Garabandal apparitions

Parochial church of San Sebastian de Garabandal.

The Garabandal apparitions are claimed apparitions of, firstly, Saint Michael the Archangel and then the Blessed Virgin Mary to four young schoolgirls in the village of San Sebastian de Garabandal in Cantabria, north Spain, from 1961 to 1965.^[1] The visitations numbered in the thousands, drew huge crowds, and featured supposed paranormal phenomena, much of it filmed or photographed, with thousands of witnesses. The women receiving the visions were Mari Loli Mazón (May 1, 1949 – April 20, 2009), Jacinta González (born April 27, 1949), Mari Cruz González (born June 21, 1950) and Conchita González (born Feb. 7, 1949).

The Virgin Mary in this series of claimed visitations is often referred to as "Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Garabandal", because her appearance, dress and hairstyle looked like portrayals of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Content

Altar in the Parochial church

According to the visionaries, the purpose of the visitations was to call for a "conversion of heart". In the context of most Marian apparitions, "conversion" does not necessarily mean a religious conversion to the Catholic Church, but rather sincere repentance for past sins and amending one's life to follow more closely the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The visionaries reported receiving two 'messages', one directly from Mary and the other from Mary by way of Michael. The first, revealed on October 18, 1961, states:

We must make many sacrifices, perform much penance, and visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently. But first, we must lead good lives. If we do not, a chastisement will befall us. The cup is already filling up, and if we do not change, a very great chastisement will come upon us. ^[2]

The June 18, 1965 apparition in which Conchita heard the second message was televised live by Spanish television, probably on La 1.^[3] Only Conchita Gonzalez, regarded by most devotees of Garabandal as the "principal visionary", reported receiving the second "message":

As my Message of the 18th of October has not been complied with, and as it has not been made known to the world, I am telling you that this is the last one. Previously, the Cup was filling; now, it is brimming over. Many priests are following the road to perdition, and with them they are taking many more souls. Ever less importance is being given to the Holy Eucharist. We should turn the wrath of God away from us by our own efforts. If you ask His forgiveness with a sincere heart. He will pardon you. I, your Mother, through the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel, wish to tell you that you should make amends. You are now being given the last warnings. I love you very much, and I do not want your condemnation. Ask Us sincerely and We shall grant your plea. You must make more sacrifices. Reflect on the Passion of Jesus. ^[4]

The second message caused particular controversy when it was revealed that Conchita had actually written "many cardinals, many bishops and many priests are following the road to perdition." She was asked many times to verify this information. Some Garabandal devotees believe that the words relate to the Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal ongoing for many decades but receiving high visibility only in the last ten or fifteen years.^[5] The young women stated many times that Mary stressed the importance of the priesthood, and focused attention on priests above other witnesses at the apparitions. ^[6]

Besides the two "messages", the visionaries forecast a "warning"," a miracle" and a "punishment" (if people do not correct their ways). The warning is described as a momentary stopping of time around the world, and people see the spiritual condition of their souls, and how they should amend their ways. Within a year of the warning, a miracle will take place. The miracle will leave a permanent sign in Garabandal, which can be seen and photographed.

In addition to the predicted events, devotees believe a "small" miracle took place in the early morning hours of July 19, 1961. A photo, reproduced in all books and websites on Garabandal, is said to be taken from a film in which a Holy Communion wafer materialized in Conchita's open mouth, supposedly put there by an angel. The girls often claimed that an angel gave them Communion, and were frequently seen going through the motions of receiving the Eucharist.^[7]

Position of the Church

Contrary to common belief, the Catholic Church has never condemned Garabandal, and the Vatican has never made an official pronouncement^[8]. However, authorities maintain a conservative attitude toward the apparitions. In accordance with usual procedure concerning claimed visitations, the Bishop of Santander had sole jurisdiction. A special emissary from Holy Office was sent to Garabandal to interview witnesses of the apparitions, but never with authority to define the authenticity of the events^[9].

At the time, the Bishop of Santander determined a non constat -- that is, the events could not be positively confirmed to be of supernatural origin, but that there was nothing in the messages that contradicted the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, nor the messages in other apparitions. He expressed his opinion that it would be prudent to wait until the promised miracle happens to determine the veracity of Garabandal. Conchita Gonzalez covers this issue in Chapter 13 of her Diary^[10].

Previous Bishops have gone so far as to encourage pilgrims to Garabandal, and the current Bishop of Santander, Vincente Zamora, appears to support the women's claims. In an interview with Garabandal International quoted on the blog What Is Garabandal, Zamora says: "There are clear signs that Our Lady is preparing the way for the prophesied events. The roads leading up to Garabandal are being widened. The road from Casio to Garabandal is being surveyed and pegged for widening and upgrading."^[11]

The rumor that the Vatican has the final say on the matter perhaps stems from the fact that Conchita was questioned by the Vatican, specifically by the Holy Office. Once the apparitions had ceased in 1965, Conchita went to Rome in 1966 accompanied by her mother and a priest, by special request of the Pro-Secretary of the same Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ottaviani. She met with Cardinal Ottaviani and other Vatican officials. With Cardinal Paolo Marella she was received in a private audience by Pope Paul VI. While details of their meeting are not available, witnesses report that he said to her "Conchita, I bless you, and with me the whole Church blesses you."^[12] Padre Pio of Pietrelcina^[13] and Mother Teresa of Calcutta^[14] endorsed the apparitions too.

