Glenn’s Locution (and a glimpse at the Warning) 7-15-95 26 years ago today, I was on a “Youth 2000” retreat in July 14-16, 1995 at Steubenville University in Ohio. During that weekend, there was to be outdoor confessions, and a mass, set up in a giant tent. When that night arrived, there had been a terrible storm heading our way, so the event was moved indoors, into a gym. I had traveled there with some friends, one of which was a priest. He gave the homily about the story in the bible about the woman who had a blood disorder, and her faith was such that she felt that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed, this nameless, bleeding woman who'd traveled 30 miles, fueled by nothing but faith. ( “ if I just touch his clothes, I will be healed” -Mark 5:28 ) After the homily, the priest walked around the gym with the Monstrance holding the Eucharist. Many people became "slain in the spirit" thus falling over as he passed by. When he came near me, ( I don’t know what motivated me) but I touched the bottom of his priestly garment (alb ), and I fell over too. Unfortunately I experienced a great sadness about myself ( an awareness of my sinfulness, a minor foreshadowing of the Warning to come , but I fear will be much worse). Amazingly enough, the next day when we awoke, the entire outdoor area for the event was heavily damaged by the storm, but something miraculous had also happened. The only tents that remained standing, was the confessional tents, and the giant tent where the mass was supposed to be held . More amazing was that the large poles that held the tent had become unearthed, and knocked over hundreds of chairs. We all immediately drew the same conclusion that the “evil one” was infuriated by this event, and he destroyed the area ( imagine if hundreds of kids were at the outdoor event ?? ). An amazing sign that God would not let the mass and confessional tents be knocked down , during this furious storm, or the evil ones temper tantrum. When I returned home I still had questions as to what happened to me. I went to a Eucharistic Adoration night at the church ( and on the advice of a friend, he told me to just sit quietly ,which if you know me, is very tough, lol ) I asked one question, then remained silent. The question I asked Jesus was "why did this happen to me ?". And as clear as if someone was speaking to me, I heard a voice in my head say "I let you touch me, so I could touch you. " I actually turned around to see if someone was near me because the voice was so clear, and of course, no one was there. It’s quite an amazing feeling to know that God took a few seconds to acknowledge my question, and answer me, so personally.
Conchita in a convent- “A decisive hour for Conchita” Many people have commented over the years “ Why didn’t Conchita become a Nun after the apparitions ? “Well, Guess who told her not to ? https://www.garabandal.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/decicive_hour1.pdf
Frequent Confession, mass, Communion, the rosary, acts of pennance and sacrifice. We are all sinners, but the difference is some keep striving for holiness in their life,when other give up.
SUNDAY, JULY 16, 1961 Feastday of Our Lady of Mount Carmel FIRST REAL COMMUNIONS GIVEN BY THE ARCHANGEL ST. MICHAEL TO THE VISIONARIES. On the Feastday of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Blessed Virgin awakened the four children very early in the morning. They were to receive the first of some fifty real Communions from St. Michael. These occurred either in public or without any witnesses, and at various locations, except the village church and in homes. That morning, the girls, in ecstasy, climbed, also for the first time, the very steep calleja up to the Pines, where, at 5 a.m., the Archangel gave the Eucharist to Mari-Cruz and Conchita. The latter would receive five or six of her subsequent Communions at this site on very particular liturgical days. One hour later, also on the 16th of July, Mari-Loli and Jacinta, in turn, received the Eucharist at the site of the "Rock of the Angel" located on a lower level than the Pines and so named because St. Michael had stood there several times. During the whole period of the apparitions, the visionaries received Communion almost every day, either at the Mass in the village, or from the hands of the Angel when there was no priest at Garabandal. The nine Pines at San Sebastian de Garabandal are what remains from a small plantation of pines and oaks organized in 1947 by the Mayor of the village, by Serafin Gonzalez, Conchita's grandfather on her father's side, and by the mayor of the area. Set on a slightly higher level above the village and with no trees in the area, the Pines, as we will often have the opportunity of mentioning them, are the neuralgic center, really "chosen" for the phenomena and the events of Garabandal past and . . . to come. [Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, J.Serre,page 65.]
