Why I Wear A Scapular Gary Zimak.

 

On this day, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Tradition tells us that Our Lady presented St. Simon Stock with the brown scapular in 1251. Just what is a scapular? According to the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy:

The scapular is an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession, who are mindful of the primacy of the spiritual life and the need for prayer.

Even though I am a cradle Catholic and have always gone to Mass regularly, I used to think that people who wore scapulars were a little flaky. Rather than just be “normal” like me, I believed that those “scapular wearers” were oddballs who embraced apparitions and phony visions of the Blessed Mother. Why can’t they just be “regular” Catholics, like me instead of believing in something superstitious like the scapular? Most of all, I would never wear a scapular because someone might see it and think I’m weird.

How do I feel now? Every morning I kiss my brown scapular and say to Our Lady, “Blessed Mother, I am all thine and all that I have is thine!” I then put on the powerful sacramental knowing that Mary will help me to stay close to Jesus as I do battle with the forces of evil (and don’t kid yourself…they are all around us!) that threaten me constantly. I wear Our Lady’s scapular because it is a sacramental which better disposes me to receive the grace that I need to be a better Christian. I am proud that I wear the scapular and I hope people see it for what it is, a visible sign of my love for Mary and my trust in her intercessory powers. Most importantly, I wear the scapular because I am a comfort-loving, cowardly, self-centered sinner and I desperately need Mary’s help to keep me close to her Son and help me remain on the road that will lead to Eternal Life in Heaven.

That’s why I wear a scapular!

via followingthetruth.com

Thanks Gary!

I've been wearing the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for over 40 years. The one I wear now was a gift from a friend in Australia, who hand made it and also inserted a kissed relic in it from Garabandal. That way, I know that besides Our Lady's promises regarding those who wear her Livery (Brown Scapular), I hope to serve my Purgatory here on earth (a promise from Our Lady at Garabandal for those who wear the kissed objects.). I always loved giving people Scapulars and years ago I received permission to install people in the Brown Scapular so that they could gain the indulgences associated with it.
Once I had offered a friend some Scapulars for his children, and he refused them, saying: "I don't want my children to suffer by wearing the Brown Scapular." That made me sad but I respected his opinion, but we all have to suffer in the life one way or another, whether it's sickness, poverty, loss of a love one, divorce, etc., but isn't it better to suffer for a cause, especially if that cause is to go to heaven ASAP! Each morning when I wake up, I too kiss my Brown Scapular, which I never take off, and pray the Morning Offering. Uniting my prayers and sacrifices and sufferings, with all the Holy Masses being said around the world, offering them to God through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Isn't this what our Catholic Faith is all about? Saving our soul and all our brothers and sisters, all humanity, too!
God bless us all+
Deacon John

Fr. Ramon Andreu's Notes: Part Two, Post 35

In 1962, in order to reaffirm the faith of the believers, the prodigy of Mr. Damians happened. Following history, we saw that from October 18, 1961 to July of 1962, on the day of Conchita’s miraculous communion, the prodigies, visions, ecstasies, and marches continued in the same rhythm.

The public, certainly, did not do what the message said, without beginning a movement to spread the message, but more to have it known than to do it. Apart from individual reactions not known publicly, they did not organize pentitential acts or visits to the Most Holy. To be perfect according to the spirit of the message and the Bishop of Santander’s notes, they should fulfill the message in the temples and cities they go, those who believe are obligated to do so. Our Mother in Heaven, in Lourdes and Fatima asked for concrete acts where she appeared. Here, through the message, she is asking for a popular movement of devotion to Jesus in the Sacrament in the whole world and to each person in their parish or city.

The public action gives understanding to that which has not fallen in the accounting of the principal, as Conchita has not tired of proclaiming, is to fulfill the message. In contrast, the attention has centered in awaiting the warning and the miracle, so that people will convert almost by force. They do not make sacrifices as has been demanded of us. Of course, this is how we are established, but we certainly work to be established.

The rhymn of the happenings of the four girls, with light variations of intensity lasted until January of 1963. (December 1962).

 

PRIESTS By Father Francois Turner, O.P.

via garabandal.us

According to Conchita, Our Lady stressed above all “devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and prayer for priests.” There is a correlation between the Eucharist and the priesthood, both in themselves and in the Messages of Garabandal.

The Council teaches that the fundamental function of the priest is to be minister of the Eucharist (Presb, Nos. 2 & 5).

The Blessed Virgin often spoke about priests to the visionaries. She said that if they met an angel and a priest, they should salute-venerar-the priest first, because he consecrated, while the angel did not.

