“Mediatrix of All Graces”
MARIENFRIED, GERMANY (1946)
The first supernatural event took place in Marienfried, near Paffenhofen, Germany on April 25, 1946. Barbara Reuss, age 12, was amazed when an angel appeared to her. The angel announced that he was “the Angel of the Great Mediatrix of Graces.” He instructed Barbara to kneel while he introduced a prayer to be addressed to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was his prayer:
“Act as the Mother of Grace; act as the thrice miraculous Mother; the thrice admirable Mother of Grace, Thou Great Mediatrix of Graces!”
As the angel recited this prayer, the Blessed Virgin appeared in a brilliant light.
“She was unspeakably beautiful, brilliant, a blinding vision of the most pure light and radiance … Above her head were brilliant rays forming a three-tiered crown.”
Barbara asked, “Who are you?”
The answer: “If I didn’t have a veil, you would recognize me.” While leaving, Our Lady added, “May Christ’s peace be with you and with all those who will pray here.” As Blessed Mary raised her hand in blessing, she became as transparent as crystal – and so bright that Barbara was unable to look at her.
The painting of Mary and Jesus in Marienfried, Germany.
The second apparition occurred exactly one month later on May 25 with many people now in attendance with Barbara. This included the pastor, Father Humf, and his sister. The Blessed Virgin’s messages emphasized the recitation of the Rosary, devotion to the Holy Trinity, and consecration to her Immaculate Heart. Our Lady also warned of future events. Her messages were lengthy, but here are some of the highlights:
“I am the powerful Meditarix of Graces. As the world can find Mercy only through the sacrifice of the Son with the Father, so can you find favor with the Son through my intercession. Christ is unknown because I am not known. It is true that the world was consecrated to my Immaculate Heart, but this consecration has become a fearful responsibility for many men. I demand that the world live the consecration.”
“I am the sign of the Living God. I place my Sign on the foreheads of my children (those who consecrate themselves to my Immaculate Heart). Lucifer will persecute the sign, but my sign will conquer … Substitute my Immaculate Heart in place of your sinful hearts … Fulfill my request so that Christ may reign as the King of Peace.”
“The world will have to drain the cup of wrath to the dregs because of the countless sins through which His Heart is offended. The devil of the infernal regions will rage more violently than ever and will cause frightful destruction because he knows that his time is short, and because he sees that already many have gathered around my sign. Over these he has no spiritual power, although he will kill the bodies of many; but through these sacrifices my power to lead the remnant host to victory will increase …”
“Pray, make sacrifices for sinners. Pray the Rosary – not for external things; weightier things are at stake in these times. Expect no signs and wonders. I shall be active as the powerful Mediatrix in secret.”
“Some have already allowed my Sign to be impressed on them; their number will increase. But I want to tell you, my children, not to forget that the very cross of those bloody days is a grace.”
“The devil will be possessed of such power that those who are not firmly established in me will be deceived … You should establish everything in confidence to my Immaculate Heart. The devil has power over all people who do not trust in my heart.”
“In secret I shall work marvels in souls until the required number of victim souls will be filled. Upon you it depends to shorten the days of darkness. Bishops and priests should consecrate themselves to me … Pray always. Pray the Rosary. Keep the Saturdays which have been dedicated to me.”
“It is the will of the Father that the world acknowledge this position of His Handmaid.”
The Shrine in Marienfried, Germany.
The third appearance of Our Lady occurred on June 25, exactly one month later, with many others in attendance.
“Bring many sacrifices and offerings to me. Offer your prayers to me as sacrifices. Be not seekers of self. That honor be shown to the Eternal and atonement be made to Him is required of these times. If you consecrate yourselves without reserve, I shall take care of all the rest. Crosses weighty and deep as the sea I shall lay upon my children, because I love them in my Sacrificed Son. I beseech you, be prepared to carry the cross that peace may soon be achieved.”
“Apostles and Priests should consecrate themselves to me especially, so that the great sacrifices which the Inscrutable One demands above all from them may, when placed in my hands, increase in sanctity and worth.”
“I have already given many signs and spoken often to the world, but people have not taken them seriously. On account of these outward signs the greater multitude do not even grasp the essential things. Outward signs only succeed in distracting many, who do not draw the necessary conclusions from them.”
