TODAY IN GARABANDAL HISTORY: AUGUST 3, 1961 NEW ECSTATIC PHENOMENA The swaying movements began on the 31st of July. They were to be the prelude of yet more striking manifestations: the ecstatic falls, a kind of slow and graceful collapse of the children until they were stretched out on the ground. These falls occurred quite frequently. Every time they happened, the girls drew attention by their beauty, their grace and the modesty of their attitudes and expressions. Spectators could not help but be inclined to admire and respect them. The visionaries were always dressed in a most decent way, their clothes covering them sometimes even in a sliding movement opposite to the natural direction of the fall. Mari-Loli and Jacinta were the first to "inaugurate" this phenomenon; they would remain stretched out some ten minutes in this astonishing position. Brigadier Secco heard Mari-Loli asking her Vision: "If you don't help me, I could not get up." Then she was seen extending her arm, and as if raised by a mysterious force, "she slowly rose to a sitting position." Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, J. Serre, pages 75-77.
Today in Garabandal History August 4,1961 OUR BLESSED MOTHER'S VOICE IS HEARD ! Conchita recounts the story in the book "Our Lady comes to Garabandal" . She said " I was returning from the fields, we met my Godmother Maximina Gonzalez, she was very excited and said this to us "Do you know the voice of the Blessed Virgin has been heard on a tape recorder ?" " What did she say I asked ? " She replied " Loli and Jacinta asked her (The Blessed Virgin) "Speak, Please Speak" and the people heard an answer : " No, I won’t speak " . My Godmother told me that people began to cry because they were very moved at having heard the Blessed Virgin's voice. The owner of the tape recorder (Angel Dominguez Borreguero, director of the Psychiatric Hospital of Salamanca) shouted, "I will send this to the pope!" Naturally the people wanted to hear the marvelous voice again so they played the tape again, but at the proper place they heard nothing. "Our Lady comes to Garabandal" page 59 "SHE WENT IN HASTE TO THE MOUNTAIN" CHAPTER 7 on page 156. *Both myself and Fr. Luis Saavedra have not been able to locate the original tape. (Later Mari Loli and Fr. Ramon try to see if the voice was still there,but it was not. )
Joey Lomangino on Mother Angelica Live -AUGUST 4, 1995 Joey Lomangino's first appearance on "Mother Angelica "LIVE" August 4,1995. Just so everyone is aware, the NY Garabandal Center (OLMC) is no longer open, so please do not write or call. Thank you. The video has been pulled from the internet, but I do have the 30 minute audio of the interview. SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS LINK TO SEE THIS AUDIO LINK https://www.garabandalthemovie.com/.../875-mother-angelica
Glenn, thank you for your tenacious commitment to this invaluable discussion thread and to various other online platforms as well. Please know that your shared insights and vast knowledge pertaining to Garabandal continue to be a tremendous blessing to innumerable people around the globe. At your leisure, kindly address two questions: (1.) On page 98 of Judeth M. Albright's book entitled, Our Lady at Garabandal, the following is written: "Once the predicted miracle occurs, at the pines area, Garabandal will become a major Marian Shrine and place of prayer and devotion." [embolden emphasis added]. Do you know if Our Lady explicitly mentioned to the visionaries that Garabandal would eventually become a major Marian shrine? Or is this sheer (though very reasonable) speculation on the part of the book's author? (2.) As you know, there exist many websites claiming that Our Lady of Fatima - during the last apparition - appeared as Our Lady of Mount Carmel and said goodbye to the three shepherd children by saying, “until San Sebastian, Spain” (“até Sao Sebastiao da Hesphana”). Oftentimes, (unattainable) published books are cited as sources for this seemingly bogus claim. Can we assuredly lay this claim to rest as being fraudulent? Which inclines me to wonder why anyone would start such a rumor in the first place . . .