The priests are also responsible for instruction, and that is why she told the girls to ask them the meaning of the word “sacrifice” which they did not understand (Memor, p. 23;G I, p. 164). This suggests that the Blessed Virgin was perhaps also hinting that a good priest is sacrificed, consecrated, “eaten”, as the Cure’ of Ars would say. If such is the case, we can understand why she so often talked about them, encouraging the girls to pray frequently for priests. She expressed a special concern for priests, notably in the Second Message, because if they do not give a good example and demonstrate qualities of leadership, some of the faithful might be tempted to venture on “the road to perdition.” Their task is to help us to live saintly lives, each of us in our own individual state of life and calling.This special concern of the Virgin, and of God who sent her, is absolutely positive. On July 20, 1963, Our Lord told Conchita, “May they make Me known to those who ignore Me, and may they make Me loved by those who know but do not love Me.”

The Second Message recommends us all to pray for priests, bishops and cardinals.

It is well known that the Virgin gave the visionaries the power to recognize priests in lay or military attire, thereby hinting that they were marked with an invisible “character” or “seal” as taught by Catholic theologians.

We are now able to understand why the visionaries treated priests with a special consideration, even thought some treated them badly or questioned them indiscreetly. For example the girls questioned the Blessed Virgin about them with an eagerness close to anxiety. No subject seemed to preoccupy them more, except their own vocation. Conchita once asked the Virgin if all priests were good, and she was quite surprised to receive a negative answer (G II, p. 57). Mari Loli often prays for them, especially for those who wish they were no longer priests. She went so far as to ask the Virgin in a locution, for a cross to carry for them. Whence came these thoughts and feelings of Mari Loli? She confided once to a priest, “The Blessed Virgin told me to make sacrifices for priests, because if there are
many saintly priests, many more souls are led to Christ and to love God.She told me to pray especially for those who want to abandon the priesthood…that a priest continue to at least celebrate Mass, because he is priest forever.” The notion of the indelible “character” of the priest is found anew in these last words.

In order to let guests use her beds, Conchita’s aunt, Maximina, had put her two boys-aged five and four, on a straw mattress laid on the floor. In order to hide it, she had surrounded the mattress with chairs covered with sheets. Conchita entered the house in ecstasy, crossed the beds, and left. She went down a few steps, her head drawn way back, her hand holding the crucifix. She began to laugh, seemed to speak to someone, then came back,
walking up the steps backwards, reached the spot where the children were hidden, removed a chair, knelt and, without looking at the little boys, uncovered their feet, crossed them and said to one of them: ”Oh! … This one will be a priest?” This was seen and heard by many people amongst whom was Maximina who does not hide the confusion she felt at that time, whenever she narrates this episode (LVP, p. 122).

A pious, ascetic priest was Conchita’s first confidant regarding the miracle of the Host, and she notes his name in her Diary: Fr. Jose’ Ramon Garcia de la Riva. Another priest who was reputed to be saintly, Fr. Luis Andreu, S.J. was the only person to see the great Miracle beforehand, except Padre Pio, and the only one except the visionaries to see the Blessed Virgin at Garabandal.

At the time of the apparitions they often counted the priests who came to Garabandal and looked at the friars’ habits. When they were asked whom they would prefer to see coming, they answered “the priests”. Many came from the villages of the district. At the beginning, Pepe’ Diez counted as many as fifty. They discussed the events heatedly, even in public. They were far from seeing eye to eye. The girls were very sensitive to the way the priests celebrated Mass, and they noticed that the Andreu brothers said it very well.

After the time of the apparitions it was possible to observe that this lesson on priests had been fully assimilated by the visionaries.

At Burgos in 1966-67 Conchita often spoke of the priests and would pray that they try to be saintly. During her holiday at Garabandal on July 29, 1967, Conchita jotted down for a priest from Melun in France, on three pages of her notebook, what we consider is a little charter for the priests of our time. Rather than a revelation from Heaven, we see it as the fruit of her
reflections on the priesthood.

What the Blessed Virgin wants from the priest first of all is his own sanctification.

He should fulfill his vows through *love of God, and lead many souls to Him through example and prayer, for in our time it is difficult otherwise.

May the priest be sacrificed through love of souls in Christ!

May he retire from time to time in silence to listen to God who speaks to him continually.

May they think a lot about the Passion of Jesus so that their lives be more united to Christ the priest and thus invite souls to penance and sacrifice, and also make more tolerable to them the cross that Christ sends to us all.

To speak of Mary who is the surest one to lead us to Christ, and also speak about and cause people to believe that there is a heaven, so too there is a hell.

I believe that is what Heaven wants of the priests.

----Conchita

*The author has a facsimile of the original, from which the translation was made;Conchita underlined the word love.

At Burgos, Conchita wrote: “Let us pray much for priests who are the salt of the earth and the beloved of Christ.

---Conchita Gonzales, November 15, 1967”

A year later in October 1968, she was asked by a theologian if she still thought that “many priests were on the road to perdition.” She answered that she did, and that to those priests she would say: Imitate Christ in the Eucharist. This sounds theologically excellent, as Jesus in the host is perfectly consecrated to God and entirely eaten by men.

Of the many things the Blessed Virgin said, Jacinta remembers most vividly her words about priests: “I think that this was what impressed me most of all, and it leaves in my soul an esteem and a veneration for them that I am at a loss to explain.”

