The First Wedding Ring Kissed by Our Blessed Mother The first ring given to Our Lady to be kissed belonged to Maximina, Conchita’s godmother and aunt. Jacinta went to Conchita’s house in ecstasy. Maximina was talking to Conchita and said, “Conchita, since our wedding rings are blessed, maybe Our Lady will kiss them. It just occurred to me. Give this to Jacinta so she can give it to Our Lady and we’ll see if she kisses it.” Conchita said to Jacinta, “Jacinta, take this ring. Present it to Our Lady to see if she will kiss it.” Jacinta didn’t know whose ring it was. Jacinta said to the Blessed Mother: “Take this ring, kiss it… Oh, this is Maximina’s wedding ring? Well, here, kiss it!” Our Blessed Mother kissed the wedding ring and then Jacinta went over to Maximina, took her hand, and put her ring on her finger. This was the first time the girls called the wedding rings ‘alianzas’ (which in Spanish means covenant, as they are a sign of the promises made) and the first time they looked for the owner to put it back on his/her finger. Later they gave many more wedding rings to Our Lady—that same day they gave several to be kissed.
The least we can do is wait for her Many times the girls, and all those with them, would stay awake until late at night waiting for the apparition. They waited for Virgin Mary. María José Álvarez tells us her experience: «After having been to the houses of those who were going to have an apparition, we sat down on a bench outside the window of Conchita's house. The kitchen was full and the door open. They prayed the rosary and we joined in from outside. At six '0' clock in the morning some of the people from inside the kitchen decided to come out so that if we were cold we could go in. Conchita was sat with her mother on either side of the hearth. Aniceta was wide awake so I asked her: "If they know that the Virgin isn't coming until later, why don't they go to bed?". Aniceta replied: "If we know the Blessed Virgin is coming the least we can do is wait for her." She was right.» María José Álvarez continues the story: «Upon entering the kitchen I sat by Conchita and I asked her what the "calls" were all about. She told me that at the first call she felt inside like a big joy, and that between the first and the second a lot of time passed. The second call produced even greater joy and the third made them take off running to wherever the Virgin took them. The time between the second and the third was shorter. Whilst speaking to me she fell as if struck down on her knees, the sound of the blow was as if she'd broken her two knees. If she'd fell on my feet she would of broken them I thought to myself. All this happened at 7 '0' clock in the morning. Conchita got up and went towards the window. She gave Plácido Ruiloba from Santander and another man, who if I recall rightly was a priest, the crucifix to kiss. Then Conchita went to the "Calleja" and we prayed a beautiful rosary with her in ecstasy, that I will never forget.»
A Dominican in Disguise Aniceta (Conchita's Mother)tells us the story: «A young man arrived here with a young woman, a couple. He was dressed like any normal young man, and I assumed that they were just a young dating couple. It was raining a lot and the place was full of people. Conchita, in ecstasy, came into the house. My sister was amidst the crowd and the young man approached her and said, “Give this cross to the girl.” My sister responded, “Why should I try to give it to her? She’s not going to take it. When she’s in ecstasy, she never receives anything.” “Well, give it to her mother then, so that her mother can give it to her.” My sister came up to me and said, “Here, that man said for you to give this to Conchita.” I responded, “Why am I going to give it to her? She never takes anything.” Then, I had an idea. What he wanted me to give to Conchita was a cross on a string, and so I thought of hanging it on her fingers, since she had her hands folded. Although Conchita spoke softly, I was close by and heard her insist to her vision, “I didn’t bring anything. I really didn’t bring anything.” She continued, “Well, if I have something, take it.” At that moment, Conchita took a step forward, lowered her hands and, in doing so, the cross fell on the ground. She took another step and stepped on the cross, “Ah! I’m stepping on it?” She bent down and picked up the cross, still in ecstasy, and held it up to her apparition to kiss. Then she turned around, facing the young man, made the sign of the cross over him and held it up for him to kiss. Turning back to the vision, she held it up again to be kissed and said, "Having such a beautiful habit as the Dominican habit, what a pity that he came dressed like that!"» «Then, turning back to the man, she took his glasses off and put them in his hands. The man was afraid and I said to him, “Don't worry, she won’t break them.” She made the sign of the cross over him, held up his cross to be kissed again, and then put it around his neck. However, she put it on him backwards, the image was turned inwards. “Oh! I put it on him backwards?” She took it off, turned it around and put it back around his neck. Then she opened his hands, took his glasses and put them back on his face. Then she repeated, “What a shame that they come dressed like that!” He was a Dominican priest in disguise, wearing normal clothing, and accompanied by a young lady, who appeared to be his girlfriend, but who turned out to be his sister.»