Glenn, I've been a long-time follower of Garabandal (since about 1965 when I was quite young). I've long awaited the Warning and Miracle. I have a friend who has done likewise until recently. He was dissuaded from believing in it by the statement by Bishop Msgr. Jose Vilaplaua of Santander on alleged apparitions at Garabandal – issued on 11 October 1996. Has there been a statement superseding that which would allow me to tell him that Vilaplaua's statement is not the final view on the matter. He was also troubled by Joey's death. This article Unam Sanctam Catholicam: Position on Garabandal was the nail in the coffin. Would greatly appreciate some thoughts on how to respond. I remain convinced of the authenticity, but not schooled enough in the particulars to defend it. Thanks.
A reminder The forum is under constant attack at the moment and may fold. It will be reset up again. Here is my email address to find it again for contact. To know where to go: padraigcaughey@hotmail.com
SAINT (POPE) PAUL VI : QUOTES ON GARABANDAL After meeting Conchita in Jan.1966 he said: “ Conchita, I bless you and with me the whole church will bless you “. Pope Paul VI had shown a very special interest in the apparitions. At an audience given to Fr. Xavier Escalda, S.J., the latter mentioned there were many opponents of the apparitions even amongst his own people. His Holiness promptly rejoined: "It doesn't matter; tell these gentlemen that it is the Pope who has said that it is most important and most urgent to make these messages known to the world." Father Escalada explained his work in spreading the message of Garabandal in Mexico and the Pope Paul VI encouraged him to continue saying: "These messages must be made known." Father Escalada asked the Pope for his permission to continue promoting Garabandal and the Pope said “YES”. Pope Paul VI said : "It is the most beautiful story of humanity since the days of Christ. It is like a second life of the Virgin on earth. And we can never be grateful enough for it." , "Jacinta, I am with you, but we have to pray much and have much patience . . : it. is necessary to pray that the Church will become aware of the importance of Garabandal." In June 1969, Pope Paul sent his personal blessing to Difurora Mariana of Mexico, along with the gift of a crucifix for every member of the Garabandal Centre there, encouraging them to continue promoting the messages of Garabandal.
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Well I could fill pages here with a reasponse. First the most recent Bishop's realized that the early Bishops fed off the fear of Garabandal being another " Ezkioga" apparitions. (He can google them, 1930s apparitions in Spain, almsot the same story children seeing Mary with a Warning & Miracle prophecy,shut down by the Govt. Thats why the early Bishops went the same route,its a long story but that is the reason) More recently The Bishop embraced the apparitions. In 2011, two 50th anniversaries were celebrated in Garabandal (1) for the first appearance of St. Michael on June 18, 1961, and (2) the first vision of Our Lady on July 2, 1961. The celebrations were conducted under the auspices of the Santander Diocese represented by the village pastor Fr. Rolando Cabeza (also Dean of the area). During the celebrations, another ban was lifted when Fr. Cabeza, spoke of the apparitions from the pulpit, and read the two formal Messages of Our Lady at Garabandal. On May 6, 2012, Bishop of Santander, Vecente Jimenez Zamora (installed in 2007) celebrated a Mass in Garabandal in commemoration of the completion of a restoration project of the village church. In a refreshments period after Mass, he was open and most cordial with all the villagers and visitors. On May1, 2013, the Bishop again celebrated Mass in the village church of Garabandal and prior to the Mass, kissed a crucifix belonging to villager David Toribio that was kissed by the Blessed Virgin at Garabandal. Bishop Jimenez's Masses in Garabandal were firsts, since no Bishop of Santander had ever said Mass in the village church from the time the apparitions began in 1961. ( So now your friend doesnt have an arguemnet , right ? ) I had several thoughts that came to my mind when Joey passed.. “My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, So are My ways exalted above your ways, And My thoughts above your thoughts.” (Is. 55: 8-9) “Oh, the depth of the riches Of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are His judgments, And how unsearchable His ways.” (Rom. 11:33) *What did Mary say EXACTLY to Conchita to tell Joey? She said “that you shall see on the very day of the Miracle. “ - Well this can also be interpreted many ways, but he will see the Miracle. Most people did not know that Joey suffered greatly the last two years of his life, and in addition to being blind, he became nearly deaf and was so weak from several heart attacks, he could not attend daily mass. So, Did Joey fulfill saying the prayers he was supposed to say each day , to fulfill the prophecy to regain his sight ? Mary said : "Joey do you want to see again?" "Yes." "Then you pray. Say 17 Hail Mary’s, 7 Acts of Contrition, 5 Our Father’s 3 times a day. “ I am wondering if Joey ( in the midst of all his sufferings) wasn’t able to complete those prayer conditions for his