“All my children” During the course of the Garabandal apparitions, it was observed that one of the Seers, in ecstasy, offered the “kissed crucifix” to a non-Catholic. The witnesses were surprised to see this and when the apparition was over, asked the child about it. During the next apparition, the visionary questioned the Blessed Virgin as to why she had been directed to give the crucifix to a Protestant. The Blessed Mother said to Conchita: “Conchita, I do not come for you alone, but for all my Children, with the desire to bring them closer to our hearts” “GARABANDAL “ magazine , Oct.-Dec. 1979 Issue, pg. 6
Thank you all so much for your responses. I am so looking forward to going there as I have been interested in Garabandal right back to when events began there when I was a child. Utube threw us a few videos on Garabandal for me to watch yesterday morning but there was one very interesting one of people who were actually in the village when the events took place and their testimonies . It was so touching. I don't think I ever watched first hand on the spot accounts before. It made it all seem real. Sadly I will only be there a short time as it is a four and half hour drive there and back but maybe some other time I will get to stay longer next time. You can watch these testimonies with English voice overs or subtitled. They are very moving. One thing for sure Garabandal was very, very remote and hard to get to back then. You really had to push the boat out to get there. But many, many thousands did so.
Wonderful. I think it was only a year or two before you received this precious piece that I became aware of the MOG forum. I had known about Garabandal back in the '80s and was searching for information on the seers, any current events at that time (around 2012) etc. and one of the links was to Glenn's Garabandal info page here. Thanks Glenn and Padraig for providing this haven to visit and partake in over the years.
I think there used to be a Garabandal Center in Ireland that was on the forum. I think it was in Dundalk? Or perhaps it moved? They organise pilgrimages. It's lovely remembering Garabandal again, it reminds me of my childhood when there was so much excitement about it at the time. https://www.garabandal.ie/contact-us/
Yes, I remember seeing that there was an Irish Garabandal Centre based in Leopardstown, Dublin, I think. It still exists (at the link in your post above) but seems to have moved to a different area. This is from the website: Irish Garabandal Centre History The history of the Irish Garabandal Centre dates back to 1969. An American, Charles Horan, placed a letter in a leading Irish newspaper outlining the events that had occurred at Garabandal. He invited readers to a slide presentation and lecture in Dublin to learn more about the Divine intervention, through Mary, at Garabandal. Among the many people who responded to Charles Horan’s letter were a suburban couple, Richard T. (Dick) Stanley and his wife, Maura. This lecture was to mark the beginning of life long work by two dedicated and committed people to the cause of the Garabandal movement in Ireland. As news of the Apparitions spread and the number of voluntary workers and supporters continued to grow, it was decided to form an Irish National Committee to promulgate the Message of Garabandal on a more formal, not for profit basis, among the Irish people: soon a purpose designed National Garabandal Centre for Ireland, aptly named “The Pines”, was established in Dublin with distribution centres in various parts of the country. Supporters and volunteers at the National Centre carry out the essential administrative tasks such as responding to letters, dealing with ‘phone calls and queries and despatching copies of the official magazine ” Garabandal ” * to subscribers and other members of the public interested in learning more about the Message of Our Lady of Garabandal. The National Committee meets regularly to review progress and to discuss and implement new plans to spread the Message of Garabandal in Ireland. A special feature of the religious activities organised by the Committee is the bi – annual processions in honour of Our Lady in Dublin city centre and throughout Ireland. The founders and supporters of the Irish movement are deeply indebted to Joey Lomangino and his colleagues and friends from the New York Centre for the invaluable support and encouragement received from them over the years. Joey and his colleagues visited Ireland on no fewer than nine consecutive yearly occasions during the 1970’s to give a series of lectures throughout Ireland to promote the Message of Garabandal.
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 blesses 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."
It is so touching that a steady stream of Pilgrims still arrives from Ireland and the UK all the time into Garabandal after all these years.
Conchita ,a grace filled life even through suffering. I spent my Saturday morning at a holy hour with Conchita and others. I had not seen her in a couple of months, so I treasured talking to her in person again, and catching up, she was joyous. Conchita is now 77 and people don't realize that by the time Conchita was 17 years old, she was quite mature, and spiritually wise, and saw everything through those eyes, as she had now seen and talked with Mary for 4 years, and had several Locutions with Jesus by then. I thought about how much she's been through and yet seems unfazed by the trials of life. She chose to simply go on and live her life ( and vocation) with grace, not only as a "Visionary’, but as a Medical Assistant, eventually a Wife, a Mother, and a Grandmother. Her humility also played a big role in her cross to bear. Dealing with those who wanted to tell her how to live her life in her village. Having to keep the secret of the Miracle date , to the point where she didnt tell her own children who she was a long time ! They found out accidently seeing her picture on a book cover. Her illnesses, the loss of her husband and his illness. Not to mention having to tolerate me for more than 30 years. She goes through life with a grace-filled faith, the likes of which you rarely see. Her focus in life is not "the Miracle", but the "end goal " of life.....Heaven. I received a letter from Conchita on December 17, 2013, after the passing of her husband Patrick. Her life can be surmised by the last sentence of her letter, it's TRULY PROFOUND. She said: " Death for sure is not the end, it is the beginning, and the vanities of the world are a loss of energy because it distracts us from the reality of life, and true happiness. " How blessed we are to have her as an example of how to live a joyous, grace filled, faithful life.
