After doing A LOT of research/reading on this. I have come to three conclusions: 1) the message of Garabandal attracts me for some reasons and I am emphasizing living it out (sacrifices, rosary, visits to Blessed Sacrament), 2) something supernatural happened there--too many witnesses and confirmed happenings to say it is a hoax. I believe they saw the Virgin. 3) The "locutions" of Conchita are not reliable. I am not calling her a liar but merely saying she may have misunderstood or confused her own thoughts with heavenly locutions. It seems with all the attention focused on her, she may have enjoyed the role as intercessory and embellished some details? It is understandable. Too many locutions have simply proved false, ie Joey Lamongino and several claims (that one boy would be a priest) recorded by others during ecstasy which proved not to be the case. I give no credibility to the warning/miracle prophesies now in the news. The reason I conclude this is based on several websites from the '90 which are still up. https://ourlady.ca/2020/02/conchita-interviews-parts-1-3/ Glenn gives a timeline of the "4 popes." But throughout the '90's, talk of 4 popes is nowhere found. If Conchita had predicted the short reign of JPI in the '60's, that would indeed be verifiable prophesy. Unfortunately the interview Glenn points to with Albrecht Weber was well after the events. In a previous post, I linked a transcript with Conchita's 1982 interview with a NY bishop in which at no point does she correct him when he is giddy with anticipation at 3 popes, as JPII was to be the last before "end of the times." At that point she would have known the miracle would not happen for a minimum 40 years and she did not correct him. The link above points to a 1999 official Garabandal website, presumably with all the latest info and in which Conchita's words figure prominently. It explicitly states that JPII is the pope during which the warning/miracle must take place. A sidebar article "Joey's story" specifically states that Conchita's message from the Virgin told us Joey would see with his eyes in the normal way. This is damning proof that the goalposts have been moved by Garabandalites. So to conclude: I believe Mary appeared to 4 sweet, pious girls in 1960's Spain. She gave them a beautiful message. Conchita seems like a devout person whose interviews reveal a profound understanding of holiness. But, her locutions and prophesies are unreliable and have been proven inaccurate several times.
Actually you're mistaken on a few things here . There are at least 3 written reference to the 4 popes. 1. The Finger of God -Albrecht Weber, 2. Garabandal, Visions of the Blessed VIrgin Mary - Jacques Serre 3. Message of Hope- Fr. Jose Saavedra *What did Mary say EXACTLY to Conchita to tell Joey? She said “that you shall see on the very day of the Miracle. “ - MANY PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED THESE WORDS OVER THE YEARS,BUT ALL MARY SAID WAS “YOU WILL SEE THE VERY DAY OF THE MIRACLE” , but he will see the Miracle. Nothing has moved, including your understand of this apparition.
Glenn, Not sure if you are familiar with this letter of Conchita to Joey, the original in Spanish is quoted here: El 19 de marzo de 1964, la vidente Conchita de Garabandal le escribió la siguiente carta a Joey Lomangino: “Día de San José, 1964. Querido Joey, Hoy en una locución en los Pinos, la Virgen me dijo que te comunicara que la voz que tú oíste era de Ella. Que tú recibirás nuevos ojos en el día del gran milagro. También me dijo que el hogar de caridad que fundarás en Nueva York dará gran gloria a Dios. Conchita González”. Translation: On March 19, 1964, the visionary Conchita of Garabandal wrote the following letter to Joey Lomangino: St Joseph Day, 1964. Dear Joey, Today in a locution at Los Pinos, the Virgin told me to communicate to you that the voice that you heard was Hers. That you will receive new eyes on the day of the great miracle. She also told me that the home of charity that you will found [establish] in New York will give great glory to God. Conchita González. This is the original text in Spanish. It seems that you are quoting a translation/interpretation that changes it into YOU SHALL SEE ON THE VERY DAY OF THE MIRACLE. Of course new eyes are meant to see. But this is not what Conchita original letter says in Spanish. Hope this helps. Thank you
And I will add to what Glenn said Re one of your points which is completely erroneous: (“she may have enjoyed the role as intercessory and embellished some details?) You don’t know anything about Conchita. Glenn does and I met her several times years ago. She is the complete opposite of that! 1000% opposite. She NEVER EVER wanted that role to “Show off”’or enjoyed it. She is the humblest person I’ve ever met. Only wants and wanted to focus on the messages and prayers and focus on being good-Wanted no part of the “celebrity” she was made out to be in Garabandal-so much so-SHE LEFT THERE and came to the USA where NO one knew her! She embellished nothing!