Garabandal has not found favor with all Catholics. Catholic scholar Juan Antonio Monroy in his book The Myth of Apparitions criticized Garabandal along with many other popular apparitions, saying that the Holy Bible contains nothing to substantiate the possibility of such occurrences. Sanchez-Ventura's book Apparitions at Garabandal was originally an attempt to counter Monroy's assertions^[15].

In April 2007, Joey Lomangino, founder of a large organization for U.S. Garabandal devotees, received from Conchita a copy of a letter dated February 12, 2007 from Archbishop Carlos Sierra of Oviedo. Sierra is the acting Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Santander in Spain, and the letter was addressed to a prominent Garabandal supporter in that country. The tone of the Archbishop’s letter seems to indicate a warm familiarity with the apparitions and points to a new openness of the Hierarchy of the Church to the events at Garabandal. He also reasserts authorization for priests to go to Garabandal leading pilgrimages, and to say Mass and hear confessions.

"I want you to know that I am open to receiving and considering all information about Garabandal, and would like to continue -- as long as our Holy Father wishes me to serve as Apostolic Administrator -- the work that my brothers at the Bishopric have already done in reference to this subject. What I have just done is authorize the priests to go to Garabandal and hold Holy Mass at the Parish, at any desired time, and to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to anyone that wishes to receive it. I am sure the next Bishop will promote further studies to examine in depth the Garabandal events and will send the findings to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. I respect apparitions and have known of authentic conversions. How can we not always feel the need to open our heart to our Mother Mary to tell her that we need her protection, her help, her courage, her hope, her faith and her love when faced with these events! I encourage you to keep maintaining such devotion toward our Mother." - Carlos, Archbishop of Oviedo^[16]

Joey Lomangino was blinded in 1947 when a tire-rim hit across his eyes, when an over-inflated tire exploded. The blunt force caused permanent blindness (eyes atrophied),and the nerve for the sense of smell was severed. After Joey went to confession with Padre Pio, before going to Garabandal (Padre Pio told Joey the apparitions were valid), his sense of smell was suddenly returned, with the scent of roses. The Seers have said that Joey will receive "new eyes" at the time of the "miracle". Joey's ministry has consisted mainly of spreading the word of Garabandal, and a strong devotion to the rosary.

Bibliography

• Conchita González, 1965, Diario de Conchita de Garabandal
• Conchita González, 1983, Miracle at Garabandal, ISBN 0-385-18890-0
• Judith Albright, 1997, Our Lady at Garabandal, ISBN 1-880033-04-6

See also

• Saint Michael (Roman Catholic)
• Marian apparitions
• San Sebastian de Garabandal

Notes

1. ^ Michael Freze, 1993, Voices, Visions, and Apparitions, OSV Publishing ISBN 0-87973-454-X page 267
2. ^ F. Sanchez-Ventura y Pascual, The Apparitions of Garabandal (San Miguel, 1966), p. 119.
3. ^ Garabandal Second Message video of the events preceding the apparition and Conchita during her reported ecstasy.
4. ^ Sanchez-Ventura, p. 171.
5. ^ Questions and Answers from the Vigil Special, 2002 Publication by St. Michael's Garabandal Center, webpage found 2008-12-22.
6. ^ The Priesthood, collection of PDF articles by the Workers of Our Lady of Carmel at Garabandal, website found 2008-12-22.
7. ^ Sanchez-Ventura, p. 123.
8. ^ The Church's Position, essay explaining the criteria used by the Catholic Church in determining the authenticity of claimed supernatural experiences. Webpage found 2011-08-08.
9. ^ [1]
10. ^ [2]
11. ^ What Is Garabandal? Unofficial blog explaining the apparitions and their reportage in various books and magazines, plus current events.
12. ^ Church's Position, Workers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Garabandal, webpage found 2008-12-22.
13. ^ [3]
14. ^ [4]
15. ^ Sanchez-Ventura, p. 187 et seq.
16. ^ New York Center Update for May 2007, Workers of Our Lady of Carmel website. Webpage found 2009-01-08.

References

• EWTN on Garabandal [5]
• Workers of Our Lady of Garabandal [6]

External links

• Workers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel de Garabandal – Official Web site of the Workers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The organization was founded by Joey Lomangino in Lindenhurst, New York (1968).
• Workers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel de Garabandal – The international organization.
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel de Garabandal – The visionaries, the events and the pictures.
• St. Michael's Garabandal Center - Recent news, books, videos. The entire text of Sanchez Ventura y Pascal's classic book The Apparitions of Garabandal is available here.
• St. Joseph Publications, a nonprofit foundation, incorporated in 1973. Books and videos of Our Lady’s apparitions, especially Garabandal and Fátima, are available on this site free for download.
• Garabandal Videos – Video Clips of the apparitions, with the letters from Bishop José Viliplana of Santander and Cardinal Seper.