As to your first question, I loaned out my copy of that book, so I don't have the whole text surrounding that quote, but I also researched all my existing library, and I can not find a quote from Mary that states that, that can be verified with viewable documentation. As to the second question, " IF" there was undeniable proof of this quote, I would have been screaming this for the last 30 years ! (notice I haven't ). Our Lady “supposedly “ said at Fatima “see you at San Sebastian de Garabandal”, this information was first published in a 1921 book, “Os Episodios Maravilhosos de Fatima” (“The Marvelous Episodes of Fatima”) by Rev. Dr. Manuel Formigão, who had interviewed the three shepherd children of Fatima on several occasions. I found a version of that book by Rev. Dr. Manuel Formigao scanned as a PDF online. It was in Portuguese (which I don't read), but I scanned every page of that book at least 10 times and saw NO REFERENCE to "San Sebastian" (and that would probably be decipherable in Portuguese, since I was able to discern other names with no problem). It is only about 70 pages. HOWEVER, Father Formigao apparently wrote this, and other books, under a pseudonym: Visconde De Montelo, (or Montello with two l's). And, there are 2 additional Fatima publications from this same author that are much longer, more extensive books (170 pages, and 409 pages respectively). This matter of Mary’s promise to return at San Sebastian de Garabandalis also written about in the 1937 annals of the Carmelites, a copy of which is reported to be in the Carmelite convent in Coimbra, Portugal where Sr. Lucia died in February 2005. A reference to Rev. Fr. Formigão’s 1921 book is found in, “The Lady More Brilliant than the Sun” by Fr. John de Marchi.. I could go on here with dozens of partial quotes I've found from rare or unavailable Portuguese books, but its like a dog chasing its tail, I just keep going around in circles of mentions and denials of its existance. So to be on the safe and prudent side, and since I have not found irrefutable documented evidence, I can not say with any certainty that this is true. Here is the full PDF of "Os Episodios Maravilhoso de Fatima" (The Marvelous Episodes of Fatima), maybe you can find a reference. http://www.strobertbellarmine.net/books/Os Episodios Maravilhosos de Fatima.pdf
TODAY IN GARABANDAL HISTORY AUGUST 5, 1961: THE "ECSTATIC WALKS" For the same reason as for the "calls" and the "falls," the "ecstatic walks" are typical events of San Sebastian de Garabandal. Their purpose was to draw attention to the apparitions (ecstasies). These walks were absolutely extraordinary; they consisted in the girls moving from place to place, sometimes at a very high speed. The visionaries, hand in hand, would move at a very rapid pace, without seeing anything of their itinerary. They did not stumble on the rocky roads they took, their eyes being fixed on the apparition guiding them. According to the children's explanations, they had the impression of being "settled comfortably" in a fixed position with respect to their vision. Here two of the girls are walking backwards. They would proceed in this way up to the Pines. On the steep slope of this same calleja , the children walked on their knees, without ever bruising themselves or experiencing the slightest pain as they came in contact with the rocky surface of the land. During the walks, the children appeared to be moved by an interior force that made the witnesses unable to hold them back. The rapid pace of the visionaries could become a race . . . A word about their "range of vision": the girls saw nothing but the Apparition herself. In one scene, Loli was alone in ecstasy, coming out of Conchita's home. She suddenly falls on her knees making a sharp noise. A few moments later, eyes fixed on heaven, arms outstretched, the upper body leaning forward, the pace of the visionary becomes more intense. It seems that she hardly touches the ground, as if she had "wings on her feet." The other three are not in ecstasy, they follow with difficulty. At the end of these ecstatic walks, while the witnesses, even the most athletic ones, are deadbeat, Loli, on her part, shows no signs of fatigue. She is simply a little pale, but gives the impression of being calm. Excerpted from "Garabandal" Book, J.Serre,pages 81-83. * Notice some following are looking down so they don't stumble walking over the rocks ,as the girls eyes are only focused upward on Mary, and NEVER stumble !
GARABANDAL HISTORY :MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 1962: FEAST OF THE "TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD": CONCHITA AGAIN RECEIVES HOLY COMMUNION AT THE PINES, FROM THE HAND OF ST. MICHAEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF OUTSTANDING WITNESSES Three Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God arrived at San Sebastian de Garabandal on this August 6, from the "Instituto Psiquiatro de Mondragon, the site of their apostolate. Visiting the village for the first time, they climbed up to the Pines. There they found Conchita with the three other girls. They offered to share their breakfast with them. But Conchita told them that the Angel (St. Michael) was to give her Holy Communion. Amazed, the Brothers of St. John of God were effectively to witness the "event," unable, of course, to see the Host. Nevertheless, they took superb photos of this ecstasy . . . From 'Garabandal' Book, J.Serre, page 144]
Since I let most people know that Jacinta is presently in Garabandal, I keep getting asked ,how is she related to Conchita? Jacinta's Grandmother and Conchita's Grandmother were sisters, on their Mother’s side. (I believe that makes them cousins).