Our local Catholic bookstore has video rental. I thought a few years ago, I watched a documentary on Garabandal, I thought there was real film footage of the host appearing on her tongue but I don't want to overstate this. You watch the film and then it appears. I may be totally wrong. I also apologize if this has already been covered in the forum. I'll add on, that documentary talked about Father Abreau if I have that correctly.
Just my opinion, "Penance, Penance, Penance" St. Maximilian Kolbe wrote, even if it seems to be a very small gesture, missing a TV show or something, skipping candy, anything, I think it can be appreciated. Kolbe himself battled tuberculosis, I read in one place he had only one lung, Father Kentenich of the Schonstatt movement seems to have been sickly, anyway, both of these I read said if your health is not the best, don't test it. Or if you don't want to try a strenuous fast, no reason to be excessive. I read of one Saint who did not sleep much, that would seem to tax the system for me too much as well if you are getting very small amounts of sleep day after day. Sleep deprivation. I think it was her: The real "Flying Nun", may have bilocated and preached to Native Americans while in Spain. There are probably plenty of things one can do. Say an extra decade or something. See the wikipedia entry, incorrupt as well apparently, Mary of Jesus of Ágreda - Wikipedia
A Chance to Believe The events of January 1, 1962. Dr. Ortiz tells us the following story: «I was in the village with Miss Margarita Huerta who had come from Madrid with a group of people. Three of the girls fell into ecstasy and were walking together through the street just above the plaza, going towards the Church. One of the men from the group, who was following at a distance, suddenly thought, "If this is from God, let the middle girl come to me now and offer me the crucifix to kiss." Immediately, the girl fell back from the other girls and held up the crucifix for him to kiss! He was very excited and later told us the story.»
Penance: The virtue or disposition of heart by which one repents of one's own sins and is converted to God. Also the punishment by which one atones for sins committed, either by oneself or by others. And finally the sacrament of penance, where confessed sins committed after baptism are absolved by a priest in the name of God. (Etym. Latin paenitentia, repentance, contrition.) Dictionary : PENANCE | Catholic Culture
The Sight Touched Even the Hardest of Hearts March 24-25, 1962. Feast of the Annunciation. Jacinta's father, Simon, recalls: «The three girls, Conchita, Loli and my daughter, up until then had only "prayed" the rosary. That day, however, they began to sing it and they sang the whole rosary. At the beginning of the apparition, there were only a few of us there, but by the end I think the whole village was there. I felt an immense joy. I knew well how shy my daughter is and I thought to myself, ‘she must be seeing something great to sing like she's singing.’ My joy that day could only have been greater if I were to have seen the Blessed Virgin myself.» Maximina (Conchita's Aunt) wrote in a letter: «The best thing happened on Sunday, feast of the Annunciation. The apparition began at 9:30 pm and finished at 12 midnight. I can hardly explain what happened. They began to sing the rosary. Then they said that Our Lady asked for everyone to sing. Well, we sang with all our hearts! You can’t imagine! We sang all the way to the cemetery. There, on their knees, they prayed one mystery. Conchita, next to the closed gate, reached through the bars with the crucifix in hand; it looking like she was giving it to be kissed. The sight touched even the hardest of hearts. Afterwards we went back to the village, singing all the way. We sang the "Salve" and "Cantemos al amor de los amores" (traditional Spanish Eucharistic hymn), and then other songs that the girls made up while still in ecstasy. The girls exclaimed, “The Blessed Virgin is very happy because there are a lot of people! She smiles and looks at all of us!"»