sight and that he privately changed his mind, and decided to remain blind by offering up the sacrifice to God for the salvation of souls, and to be taken to Heaven early ? On December 6, 1962, Conchita had a 90 minute ecstasy around 5:30 in the afternoon after which, she provided more pieces of information regarding the Miracle: “One day, before the Miracle, something will happen that will cause many people to stop believing in the apparitions of Garabandal. “ Jesus comments on belief of Garabandal before the Miracle From Conchita, Dairy pg. 204, 1966: He [Jesus] replied..."I want to tell you, Conchita, that before the miracle occurs, you will suffer much, for few people will believe you. Your own family will believe that you have deceived them. I am the one who wants all this, as I have already told you, for your sanctification and so that the world may comply with the message. I wish to advise you that the remainder of your life will be a continual suffering. Do not be frieghtened. In your suffering you will find me and also Mary whom you love very much... I will be with whoever suffers for me." After Joey’s confession with Saint Padre Pio, He explains how St Pio restored his sense of smell, but then he said that St Pio told him that "Joey I can not restore your eyesight but YOU WILL SEE THINGS THAT YOUR BROTHERS WILL NEVER SEE"!! How many people continued to believe in Christ and his message ,after he died? How many believed Mary when she said ( as a virgin ) she conceived a baby from the Holy Spirit ? How many people mocked our Lord as he died on the cross, reminding him he said he would rebuild the Temple in 3 days, yet he was nailed to a cross now. The truth is revealed in God’s time and manner, not our limited human ones for understanding. For God , NOTHING is impossible ! The famous story when Mary kissed a makeup compact in one of her visits, and everyone was dumb founded as to why, when she asked to kiss only sacramentals, and she kissed this object of vanity ? Only later did she reveal that it was in fact a PYX ,used during the Spanish War to carry communion to the soldiers ! Again , we had to wait for the Heavenly answer. Nothing can negate the fact that Mary performed hundreds of recorded miracles, with hundreds of eyewitnesses, and photographs, and filmed footage, so his passing has no effect on the validity of Mary’s messages. There is some “fluidity’ in prophecy also, God can alter prophecy. For example: Moses was promised and appointed to take his people into the promised land, but we read in Numbers (20:1-12) Moses did not enter the promised land because of his sin at the Waters of Meribah, which took place during the last year of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness. In Genesis 18 , The lord said :“The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous” (The Lord intends to destroy it) but Abraham “changes” God’s mind to destroy the faithless people of Sodom for the sake of only 10 righteous people. Remember when God sent his prophet Jonah to the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria (one of ancient Israel's fiercest enemies), Jonah's initial message seems to be one of inevitable doom: "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" (3:1-4) Contrary to Jonah's own expectations, however, the Ninevites respond to his preaching by believing in God, proclaiming a fast, covering themselves with sackcloth and ashes as signs of repentance, and praying to God not to destroy them. (3:5-9) As a result, God changes his mind and does not destroy the city of Nineveh . It is possible here too ,that Joey’s sufferings at the end of his life (and they were numerous and great ) that God granted him his Heavenly reward early, and also to fulfill the prophecy mentioned above, to cause disbelief, as a test of faith. I think I know how the Apostles felt when Jesus died, after all their labors. Unfortunately I think I am going to have to wait more than 3 days for my "Easter Miracle", but just like then, when you think all is lost, God provides that miracle. I spoke to Conchita and she too had no fears, stating she was happy Joey was in heaven with our Blessed Mother & Padre Pio. I have a strong suspicion we will be amazed at the Miracle , (and our questions will be answered ). I would print this out and give it to him. God bless. Glenn
THE "MILAGRUCU" ( The Little Miracle “ ) July18-19 The "Milagrucu," in other words, the little miracle": that is how Conchita described the wonder that was to take place. For the visionary, indeed, the fact that the consecrated Hosts, usually given to her by the Angel and most of the time before a large crowd, were invisible, was much more astonishing! On the Feast also of St. Sebastian, (thanks to an Indult from Rome, since January 20 is normally the day of its celebration), Patron Saint of the village, Conchita was indeed to receive her "first call" . . . at 11:30 p.m. As to the ecstasy itself, it was to be over at . . . 