is rather, if we refer to the etymology and history of the word "peccatum," a lack, a privation of what, according to God's primary and fundamental intention in creating Man, was due to him at first, that is, a state of righteousness and holiness from which we have been deprived since Adam's personal and original sin. In a parallel manner, however, may we recall that the mystery of the universal economy of Grace, past as well as actual, extends to every human being, baptized or not, in History, thus since the Fall itself, although in quite different ways and without any religious syncretism whatsoever!
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 129]

An amazing excerpt on "original sin", which I'm sure will give us a lot to think about. Yes, the Church still teaches that every person born after the Fall has original sin on their souls, and that the Sacrament of Baptism cleanses us of it and make us members of the Body of Christ, sons and daughters of God the Father, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ; and receiving the Holy Spirit as priests, prophets, and kings; we also become the children of Mary, who is the Mother of the Church! Wow! What dignity this one Sacrament bestows on us. Can we thank God enough for this great grace?

Unfortunately, there were and are some in the Church who teach errors regarding this blessed Sacrament, even denying "Original Sin"! That's why we must always be united with the Pope and those bishops who are united with him; there only you will find the Truth and be protected from the errors being taught.

As for those who are not members of the Church through baptism, remember that there is three forms of baptism:
1. Baptism by water.
2. Baptism by desire.
3. Baptism by blood.

Only God saves and knows what is in each persons heart. Hopefully, every person, who loves God, will be saved through desire or giving their life for another, through blood!!! Each day I say a little prayer for the unborn who have been aborted: "By the blood they have shed, may they be baptized in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and be granted eternal salvation through the Precious Blood of Jesus!"  
Deacon John

SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1962:

St. Pio of Pietrelcina

A MYSTERIOUS (FIRST) LETTER FROM
THE FAMOUS ITALIAN STIGMATIZED
CAPUCHIN, BLESSED PADRE PIO OF
PIETRELCINA, TO THE VISIONARIES
OF GARABANDAL

On this "first Saturday" of March, Conchita received a letter addressed to the four visionaries in the village. It came from Blessed Padre Pio, as the Vision would confirm to Conchita, during an ecstasy she had on the same day, telling them, among other things: "Dear children, this morning at nine, the Blessed Virgin asked me to tell you: 'O blessed little girls of San Sebastian de Garabandal! I promise that I will be with you until the end of times, and that you will be with Me until the end of the world. Then you will be united with Me in the glory of Paradise' ".

Having transmitted this very remarkable prophetic message from the Blessed Virgin, Padre Pio continued in these terms:
"I am sending you a copy of the rosary of Fatima that the Blessed Virgin asked me to send to you. This rosary was dictated by the Blessed Virgin and must be made known for the salvation of sinners and for the preservation of humanity from the worst chastisements God is threatening to send us.
"I am giving you only one advice: Pray and make others pray, for the world is on the edge of ruin.
"People do not believe you: they do not believe in your conversations with the Blessed Virgin . . .
"People will believe when it will be very, very late."

As soon as she received this letter, Conchita sent Padre Pio a personal letter, with "a secret message from the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel and addressed to him."

We do not know exactly when the famous Capuchin of San Giovanni Rotondo learned about what was going on at Garabandal. Thanks to the book by F. Sanchez-Ventura, La Vierge est-elle apparue a Garabandal? (Did the Blessed Virgin appear at Garabandal?, N.E.L. Paris, 1965), we nevertheless know the gentle "reproach" he addressed, at the beginning of the year 1962, to a group of Spanish pilgrims on the authenticity of the apparitions: "How many apparitions do you need, when they have been taking place for already eight months?"

We shall see later in this Dossier, more, much more about the extraordinary involvement of Blessed Padre Pio in Garabandal.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 125]

I love mysteries, especially supernatural ones! Padre Pio, who is now a Saint, was a man of mystery! I've read many books about him, watched many movies, [I just bought a new DVD titled 'Padre Pio, Miracle Man.' It's excellent!] but we'll never know the whole story about his life until we get to Heaven. Even though the books and movies didn't tell you, there was a great connection between him and Garabandal. There is a lot more to tell, as the author said, and I know a lot too, but I'll write about it when the proper time comes in our on-going story. By the way, if you can get that book "Did the Blessed Virgin appear at Garabandal?", it's a good one to introduce you to the facts.
Deacon John

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1962:

CONCHITA'S MUCH AWAITED
ECSTASIES START AGAIN

Having known for some weeks already that Conchita would see the Blessed Virgin again, many witnesses came on this January 27 to attend the resumption of her ecstasies.