On November 21, 1968, a group of visitors was taking leave of Mari Loli. They told her that they were going to pray for her at the pines. She protested and told them to pray first for priests.

In December 1968, Conchita was operated on for appendicitis. While under anaesthetic she was heard to say, “We must pray for priests…let us pray for priests…how we must pray for priests!” which shows it was one of her major preoccupations.

In the Autumn of 1969, in an answer to a question sent to her, she explained that Our Lady asked her and her companions to pray for priests…because the faithful would follow their example.

In 1970 Mari Loli wrote to an author of books on Garabandal that she would “ask the most Holy Virgin that you be a holy priest.”

The frequent visits to Conchita by the Virgin, her numerous retreats, her life of prayer, her deep intuitive intelligence, perhaps a special charismatic gift, gave her the ability to provide profound and judicious answers. Mr. Walter J. Kushion and a group of Irish visitors asked her on September 13, 1970, “Why are priests leaving the Church today?” She replied, ”Because they do not have a love for the Blessed Virgin.” Whoever loves Mary faithfully, loves her Son faithfully and the Church that He loves (Eph. 5:25). Conchita considers that we are all responsible: “Let us pray a lot for priests. We ourselves are to blame for many priests who are on the road to perdition, because we do not pray enough for them, because we do not sacrifice ourselves, and also because we should be giving an example to those priests who are consecrated to the Blessed Virgin… We have to help those priests…that they may rise and pursue their course” (message of August 7, 1971 to American Garabandal workers, in OL, p. 221). Other such words and writings could be quoted.

This prayer for priests became contagious, particularly in the village when Conchita’s aunt and godmother, Maximina, began to pray daily for priests.

Since she learned that the Blessed Virgin asked us to pray for priests, Señora Julia Mazon, Mari Loli’s mother, has never spent a day without praying for them, for their sanctification, while milking the cows or when she takes the animals to graze. She declared this to Mrs. Maria Carmela Saraco who published it in her periodical The Vigil.

This example is followed to a great extent in the United States where friends of Garabandal promote vigils of prayer for priests, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The Holy Father [Pope Paul VI] knew of and approved them.

Through his sacerdotal prayer (John 17), Jesus meant to consecrate his apostles for a ministerial priesthood:

“Consecrate-hagazio (set apart for a sacred purpose)-them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth. As Thou has sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I consecrate Myself, that they also may be consecrated through the truth” (John 17:17-19). As underlined in a note on these verses in the Ecumenical Translation of the Bible into French, to ‘consecrate’ or ‘sanctify’ a being is tantamount to separating it from the profane to introduce it entirely and forever into God’s sphere of existence.

The apostles were thus fully conformed to Jesus, Priest and Victim of the new cult of the New Covenant, “in truth” (John 4:23-24), that is to say in conformity with the divine revelation given by Jesus. That is also to say: in Jesus, Truth (see John 14:6), through the operation of “the Spirit of Truth who will guide them into all truth” (John 16:13).

This consecration of the apostles to the ministerial priesthood of the New Covenant receives a compliment at the end of the gospel: “As My Father has sent Me, even so send I you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said: ”Receive ye the Holy Spirit. Whose ever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them” (John 20:21-23) 1

These ministerial priests will have successors who receive “a gift-charisma-of God by the laying on of hands” (II Tim. 1:6), conferred by the College of Presbyters:

“Reading, preaching, instruction, let these be thy constant care” wrote St. Paul to Timothy. “Do not neglect the gift that is within thee, which was given to thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery…Continue in these things: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee” (I Tim. 4:13-16).

The priests are “ministers of Jesus Christ, with God’s gospel for their priestly charge, to make the nations an offering worthy of acceptance, consecrated by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:16). This verse indicates the end, the goal of the ministry of the New Covenant.

Such is the teaching of the Council: “God … wanted … to consecrate priests who would share Christ’s priesthood in a special fashion… Through the celebration of Mass, they offer sacramentally Christ’s sacrifice” (Presb, No. 5).

This ministerial priesthood differs in essence and not only in degree from the common priesthood of the faithful (LG,No. 10).

“Set apart for God’s gospel (Rom. 1:1) …, they are totally dedicated ‘to the work to which’ the Lord ‘calls them’ (Acts 13:2)” (Presb, No. 3).
1.Cf A. Feuillet, Le Sacerdoce du Christ et de ses Ministres, Edit. De Paris
1971, pp. 177-188.
2.That is to say by those possessing charismatic gifts speaking in the name
of God under the guidance of the Spirit (see Bible of Jeruselum, Note on
Acts 11:27).

DO NOT MISS THE MIRACLE FOR THE WRONG REASONS by JOHN M. HAFFERT

This article is dated but is still a good read, especially for those whose faith in the Events of Garabandal are wavering . . . 

 

 

 When Our Lord first announced the great mystery of the Eucharist, (that His followers would eat His Body and drink His Blood) most left Him. Even the apostles were stunned. And Jesus said: "Will you, too, go away?" (St. John 6:67)
Immediately one must wonder: But why did He not EXPLAIN at least to His "own" what He meant?

