Phenomena in Garabandal

According to the girls, the purpose of the phenomena was a call for "conversion of hearts." In the context of the appearances of the Mother of God, “conversion” does not at all mean conversion to Catholicism; rather, it is an appeal to turn to God, repent of our sins and imitate Christ.

The girls reported that they received two “messages”, one received directly from the Mother of God, and the other from the Mother of God through the Archangel Michael.

The first message, released on October 18, 1961 by all four girls, reads:

We must repent a lot and make many sacrifices. We must often visit God in the temple under the guise of the Holy Gifts. But most of all, we must be kind. If we do not, then we will be punished. The bowl of patience is already filling, and if we do not change, then a great punishment awaits us.

Original text

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.

Message of October 18, 1961
Harry Daley. Miracle at Garabandal. Chapter 3. ^[2]

The Mother of God requested that this message be read out at the door of the Garabandal church to the people gathered in front of the church, but the diocesan commission, which was already working on the study of phenomena, forbade the girls to do this in the village and sent them to read the message to the pine grove, where the appearance of the Virgin Mary took place. ^[3]

The second message, according to the visionaries, was received on June 18, 1965 by Conchita Gonzalez from Our Lady through the Archangel Michael:

Since My message of October 18, 1961 was not fulfilled and was not communicated to the world, I announce to you that this is My last message. The bowl of patience is already full. Now it is overflowing. Many cardinals, many archbishops and priests follow the road to destruction and lead many souls. The Holy Gifts are worshiped less and less. You must avert the wrath of God from your efforts. If you sincerely ask God for forgiveness, He will forgive us. I, your Mother, through the mediation of the Archangel Michael, I beseech you to rectify your life. You are now receiving the last warning. I love you very much and do not want you to be judged. Pray with all sincerity, and it will be given to you. You must be more sacrificial. Think of the passions of the Lord.

Original text

As my message on October 18, 1961, has not been complied with and has not been made known, I am advising you that this is the last one. Before, the cup was filling up, now it is overflowing. Many cardinals, many bishops and many priests are on the road to perdition and taking many souls with them. Less and less importance is being given to the Eucharist. You should turn the wrath of God away from yourself by your efforts. If you ask Him for forgiveness with a sincere heart, He will pardon you. I, your Mother, through the intercession of St. Michael the archangel, ask you to amend your lives. You are now receiving the last Warnings. I love you very much and do not want your condemnation. Pray to us with sincerity and we will grant your requests. You should make more sacrifices. Think about the passion of Jesus.

Message of June 18, 1965
Harry Daley. Miracle at Garabandal. Chapter 3. ^[2]

In one of the very first books on the Garabandal phenomena, the author of the book of Sanchez-Ventura, ^[4] when publishing the second letter, did not dare to report on many cardinals and archbishops going to death. Instead of the above text, in his book the corresponding sentence sounded: "Many priests go along the road to destruction and lead many souls."

Conchita, on the other hand, repeatedly confirmed that the Mother of God did indeed speak of many cardinals, archbishops and priests who go to perdition and lead souls who believe them there. ^[5] Some adherents of Garabandal believe that the words refer to the scandal about the sexual abuse of clergymen of the Roman Catholic Church . The number of abuses increased in the 60s, peaked by the end of the 70s, decreased in the 80s and in the late 90s returned to the level of the 50s. ^[6]

The girls claimed that the Mother of God affirmed the importance and responsibility of the priesthood, and during appearances, she paid special attention to priests. After the end of the long-term (7 years) work of the diocesan commission for the study of phenomena, Bishop Del Val Gallo put it this way:

Question: Were Garabandal "messages" found theologically correct and in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church?
Answer: I think so. Theologically correct, yes. But one of the details bothers me, like the following: “Many bishops and cardinals are on the path of perdition,” it seems to me too harsh. The “Epistles” do not contain anything contrary to the teaching of the Church.

Original text

Question: Were the Garabandal Messages found to be theologically correct and in accordance to the teachings of the Catholic Church?
Answer: I think yes. Theologically correct, yes. But one of the details bothers me like the one: "Many bishops and cardinals are walking the path of perdition" it seems to me to be a bit severe. The Messages do not say anything that is against the doctrine of the church.