2 a.m. The time here was exactly the same as that of the first great apparition at the "Rue de Bac" (the famous "Miraculous Medal" sanctuary in Paris) on July 18-19, 1830, the very liturgical Feastday of St. Vincent de Paul! On the morning of the events, Conchita, inadvertently, had already received Communion from the hands of a priest in the village church. This explains, perhaps, but only in part, that the "Milagrucu" occurred not on July 18, the date originally predicted, but rather in the night of July 18 to 19. This sign was brought about to help people believe, and to confirm the supernatural authenticity of the "events" of San Sebastian de Garabandal. "La forma! La forma! La forma!," shouted the crowd with one voice when Conchita held out her tongue and, suddenly, in a split second, appearing like lightning, the Host was deposited there. It was white, the same size as the Hosts commonly used, but slightly thicker. It remained visible on Conchita's tongue for almost two minutes. To this day, all the history of Christian spirituality and hagiography attest to the possibility of such a miracle. Considering the numerous and perfectly reliable testimonies we have at our disposal, it would be worth writing a substantial monograph about it . . . (that will be done later -- J.S.). At the end Conchita fell in ecstasy on her knees, in a puddle of water . . . to receive the Host from St. Michael's hand. It was about 1:40 a.m. . . . July 19! We owe the film of the "Milagrucu" to Alejandro Damians. Msgr. Beitia quickly expressed his keen desire to see the film and have a copy of it in his possession. Informed by a letter from Conchita, Dr. Jean Caux (Paris) was on the premises with his camera on the night of the "Milagrucu." Unfortunately, he was unable to film anything, for lack of a flash. This "deprivation" upset him to the point of modifying his life considerably and determining his spiritual journey in a decisive way. It was probably to sooth his bitter disappointment that Conchita, during her ecstasy, presented her crucifix to the famous physician for him to kiss it . . . three times! All through his stays in the village from 1961 to 1965, Dr. Jean-Baptiste Caux shot some of the most beautiful films ever about Garabandal. Being also an aesthetician surgeon in Paris, this professional of beauty was first touched by the unparalleled grace of the girls in ecstasy. After having attended many other "apparitions" and all kinds of "trances" for more than thirty years and throughout all of Europe, he found the quality of the phenomenon he was able to witness in San Sebastian de Garabandal, absolutely unsurpassable and unequaled. [From 'Garabandal' Book, pages 142-143]
TODAY IN GARABADNAL HISTORY :JULY 18-19, 1962 “ The Little Miracle “ Here was a miracle, announced 15 days in advance ! At about 1:40 am ,Conchita is in ecstasy, suddenly a host appears on her tongue ! There is a very large crowd present. Alejandro Damians with his borrowed movie camera, catches on film the instant the host appears. Here is the link to a video: (appears at the 2:45 mark ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0OGaMzxRsc
Notes taken by the lawyer from Palencia, Luis Navas Carrillo at Garabandal. (From “She went in haste to the Mountain”) July 19,1962. "We got to Garabandal at nightfall in sufficient time to be present at the first and only apparition of the day, involving Ceferino's daughter [Loli]. She kept us up until after 4:30 in the morning. And at six o'clock, when I had barely fallen asleep, Jacinta's father called me to pray the rosary at the calleja. The girl was waiting there, seated on the rocks. We prayed the rosary in the solitude and silence. Then we went to the church and in front of its still locked doors, we said the prayers for a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Then I understood the sacrifice that was entailed for a girl like Jacinta to get up every day at six in the morning to go to the cuadro and pray the first rosary of the day there. Although in the beginning this had been a command from the Virgin, it had not been repeated for months, and still the girl continued going just to please the Lady in blue and white." (Can you imagine 11 year olds, getting up at 6am everyday, and praying the rosary in a rocky cow path, without being told to ? Wow ! )
Conchita’s Locution with Jesus regarding Heaven ( July 20, 1963 ) Conchita- Will I go to heaven? And He answered me: Jesus- You should love much and pray to Our Hearts. C- When will You give me a Cross? And He didn’t answer me: J- What will I be? [This is another of Conchita’s worries—her destiny. That is,to discern the designs God has for her life. For awhile now, she has been questioning whether she has a religious vocation, and she frequently asks the apparition about it, but—according to her own words—the Virgin has never responded in the affirmative. In the same way, during this locution Our Lord keeps his silence when asked the question “What will I be?” Conchita has always received confirmation of her suffering and of the cross, wherever she is.] He didn’t answer me. He only told me that everywhere that I would be, I would have much to suffer. I said to Him:C- Am I going to die soon? And He told me: J- You have to stay on earth to help the world. [This seems to be a clear announcement of a “concrete” vocation; it is a call to live in the world and not in a convent]. And I said to Him: C- I am very small. I couldn’t help in anything. And He told me: J- With your prayers and sufferings, you will help the world. C- When does one go to heaven? When one dies? [This question seems rather childish. Conchita’s lack of education makes some of her questions seem simple, as though they don’t correspond to her age. In contrast, the response is profoundly astonishing.] He said to me: J- One never dies. (I thought that we didn’t go to heaven until we were resurrected). C- I asked Him if St. Peter was at the gate of heaven to receive us. He told me “no“. “Conchita’s Diary " Ch. 7 pgs.44-47