Moved by THE HOLY SPIRIT, as Jesus pointed out, Peter gave the answer of faith: "You alone have the words of eternal life." (St. John 6:68)
The fact that we do not always understand is a poor reason not to believe in something we otherwise perceive to be true.
Approval of the Church
One should not doubt Garabandal just on the grounds that "it has not been approved by the Church."
During the second Vatican Council in Rome the then Bishop of Fatima asked the Bishop of Santander how he "felt" about the Garabandal events. And the Bishop ( who was responsible for the events of Garabandal) answered:
"We must wait for the miracle."

                         The Second Vatican Council, assembled in St. Peter's Basilica.

We do not know what else the two Bishops discussed, but we know that from then on the Bishop of Fatima ardently believed in Garabandal. On a visit to America he privately made arrangements to meet Conchita, the primary visionary of Garabandal. At his request Conchita gave the Bishop a ring, asking that he mention it in his will so that it would be returned. And three weeks before the Bishop died, ever conscious of this precious  tie with Conchita and knowing his death was near, he sent the ring back to her.
No one could understand the dilemma of the Bishop of Santander better than the Bishop of Fatima. But that is another whole story.
The ultimate reason why the Church CANNOT approve Garabandal at the present time is because Our Lady has announced proof yet to take place: A MIRACLE to be seen by thousands.
The Church cannot give approval before the proof.
Do Not Miss Out!
If you do not believe, well and good. But it is to be hoped you will not miss out on this great wonder in progress at this very moment, perhaps coming soon to its great climax, for the wrong reasons.
There is much evidence that the apparitions of Garabandal are authentic, backed by the findings and opinions of Bishop Del Val who clearly asserted that Garabandal "had not been condemned," and the first Bishop of Santander who said: "We must wait for the miracle."
We do not have to believe in any private revelation even AFTER it is approved by the Church. But we must believe in what we perceive to be true. And in light of all the evidence we should not dismiss that Our Lady of Mount Carmel has appeared at Garabandal just because we must wait for a promised miracle or we cannot understand the meaning of all She has said.
Bishops Against Bishops
The statement which seems to have raised most doubts about the events of Garabandal is that Cardinals, Bishops and priests would be in opposition. Bishop Del Val, who conducted the last investigations of Garabandal (which was in his  diocese) said that this was the one difficulty he found, and that it was a question which still bothered him.
Indeed it bothers us all. For that reason it is helpful that we hear almost identical words used by Our Lady in Her apparitions in Akita, Japan, apparitions which despite the seriousness of the messages given has been approved by the Church.

Infiltrate Into the Church
At Akita Our Lady said: "The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against other bishops. The priests who venerate Me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres , , ,"
John Paul II "Last Pope"
Another statement in the messages of Garabandal which many find "difficult" is that after Pope John XXIII there would be only three more Popes. That would make John Paul II the "last Pope" of these times. There are several possible explanations.
First, Our Lady could have been speaking of THESE TIMES as distinguished from the era of Her great promise, after the chastisement. Indeed, how can we imagine what it is going to be like in that time when "My Immaculate Heart will triumph and an era of peace will be granted to mankind"? ( This is the promise of Our Lady of Fatima.)
Second, Our Lady could have been referring to a time when a conclave would not be possible, such as a time of world wide disturbances. Then there would be a prolonged vacancy of the Chair of Peter, which has already happened in past history.
Third, (and this is what many Christians outside the Church are saying), Jesus might manifest Himself to unite all into one flock, of which He is the One True Shepherd.
At Fatima and in other apparitions Our Lady is saying that the times are grave and that great changes are coming. They will come by Grace or by Fire, or both. But they are coming. And as to the exact meaning of all Her words, we just do not know. But not knowing the meaning is no reason for denying or doubting what She said. There is an element of mystery.
When Pope John Paul II, after a leg fracture finally came out of the hospital and spoke for the first time in four weeks on May 29, 1994, in St. Peter's Square, His Holiness said that he had been suffering, as he had 13 years before when he was shot in that same square. He added:
"At the beginning of my Pontificate he (cardinal Wyszynski) said to me: 'If the Lord called you, you must lead the Church into the third millennium.' I understood that I have to lead Christ's Church into the third millennium by prayer, by various programs, but I saw that this was not enough: she must be led by suffering."
Repeatedly throughout his Pontificate the Pope has exhorted the Church TO BE IN ADVENT WITH MARY for the third millennium. Just stop and think: What does "advent" mean?
All the World Will be Communist
Another statement at Garabandal which might cause wonder is that all the world will be communist. But if we enter into the mind and into the Heart of Our Lady we find the explanation in Her prophecy of Fatima:
"If my requests are not heard, Russia will spread her errors THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WORLD . . ." Her requests were not heard. And the SPIRIT OF ATHEISM has permeated the ENTIRE WORLD. It has already happened.
Lucia said Her collegial consecration (necessary condition for the changes in Russia), which was made March 25, 1984, was "too late" in the sense that it had not come in time to prevent the message and spirit of atheism to permeate into every nation on earth.
Several generations of the millions in Eastern Europe were raised in atheism. Joined to those in Asia we are speaking of two BILLION actually raised as atheists. But think what has happened in the rest of the world, for example in the "Christian-Judaco" United States where now the name of God cannot be mentioned in schools.
Not For the Wrong Reasons!
Many missed the miracle of Fatima because the events of Fatima had not then been approved by the Church, overlooking the fact that they could not be approved BEFORE the proof Our Lady promised.
If there is to be another great miracle, there are many reasons we might miss it. But they should not be the wrong ones.   

