OCTOBER 16, 1968:

PADRE PIO, LOURDES AND CONCHITA:
NEW EXCEPTIONAL "CONFIRMATIONS"
OF THE AUTHENTICITY OF GARABANDAL

 

 

When Blessed Padre Pio died, on September 23, 1968, Conchita was very perplexed. The Blessed Virgin's prophecy, predicting that he would see the Miracle, had apparently not been fulfilled . . .

But, on October 16 of the same year, the visionary received a telegram from Lourdes. It was sent by a lady friend of hers, urging her to go to the world-famous Sanctuary, to receive a letter written by Blessed Padre Pio (written, by the way, just . . . one day before the Blessed Capuchin "confirmed," once more, the supernatural authenticity of Garabandal to a French author in spiritual matters, whom we know very well (J.S.)

Convent of the Capuchins, August 22, 1968,
For Conchita - Padre Pio has said:
"I pray the most Blessed Virgin to comfort her and to guide her towards sanctity. I bless her with all my heart."
Fr. Pellegrino

This note dictated by Padre Pio the very day, at the time of the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to Fr. Pellegrino, then Superior of the Monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo, was brought to Conchita by one of the famous Capuchin's messengers and friends, the Franciscan Fr. Bernardino Cennamo, who himself had been in San Sebastian de Garabandal on June 18, 1965, and had witnessed the spectacular ecstasy of that famous day, but still doubting about its divine origin . . . until the famous Capuchin of Pietrelcina asked him to offer Conchita the little veil that was to be used to cover his face soon after his death -- a most exceptional 'relic' that the visionary inherited at Lourdes. She also learned from Fr. Bernardino that Padre Pio had clearly "seen the Miracle" shortly before dying (on August 22, 1968): "He told me so himself," the Franciscan insisted. A few days later, Conchita wrote to Joey Lomangino and mentioned the altogether important recent "event." She would later write a complete account of this for Elisa, a friend of Barcelona. ( Fr. A. Combe, a French priest, who had accompanied Conchita and her mother to Lourdes, also would provide us with a full account of that most remarkable, providential trip). Furthermore, all the irrefutable facts occurred before and after the famous Note of Msgr. Cirarda, October 9, 1968! (see next post). As to Fr. B. Cennamo himself, he will eventually corroborate firmly what has been said above, in a letter of July 4, 1969, to an English gentleman.
[From 'Garabandal' Book, pages 216-217]

Lots of details on this amazing "event" in the life of Conchita . . .

Well, at least she got to go to Lourdes. I always wanted to go there too, but so far haven't made it there. All this stuff happened before I heard of Garabandal in 1970, so I really missed out knowing about Padre Pio, but he did become one of my favorite saints after that and I prayed to him to intercede for me many times and also prayed for his beatification. Someone I know personally had a visit from him after his death and caused that person to get out of their depression and a change of life! Another time I was at Joey Lomangino's house and a nun
from Italy was there who had one of Padre Pio's gloves that had covered the stigmata. It was passed around to be venerated and one man smelled roses coming from it and had a conversion experience. I didn't smell anything . . . I love remembering all this little stuff, it makes me smile!
Deacon John

FEBRUARY 5 TO 19, 1968:

CONCHITA'S SECOND TRIP TO ROME

The Vatican covered the expenses of Conchita's second visit to Rome again with her mother and Fr. Luna, complete discretion being then asked to Conchita. The visionary again went to the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to be questioned but, this time, no longer by Cardinal Ottaviani. We hardly know anything more about the new encounter: Conchita, in fact, was even more discreet about this second trip than about the first.

The archives of Fr. Luna, now deceased, will someday doubtless be of great use to us to know, at last, the nature of the conversations that took place then between the visionary and the Church authorities. It will a fortiori be the same for what the Archives of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith are preserving about this matter.
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 215]

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It's interesting that the Vatican paid for Conchita and her mother with Fr. Luna for this trip to Rome . . . I wonder if I can get a free trip too! And I'll bring all of you along. With my luck, I'd have to pay my way home . . . after they hear my story!!!

Anyway, everything is so secretive and under wraps so I guess we will have to wait till after the Miracle to read some more about this meeting.
Deacon John

OCTOBER 10, 1967:

THE "EVIL ONE" . . . ASSAULTING GARABANDAL!

Less than two weeks after the certainly "ill-inspired" episode of building the "chapel in honor of the Archangel St. Michael," there was a pseudo-bi location of Padre Pio right in Aniceta's home! Conchita quickly discerned the fraudulent character of this manifestation . . .