Interview with Bishop Del Val Gallo in June 1992
Interview with Bishop del Val Gallo. ^[7]

One small “miracle” was shown to numerous witnesses of the phenomena in the early morning of July 19, 1962 . The well-known documentary footage, which can be found in almost all books about Garabandal and on many websites, captured Conchita, in whom the Holy Gifts suddenly appeared in her tongue. The girls claimed that Archangel Michael communed them many times. Indeed, sometimes during the events, the movement of their lips and tongue gave an accurate idea that the girls at the time communed. All this was filmed on film. At the request of Conchita, the Mother of God agreed to make the Holy Gifts visible to all, and Conchita announced this in 15 days. On the morning of July 19, 1962, during the next Conchita taking Communion from the chalice of the Angel, the Holy Gifts really became visible for a moment. This was shot with a movie camera. ^[eight]

In addition to two “messages”, the Mother of God informed the girls about the future: “warning”, “miracle” and “punishment”. None of this has yet been fulfilled.

First, the world will receive a warning preparing us for the end (Conchita believes that the word “warning” sounds too threatening, since the purpose of this event is to prepare us):

The "warning" that will precede the great "Miracle" will be felt by every person. No matter where they are at this time, people will find themselves completely alone with their conscience before God. They will see all their sins regardless of their affiliation with any religion or unbelief. Everyone will experience this at the same time, although everyone will have a different picture in front of him, because our sins are different. No one will receive physical harm from the phenomenon, if only from the shock caused by it. It will only be preparation, like purification before the “Miracle”. I do not know when this will happen, except that it will be before the “Miracle”.

Original text

The Warning that is to precede this great Miracle will be felt by everyone in the world. No matter where they are at that time, they will find themselves all alone, with their consciences before God. They will see all their sins and what their sins have caused, no matter what religious or nonreligious beliefs they have. Everyone will experience this at the same time. Yet everyone will have a different view because our sins are different. No one will be physically harmed, unless by shock. It will be only a Warning, like a purification before the Miracle. I don't know when this will occur, except that it will be before the Miracle.

Conchita recalls the events. Conchita recalls events.
Harry Daley. Miracle at Garabandal. Chapter 3. ^[2]

A “warning” will come in order to purify us for a “Miracle,” and it is like a disaster that will be felt by our conscience. We recall the dead in the sense that we would rather be among the dead than tolerate such a “warning”.

Original text

The Warning will come to purify us for the Miracle, and it is like a catastrophe which will be felt in our conscience. It will make us remember the dead in the sense that we will prefer to be among the dead, rather than to endure the warning.

Conchita's written answers to questions from a group of Americans. September 14, 1965 .
She Went in Haste to the Mountain. Book 3. Chapter 11. ^[9]

About the “Miracle”, the Virgin said that it will happen on Thursday, at eight thirty in the evening. This day coincides with some great event in the Church, as well as the day of remembrance of the saint, who is a martyr for the Eucharist. It will be visible to all people in the village and from the surrounding mountains. Those present will be healed and unbelievers will believe. It will be the greatest “Miracle” that Jesus ever performed for the world. There will be no doubt that it comes from God and that it is for the good of mankind. There will be a sign that will remain forever, which can be seen, photographed, filmed on a video camera, but it will not be possible to touch. I can also add that this will happen between the eighth and sixteenth of the month. This "Miracle" will be for every person in the world.

Original text

About the Miracle, the Virgin said that it will take place on a Thursday night at eight-thirty and this day will coincide with an event in the church and the feast day of a saint who is a martyr of the Eucharist. It will be visible to all the people in the village and surrounding mountains. The sick who are present will be cured and the nonbelievers will believe. It will be the greatest Miracle Jesus has performed for the world. There will not be the slightest doubt that it comes from God and that it is for the good of mankind. There will be a sign that remains for all time which will be able to be seen, photographed or televised, but not touched. I can also add that it will happen between the eighth and the sixteenth of the month. This Miracle will be for everyone in the world.

Conchita recalls the events. Conchita recalls events.
Harry Daley. Miracle at Garabandal. Chapter 3. ^[2]

“Please tell us everything you can about the“ punishment ”and what you will feel when it arrives.”
- “Punishment”, if we do not change, will be terrible. Loli, Jacinta and I saw this, but I can’t say what it is, since I do not have permission from the Virgin Mary. When I saw this, I felt terrible horror, despite the fact that at the same time I saw the Blessed Virgin in all Her beauty and indescribable kindness.

