This is what an open Artificial Intelligence program had to say when I asked it what is Garabandal!!! Garabandal is a small village in the Cantabria region of northern Spain. In the 1960s, four young girls from the village claimed to have received supernatural visions and messages from the Virgin Mary. These events, known as the Garabandal apparitions, attracted widespread attention and drew thousands of believers to the village. The visions and messages received by the girls were said to contain prophecies and warnings about the future, as well as messages of devotion and spiritual guidance. Many believers consider the events of Garabandal to be genuine supernatural occurrences, while others view them as a phenomenon with a natural explanation. The Catholic Church has not officially recognized the Garabandal apparitions as supernatural events, and the matter has not been formally investigated by the Church. As such, the Garabandal events remain a matter of personal belief and interpretation.
Jacinta interviewed by Vatican officials "It was recently learned that in December of 1975 Garabandal Visionary Jacinta Gonzalez (now Monahan) visited Rome to commemorate the Holy year and while there, was summoned for questioning by Vatican officials in regard to the Spanish apparitions which lasted from 1961 through 1965. Details of the meeting, other than the fact that Jacinta’s integrity left a very favorable impression, are confidential at this time. One thing however, was clearly demonstrated, the investigative authority of the church is still actively interested in the events of Garabandal. " “Needles” magazine, Summer issue 1976, page 23
The late Fr. Father Materne Laffineur noted that the visionaries remain resolute that "The most important [thing] of all, is the Message. All the rest, even the events that can be said to be miraculous, take place for one reason only…to give credit to the Message and to urge people to carry it out."[Laffineur-Noseda and le Pelletier, op. cit., p. 22]. The importance of this mandate cannot be overstated. The last thing any of us want to see come to fruition are the ominous words of Padre Pio, who, in a letter to the visionaries in 1962, perhaps all too presciently wrote, "They will believe when it is too late.'"
Conchita on Baptism I was speaking to Conchita about a Christening I attended, and she said "Your Baptism is more important than your Birthday, because that is the day you become a child of God !" Isn't her outlook on life amazing ? I never know what spiritual wisdom she will impart on a topic.
GARABANDAL & PURGATORY I have always viewed Purgatory as God's greatest act of Mercy. The reason I say this is that, for the most part, most people do not deserve Heaven immediately upon their demise. Purgatory at least gives us that hope and that someday, we can attain Heaven (and we have also avoided hell ). The Warning will be God's next greatest act of Mercy, by allowing us to see the gravity of all our sins, as he sees them, and a chance to repent, and correct our ways, before a final judgment one day . ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “The message concerning purgatory was taught at Garabandal indirectly through the actions of the girls, as was so much of the Garabandal message. It was a lesson imparted not through words but through deeds, by being lived and practiced. Our Lady led the children in ecstasy to pray for the souls in purgatory. Implicit in this prayer was the teaching that all souls who are saved do not go directly or immediately to heaven. Some of them are not yet ready to see God and must be purified by making atonement for their sins in an intermediary place that is appropriately called purgatory or place of purgation.” Reprinted from “NEEDLES” magazine Autumn issue, 1976 , page 7 By Fr.Joseph A. Pelletier, A.A.
“An interview with Anaceita Gonzalez, Conchita’s Mother “ “Needles” magazine, January- March Issue 1977, page 16- 20 Question: What kind of personality did Conchita have before the apparitions? Answer: She was the best little girl I have ever known most obedient. At 5 she started school and her teacher would say that she was very good and an intelligent little girl, who would take criticism and never pout or frown. This is the way she was with me to. Question: was she a very religious child? Answer: Well she was, because she had the example at home I would always go to the rosary like everyone else. When all the girls would leave, Conchita would stay behind with me for the way of the cross and the *Trisagion. Then we would be go to the chapel with all the ladies to pray the Sorrows of Our Lady. all the while Conchita would be holding my arm even though I wouldn't ask her to, she would just come along. * An old Spanish devotion to the Holy Trinity prayed in groups.
“An interview with Anaceita Gonzalez, Conchita’s Mother “ “Needles” magazine, January- March Issue 1977, page 16- 20 Question: the first time you saw Conchita and the other girls in ecstasy, how did it affect you? Did you try to touch them? Answer: I believed everything completely and thought that everything would happen right then and there, the Virgin and everything at the time we didn't know what ecstasy's were, or that there were such things. I didn't go see her the first or second time, I was embarrassed. I touched her I had to touch her although I knew there was no deceit. I didn't know what it was but it was not deceit . I didn't try to lift her I could see the state she was in that it was not possible. When I touched her it felt like something hard Like a Stone.