Throughout the period of the apparitions and the locutions at San Sebastian de Garabandal, there never occurred anything that was intrinsically linked to the "Evil One." That came later and only on a few occasions, when the authentic phenomena had ceased completely. These disturbing false interventions nevertheless 'helped' to project a certain discredit on Garabandal. Paradoxically, even providentially, they would in reality help to protect this great Marian Apparition from such "a noise from the Evil One" (Dr. Ricardo Puncernau, Letter of May 21, 1984 to fr. R. Francois Turner). This is also what Msgr. del Val Gallo was to understand throughout his episcopate (1971-1981). This undoubtedly also explains his constant efforts not to mix Garabandal with any particular one, whatever it may be, of the countless other "supposedly, indeed false contemporary apparitions and mystics" (except in the special cases of authentic "figures of holiness," either those already acknowledged as such by the Church, or on the way to be).
[From 'Garabandal' Book, page 215]

Kinda creepy stuff. Imagine the devil appearing as Padre Pio! But this is nothing new. St. Paul warned about false apparitions in his Epistles and over the years at other approved apparitions like Lourdes and Fatima the "Evil One" appeared to scare the visionaries, but the Blessed Mother always protected the seers and chased "ole red legs" away! So remember, the next time you have a vision, throw some holy water on It to see if it's from God or you know who! I'd rather not have any visions, thank you! Pleasant dreams . . .
Deacon John

SEPTEMBER 29, 1967:

GARABANDAL AND A SPECIAL TEST OF OBEDIENCE TO THE CHURCH . . .

At the spot of the "rock of St. Michael," certain overzealous "promoters of Garabandal," were setting out to build a chapel "prematurely" in honor of the Archangel. They were acting on the faith of "false revelations" in the previous month of August, made to a fraudulent visionary, supposedly a mystic . . .

In the evening of the Feast of St. Michael, Conchita, preferring not to join this group in prayer, rather climbed up to the Pines with a few other persons. While the visionary and her friends knelt down in prayer, a star rose and remained above them during their whole prayer!
[Excerpt from 'Garabandal' Book, page 214]

Yes, we can be led astray by certain "mystics" who think they are receiving messages from God or Our Lady. But as St. Paul said "test everything." Conchita did the right thing and was rewarded with a sign from God (the star) for her faith. Many people receive signs like this. I have too! They are called "signal graces" to let us know God is hearing your prayer. It may not be answered as you want it to be, because God knows everything and some things are not good for us and our salvation, but at least you know He is listening.
Deacon John

MARCH 17, 1967:

MSGR. PUCHOL'S LAST "ACTIONS" WITH
REGARD TO GARABANDAL

"Monsignor Vincente Puchol Montis, successor to Msgr. Aldazabal, reports in his Note of March 17, 1967, that"

". . . 1) There was no apparition, neither of the Blessed Virgin,
nor of the Archangel, nor of any other person from Heaven.
2) There was no Message.
3) All the events that occurred (at San Sebastian de Garabandal) have a natural explanation . . ."

On March 19, the Spanish Television made this Note public.

MAY 8, 1967:

Msgr. V. Puchol dies in a mysterious car accident. As early as the previous April 25, his death had been prophetically announced in Madrid by a great Spanish mystic (Blessed Mother Maravillas of Jesus)

[She was beatified in May 10, 1998 by Pope John Paul II. Mother Maravillas "knew" that Garabandal was authentic. She even clearly shared her conviction with her spiritual daughters, assuring them that "the phenomena occurring at San Sebastian de Garabandal come from
God!"]
[From 'Garabandal' Book, pages 214 and 227]

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Now the "works of God" are mysterious! Who knows if by the bishop's denial he was called to judgment? We sure will know the answer when we get to heaven! In the meantime, remember all the Saints who did believe in Garabandal, like St. Padre Pio, Blessed Mother Maravillas and even Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta! This also reminds me of another bishop in our days who is denying the apparitions that are still going on in a European country. I feel sorry for their unbelief!
Roman Deacon

JANUARY 7 AND 14, 1967:

CONCHITA AND MARI-LOLI ARE COMFORTED
IN THE MIDST OF THEIR "DOUBTS AND DENIALS"

In January 1967, Conchita, on the one hand, and Jacinta and Mari- Loli, on the other, wrote two letters of thanks to Msgr. Manuel Pio Lopez, archbishop of Talapa (Mexico), for the favorable testimony he had given on Garabandal. The prelate, in fact on July 8, 1966, had publicly made much of the reply Msgr. Philippe, then a member of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, had made to the Superior of the Carmel of Puebla about the authenticity of the phenomena: "The fact that (Blessed) Padre Pio, known for his virtue, his knowledge and his fidelity to the Holy See, approves these apparitions and encourages the four girls to spread the Message of the Most Blessed Virgin, is a strong proof of the truthfulness of those apparitions" . . .
[Excerpt from 'Garabandal' Book, page 213]

Joey Lomangino receives Holy Communion from St. Pio 

It always amazed me that so many people, including bishops and priests, from outside of Spain, could see the truth of the apparitions and those who lived nearby denied them. It was like when Our Lord preached in His own home town of Nazareth and the people who lived there and knew Jesus, Mary and Joseph rejected Him and He didn't work many miracles there because of their lack of faith in Him. At one point the towns people even tried to throw Jesus over a cliff! The Bible says that "He escaped right through their midst." It was not His time to die yet. And so, it will be in God's time that all will believe in Garabandal! Padre Pio believed, do you?
Deacon John 

AUGUST 1966:

Mari-Cruz

THE GREAT DOUBTS AND DENIALS . . .

