I had traveled to Betania, Venezuela back in 1995. I went with a pilgrimage group with leader, Wendy Benedick. It was Easter Holy Week. We went to the shrine and where Maria Esperanza lives...while there, we lit candles, prayed rosary there at shrine, there was outdoor shelter there where they had Mass. My group & I went over to Maria's home. There was a high wire fence there where people can't just go in and enter. Wendy only picked a few people from our group to enter to see Maria E. I was not one of them but did saw her briefly when she came out of her house and gave small talk to us in crowd on the other side of fence. It was special to see her but I didn't care much for large crowds pushing against fence (& me) to see/hear her...that was hard for me to bear since I don't like being pushed/crowded in such large crowds of people. It causes me to feel so claustrophobic and anxiety. Back in our hotel where we were staying, every night we would gather in a large room there to pray and listen to some speakers. One night, Wendy, our leader, had one of those rose petals that mysteriously came of Maria's chest. That was really neat to see that and that rose petal has been known to give special healing for persons. We also went to this convent where in their chapel is a blessed sacrament exposed but this host is miraculous because this Host has bled with real blood of Jesus. While there, we lined up to go and see Host up close. Then we would kneel and pray for at least an hour there before the blessed sacrament. While I was staring at Host, kneeling and praying...I had heard a soft male voice that said to me, "I AM here." That was it. I was like, "Wow!!!!!" I was just in awe! That was highlight of my whole trip was to see the miraculous Host...the real Presence of Jesus, truly His Body and Blood and to hear His voice! On other day, the group did go and visit a large Cathedral church there but unfortunately, I did not go that time...that day, I was not feeling too well. We also went to one other nearby small village, where they had this holy icon of Mother Mary and baby Jesus in her arms...and this icon was exuding oil non-stop. I and others had ourselves blessed with this holy oil. Many displays of letters, crutches, wheelchairs and etc. were left at this place where they had claimed were healed from this holy oil/icon...kinda like a mini "Lourdes" place. That was pretty much of my whole trip to Betania. I am glad that I had went. I truly believe that Maria Esperanza is a real true mystic and saintly person...like a female version of "Padre Pio". Although, this trip was worthwhile but I think my most favorite pilgrimage trip was to Medjugorje...now, that place feels like a 'small piece of Heaven' there!
Catherine, thank you so much for this. I've looked several times to find something on a pilgrimage to Betania, more on Maria and come up with not much. To hear of your experiences and what you saw fills in many gaps for me. What a huge blessing for you to be able to have heard Our Lord speak to you. That you will keep for a life time. Thank you for sharing....I've been waiting for this, thank you.
Its wonderful how each Marian Site has its very own charisms. Betania seems to be flowers. Thanks for sharing, Catherine!! "Picture her eyes (Forget-Me-Nots), her hair (Maidenhair Fem), her five fingers (Potentilla). Think about her apparel: her smock (Morning Glory), her veil (Baby's Breath), her nightcap (Canterbury Bells), her gloves (Foxglove), and her shoes (Columbine). Remember her attributes: Mary's humility (Violet), the fruitful virgin (Strawberry), Mary's queenship (Virgin Lily), Mary's Flower of God (English Daisy), Mary's glory (Saint John's Wort), and Our Lady's Faith (Veronica). Think about her life: The Bethlehem Star (Bellflower), the Christmas Flower (Poinsettia), Lady's Bedstraw (Dianthus - Mary used bedstraw to prepare a bed for Jesus), the Epiphany flower (Chrysanthemum), the Flight into Egypt (Fig Tree - legend says that the Holy Family ate the fruit of this tree during their flight into Egypt), Our Lady's Tears (Lily of the Valley - tiny white nodding bell-shaped flowers can be likened to a train of tears), Our Lady's Tresses (Asparagus Fern - legend holds that at the foot of the cross, Mary, in. deep agony, tore out a tress of her hair which Saint John preserved), Mary's Bitter Sorrow (Dandelion), and the Assumption (Hosta - Plantation Lily blooms at the time of the Feast of the Assumption)."
On Shalom World News Fb page today: "The Catholic Church in Venezuela prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Servant of God Maria Esperanza de Bianchini at Finca Betania Sanctuary near Caracas on March 25. Often called the “Lourdes of America,” the sanctuary has organized a series of events in collaboration with the Betania Spirituality Movement to commemorate the Virgin’s message of reconciliation. The celebrations invite families, young people, and the faithful to gather for this historic milestone and reflect on the call to unity and peace. According to accounts, the Virgin Mary—under the title ‘Reconciler of All Peoples and Nations’ - first appeared to Maria Esperanza on March 25, 1976. Another widely reported apparition occurred on March 25, 1984, before more than 150 witnesses, conveying a message centered on peace, conversion, and universal fraternity. The anniversary events begin on March 24 with a vigil featuring Holy Mass, prayer, praise, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, concluding with a dawn Eucharistic celebration the following day. The central Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Baltazar Porras, Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas, together with several bishops. On March 28, Freddy Fuenmayor, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Los Teques, will inaugurate the Jubilee Year of Reconciliation. The reported apparitions, said to have occurred between 1976 and 1984, were recognized in 1988 by then Bishop Pio Bello Ricardo after an extensive investigation that concluded they bore a supernatural character. Since then, the sanctuary has become an important pilgrimage site for prayer and reflection. In 1991, the site was also associated with the only recorded Eucharistic miracle in Venezuela. Discover God’s goodness every day- join Shalom World News!"