Glenn - Michael Lofton of Faith & Reason podcast has used the following letter allegedly from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith to claim that Catholics could not spread the Garabandal messages Glenn - are you aware of this letter below from 1970? I have highlighted in bold certain sentences that he used to condemn promotion of the Garabandal messages - how are we to respond to the problems that this letter poses? Letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to the Archbishop of New Orleans SACRA CONGREGATIO PRO DOCTRINA FIDEI PROTo N. 1065/64 Roma, 21 April 1970. Piazza del S. Uffizio, 11. Your Excellency: This office has received your letter of April 8, 1970, in which you expressed justifiable apprehension about the diffusion of the Garabandal movement in your Archdiocese and in which you asked for clear and reliable guidelines from the Holy See for dealing with this phenomenon. The Holy See shares your preoccupation about the manifest and increasing confusion due to the diffusion of this movement among the faithful and desires with this letter to clarify its position on the matter. This Sacred Congregation, despite requests from various bishops and faithful, has always refused to define the supernatural character of the events of Garabandal. After the definitive negative judgement issued by the Curia of Santander, this Sacred Congregation, after attentive examination of the proceedings forwarded to this office, has often praised the prudence that characterized the method followed in the examination, but has still decided to leave the direct responsibility for the matter to the local Ordinary. The Holy See has always held that the conclusions and dispositions of the Bishop of Santander were sufficiently secure guidelines for the bishops, in order to dissuade people from participating in pilgrimages and other acts of devotion that are based on claims connected with or founded on the presumed apparitions and messages of Garabandal. On March 10, 1969, this Sacred Congregation wrote a letter to this effect to the bishop of Santander who had also asked for a more explicit declaration of the Holy See in the matter. However, promoters of the Garabandal movement have tried to minimize the decisions and the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Santander. This Sacred Congregation wants it to be clearly understood that the Bishop of Santander has been and continues to be the only one with complete jurisdiction in this matter and the Holy See has no intention of examining this question any further since it holds that the examinations already carried out are sufficient as well as are the official declarations of the Bishop of Santander.. There is no truth to the statement that the Holy See has named an «Official Papal Private Investigator of Garabandal» and affirmations attributed to this anonymous personage to the extent that «the verification of the Garabandal apparitions lies completely in the hands of the Holy Father Pope Paul VI» and other such expressions that aim at undermining the authority of the decisions of the Bishop of Santander are completely unfounded. In order to reply to certain doubts that you expressed in your letter, this Sacred Congregation wishes to assert that the Holy See has never approved, even indirectly, the Garabandal movement, that it has never encouraged or blessed Garabandal promoters or centers. Rather, the Holy See deplores the fact that certain persons and institutions persist in fomenting the movement in obvious contradiction with the dispositions of ecclesiastical authority, and thus disseminate confusion among the people, especially among the simple and defenceless. From what has been said so far, you will easily realize that, though this Sacred Congregation certainly agrees with the contents of the note of May 10, 1969 (as published in various countries and especially in the French magazine, La Documentation Catholique, Sep. 21, 1969; n. 1.547, p. 821), it must say that it is inexact to attribute the part of the text that deals with the lack of supernatural character of the events of Garabandal to the Sacred Congregation, which has always striven to abstain from any direct declaration on the question, precisely because it. did not consider it necessary to do so after the clear and express decisions of the Bishop of Santander. This is the genuine meaning of the letter written on January 21, 1970, by the Most Reverend Paul Philippe, Secretary of this Sacred Congregation, to the editor in chief of La Documentation Catholique. In order to contribute further to your pastoral action in this matter, this office is enclosing other essential documents already published in other countries such as Spain, i. e. the two official notices of the Bishop of Santander, two letters of the Sacred Congregation to the same Bishop, and a letter to the Apostolic Delegate to Mexico. This office hopes in this letter to have clarified a question that concerns not just your Archdiocese but also other dioceses. With sentiments of deepest esteem and cordial respect, I am Devotedly yours, FRANC., Card. Seper. Praef. PAUL PHILIPPE, Secretary. His Excellency Most Rev. PHILIP M. HANNAN. Archbishop of New Orleans. (enclosures)
I went ahead and responded to Lofton on Youtube with the following -- Bishop del Val Gallo Bishop of Santander (1971-1991) after a pastoral visit in 1977, lifted the bans of his predecessors regarding spreading the message of the apparitions and priests could now celebrate Mass in the Church with the local pastor's permission. Bishop Val Gallo said that no Bishop of the diocese nor the Church has ever condemned Garabandal. He personally carried out a six year study into the apparitions and the results of his investigation were delivered to the Holy See, the Sacred Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. They were delivered to Cardinal Ratzinger. The final decision rests with the Church with regard to the authenticity of the apparitions.