From http://101foundation.com/  

Fr. Ramon Andreu's Notes: Part Two, Post 34

Msgr. D. Fernandez

On June 18, 1961, the history begins with visions that include mystical phenomena, corraborated by thousands of people among whom are theologians, priests, doctors, and men of the village. All have seen, except for rare exceptions, the intervention of Our Mother in Heaven. As a result, there is a spiritual current that cleanses the piety of the assistants, the converts, etc.

On August 26th of the same year, Bishop Doroteo Fernández’s Apostolic Administrator published the first note, which said this:

“Before the constant questions we made about the naturality of the happenings that have occurred in San Sebastián de Garabandal, and with the desire to orient the faithful in the right interpretation of these times. We believe ourselves obligated to study the happenings as a pastoral duty.

With this end we name a Commission of people recognized for their prudence and knowledge of doctrine to inform us, with a guarantee of objectivity and competence regarding the happenings.

In view of the report that has been presented to us, we believe that it is premature to make a definitive judgment in pronouncing the natural origin of the phenomena in question. There will be nothing right now. We are obligated to affirm the supernatural origin of the events that have occurred there.

In view of this, and with the condition of a definitive judgment of the facts that are produced in the future, we declare:

1. It is our desire that the priests, diocesan as well as those not from the diocese, and the religious of both sexes, will abstain from going to San Sebastián de Garabandal at present.

2. We advise the Christian village not to frequent the mentioned location without an ecclesiastical report about the situation.

With these provisional measures we certainly don’t hinder divine action over souls, but the opposite effect. We take away the spectacular character of the happenings, and enable the light of the truth. Doroteo, A. de Santander—Santander August 26, 1961.”

In the note, as we see, he communicates that the commission will act, and that at the moment he is not obligated to declare the supernatural nature of the events.

Nevertheless, this note makes a tacit recognition of a celestial origin and expresses the desire not to hinder divine action over souls, a test that the commission has observed. It does not prohibit the faithful from attending the ecstasies; it only asks for prudence and it is clear that it has observed the spiritual benefits, and he does not want to cut this precious river of Grace. The advice is to avoid excesses.

It seems that the mind of the Apostolic Administrador was sincerely favorable to the events and their supernatural nature even though he cites that there is not enough evidence to define it as such.

The phenomena continue with the four girls as protagonists, will new types of manifestations like ecstatic marches, falls, etc. This continued until October 18th of the same year, the date given by the girls as Our Mother in Heaven dictated, when there was a message for the world that said:

“We have to make many sacrifices and do a lot of penance and we have to visit the Most Holy often. We have to be very good because if we are not, a very large punishment will come to us. The cup is already filling up and if we don’t change, the punishment will come.”

It is certain that many were disallusioned when they heard this message, thinking that it seemed insignificant.

If they were disillusioned, the Bishop certainly gave them more reason with his note. They were not prepared to hear celestial words, supposing that is what they were. They awaited a glorious miracle, something spectacular, against the note. When it was not produced, they were disillusioned.

The marvalous events spurred spirituality but the message didn’t. It was a plain demonstration of the inversion of values that the note tried to forewarn.

Those who were witnesses believed during the prodigious tests, but it seemed to them that what they said was not very important. They didn’t understand that the girls were asking with urgency, in a fixed place, “the cup is filling up,” and to redouble their sacrifices and their penance, that what they were already doing wasn’t good enough, the gravity of the situation asked for much more. And, a new fact, a certain vision of forewarning, they asked for many visits to the Most Holy. If the Holy places were always full of adorers, then the modernists would not dare take them away or undervalue them. At that time there was time to save them through our efforts, but, by not understanding the message, they did not do it. They also urged a change in lifestyle, “we have to be very good,” and if it did not happen, “a punishment will come.”

This message which is so clear, but because of lack of meditation, and because of shock from the tests that were proven, was not understood. Some believed it to be the fruit of a simple composition in the place of the girls, imbued with religious ideas, or simply a recommendation of the cycle, without any greater transcendence than that of a sermon from a good predictor of things. They didn’t judge the value, but they reaffirmed their petitions more and more and their text.

Unfortunately, the reaction was small and lukewarm, as we know from the text of the second message. A serious warning for believers to fill themselves with strength and willingness to perform the received recommendations.