A NEW BISHOP APPOINTED TO
THE SEE OF SANTANDER

On this very day, Msgr. Eugenio Beitia Aldazabal was named the new Bishop of Santander. He was the only titular Bishop during the period of the public "events" of Garabandal, and was to fulfill that office until July 2, 1965. Msgr. Beitia died on December 25, 1985.

FEBRUARY 1962

The ecstasies kept on.
The Blessed Virgin appeared again to Jacinta on February 18.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 123]

As I type this message to you, I'm looking at a wonderful picture of Conchita (a full page picture) showing her in the winter of 1962. It was taken a few months before she began writing her little "Diary", which we will hear more about later on. She's wearing a wool coat and matching scarf, with a bunch of religious medals on chains hanging around her neck. These, of course, were offered to Our Lady to be kissed by her and returned to their owners. She never made a mistake in returning each medal to it's rightful owner. Amazing! And what a lovely young girl she was, with a serious face!Deacon John

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1961:

Pastor Don Valentin Marichalar

"THE HOLIDAYS". . . OF DON VALENTIN MARICHALAR

This was the last day of the first period of frequent ecstasies. Don Valentin left "on holiday" was replaced by Reverend Amador, a worthy priest. He handed in a detailed report of all the observations made during his stay at San Sebastian de Garabandal . . . "Finally," as Fr. Marichalar reported in December after meeting with the Papal Nuncio in Madrid, "it appeared proper to Msgr. the Bishop that I take charge of San Sebastian de Garabandal again."

The Blessed Virgin announced to the girls the date of her next four apparitions.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 117]

It seems that Father Marichalar was very anxious and happy to be re-instated as pastor in Garabandal. The girls were happy to have him back. Once they said "He's ugly, but a very holy priest!"

I think the Blessed Mother was happy too, she started appearing to the girls again . . . 
Deacon John

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1961:

HOMAGE OF THE YOUNG GIRLS,
IN ECSTASY, TO ST. DOMINIC . . .
ON THIS "FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY
OF THE HOLY ROSARY"!

This day both the "first Saturday of the month" of the Holy Rosary and the "Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary" was a moment extremely rich in meaning. We point out only one element here: the young visionaries, in ecstasy, cried out in unison: "Viva Santo Domingo que lo (i.e. el "Rosario") ha fundado!" ("Long live St. Dominic who 'founded' the Rosary") as they were reciting the rosary. Will not the "inspired" reaction of these four girls be used later as a powerful counterproof against the current "revisionism" attempting to prove that St. Dominic of Guzman was not really at the main origin of the Rosary? This would belie, it seems, all his preaching to the poor, accompanied and punctuated by the intense recitation of decades of Aves. In 1571, after Lepanto, St. Pius V, a Dominican Pope, would codify the fifteen mysteries as they are still recited today. The 'mysteries', as we have said above, were thus an integral part of the recitation of the Rosary . . . for the first time in a great Marian Apparition!
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 106]

Another manifestation of the supernatural, as the girls must have had a vision of St. Dominic as they prayed the Rosary! Notice that it was in unison that they exclaimed "Viva Santo Domingo" so it must have been the Holy Spirit who enlightened them all together!

Yes, the 'mysteries'! How can we not pray the Rosary without thinking about the 'mystery'? Some say it's hard for them to keep the mystery in their mind. Well, there is a couple of solutions to this problem . . .

1. Before each decade say a little meditation on the 'mystery' to keep your mind on it as you pray the ten Hail Mary's.

2. Another way to do this is between each Hail Mary read a scripture verse regarding the mystery. There are a few Scriptual Rosary Booklets on sale out there.