Original text

- Please tell us what you can about the Chastisement, and what will be felt when it is seen.
- The Chastisement, if we do not change, will be horrible. Loli, Jacinta and I have seen it; but I'm not able to say in what it consists, since I don't have permission from the Virgin. When I saw it, I felt a tremendous terror, in spite of seeing the Virgin at the same time in all her beauty and indescribable goodness!

Conchita's written answers to questions from a group of Americans. September 14, 1965 .
She Went in Haste to the Mountain. Book 3. Chapter 11. ^[9]

The bishop of the Roman Catholic Church began the study of phenomena in Garabandal already in 1961, ^[3] but this was not followed by any conclusion confirming or condemning the phenomenon. Soon after the Second Vatican Council, on November 15, 1966 , Pope Paul VI excluded articles 1399 and 2318 from the Code of Canon Law prohibiting the publication of materials on the manifestations of the Mother of God without official permission ( imprimature ) of the church hierarchy. ^[10] This allowed believers to be actively interested in the Garabandal phenomena without entering into a formal conflict with the canonical law of the Catholic Church .

In 1985, Bishop Juan Antonio del Val Gallo, Bishop of Santander, who has jurisdiction over the parish of Garabandal, lifted the ban on Catholic priests from organizing official pilgrimages to Garabandal. ^[7] The last long-term study of the phenomena was carried out for almost 7 years as directed by Bishop Del Val Gallo. It was completed in 1991. The results of the study were presented at the Vatican , the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith . ^{[7] The} Vatican has not yet made an official statement confirming or condemning the phenomenon.

On February 12, 2007, Conchita received a letter from the ruling bishop of the Santander diocese . The letter says:

I want you to know that I am ready to accept and consider any information about Garabandal, and I would like to continue - as long as our Holy Father wants me to serve as the Apostolic Administrator - the work that my brothers in episcopal service already done on this topic. What I just did was allow the priests to visit Garabandal and serve the Holy Mass in the parish church at any time, as well as to perform the Sacrament of Confession over anyone who would like to receive absolution.

Original text

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.

Letter to Conchita dated February 12, 2007 .
Archbishop of Ovied Carlos Sierra, Acting Apostolic Administrator of the Santander Diocese .
Archbishop Carlos Sierra of Oviedo, the acting Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Santander. ^[11]

• Events of Garabandal (Russian) . Date of treatment November 13, 2009. Archived December 10, 2004.
• Message of Garabandal. Video and Audio. (Russian) (inaccessible link) . Date of treatment November 13, 2009. Archived March 22, 2010.
• A miracle in Garabandal. The Mother of God appeared in Spain with a message to the whole world (Russian) (inaccessible link) . Date of treatment November 13, 2009. Archived August 31, 2010.
• A miracle in Garabandal. (Russian) (inaccessible link) . Date of treatment November 13, 2009. Archived April 22, 2010.
• St. Joseph Publications - Books of the Apparitions of the Virgin Mary (English) (unavailable link) . Date of treatment November 13, 2009. Archived September 21, 2009. (eng.)
• Video and audio books about Garabandal (inaccessible link) . Date of treatment November 13, 2009. Archived on September 21, 2017. (eng.)

• Conchita Gonzalez. Diario de Conchita de Garabandal. - New York, NY: New York Publishing Company, 1965. (Spanish ) online
• Conchita Gonzalez. Garabandal - Conchita's Diary. - New York, NY: 101 Foundation, Inc., 1965. - 96 p. (English) online
• Harry Daley. Miracle at Garabandal: The Story of Our Lady's Apparitions and Her Message for the Whole World. - Lindenhurst, NY: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel of Garabandal, Inc., 1985. - ISBN 0-907-0858-7-3 . (English) online
• F. Sanchez-Ventura Y Pascual. The apparitions of garabandal. - Detroit, USA: San Miguel Pub. Co., 1966. - 205 p. (eng.)
• Eusebio Garcia de Pesquera. She Went in Haste to the Mountain. - Cleveland, OH: St. Joseph Publications, 1981. - 662 p. - ISBN 0-960-4310-7-1 . (eng.)
• Michael Freze Voices, visions, and apparitions. - Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Pub. Division, 1993 .-- 360 p. - ISBN 087973454X . (eng.)

• the Virgin Mary