From the beginning of the apparitions, the Blessed Virgin had regularly warned the children that "someday they would contradict one another and even deny they had ever seen Her." During the February 13, 1966 locution, Our Lord had already mentioned this trial, then very near, to Conchita.

Mari-Cruz was the first to 'deny' in September 1962. To this day she has maintained her denials with, however, less and less . . . conviction!

Then it was Mari-Loli's and Jacinta's turn to doubt, for the first time in January 1963. As for Conchita, we remember that in 1961, during her constrained stay at Santander, she had apparently admitted that she had had no visions.

Loli and Conchita . . . confided their troubles to [Don Jose Olano, the new pastor priest of San Sebastian de Garabandal] him in confession. Conchita asked Don Olano to inform the bishop and make arrangements for an interview with Msgr. Puchol . . .

It was in the summer of 1966 that the doubts and denials reached the peak of their intensity . . . On August 15, in the village, after the recitation of the Rosary, Mari-Loli and Conchita suddenly felt filled with "remorse" and with the "feeling of having deceived the world" . . .

Conchita's interview with Msgr. Puchol Montis took place on August 30, at Pamplona, and lasted more than seven hours. At the end of this tense and harassing day, the visionary finally 'admitted' that "all of this was a lie," and even 'swore to that effect" . . . There were other rendezvous between Msgr. Puchol and the four visionaries, this time at Santander, on September 2, 7 and 27 and on October 11, 1966. During one of these interrogations, Conchita thought it good to reveal . . . the date of the future Miracle to the Bishop. But, at the moment she meant it proper to do so, she realized that she had forgotten it completely! She suddenly remembered it as she left the Bishop's residence . . . Mari-Loli also experienced this same type of providential "forgetfulness." Conchita was asked many questions on what she calls her "negations." Here we reproduce a particular interesting conversation:

Question: - When you said that you were seeing the Blessed Virgin, were you lying?
Conchita: - No, I was telling the truth.
Question: - And now you say that you didn't see Her, you are lying?
Conchita: - No, I am telling the truth.
Question: - Your conscience is at peace, right now?
Conchita: - Yes.
Question: - And when you were saying that you were seeing the Blessed Virgin, your conscience was at peace?
Conchita: - Yes, to be sure, yes.
Question: - At what moment was your conscience most at peace?
Conchita: - When I was saying that I was seeing the Blessed Virgin, my conscience was then totally at peace. Now, of course, I am still at peace, but, nonetheless, I have something in a corner of my conscience . . .
Question: - And why do you say that you did not see the Blessed Virgin?
Conchita: - The Blessed Virgin alone knows why She does things this way . . .

In a letter Conchita wrote on November 13, 1966, we find this short excerpt where the visionary gave a new and still more profound explanation of her 'denials':

"I keep on thinking the same thing concerning my retractions, and I accept that this is neither a cross nor anything at all."

As a conclusion, may we quote some brief excerpts from a note written on August 11, 1966 by Fr. Lucio Rodrigo, S.J.: " . . . our belief in the Divine supernatural nature of the Phenomena (of San Sebastian de Garabandal0 is not founded on what the children said at the time of the apparitions, but on real facts properly ascertained by witnesses and subjected to a rigid critical analysis, a fortiori our faith . . . has no reason to be destroyed or even diminished by the actual or future statements of the children. They would be deluded, but we would not."

Besides, throughout the whole Church history only true visionaries and authentic mystics experienced moments of real doubts and temptations against the Faith: a valuable criterion of authenticity already supporting Garabandal!
[From 'Garabandal' Book, pages 211-213]

Whoa! does this chapter scandalize you? Don't be! As Father Rodrigo said, it's all part of God's supernatural way of testing the seers and us too! Our Lady said "it was a grace to believe in Garabandal!" I believed right from the moment I read about the apparitions for the first time about 40 years ago, and I have, through the grace of God, continued to believe in them. My testimony is my life as a devote Catholic Christian and hopefully my death will also give glory to God by my Christian life! Garabandal has brought me closer to Jesus in the Eucharist through the Immaculate Heart of Mary! Garabandal has taught me that we must serve God and neighbor, and that's why I desired to be a deacon. Remember what Our Lord said to Conchita, "You must have your hands full of good deeds to enter Heaven, right now your hands are empty." When I first read those words, my hands were empty! How about you? Dear Lord, have mercy on us!
Deacon John