3. Or what I love to do is add a few words regarding the mystery during the Hail Mary. It goes like this: Let's say the mystery is "The Nativity". You pray the "Our Father", then start a Hail Mary. When you get to "blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus . . ." you add "who was born in Bethlehem". Then continue on with "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners . . ." You do this with all ten Hail Mary's, saying the same words. This keeps your mind on the mystery, even if you're driving a car or jogging in the park! By the way, this way of praying the Rosary was approved by Pope Paul VI, of happy memory!
God love you and please pray for me and my wife!
Deacon John

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1961

Padre Lucio Rodrigo

PADRE RODRIGO IS "CONSULTED"

Padre Lucio Rodrigo was consulted by the members of the "Special Commission" (except Dr. Morales), most certainly in the second half of the month of August 1961. Following this encounter with the renowned Spanish theologian, Don Juan Antonio del Val, the future bishop of Santander . . ., resigned from the "Commission."
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 100]

Father Rodrigo was a Jesuit and a very holy priest! He firmly believed in the apparitions at Garabandal. He learned the nature of the great Miracle from Conchita, but not when it will happen. He died on March 30, 1973 at the age of 90 from injuries he received from a car accident. Shortly before he died, he received a special grace from God that he had asked for to confirm his belief in the divine origin of the Garabandal events. He is quoted as saying: "If there exists in the world a window through which one can contemplate Heaven, it is Garabandal!"
May he rest in Peace! Amen.
Deacon John

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1961:

Beginning of August 1961, Conchita in ecstasy presents her doll to her Vision.

"GAMES" OF THE VISIONARIES . . .
IN ECSTASY. "THREE SECRETS" TO
COME . . . FOR THREE MYSTERIOUS
YEARS RELATED TO THE LITURGICAL
FEAST OF THE DAY? TO THE THREE
(PAST) YEARS OF IMMEDIATE
PREPARATION TO THE GREAT JUBILEE 2000?

The Blessed Virgin played hide-and-go-seek several times with the children, something that amused them a great deal. At the time of the ecstasy on this Saturday evening, August 19, 1961, Feast of St. John Eudes, the four visionaries spoke of "three secrets for three years," of "three secret messages that they were to make public each year," but which they did not know at the time . . .

It does not seem advisable for us to interpret here those "secrets." However, the biblical theme of the "secret" being always linked to that of the "Heart" of God (and of Mary), it appears necessary for us to connect this revelation made to the visionaries with the work of St. John Eudes. Living in the seventeenth century, he was later to be officially recognized as "the Father, the Apostle and the Doctor of the public cult given to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary."

Indwelt by a prayer of universal dimensions, Marie des Vallees was a source of major inspiration for St. John Eudes for fifteen years. This astonishing mystic enjoyed the benefits of admirable prophetic insights of an eschatological nature, of which some remain "secret" to this day. Marie des Vallees already proclaimed that, before the end of times, there would occur here, on Earth, a "general conversion," a "deluge of fire," work of the Holy Spirit, and that "everything in the mission would be accomplished by the Blessed Virgin."

On the other hand, what the girls of Garabandal were told on that evening corroborates the Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in August 1917, which occurred for well-known reasons, not on the 13th of the month, as usual, but on the 19th, precisely on the Feast of St. John Eudes. The prophetic (and eschatological) dimension of Fatima being not totally fulfilled yet, couldn't we consider this "delayed rendezvous" of the Blessed Virgin as the manifestation of the divine plan and desire of setting up in the world, some day, a joint devotion and cult to the (Divine) Heart of Jesus and the (Immaculate) Heart of Mary?

[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 94.]

There's so much on this page, I don't know where to begin to comment!

Imagine playing games with Our Blessed Mother! And why not? Did not your own mother play games with you? If not, you missed out on a lot of growing up. Every mother plays with her children, even if it's just playing "this little piggy went to market . . ." to calm you down. So Mother Mary, being our spiritual Mother, cares for us more than any earthly mother, so She would love to play games with us to calm us down . . . And of course Her divine Son Jesus taught us: Pointing to a little child, Jesus said 'You must be like this little child to enter the Kingdom of God!'

Secrets! I'm not sure what these secrets are, unless it refers to the Warning, the Miracle and the Great Sign prophesied at Garabandal. We'll have to see as we go along, but we all know about the Secrets of Fatima. The last one was revealed by Pope John-Paul II on June 26, 2000. Here is the complete text:

"I write in obedience to you, my God, who command me to do so through his Excellency the Bishop of Leiria and through your Most Holy Mother and mine.

"After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendor that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: 'Penance, Penance, Penance!'. And we saw in an immense light that is God: 'something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it' a Bishop dressed in White 'we had the impression that it was the Holy Father'. Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the Cross there were two Angels each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God."