“I urge my people to fulfill my wishes quickly, because today more than ever such fulfillment of my will is necessary for God’s greater honor and glory. The Father pronounces a dreadful woe upon all who refuse to obey His Will.”
Our Lady also underscored the great truth that she is Mediatrix of All Graces. After the Blessed Virgin ceased speaking, she was suddenly surrounded by an immense number of angels wearing long white garments. Kneeling on the earth, they bowed deeply and recited a homage to the Holy Trinity. On its completion, the angel asked Barbara to repeat the prayer. This was the same angel who had been present during the first apparition on April 25.
Father Humf had suspected that a message or special prayer might be given during this third appearance, so he was prepared to write down whatever was said. Although he could not know what was happening during the vision, he wrote down the following prayer as Barbara repeated it for him later. It was what the angel had requested for her to say in prayer. In a soft, rhythmic voice, Barbara said,
“Praise to You, eternal Ruler, Living God, always Being, fearful and righteous Judge, always kind and merciful Father. Your radiant Daughter will always worship, praise, honor, and obey you.”
After reviewing all aspects of the apparitions, the Bishop of Augsburg rendered a decision, finally, on March 20, 2000. The Bishop declared that the faithful are free to conduct pilgrimages and services at the Marian Shrine in Marienfried.
“Our Lady of Family Values”
GHIAIE DI BONATE, ITALY (1944)
World War II was tearing Italy apart when Our Lady chose to appear to send messages of hope and peace. On May 13, 1944, (anniversary of first Fatima apparition) Our Lady appeared to seven-year old Adelaide Roncalli over 13 days – May 13 through May 21, and from May 28 through May 31, 1944. Our Lady foretold her:
“You will suffer a lot, but do not cry, because then you will come with me into Paradise. In this valley of deep sorrows you will be a little martyr.”
First Apparition: On that late afternoon of 13th May, 1944, seven year-old Adelaide Roncalli went picking elder flowers and daisies along the path which slopes down by the pine wood to offer them to an image of Our Lady that hangs halfway down the staircase in her home. Her six-year-old sister, Palmina, and some little girl friends were with her.
The seven-year old visionary: Adelaide Roncalli
From Adelaide’s diary:
“I was picking flowers for the image of the Virgin Mary which hangs halfway down the stairs in my home. I had also picked some daisies, and I had arranged them into a wheelbarrow that my Dad had made. I saw a beautiful elder flower, but it was far above my reach for me to pick. I stood there, admiring it, when I saw a golden spot coming down from above and drawing near the earth little by little; while it was approaching it got bigger and bigger, and I could make out the presence of a beautiful Lady with Baby Jesus in her arms and Saint Joseph on her left. The three persons were enveloped into three oval circles of light and remained suspended in space not far from the wires.
The Lady, beautiful and majestic, was wearing a white dress and a blue mantle; on her right arm she carried a Rosary made of white beads; on her bare feet two white roses stood. Her dress was set off by a string of pearls, all equal, tied in gold in the shape of a necklace. The circles enveloping the three persons were bright with shades of golden light. At first I was scared and was on the point of running away, but the Lady called me in a sweet voice and said,
“Do not run away, as I am the Virgin Mary!”
So I stopped, gazing at her, but I was a little afraid. The Virgin Mary looked at me, then added,
“You must be good, obedient, respectful of your neighbors and sincere. Pray well and come back to this place for nine evenings, always at this time.”
Our Lady looked at me for a few seconds and then slowly went off, without turning her back on me. I kept staring at them intently until a whitish cloud hid them from my view. Baby Jesus and Saint Joseph did not speak; they only looked at me with an amiable expression.”
Seeing Adelaide enraptured in ecstasy, her little friends called her and shook her, but without success, so much so that her sister Palmina, deeply impressed, ran to her mother to tell her that Adelaide was “dead but on her feet.” Slowly recovering from her ecstasy, Adelaide confided in her friends her vision of Our Lady, but she did not talk about that once back home so that the evening meal would take place peacefully. Her little friends were not as discrete though, and so the rumors started spreading in the village.