"They Say One Thing, but We See Another" David Toribio was 25 years old when rumors started to spread about what was happening to four little girls in his hometown, San Sebastián de Garabandal. He had amazing experiences in close contact with the girls as he protected them, along with other young men from the town, from the curiosity and shoves of the crowds. But he also suffered mockery and derision from those who considered the events in Garabandal as “a little girls’ game.” “Garabandal wasn’t ‘in fashion,’ people didn’t care about it. If someone really believed, he didn’t dare say it because there was such strong antagonism.” The young men talked among themselves without understanding the causes of the storm unleashed by what was happening in their town. David remembers that they said to each other, "Why are the newspapers publishing all this? The people who say they know what’s going on don’t understand anything!" One day, one of the young men asked, "What’s more important? What we see with our own eyes or what these people say and write?" The others replied, "No, come on! What we see is much more important!" The first responded with all the logic of the world, "Ah, so they say one thing, and we see another." And what did they see in the village? What did David Toribio see when the girls went into ecstasy? They saw so many inexplicable things... Something impressed David one day as he walked beside Conchita, who was in trance. He had heard other people say that when they touched the girls in ecstasy they experienced a strange sensation. That day, David wanted to touch her, at least with his fingertips, but he did not dare. "I mean just seeing them, you knew... And I touched her like this, very softly on her arm, and it was as if... Oh! Amazing! Yes. Incredible.” Among the many things that have been engraved on David's memory is a day when the four girls went up to the Pines in trance. All the people went up with them. "Looking at the pine where the statue of the Virgin Mary is now, at a certain moment, they took a step back, and another step, and another, and another... And they walked backwards all the way to the town. But there is a rock in that place, about three meters high, and they walked down backwards." Those who have been to Garabandal fully understand David's surprise. The town of San Sebastián de Garabandal is right in the landing of a mountain that the locals call "Jormazu", in the Mountain range of Peña Sagra. Even higher up the side of that mountain, through the “Calleja” (a stone path), you can reach the Pines. The topography of the area is such that the Pines are on another small landing, which rises like a balcony over the rest of the land, on an abrupt slope. A steep path meanders along each side of that "balcony". But the girls did not use the path. They went down backwards in a straight line towards the village, in spite of the very steep slope. "It’s totally impossible," says David. “The rest of us had to go down either side, we couldn’t go down with them. It was impossible!” The people who were in the Pines accompanying the girls rushed down the path. Surely some expected to see the girls rolling down the hill... But no. Once again, the impossible became possible in Garabandal, and once again we are unable to find a reasonable explanation. David continues, "Surely, Our Lady did these things (they happened more than once) so that we would see some part, but not everything. How did the girls get down there? No one saw it. Someone brought them down. Someone. If not, it is impossible. It’s three meters straight down." David insists, "In these details, the Virgin did not want us to see everything. We saw the most important thing or maybe something, but how did they get down there? It was the Virgin Mary who brought them down, or St. Michael, there is no doubt about it. If not, it would have been impossible. I mean, we young men, had to go down on either side!” This is what the witnesses tell us. Those who were not there, however important they may be, what can they say or write if they do not listen to the witnesses?