Pope Benedict XVI, the 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, has died. May he rest in peace in the arms of our loving Father in heaven. Thank you good and faithful servant! Eternal Rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. And may all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.
Pope Benedict XVI & Garabandal Pope Benedict XVI knew all about Garabandal , and been very receptive to learning more about it. Not only has he met and interviewed Conchita, ( When I personally spoke to Conchita about the meeting in the Vatican 1968 , she told me she only met him when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, not as Pope Benedict.) He has all the latest investigation papers, eyewitness testimonies of the miracles, etc. performed through the intercession of Our Lady of Garabandal, sent to him by the well known promoter the late Fr. Francis Benac, S.J. He has also read the Garabandal book “ O Children Listen to Me “ Cardinal Ratzinger became the Prefect (head) of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on November 25, 1981,the Vatican department in charge of protecting the sacred deposit of the faith handed on from the apostles. Considering how close he was with Pope John Paul II, who was a vocal supporter of Garabandal, him meeting Conchita, reading up on the subject, it’s no surprise to me, that he is a believer too. The reason I say this is I have it on good authority that he has conveyed his belief to a Vatican priest ,who is also a Canon Lawyer (who wishes to remain nameless ). According to journalist John L. Allen Jr.'s 2005 biography entitled: 'Pope Benedict XVI: A Biography of Joseph Ratzinger' (pages 118-119 ) his interest in Garabandal began long before becoming Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It actually began when he was a professor of theology at the Gustav Siewerth Haus Academy, located in Germany's Black Forest. Every summer he gave a course in dogmatic exegesis at the private academy from 1970 thru 1979. It is said that he knew of and took the Garabandal apparitions seriously even then. Author John Allen, Jr. confirmed this from several of Joseph Ratzinger's former graduate students. Monsignor Juan Antonio del Val, in addition to giving permission for the movie made by BBC, made a personal investigation for several years about the Apparitions of Garabandal and is one of the witnesses on the video, “Garabandal, the Eyewitnesses,” produced by Michael Tubberty and published in more that thirty languages by Monsignor Roman Danylak, titular Bishop of Nyssa, Rome, Italy. (January 24, 2000). 1989 Monsignor del Val finally opens the Second Commission (with the support of Rome) testifies that the findings of the investigation of the Apparitions of the Most Holy Virgin Mary in Garabandal were sent to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; more specifically, to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. ( This led to Pope Benedict XVI confirming belief in Garabandal).
It may well have been that he knew very clearly when he accepted his election to the papacy that he would be "the last pope of these Catholic times". There is great mystery here. I like to think on the joy that is his right now in the very presence of Jesus and Mary and Joseph.
JANUARY 1, 1965 At the Pines, Conchita has an ecstasy lasting two hours. The Blessed Virgin Mary tells her about the " Warning" and also tells her that because we did not pay attention to the first message on October 18, 1961, she will give a new one ( which happened on June 18, 1965 ) ,and this will be her last one. The Blessed Mother also reveals the nature of the "Conditional" Chastisement.
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."
Has anyone ever addresses or has heard of any explanation as to why she appeared without a veil to the four girls? I have done some research and every apparition that I have looked at, the children said she was wearing a veil. The Old Testament states that when a Jewish girl is married she must cover her head. I thought maybe she was appearing before she was married but she came with the baby in her arms at GARABANDAL. I’m just wondering what the discussion was as I’m sure I’m not the only one to realize this. - thanks
I know of other Marian apparitions that she appeared without a veil. In the title of "The Immaculate Conception" Mary is often shown without a veil. There is also Our Lady of Knock who wore no veil but had a crown. Our Lady of Good Help in Green Bay, Wis. USA, an approved apparition, wore no veil, but had long golden way hair and a crown of stars around her head. Another Mary's Assumption into Heaven. Also, the image of Our Lady, Mary Help of Christians - the Patroness of Saint (Don) John Bosco and his congregation does not wear a veil. Our Lady of LaVang (18th Century). In reading the manuscripts of Fr. Valentin Marichalar (the priest who witnessed the original apparitions of the girls ) and on July 27,1961 the girls asked Mary why she was wearing a brown dress that day, and the Virgin replied that she could wear any color she wanted. I assume that also means a veil if she wants to also.