Second Apparition: Sunday, May 14, 1944, at 6:00 p.m.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“I was at the parish recreation center with my playmates, but towards six hours I felt a great wish to run to the place where Our Lady had invited me to. I was off like a shot with some of my mates; once on the place, I instinctively looked up and saw two white doves, then further up I saw the bright spot approach and turn into the clear and majestic form of the Holy Family. At first they smiled at me, then Our Lady repeated what she had told me yesterday,
“You must be good, obedient and sincere, and you must pray well and be respectful of your neighbor. Between your fourteenth and fifteenth year, you will become a Sacramentina nun. You will suffer a lot, but do not weep, as you will come with me to Paradise!”
On May 13 she begins having visions of the Holy Family
Then she went away slowly and disappeared like the evening before. I felt a tremendous joy in my heart on account of the plain words of Our Lady, and the impression of her sweet presence was deeply engraved in my mind. I went back to the recreation center with my mates; halfway down the road I met a good boy who questioned me. When I confirmed I had seen Our Lady, he anxiously asked me, “Go back and see if she appears again, then try and ask her if I may become a priest and devote my life to Her.”
I went back hurriedly, and looked up, hoping Our Lady would come back. After few minutes, Her beautiful presence manifested itself again. I expressed Candido’s wish again (the boy was present this time). She answered in a sweet and motherly voice:
“Yes, he will become a Missionary Father according to my Sacred Heart, when the war is over.”
After saying so, she slowly disappeared. When the vision was over, I felt my apron pulled by the boy who apprehensively asked me what Our Lady had said. I reported Our Lady’s words to him and he ran home happily to tell his mother about this. I went back home with my friends, and I felt a big joy in my heart. Our Lady, before going away, had told me to come back again for seven evenings.”
Adelaide soon experienced the truth of the second prophecy. That evening, over the family supper, she was harshly rebuked. Father A. Tentori writes that in this apparition Our Lady confirmed Candido’s vocation “to whom She smiled,” but then Adelaide let out a brief cry and hid her face in her hands without explaining why. She had probably learned about the suffering that that vocation would cost her friend. Meanwhile, the news of the apparitions had crossed the frontier of Ghiaie di Bonate.
Third Apparition: Monday, May 15, 1944, at 6:00 p.m. Adelaide saw a “brighter than usual” vision of the Holy Family with 2 little girlfriends and 100 other people.
Adelaide in “ecstasy” — oblivious to those around her.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“Little before six o’clock, I reached the place of the apparitions with my girlfriends, Itala Corna and Giulia Marcolini. It took me quite a long time to get there as the road was crowded. The bright spot — preceded by the two white doves — appeared soon and slowly came nearer and nearer, showing the Holy Family in a brighter way than usual. Baby Jesus’ bright blue eyes of this apparition attracted my attention especially. His frock — which covered Him from tip to toe — was threadbare in the shape of a pink-colored, gold-starred shirt. Our Lady was wearing a blue dress with a white long veil coming down from her head. Small stars formed a glory around her face; on her feet she had two roses, and in her joined hands, the Rosary.
Many people had urged me to ask Our Lady to heal their children and to ask when peace would come. I reported everything to the Lady — who answered me,
“Tell them that if they want their children to be healed, they must repent, pray a lot, and avoid certain sins. If people repent soon, the war will finish in two months; otherwise, it will go on for two more years.”
She showed her beads with me, then they slowly drew away and disappeared.”
From the stream of people who arrived afterwards, it was believed that all the prayers and repentance that Our Lady had asked for had been accomplished, and everybody thought that the war would finish within two months’ time. Instead, two months after that 15th of May, on Thursday the 20th of July, there was the attempt on Hitler’s life, which caused the beginning of Germany’s decline and its successive defeat. The war lasted until the end of Easter, 1945, with the gradual cessation of hostilities. Our Lady had foretold that event exactly: “little less than two years”.
Fourth Apparition: Tuesday, May 16, 1944. In the afternoon Adelaide went to the parish recreation center where she was questioned by Sister Concetta about the apparitions. Adelaide revealed, among other things, that Our Lady’s manifestations were always preceded by the flight of two white birds, and that the Virgin Mary spoke in the Bergamasque dialect. The child went back home quickly but had to press her parents to be allowed to go to her appointment with Our Lady at 6:00 p.m. With about 150 people in attendance, Adelaide saw the vision of the Holy Family again.