COLLECTION OF LITTLE MIRACULOUS STORIES THAT WERE BARLEY NOTICED AMONG THE BIGGER DAILY MIRACLES AT GARABANDAL DURING THE APPARITIONS. HAIR DRY IN RAIN ,by Placido Ruiloba “As the ecstasy was prolonged and the pathways became more difficult to traverse, my arm got tired from holding the umbrella and I closed it even though the rain continued without letup. I accompanied the girl for twenty minutes and was soaked through and through; my feet were swimming in my shoes. At the end of twenty minutes, we passed before a house lit by a small electric light bulb which enabled me to see to my amazement that the shoulders and head of the girl were completely dry. To make sure I passed my wet hand three times through her hair and dried it as if I were using a towel. All this I affirm, and would swear to it with my hand on the holy Gospels. “ UNTANGLED ROSARIES Another interesting miraculous phenomenon was the returning of rosaries. Now that people started to believe the Blessed Mother was actually appearing at Garabandal, they would bring their rosaries and medals to be kissed by her. They were all piled on a table for the girls to offer up to her. Entangled when presented by the girls to be blessed by the Blessed Mother, the rosaries and medals would incredibly untangle smoothly when being returned to their owners. Even without any pre-established order, the Garabandal visionaries also never erred in returning each object to its proper owner. The events of January 1, 1962. Dr. Ortiz tells us the following story: “I was in the village with Miss Margarita Huerta who had come from Madrid with a group of people. Three of the girls fell into ecstasy and were walking together through the street just above the plaza, going towards the Church. One of the men from the group, who was following at a distance, suddenly thought, ‘If this is from God, let the middle girl come to me now and offer me the crucifix to kiss.’ Immediately, the girl fell back from the other girls and held up the crucifix for him to kiss! He was very excited and later told us the story”. A Dominican in Disguise Conchita’s mother Aniceta tells us the story: A young man arrived here with a young woman, a couple. He was dressed like any normal young man, and I assumed that they were just a young dating couple. It was raining a lot and the place was full of people. Conchita, in ecstasy, came into the house. My sister was amidst the crowd and the young man approached her and said, “Give this cross to the girl.” My sister responded, “Why should I try to give it to her? She’s not going to take it. When she’s in ecstasy, she never receives anything.” “Well, give it to her mother then, so that her mother can give it to her.” My sister came up to me and said, “Here, that man said for you to give this to Conchita.” I responded, “Why am I going to give it to her? She never takes anything.” Then, I had an idea. What he wanted me to give to Conchita was a cross on a string, and so I thought of hanging it on her fingers, since she had her hands folded. Although Conchita spoke softly, I was close by and heard her insist to her vision, “I didn’t bring anything. I really didn’t bring anything.” She continued, “Well, if I have something, take it.” At that moment, Conchita took a step forward, lowered her hands and, in doing so, the cross fell on the ground. She took another step and stepped on the cross, “Ah! I’m stepping on it?” She bent down and picked up the cross, still in ecstasy, and held it up to her apparition to kiss. Then she turned around, facing the young man, made the sign of the cross over him and held it up for him to kiss. Turning back to the vision, she held it up again to be kissed and said, “Having such a beautiful habit as the Dominican habit, what a pity that he came dressed like that!”. Then, turning back to the man, she took his glasses off and put them in his hands. The man was afraid and I said to him, “Don't worry, she won’t break them.” She made the sign of the cross over him, held up his cross to be kissed again, and then put it around his neck. However, she put it on him backwards, the image was turned inwards. “Oh! I put it on him backwards?” She took it off, turned it around and put it back around his neck. Then she opened his hands, took his glasses and put them back on his face. Then she repeated, “What a shame that they come dressed like that!” He was a Dominican priest in disguise, wearing normal clothing, and accompanied by a young lady, who appeared to be his girlfriend, but who turned out to be his sister“. CRUCIFIX RISES BY ITSELF FROM BEING DROPPED THE MUD ! With her eyes fixed straight above, Conchita stooped slightly and reached down about 50 centimeters (20 inches) from the ground. Then before the attentive and stupefied eyes of all of us who witnessed it, the crucifix came out of the mud by itself to the level of the girl's hand. She immediately grabbed it with both hands while remaining in ecstasy. Witness: Don Placido Ruiloba Conchita and the Glass of Milk One day Conchita was eating near the elevated