 

Fifty Years of Garabandal: A Singular Occurrence

A Singular Occurrence August 6, 2012 Dear Friends, Among Marian apparitions, Garabandal is distinguished by the ardor of the embrace of the Mother of God. It was customary for Our Lady of Mount Carmel to kiss the four young girls and to be kissed in return.  Our Lady reverently venerated the sacramental objects offered to her by the visionaries on behalf of others; rosaries, holy medals, missals, and wedding rings. The girls in ecstasy had the uncanny ability to return the appropriate object directly to the owner not knowing beforehand who had presented which object.The final apparition on November 13, 1965 was expressly to kiss the accumulated articles to which Our Lady attached a solemn promise - for those who use these objects with faith, Jesus will perform prodigies.  It is important to recall at the time of the Spanish Civil War, the Asturias, the region in which Garabandal is located, was a stronghold for the advance of Communism in Spain. The faithful of this region and the other adjacent northern areas were forbidden by law to own rosaries, medals and other symbols of Christianity. These objects, which had been passed down through the centuries in devout families, were hidden in those troubled times. Bearers who displayed religious items in public were ridiculed and assaulted or harassed by the authorities.  For the apparitions, small tables were set out to accommodate these objects. A makeup compact was once laid down on one of the tables. This  provoked an outcry against what seemed like a frivolous act, yet the small gold case remained in place. During the next visitation, Our Lady sited the compact and rejoiced, "This belongs to my Son." Later it was revealed that the vessel had secretly conveyed consecrated hosts to those in hiding during the Civil War.  The apparition of August 6, 1962 is by contrast the only known occurrence of the Archangel Saint Michael embracing a physical object.  And so on this day, fifty years ago, in San Sebastian de Garabandal, three Hospitaller Brothers of Saint John of God climbed the ox cart path that connected the remote mountain village to the outside world, arriving unnoticed in the sweltering midday heat. They did not know it, but they had come to receive a mysterious honor from the Prince of the Holy Angels. +++ A sketch of the Saint Born in Portugal in 1495, Joao Cidade Duarte abandoned his family as a small boy. He never returned. He tramped across Europe in violence and plunder as a thieving quartermaster in the imperial infantry. His service concluded, he returned to Iberia a forty year old prodigal with much to atone for.  On the feast of Saint Sebastian, John went to hear a sermon by Saint John of Avila. He was so devastated with loathing for his sins that he turned on himself in fury and for a time sought a life of humiliation for Christ. He was cast into an asylum and cruelly beaten for days. It was John of Avila who came to absolve and release the man who would become John of God.  Raised to holiness, John's heart turned with compassion to his fellow incarcerates in the asylum. With a soldier's knowledge of organization and field medicine, he began to shepherd the homeless, the abandoned, and the afflicted of Granada sheltering them and treating their wounds.  He supported orphans, students, harlots, and the unemployed with his own labor, encumbering himself with their pecuniary debts, often suffering accusations and slandered by those he tried to help. After thirteen years in this way, he died a heroic and saintly death contracting pneumonia while attempting to rescue a drowning companion. He was found in death, kneeling before the crucifix, his face pressed to the wounded feet of Christ. Saint John of God left the world a small band of valiant hearts. The legends of the Order relate that often on the brink of collapse John of God was revived by the angels. Saint Raphael accompanied him on his rounds, healing and imparting the peace of God to the chaos. To this day the image of the Angelic Physician clothed in the habit of San Juan de Dios can be found in these hospitals.  Murillo, on his canvas in the Prado, depicts Saint John of God as frail, struggling under the weight of the invalid he is carrying, menaced by the encircling dark. The saint is accompanied by a powerful archangel who strengthens him, illuminating his face and his path.  +++ Passing before the humble stone church of San Sebastian, the three religious came upon the young visionaries who told them, without affectation, of the wonders that were happening in the village and of the importance of the October 18 Message. The brothers rested under the nine pines of the apparition eating lunch and enjoying the discussion. Conchita accompanied them but she did not eat. She told them Mass had not been offered in the village that day and the Angel would bring her Holy Communion. Until he arrived she would remain fasting.  The afternoon passed swiftly. At a natural pause in the conversation, Conchita moved discretely away from the group and fell to her knees, head tilted back in ecstasy. As Brother Juan Bosco recorded in his notes, "Still kneeling and in the same posture, the girl made the Sign of the Cross very slowly and devoutly. She said words in a low voice and gently struck her chest three times. She was praying in ecstasy. As the prayer ended, she opened her mouth, put out her tongue as in receiving Communion, withdrew her tongue and closed her mouth slowly. Two of us heard the slight noise of her swallowing something. She held this position and we heard her low voice, audible, but we could not hear it to sufficiently understand the words." Then the ecstasy took a decidedly different turn.  "Then the girl took his (Brother Luis) Scapular in her hands. She stood up, raised the Scapular in a very solemn way as though presenting it to someone. She lowered the Scapular and again dropped abruptly to her knees." Returning the Scapular to Brother Luis, Conchita repeated this gesture for the Scapulars of Brother Juan and Brother Miguel offering each one up reverently. With a concluding Sign of the Cross, the ecstasy ended and Conchita returned to normal with a shy smile.  "Have you had Communion?" "Yes" "Why did you take our Scapulars and raise them up?" "The Angel asked me to do it, to kiss them." "Have you spoken to the Angel?" "Yes" "What did he say to you?" "The Angel knew you. He told me that Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin are happy with you." To this exterior sign was added an interior grace for Brother Juan. "The impression was very great. Particularly, I was stunned and with much interior sentiment of having sinned so many times, and because of this I implored mercy. I have never felt in my life such as strong feeling of the supernatural. Afterwards, as the years passed...this experience has always been present in me. I have great confidence in the love of the Virgin and an accentuated fervor for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I believe the essence of the grace given to us  is our own perseverance in the Order." Brother Juan returned again in 1966 after the apparitions had ended. He was curious to find out if anything similar had happened. Conchita confirmed "the only thing the Angel had kissed had been our Scapulars." This leads one to wonder about the significance of this profound display of angelic predilection and solidarity. Conchita is quite clear in stating that the brothers themselves were pleasing to God.Considering over one thousand priests and religious attended the apparitions and there exists no other record of acknowledgment by Saint Michael, the singularity of the event appears to lend special importance. Brother Juan Bosco, in his notes, believed this reciprocated the high esteem given to Saint Raphael in their community. More generally, the gesture conveyed a salute for the work of the Brothers who in their ministry of attendance and healing and their love for the poorest, the most neglected and infirm reflect the virtues of the angels.  Could there be some further explanation? On July 19, 1936, by decree of the radically secularist government, the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God were declared enemies of the people of Spain. Ninety eight brothers were murdered in the Red Terror. The Soviet backed persecution of the Roman Catholic Church executed six thousand eight hundred thirty two religious, killed tens of thousands of lay faithful in odium fidei, and desecrated and destroyed over twenty thousand holy places. The sons of San Juan de Dios remained with their patients, faithful to the fourth vow of the Order never to abandon the sick except in death. They made no attempt to flee the coming violence.  Seventy one brothers martyred between July 24 and December 14, 1936 were beatified by Blessed John Paul II including more than forty in Madrid and  Barcelona who refused to leave the hospitals and were shot on site. Some were exultant at their execution, commending each other to imminent paradise.Their last words were of forgiveness, pardoning their murderers. All were steadfast.  Could the martyrdom which preceded the apparitions by a quarter century have had an influence on the occurrence of August 6, 1962? It is a wonderful idea to contemplate. At this time, there exists no evidence directly linking the two. Perhaps in the days to come or with the definitive resolution of the Aviso and Great Miracle this extraordinary event may be more completely illuminated.  As we share recollections of the events of fifty years ago we should honor this day, worthy of remembrance for the devotees of  Our Lady of Mount Carmel de Garabandal. This day, the Angelic Patron of the Church of Jesus Christ venerated the Scapular of Saint John of God three separate times. In Union of Prayer, The Workers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel de Garabandal Lindenhurst, NY USA A few small pieces of these same Scapulars kissed by Saint Michael were cast into relic medals in Spain in the 1970s. About 200 were given to the New York Center. To honor this anniversary, we would like to offer these medals gratis to our email list. We would like to give priority to religious and lay men and women who work with the sick and dedicated care givers to the handicapped - these requests should include a "+" in the email subject line. We want to emphasize that no supernatural promise has been made concerning  these medals. We can offer one per request while the supply lasts. Please send an email with BESADO in the subject line to joey@garabandalny.org with your complete mailing address, country and postal code.