(Committed to paper by Sr. Lucia on January 3, 1944.)

I looked up Marie des Vallees and most of the info about her is in French. It seems that she was a demonic and St. John Eudes exorcised her. After that she became one of his favorite spiritual advisers. She wrote four volumes of spiritual works too. It seems that St. Louis de Montfort also went to her for spiritual advise.

As I wrote before, Fatima & Garabandal are closely joined, as are all of Our Lady's apparitions . . . We're still waiting for the 'conversion of Russia' and the 'Era of Peace' prophecised at Fatima. I believe this will occur when the Garabandal "events" manifest themselves in the near future!!! 
Deacon John

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1961

THE DECEASED PADRE LUIS AND THE "SABBATINE PRIVILEGE."
THE SPIRITUAL PRESENCE OF ST. CLARE OF ASSISI ON THIS
DAY OF HER LITURGICAL FEAST

The Sabbatine Privilege, in its original form, was granted in the fourteenth century by the Blessed Virgin, after the grace of the Scapular to St. Simon Stock. The sixth General Superior of the Carmelites, who had just been chased away from the East by the Saracens, had begged Mary to help him. She then appeared to him promising him, at the same time as she gave him the gift of the Scapular, that every Carmelite wearing it would be spared the eternal fires.

As for the Sabbatine Privilege, it was broadened later by the Church, thanks to Pope Paul V (1605-1621). The Blessed Virgin promised that all those who had venerated her constantly and who had worn the Scapular with devotion would be withdrawn from Purgatory on the first
Saturday after their death.

At Garabandal, one finds indeed the figure of a small mountain on one side of the Scapular that Our Lady of Mount Carmel wears on her right arm. This mountain (the "Muhraka") symbolizes the confrontation that occurred on Mount Carmel between Elijah and Baal's false prophets. A cross is drawn on the other side: a clear indication of the divine source of that famous sacramental.

The Sabbatine Privilege was illustrated in a remarkable way on this August 12 at Garabandal. The four visionaries, as much in a state of ecstasy as in a normal state, had prayed a great deal after August 9, for the soul of the deceased Fr. Luis. They ceased to do so completely on this first Saturday after his death. The Blessed Virgin told the little girls that he was now in heaven. We know that Fr. Luis wore the scapular-medal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

As for St. Clare of Assisi, how not detect her "spiritual presence" at San Sebatian de Garabandal on this day of her "natale"? Several amazing events occurring as much during her life as soon after her death, offer, indeed, a clear analogy with some of the many phenomena registered on this August 12, 1961, in the village. For example, this one noted by Don Valentin Marichalar: ". . . The girls in ecstasy saw stars with long tails. . ." In the first case (charismatically speaking) as in the second (according to a theological reflection -- Canon J. Porro), people understood that this symbolized the Holy Spirit, known to have dwelt fully in St. Clare's soul while she lived.
[Excerpted from 'Garbandal' Book, page 88.]

 

Now you know why I have been wearing the Brown Scapular for the last 40 years and the only time I had to take it off was when I had an MRI exam and the technician insisted that everything had to go. As the old saying goes: "I wouldn't be caught dead without it!" When I tell people that Our Lady promised to take you out of Purgatory on the first Saturday after you die, if you wear and are enrolled in the Brown Scapular, I also say that I hope to die on a Saturday so that I can be taken right up!!!

I can tell you from personal experience how much I have changed from my "old self" to a "new man" through Our Lady's loving mantle of protection. She has guided and lead me in so many ways, especially to greater devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist! Each day when I wake up, I pray the Morning Offering, kissing my Scapular, and dedicating the entire day to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary. Sometimes, during the day, the scapular itches a little (it's made out of wool), and instantly I'm reminded of Our Blessed Mother and she keeps me on track.

Why not try it? There are many Catholic groups who will send you a free Brown Scapular, so if you want to wear Our Lady's Livery and receive many graces, why not get and wear one? Think about it!
Deacon John

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1961:

THE "ECSTATIC WALKS"

For the same reason as for the "calls" and the "falls," the "ecstatic walks" are typical events of San Sebastian de Garabandal. Their purpose was to draw attention to the apparitions (ecstasies).