Notes taken by the lawyer from Palencia, Luis Navas Carrillo. July 21,1962 (into Sunday July 22 ) (From “She went in haste to the Mountain”) Saturday passed without notable episodes, until 1:00 at night when the first ecstasy occurred. It was Loli's, in the kitchen of her home. The lawyer from Palencia described it: It was something marvelous. I couldn't imagine anything comparable. The silence was absolute and the attention complete. The girl offered the Vision whatever had been deposited on the table for this purpose. I had put there a collection of holy cards with the titles of the litany, which I had bought in Cabezon de la Sal. With greater dexterity than a card player, the girl gracefully opened the holy cards in a fan and held them up that way to be kissed by the Vision; Loli was completely transfigured. Her face was radiant and full of light; the expression didn't belong to her, but to an angel. It seemed as if she were radiating a supernatural halo and we were all immersed in a sensation of serenity and peace as if being under the gaze of Our Lady. Concerning Conchita's ecstasy, which followed Loli's, Luis Navas writes: She went out of her house and through the various streets of the village; she made a complete circle around the church; she went to the cemetery and knelt at the gate. We went with her to the cuadro, and from there she descended backwards in a marvelous ecstatic dance. The rosary was recited and later we sang the Salve Regina. The voice of the visionary didn't belong to this world. There were still other trips through the village. The girl constantly smiled in an ineffable way, very different from the almost ironic way she often smiles when not in ecstasy. Toward thend, when she began giving back the chains and medals, she noticed she had dropped a medal. She asked the Vision about it and was astonished at the response she received, since she was heard to say, "But how could I lose it near the church if I haven't gone out of the house?" After the ecstasy she was also astonished in seeing us all perspiring, while she had no sign of exertion or fatigue. And the affair had lasted until 4:30 in the morning! We went to bed happy since the Virgin had presented us a night which for me was happier and richer in the interior life than July eighteenth itself.
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,J. Serre, page 67.] ( What makes this interesting is that the girls had that “interior calling “ at the same time in different houses. Another thing I thought was interesting, the apostles were send in pairs also. ) It’s interesting to note that today, July 22, is the feast of Saint Mary Magdalen, proclaimed by the Church as “apostle of the apostles”. There’s no coincidences in Garabandal.
TODAY IN GARABANDAL HISTORY : JULY 23, 1961: THE CHILD JESUS AND THE VISIONARIES, THE FIRST OF THE RARE "COSMIC PHENOMENA" AT GARABANDAL Our Lady, who had come with the Child Jesus, authorized the children for the first time to take Him in their arms. They felt His weight, noting, however, that they had the impression of not being really in contact with His little body. Another first on this Sunday: beginning of the "cosmic phenomena" at San Sebastian de Garabandal. On that day, the young girls saw large stars with a long tail. Some of these phenomena were sometimes visible to everyone. They will reach their peak, and by far . . . , with the "very great Miracle" of the future "D" day to be revealed eventually, first to Conchita (on October 18, 1961). [Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, J.Serre,page 67.]
Also, can you imagine a father asking his children get up that early to come and say the rosary...sadly in society today...a rarity indeed...
MORNING OFFERING PRAYER Our Blessed Mother said in Garabandal on October 18th, 1961, "We must make many sacrifices, perform much penance, and visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently. But first, we must lead good lives. " In 1945 Jesus told Lucia, the seer of Fatima, "The sacrifice and penance I now seek and require is the fulfillment of your state in life and the observance of my laws." Whatever your state in life may be you can sanctify all your daily actions if upon arising you recite sincerely the morning offering prayer. Through the "Morning Offering of Reparation" every act you do becomes a sacrifice. The word "sacrifice" means to make "holy." Once you have made your morning offering you make "holy" every act you do throughout the day. Whatever trial God permits to pass your way during the day becomes a penance — whether it be work, bad weather, rebellious children, sickness in the family, tight economic conditions or misunderstandings by relatives or friends. All these sacrifices and penances obtain graces the Blessed Virgin needs for the conversion of sinners. Padre Pio said it best, "If you knew the value of suffering, you wouldn't give it up."