P.O. Box 606, Lindenhurst, NY 11757-0606 Garabandal

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A Brief Story of the Garabandal Events

 

Garabandal visionaries — Conchita, Jacinta, Mari-Loli,and Mari Cruz

God Delivers His “Last Warnings”
to the World Through Mary

The sacred events occurred in a small hamlet in the Cantabrian Mountains of northwestern Spain. Unknown now, but destined to become a religious shrine outshining all others; its name is Garabandal. Here, on June 18, 1961, an angel, later identified by Our Lady as the Archangel St. Michael, appeared to four unsophisticated young girls to begin a series of appearances and messages for the world extending over four years. ‘

Taken at “El Cuadro” Circa 1961. From left to right: Mari Loli, Conchita, Jacinta, and Mari Cruz

The four children were Conchita Gonzales, Mary Loli-Mazon, Jacinta Gonzales and Mari Cruz Gonzales. None of the girls are closely related. At that time, three were twelve years old and the other only eleven. St. Michael told them that he had come to prepare them for the visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who would makeher first appearance to them on Sunday, July 2, 1961. After this first apparition Our Lady appeared to the girls many hundreds of times, at all hours of the day and night, until her final appearance on November 13, 1965. The great number of appearances by Our Lady, alone emphasizes the tremendous importance of the information given to us, through her, by Almighty God.