This line in his letter is total BS "The Holy See has always held that the conclusions and dispositions of the Bishop of Santander were sufficiently secure guidelines for the bishops, in order to dissuade people from participating in pilgrimages and other acts of devotion" My proof below from the highest authority on the subject......The Pope who met Conchita ! Pope Paul VI had all the while 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." See “Garabandal: Message of Hope pg 256 ( Tell Micheal Lofton to read from one of the foremost Garabandal authorities , Fr. Saavedra. ) Who BTW agrees with me that it is permissable. * Not to mention Saint Pope John Paul II, whom I met personally. 1-17-96
TODAY IN GARABANDAL HISTORY AUGUST 8 & 9, 1961 FATHER LUIS MARIA ANDREU SEES THE BLESSED VIRGIN OF MOUNT CARMEL AND THE FUTURE GREAT MIRACLE ! Father Luis Maria Andreu Rodmilans was born in 1925 in Bilbao, Spain. He entered the Jesuit Scholasticate, at Ona, in 1942; he was ordained to the priesthood in 1955. Father Luis came back to Garabandal for the third time, on the 8th of August 1961, in order to observe once more the ecstasies. On that day, the Pastor, Don Valentin, who had to go to Santander, entrusted him with the keys of the church. The Jesuit Father celebrated his Mass in "an admirable manner," said those who had taken part. This was to be his last Mass. In the evening of this Tuesday, and for the third time, the visionaries fell into ecstasy in the village church. When they came out of the church, they began a long ecstatic walk that Fr. Luis followed, from the beginning to the end, up to the Pines, where himself falling into ecstasy, the priest suddenly pronounced loudly the word "Miracle!", four times. His eyes fixed on heaven, he was granted to see the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel, and also, by anticipation, the future great Miracle which is to take place at San Sebatian de Garabandal. This was a unique event, and we know that the Jesuit Father had penetrated into the visionaries' "range of vision." They would later describe him in these few words: "He was there, on his knees, beads of perspiration on his forehead, the Blessed Virgin looking at him. We had the impression that she was telling him: 'Within a short time, you will be near me'." The ecstasy over, Padre Luis came down from the Pines and, with some of his friends, went down in a jeep to Cosio. At about four in the morning, while they were driving on the road to Reinosa, Luis spoke to his friends: "I am filled with joy! What a favor the Blessed Virgin has granted me! How lucky we are to have such a Mother in heaven! We must not be afraid of the supernatural. The children have taught us how to speak to the Blessed Virgin. For me, there can be no doubt! Why did the Blessed Virgin choose us, yes, us? Today is the happiest day of my life!" Then he became silent. There was a sigh. Fr. Luis' head fell forward. He was dead! He was 36 years old. Father Luis' involvement with Garabandal was far from being over. In fact, it was revealed to Conchita that "on the day following the future great Miracle, his body will be found just as he was, when he died!" [Incorrupt.] Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book, J. Serre, pages 84-87.