Is merely speculation to explain the discrepancy between some of her childhood locutions and their eventual inaccuracy. She did, after all, deny at one point that any visions even happened. That was due, I am sure to the pressure and the fact that she was a teen. All of the girls have expressed doubts about the warning/miracle, even Jacinta in her 2021 book. She clearly distances herself from the prophesies and focuses on the message. I accuse Conchita of nothing sinister and am quite sure from the interviews I've seen that she is holier than I am. But good people can misinterpret locutions.
They denied the apparitions because Blessed Mother advised them they would. It was a Prophecy for them at the time.
But none of them were published before the death of JPI. That's my point. My biggest skepticism is the still posted 1999 Garabandal Journal websites. NONE of them refer to the "4 popes theory" much less five popes. None. There is an English priest, a believer in the Garabandal visions but not the truth of the subsequent locutions, that has really influenced me. He is deeply interested in the topic, has visited a few times, and has several well-researched videos, including a touching one "Garabandal in winter" in which he relates two cases of Conchita and Jacinta rising at 6:00 am in the cold, trudging through the snow alone (followed by family) to slowly recite the rosary. Very beautiful and incompatible with it being a hoax. But again, he simply will not accept prophesies that don't pan out. Here are good ones:
The Blessed Mother advised they would? Huh? You mean she predicted they would. Yes, but all humans possess free will. She is not commanding them to deny. I understand why they did (St Peter denied), but public denials are not a good omen for one's future credibility. Look, I believe the visions happened. The later "locutions"...not so much.
No She didn’t command anything. She advised them they would deny the apparitions. And they did. But of course later recanted the denials! It Doesn’t matter. The Warning and Miracle will happen anyway! You’re Free to believe what you want. I’ll pray for you! But going around in circles is pointless. I have been a Garabandalist For over 50 years. Been there 3 times- met all the Visionaries many times except Mari Cruz. Worked with Joey and the Workers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Spoke with Joey and was with him often, in NY and in Garabandal. I miss him dearly. May he RIP. It’s part of my “DNA” NOTHING about Garabandal is NOT True! Not trying to convince you because only the Warning will do that! Peace!
Do you know who Miles is Tom ? (of course you don't ) “ Miles Mariae “ who’s real name is Fr. Mark Higgins WHY DOES A PRIEST LIE ABOUT HIS REAL NAME, AND ATTACK THE GARABANDAL APPARITIONS, CALLING THEM DEMONIC, AND ATTACKING CONCHITA’S CHARACTER WHO’S CLOSEST FRIENDS WERE ST. PADRE PIO & ST MOTHER TERESA ?
August 24, 1970. LETTER SIGNED BY CONCHITA TO THE FRENCH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO VISITED THE PEOPLE OF GARABANDAL. Dear young French people: From you the Virgin desires help to turn the world and avoid God's wrath upon us sinners. She trusts you so that with your example and selflessness you will be models for the other young people who have not had the thanks that you have to hear the messages of the Virgin. She asks you so much spirit of penance, sacrifice and prayer. Without these weapons nothing we can do. It's not much time we have, but it's enough to avoid great punishment and content our Mother's Holy Heart. It is in the Holy Sacrament that you will find enough strength to embark on this life that the Virgin is constantly asking you to go to the Blessed, to empty your heart of worldly things that will not let you hear God. If you do this you will start living life happy, because only happiness you have never felt will be found in the surrender to God and the Virgin. Pray for one another, for yourselves, ask the Virgin. Order it with faith and trust. She will give you everything good for you. And now for me and my friends I ask you to pray to God and the Virgin to be humble and sacrificial and all together to think more about Jesu s' Passion, to forget about ourselves. In togetherness of prayers, and that one day forever we can meet in Heaven to be eternally happy. Conchita Gonzalez.
"She advised them they would deny the apparitions." Sorry, but this sentence makes no logical sense. Read it slowly. If you have been a Garabandalist for 5o years, then you were certainly in the camp that was 100% certain that JPII was the last pope until the warning/miracle. Because the narrative didn't change until after his death. You know this. You were there. Why no explanation for the 1999 websites that are still online frozen in time making these claims? Glenn, at least tries to refute them with plausible speculation and evidence from books. You and others come back with "God's ways are not our ways" and "The Warning and Miracle will happen anyway! You’re Free to believe what you want." Not exactly convincing comebacks. Watch the videos I linked. Refute them with something concrete.