The Messages 

Taken circa 1962 or 1963. Jacinta holds up objects including a crucifix to be kissed.

On July 4, 1961, Our Lady gave the girls the fi rst message and told the girls tomake this message public on October 18, 1961. (See Box). The second message was given much later, toward the end of the apparitions. On January 1, 1965, the Blessed Virgin told Conchita that the Archangel St. Michael would appear on June 18 and would deliver a message in her name.

God’s Love Intervenes 

The exact year of this photo is uncertain. Mari Loli, Conchita and Jacinta walk arm in arm during a late night ecstasy. Mari Loli’s father stands to her right (left side of the photograph) Conchita’s brother is also visible behind (right side of the photograph)

via mbmclassictravel.com

Garabandal is essentially a message of hope. Mankind has turned away fromGod and is engaged in much wickedness. In justice, God could either punish mankind Himself or allow us reap the fruits of our own evil. Instead, He is giving us a fi nal chance. He has sent the Blessed Mother to tell us at Garabandal that we can come back to Him, through sacrifice, prayer and penance. Also, His love has not stopped at sending this message of hope. Knowing the hardness of our hearts, our blindness and our skepticism, He is sending us signs we cannot ignore. “It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign” says Our Lord in Matthew 12:38-40. Yet God, out of the unfathomable depths of His mercy and love, is going to give us not one, but two signs. The seers of Garabandal refer to them as: “The Warning” and “The Miracle.”

THE WARNING

Taken toward the end of the apparitions in 1963. Conchita in ecstasy at the pines.

Conchita was advised by Our Lady at Garabandal on January 1, 1965, that Godis going to send upon the world a great supernatural warning. This divine warning will be seen and experienced by every person in the world and will come directly from God. The purpose of this warning is to draw the good nearer to God and to turn the world away from sin. Conchita says that it will be experienced no matter wherever we might be – inside or outside. “It will,” she says, “be like the revelation of our sins, and it will be seen and felt equally by believers and non-believers and people of any religion whatsoever.” This warning will be “very fearful, a thousand times worse than earthquakes. It will be like fi re. It will not burn our flesh, but we will feel it bodily and interiorly. The warning is like a very terrifying thing that will occur in the sky.” To a question whether the warning would cause death, she replied, “If we die from it, it would not be from the warning itself, but from the emotional shock thatwe would experience in seeing and feeling the warning.” We must be careful in our consideration of the matter. The fear of God that is good is the fear that draws virtuous souls to God and prompts sinners to amend their lives. This is the purpose that Conchita ascribes to the warning: “Oh, but after the warning you will love the good Lord very much.” Our attitude towards this warningshould be one of gratitude to God for His great mercy and love. He is going to purify us and He is going to make mankind really aware of Him once again. Our concern at this moment should be to get closer to God, cast sin from our lives and strive to love and serve Him better. If we do this, we will be prepared for the warning when it comes.

THE GREAT MIRACLE

Taken in 1962. Conchita holds up a crucifix to be kissed while in ecstasy

Part of the purpose of this warning is to prepare the world for the great miracle. God’s love and mercy will not stop at making us aware of our own weakness and sinfulness. In addition, He is going to give us a further great sign, this time a positive sign of His love and concern for us. Conchita tells us about this in her Diary in the following words: “The Blessed Virgin Mary advised me of a great miracle, saying that God, Our Lord, would perform it through her intercession…The Blessed Virgin has told me the date of the miracle and what it will consist of. I am supposed to announce it 8 days in advance, that it will come…The sick who are present at the miracle will becured and sinners will be converted…There will be no doubt [left] in the mind of anyone who sees this great miracle which God, Our Lord, will perform through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. And now as we await this great day of the miracle, let us see if the world changes and the chastisement is averted.”

THE CHASTISEMENT

Taken in 1965. Amidst a large crowd of onlookers, Conchita holds up a Crucifix to be kissed

Both the first and second message make it clear that the warning and the great miracle are an attempt by God to persuade us to leave the ways which aregoing to bring down upon us, according to those messages, the full weight of divine justice – a divine chastisement of the world. If we do not heed the messages, the punishment announced by Our Lady will be visited upon the whole world after the miracle. Conchita has written: “I cannot reveal what kind of punishment it is except that it will be a result of the direct intervention of God, which makes it more terrible and fearful than anything we can imagine…” She describes it as “very, very great, in keeping with what we deserve.”

MBM Classic Travel’s “A Marian Pilgrimage of Europe with Miracles of the Eucharist & Shrines of Beloved Saints” , departing this October will be visiting Garabandal, Spain.

For details please email us at travelinquiry@mbmclassictravel.com or call us at:

+63 2 9040187 (landline)

+63 927 8632523 (globe)

+63 906 4343364 (globe)

• +63 949 413 7138 (smart)

Reposted from http://www.mbmclassictravel.com/