kitchen fireplace on a small stool where she usually sat. Suddenly Loli came inside in ecstasy and said to her: — “Conchita, the Virgin says you should finish quickly, since she is going to come to see you.” Conchita sped up her motions a little, and then as she lifted her glass of milk, to everyone’s surprise, she fell into ecstasy, the glass of milk in her hand. She came down slowly from the fireplace, and at the doorway of the house, she started running swiftly toward the church. She stopped abruptly in front of the portico. There they were able to take the celebrated glass of milk from her hand. To everyone’s surprise, not a drop had been lost. (Just another little example of the daily signs of proof ) Falling on the ground: 6-11-67 Mother Nieves: " Why did you fall on the ground ? " Conchita: " We were not aware of that, we were with the Virgin ! And we followed the conversation or communication with her, without knowing if we were running or not, if we were on our knees or lying on the ground." "Foot Race", A story from Serafin Gonzalez ( Conchita's Brother ) “On one occasion, a boy who was a good athlete arrived and said: ‘No one can beat me in a race. No girl can beat me.’ One of the girls had an ecstasy and set off running, and this boy ran after her. It was clear that the Blessed Virgin wasn’t trying to outrun him in the race, but at this point the girl was running at such a speed right toward the wall of a house that the boy thought: ‘If this is not from God, this girl will kill herself running into that wall.’ The boy had to stop to give him time to slow down, but the girl continued running without stopping until she reached the wall, and then she stopped in an instant. She said to the Blessed Virgin: ‘Oh, it is so he will believe…!’ The boy heard this and believed, since it was not humanly possible to stop in an instant at that speed.” Light bulb story The Chief of the Civil Guard, Juan Alvarez Seco, who lived nearby, remembers this case. “One day María Dolores ( Mari Loli ) was on the second floor of her house where she had apparitions many times. Her father Ceferino had said that, when they came down from there to the floor below where the tavern was, they would unscrew the light bulb since there was no switch to turn it off. Loli, while putting her hand on the bulb this time, fell into ecstasy, and she didn't take away her hand. We all feared that if she continued like this, holding onto the lit light bulb, she would burn her hand. Her mother said, “Heavens, take away the light bulb!” However all our efforts were useless. Then we called Mari Cruz who wasn't in ecstasy, and she—with the greatest of ease—made Loli let go of the bulb. Her hand was not burned. Then the girl went down the stairs and continued her ecstatic march “.
WEDDING RINGS The girls would have their fingers full of wedding rings, and while in ecstasy they'd raise up their hands and ask the Virgin to kiss them. After this they would return the rings to their owners without making any mistakes and without seeing who they were giving them to as their heads were always tilted backwards and their eyes fixed on the apparition above them. Garabandal and the Holy Shroud Only after Father Eusebio Garcia de Pesquera had written his comprehensive book on Garabandal, SHE WENT IN HASTE TO THE MOUNTAIN, did it come to light that the Shroud was mentioned at Garabandal. It was during one of Conchita's ecstasies when the Blessed Virgin spoke to the visionary about the Sabana Santa (Spanish for Holy Shroud). Among the spectators at that ecstasy was the Marquesa de Santa Maria, an excellent witness, and it was from her that Prof. Jacques Serre learned what the Virgin said about the Shroud. The Marquesa heard Conchita repeat the words of Our Lady: "It is the divine imprint of my Son." What Happened to Damián and a Cross Damián, a man from Barcelona, had given Conchita a chain with a medal and a tiny gold cross so that when she was in ecstasy she would give them to the Virgin Mary to kiss. Conchita had the apparition and we all followed her. At the door of the church we saw how she gave both of Damián's articles to the Virgin Mary to be kissed. She then placed the chain around her neck, still in ecstasy, and we returned to Conchita's house. There, Damián noticed that she only had the medal and that she was missing the golden cross. When Conchita came out of ecstasy and returned to her natural state, Damián told her that the cross was missing. Conchita responded: "It's true. The Virgin told me that it had fallen at the door of the church." In my presence and in the presence of many others, we saw how such a tiny thing could be found, even though we were told it was at the door of the church. Nevertheless, Conchita went to the exact place and picked it up, not only in my presence but in the presence of those who were there. (From the memories of Juan Alvarez Seco, Brigadier) IN TIME , MARY REVEALS ALL. I have a rarely heard story of Our Lady kissing a woman's powdercase. We know most of the stories are about kissed