These walks were absolutely extraordinary; they consisted in the girls moving from place to place, sometimes at a very high speed. The visionaries, hand in hand, would move at a very rapid pace, without seeing anything of their itinerary. They did not stumble on the rocky roads they took, their eyes being fixed on the apparition guiding them. According to the children's explanations, they had the impression of being "settled comfortably" in a fixed position with respect to their vision.

Here two of the girls are walking backwards. They would proceed in this way up to the Pines. On the steep slope of this same calleja , the children walked on their knees, without ever bruising themselves or experiencing the slightest pain as they came in contact with the rocky surface of the land. During the walks, the children appeared to be moved by an interior force that made the witnesses unable to hold them back. The rapid pace of the visionaries could become a race . . .

A word about their "range of vision": the girls saw nothing but the Apparition herself.

In one scene, Loli was alone in ecstasy, coming out of Conchita's home. She suddenly falls on her knees making a sharp noise. A few moments later, eyes fixed on heaven, arms outstretched, the upper body leaning forward, the pace of the visionary becomes more intense. It seems that she hardly touches the ground, as if she had "wings on her feet." The other three are not in ecstasy, they follow with difficulty.

At the end of these ecstatic walks, while the witnesses, even the most athletic ones, are deadbeat, Loli, on her part, shows no signs of fatigue. She is simply a little pale, but gives the impression of being calm.

[Excerpted from "Garabandal" Book, pages 81-83.]

More amazing signs of the supernatural! The pictures are spectacular! If you want to see them, go tohttp://www.stjosephpublications.com/Default.htm There a whole lot of pictures will come up for you to view. 

Deacon John

SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1961:

BEGINNING OF THE PERSONALIZATION
OF THE ECSTASIES

We know that, on this day, for the first time and very often later, the visionaries in ecstasy went two by two: Conchita and Mari-Cruz; Mari-Loli and Jacinta.
[Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, page 67.]

Each day, it seems, something new is added to these mysterious events . . . I've seen film on video of the girls marching arm in arm, step in step. They marched better than a platoon of soldiers! And as they did so, their heads where tilted back as they looked at the vision. They never looked where they were going or what they were stepping on. Sometimes they marched backward and downhill! Amazingly, they never tripped or fell over one another or anyone else who was in their path. One report told of the girls coming to a stream and walking over a plank without looking down. The poor villagers had a hard time keeping up with them . . .
We'll hear more of these ecstatic marches as the story continues . . .
Deacon John

ST. MICHAEL ANNOUNCES . . .

SATURDAY, 1st OF JULY, 1961: THE ANGEL SPEAKS: HE ANNOUNCES THE "VISIT" OF "THE BLESSED VIRGIN OF MOUNT CARMEL" FOR THE NEXT DAY
 

The guardian angel of Portugal, St. Michael, came to Fatima three times in 1915 and three other times in 1916. At Garabandal, his manifestations were far more numerous. He is the one the little girls saw during the first nine days of the apparitions. He is the one who, later, often gave them the Eucharist; he again delivered the two famous Messages, etc.

Image via Wikipedia

Since the extraordinary grace that St. Joan of Arc brought to France, there have occurred no more comparable charismatic events involving St. Michael. Being the Archangel of the Apocalypse and of the gigantic battle that will oppose, in the end, the "powers of Light" to the 'powers of darkness,' here on earth, his presence at Garabandal is a sign of the real approach of the "last times," and even of the "end of times" which will be particularly mentioned with all the "facts" that are of interest to us here. Because the Archangel is the protector of the people of God, the second session of the Second Vatican Council in 1963 was opened on his Feastday, 29th of September.

On this Saturday, 1st of July, St. Michael, for the first time, broke the silence in which the ecstasies had been unfolding until then:

"Do you know why I have come?", he asked the children.

-- No, they replied.

"To tell you that tomorrow, Sunday, the Virgin Mary will appear to you under the title of "Our Lady of Mount Carmel."

Then he asked the visionaries this other question: "Do you know what is written on the placard (escritorio)?"

-- No!

"The Blessed Virgin will tell you."
[Excerpted from "Garabandal" Book, page 41.]

St. Michael is certainly one of my favorite friends and protector! I pray often his exorcism prayer and 'The Chaplet of St. Michael' daily . . . How many times has he come to my defense and rescue!!! I can't wait to see him and thank him in his presence for all he has done for me and my family and friends.

Deacon John