Boys throw stones at girls A little after 9:00 in the evening, the second session of that unforgettable day begins. Once again the four girls assemble in the church and before the main altar fall into ecstasy. They breathe deeply. Then they laugh, except for Conchita; she speaks, “Yes, as you wish, as you command . . . We don't care what direction we go. As you say . . . But we haven't given any proof, and the people don't believe.” Toward 9:40 they get up and leave the church in an ecstatic march. They stop at those locations in the village where ecstasies had taken place, and they pray there . . . Never had stations been made with such devotion in Garabandal. The people who silently followed the girls during their marches and devotedly accompanied them in their prayers were as if taken up by supernatural emotion. It seemed like the way of the Lord, the way of mercy for that village until then so lost and forgotten. Here the footsteps of God and the Virgin traced their way to people regarded as nothing by the world. In contrast to this world in a rush to secularization, what a night at Garabandal! In a tremulous silence, under an infinite summer sky, all that could be heard were the prayer at the stations and the rhythmic footsteps of the four girls locking arms while in rapture. Toward the end of the march they were heard to say, "On what day will we see you again, so that the people may come? . . . The people say that this is a sickness of ours, and the young boys have thrown stones at us . . . Well, if you are happy with us, it doesn't matter." And when it seemed that everything was going to end, they undertook an ascent to the Pines that all the witnesses have classified as impressive not only on account of the appearance of the four girls, but also because of the speed and lightness of their march. August 8,1961 “She went in haste to the Mountain” Ch.7 p. 177
From Fr. Valentin’s Journal, August 1961, “August 10th “ "I said the Holy Mass, and the three girls received the sacrament. Mari Cruz did not come. I prayed the rosary in the afternoon at 8:30 as always. At 9:20 they arrived at the church, but it was closed. They stayed at the door, and there were many people there with them. They fell to their knees at the church door and they were like that for a minute in ecstasy. Then they began to run in ecstasy to all of the places from the previous day. When they arrived at the pines, Loli was almost completely bent backwards. They stayed for a few seconds where there had been an apparition a few days before. Loli, who was almost completely bent backwards, told me that in order to see the Virgin, they had to go back to the church at 10:15 praying the rosary. They prayed an Our Father for the good priest (Fr. Andreu) who had died, and it finished at 10. After that, they prayed another rosary in the normal state. I asked them who they had seen and they said that they had seen Our Lady of Mt. Carmel; the church was full of people from other places and there were four priests.” Fr. Valentin’s Journal, August 1961 http://www.stjosephpublications.com...Rur31-kTNvjEbmcuVM0FeuXxSxiRDfkv9Zf6puFbvGMKw
Today in Garabandal History : August 11,1961. The Blessed Virgin is unhappy with unbelievers ! After the ecstasy, there were two questions: the first, to find out why the trance had begun much later than the hour predicted (which had been at 3:00 a.m.); and the second, to explain the reason why Loli went unexpectedly to Maximina’s house. Loli answered the first question by saying that"The Virgin wanted to show her displeasure this way", because on that night some women had joked about the apparitions. They had asked the girl if the Virgin painted her nails, if she combed her hair, if she wore a bracelet . . . No one could answer the second question adequately. Ceferino could only say that his daughter, without his understanding the reason, "immediately on being in ecstasy, at about 3:45 in the morning, had gone running toward Maximina’s house." ''Then I was aware" — declared Fr. de la Riva —"that the Virgin had deigned to hear my petition, giving me the sign that I had requested.'' (Earlier in the day Fr. de la Riva asked the Blessed Mother for a sign , while he was lodging at Maximina's house) “SHE CAME IN HASTE TO THE MOUNTAIN” BOOK 3, PG.62 Mari Loli
Today in Garabandal History, AUGUST 12, 1961 THE DECEASED PADRE LUIS AND THE "SABBATINE PRIVILEGE." The Sabbatine Privilege, in its original form, was granted in the fourteenth century by the Blessed Virgin, after the grace of the Scapular to St. Simon Stock. The sixth General Superior of the Carmelites, who had just been chased away from the East by the Saracens, had begged Mary to help him. She then appeared to him promising him, at the same time as she gave him the gift of the Scapular, that every Carmelite wearing it would be spared the eternal fires. As for the Sabbatine Privilege, it was broadened later by the Church, thanks to Pope Paul V (1605-1621). The Blessed Virgin promised that all those who had venerated her constantly and who had worn the Scapular with devotion would be withdrawn from Purgatory on the first Saturday after their death. The Sabbatine Privilege was illustrated in a remarkable way on this August 12 at Garabandal. The four visionaries, as much in a state of ecstasy as in a normal state, had prayed a great deal after August 9, for the soul of the deceased Fr. Luis. They ceased to do so completely on this first Saturday after his death. The Blessed Virgin told the little girls that he was now in heaven. We know that Fr. Luis wore the scapular-medal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. From the book “Garabandal” by J. Serre, page 88