religious objects. The reason I post this ( besides being a rarely heard story ) is that it reminds me of we don't always understand everything that happened at Garabandal , until later on. I think this story proves my point. Never question our Blessed Mother's intentions, even if we don’t understand it right away. One day Conchita was in the kitchen of her house surrounded by persons who were waiting for the moment of the apparition. On the simple table that served for the family meals, the objects that she was going to give to be kissed were being gathered. Together with these, someone had put there a stylish woman's powder case. The child and those present wanted this removed. How could the Virgin come to kiss an object so profane and used only for the service of vanity? Nevertheless, the powder case remained there. The ecstasy began and those present saw with astonishment that the visionary's hand, without her looking at it, before going to any other object, went first of all toward the previously discussed powder case. The child raised it toward the invisible Virgin and then set it down with great respect on the table. Among those present, surprise must have been mingled with doubt. Was it really the Virgin who was appearing? It didn't seem that she would kiss such an object . . . As soon as the ecstasy was finished, Conchita was asked for an explanation. And she declared that the Virgin had asked immediately for the powder case in order to kiss it, saying that it was something «belonging to her Son».The girl did not know anything more. But the person who had put the powder case there did know more and revealed the secret. During the terrible Spanish civil war (1936-1939) in the Red Zone when priests were being executed and had to be hidden, the powder case had been used to bring Communion Hosts to various locations and especially to prisoners whom the Reds held captive in order to execute. Thus it had served as a Pyx.
Why does it matter ? Does where she goes determine whether her visions were true ? I never ask because its none of my business. She the most kind & humble person I've ever met (maybe outside of Pope JP II ), that's all that's important, how she lives her life, exactly like Mary asked us to, but so few of us rarely do. BTW I have 3 churches in my town, and there isn't a Latin Mass anywhere to be found that I know of, am I unworthy now ?
ARE YOUR HANDS EMPTY ? The Last Apparition at Garabandal November 13, 1965, was a day mixed with joy and sadness for Conchita. The Virgin appeared with her Child to the teenager but it was to be for the last time at Garabandal. As Mary had already indicated this was to be a special apparition for kissing religious objects and Conchita had many with her. After kissing the articles, the Virgin said: 'Through the kiss I have bestowed on these objects, my Son will perform prodigies. Distribute them to others. Talk to me, Conchita, talk to me about my children. I hold them all beneath my mantle. This will be the last time you will see me here but I shall always be with you and with all my children. Conchita, why don't you go and visit my Son in the tabernacle? He waits for you night and day." Conchita said to the Virgin, "I am so happy when I see both of you. Why don't you take me now to heaven with you?" She replied, "Remember what I told you on your patronal feast day? " When you present yourself before God, your hands must be filled with good deeds done for your brothers and for His glory. At the present time, your hands are empty." Mary said “ Conchita, I am not coming only for you but I am coming for all my children, with a desire to see them closer to our hearts”. “Garabandal“ by J. Serre -p.201
GLENN’S RECENT INTERVIEWS My June 26, 2020 Garabandal Q&A session with noted Author Regan Long, I hope it is helpful in answering some basic questions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwCMkAGObl0&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1io-mQRm7q9oYmxW9QJuCR1A83hfUy8M0B06KeQFbx3p6MzCzFbHpku4A My latest interview from 2-2-2021 with Carol Kelso from " Being Catholic Media",in the UK https://www.beingcatholicmedia.org/2021/02/garabandal-the-warning-and-more-with-glenn-hudson/?fbclid=IwAR0CIoqGWdKC0lW1jeKBopVVtuFApnfVS4xLq7oNeqHJyb3M9KzCV2T0P-M “Garabandal Interview “ with Glenn Hudson Easter podcast” 4-4-21"The Midnight Truck Stop" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1640764/8266150
I was listening to EWTN Catholic Answers yesterday, and a woman called she was so excited to have watched the Garabandal movie. She had never heard of it and was so excited. Jimmy Akin put the Kabash on that quick. He was really dismissive and pretty much told her not to follow it as it is not approved by anyone who thinks it is authentic....I was so saddened to hear this from him.
Well won't Jimmy be surprised when the Warning & Miracle happen. Maybe the Warning has alittle something special for those who fought so hard against Mary & her words. ACTS 5 :39 “But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. “