I know nothing about him. All I know is his videos are balanced and sober. Watch the beautiful one about Garabandal in winter. He's no anti-Garabandalista. He believes in the core apparitions and presents pros and cons. He has read the same books you have and cites them. He doesn't call the events demonic. He quotes Conchita directly (Go tell it on the Mountain) regarding her recollections of the demonic, which she discusses. Pio & Teresa were supporters, for sure. But best friends? C'mon, Glenn! But that seems to be your standard answer: if Padre Pio approved it then it is true. That is the old "Appeal to Authority" fallacy in which one disregards facts to trump someone with a famous person. As I posted before: St John Vianney, Bl Pius IX and St Pius X all were convinced of the sanctity of Saint Philomena in 1800's, especially Vianney who had visions of her and composed prayers to her. Research subsequently led to the Church concluding she did not exist. Why is it so hard for you to accept that Pio may have been right about the initial apparitions but wrong about their prophesies? Is he an infallible deity? I would not describe this online priest's speculation that maybe as a young girl 60 years ago in the midst of a whirlwind of people hanging on her every word that Conchita may have wanted to embellish locutions as " attacking her character." Is Conchita also now a deity that could never misinterpret a locution? It's fine to theorize that Garabandal and the prophesies may be exactly as you present them, Glenn. You did a fine job on JHWestin show. Maybe it'll all play out as you say. But to attack anyone who dares to question all the data seems petty, and not the dignified guy I saw on the Westin show.
I became interested in Garabandal in 1977 when Joey Lomangino visited the UK. I attended one of his talks on the subject and was deeply impressed. There were a few books published at that time, they were on sale at that talk, they were commended as accurate and we were encouraged to buy them. I bought one, 'The Star on the Mountain'. The book contains various assertions which can be recognised, 46 years later, as being inaccurate or which, at least, call various assertions into reasonable question. Here are some: 1. The prophecy of the number of remaining popes. 2. The prophecy of Joey's 'new eyes' 3. The prophecy that a certain priest's body would be found to be incorrupt, since disinterred and not in that state. 4. The statement made by Conchita to an 'elderly person' in the mid-sixties that, if they took care of their health, they would live to see the miracle. If they were 'elderly' at that time (say 60 at least) they would be at least around 118 years old today! 5. The fact that the only visionary who claimed to know the date of the warning, is now dead without anyone else being made aware of the date (what was the point of disclosing it to her?) 6. The various 'clues' as to the date of the miracle allegedly given by Our Lady. I find it hard to accept that Our Lady would have provided a code that has been found to be indecipherable (what would be the point?). I am convinced of Conchita's sincerity but there really are too many 'holes' in the story for it to be considered totally reliable. (When asking for contributions towards his travelling and accommodation costs, Joey Lomangino, said (at the meeting I attended) that the local Garabandal group had booked himself and his brother into a fairly expensive hotel and that it had not been possible to cancel in favour of cheaper accommodation and so they had special need that night for assistance. He mentioned the name of the hotel, which I knew (and which I knew to be expensive). I read some of the book 'Star on the Mountain' on the train home and, having noted some queries, I rang his hotel the next day. I was informed that no-one of his name was booked into the hotel. I described him and mentioned that he was American, blind and travelling with his brother and was told that he was definitely not booked in and that no-one of that name/description had booked out. Which I thought curious.)
And thus you proved my point. Go believe and do what you want. Only the Warning will convince you. I can’t and am not trying to. No would I waste anymore of my time having this inane back and forth. Bye now. My advice is get off a pro Garabandal site and go to an anti one. If I don’t like something I sure as heck don’t go to a site that’s pro that thing. Waste of time. You’re outnumbered here. You are completely way off- stating what I know and don’t know/knew. You just want to argue and cause angst. “So get behind me Satan.” You are wrong completely about what I know and knew. And you proved my point. I’m not trying to convince you of anything. That’s a total waste of time! I already told you-only God can and will do that in the Warning. No human can. So I suggest you stop wasting your time here on a Pro Garabandal site and thread. If I am against something I don’t go to a pro Site for it. I’ll go to a site that shares my views. So this will include any further interaction I will have with you. Peace Out!
Starting to sound like a troll Tom. Defending a lying Priest? Hmmmm? Because you admittedly know little about anyone ,here's more help. Padre Pio bi-located to see Conchita 5 TIMES ! But hey he traveled to see lots of people like that ,right ? And Mother Teresa ALWAYS made a point to stop over Conchita's house when in NY (pictures in her house to prove it) and her order stood as GODMOTHER to Conchita's daughter , but they're not close , right ? Why are you here if you find nothing but problems with Garabandal?
I bet even Glenn cringes when he reads your post. Garabandal is complicated John T, and is not as simple as pro and anti, as you put it. There is nuance and shades of gray.
With every post you prove me right. You know nothing about Glenn or me. You’re wasting your time. There are only “Shades of Grey” for you sadly. Through the blessing of God,I have seen the light of Garabandal for 50 years!
You are like John--Garabandal is black or white, never a shade of gray. Like the online priest, I believe in the initial apparitions. Most of the world doesn't, so I am an ally in that way. I do not yet believe in the prophesies but come here to educate myself.