The little girl’s public apparitions drew large crowds in Italy.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“On occasion of this apparition I had to ask insistently for the time to the crowd surrounding my house, as everybody made me believe it was only five, but in my heart, I knew it was six — the time schedule given to me by Our Lady. At my urging of letting me go, a man took me up in his arms and walked as far as the place of the apparitions. Similarly to the other evenings the bright spot appeared in the sky preceded by the two doves, and Our Lady with Baby Jesus and Saint Joseph manifested themselves again. Their clothes were the same as the previous day. The Virgin Mary smiled at me, then with a sorrowful expression she said,
“Many mothers have impaired children on account of their great sins (drugs, alcohol); let’s get them to sin no more, and their children will be healed.”
I asked for a visible sign in order to satisfy the wishes of the people. She answered,
“That will come in due time. Pray for the poor sinners who need the children’s prayers.”
After saying that, Mary went off and disappeared.”
Fifth Apparition: Wednesday, May 17, 1944. That same day was the last time that Adelaide attended the primary school of Ghiaie di Bonate. She was questioned by her teacher about the apparitions, and her story sounded convincing. When back home, Adelaide was taken to her room by her mother who asked her, weeping, about the truth of the apparitions. Adelaide confirmed them once again. At 6:00 p.m., Adelaide saw the Blessed Virgin along with eight angels while 3,000 people observed.
Adelaide is engulfed by larger and larger crowds.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“When the usual time came, I went to the place of the apparitions. The two doves preceded the bright spot, and Our Lady showed herself dressed in red; she also wore a green mantle with a long trail. Around the three light circles there were eight angels alternatively dressed in blue and pink, all below Our Lady’s elbows, arranged in a semicircle. As soon as I saw Our Lady, she spoke to me right away and confided a secret reserved for the Bishop and the Pope — using these words:
“Tell the Bishop and the Pope the secret I am confiding to you … I advise you to do what you are told, but do not tell this to anyone else.”
Then She slowly disappeared.”
Three days later, on the 20th May, Adelaide was taken to the Bishop’s for revealing the secret. What was so important in the secret for the Bishop to go to Gandino on purpose, towards the middle of June, 1944, where the young girl was at the time, to have it repeated to him? Adelaide was also taken to Rome in 1949 and was granted a private audience by Pope Pius XII to whom she confided the secret Our Lady had revealed on the 17th of May, 1944.
Sixth Apparition: Thursday, May 18, 1944, at 6:00 p.m. (Assumption Day) The crowd grew larger very quickly at Ghiaie di Bonate. Everybody wanted to see the child, and many were really worried about her safety. A Roman sergeant helped the small group reach the place of the apparitions. With 7,000 people in attendance, Adelaide again sees the Blessed Virgin with eight angels.
“Our Lady of Family Values” statue as seen by Adelaide.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“During the recreation hours, I kept thinking of the Lady and towards five I went for a snack in order to be punctual at the place of the apparitions. Our Lady’s visit was preceded by the two doves. The Virgin was dressed in red with her green mantle, surrounded by little angels, like yesterday. Our Lady smiled at me, then for three times She repeated these words:
“Prayers and repentance. Pray for the poor stubborn sinners who are dying in this moment and who pierce my Heart”.
Many people had urged me to ask Our Lady which prayer She appreciated better.
I expressed this wish, and She answered,
“The prayer I like best is the Hail Mary.”
After saying this, Our Lady slowly disappeared.”
Seventh Apparition: Friday, May 19, 1944, at 6:00 p.m. On that day the bills of the faithful were carried to the place of apparition with their supplications. There was a large crowd and Adelaide reached the place with great difficulty. From that evening on, Doctor Eliana Maggi would always attend the event alongside the girl. Adelaide saw the Holy Family vision while 10,000 people looked on.
Larger crowds seek to witness miraculous signs during the apparitions.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“Like all the other evenings I went to the usual place where a granite slab had been laid down for me to get on to during the apparitions. I saw the bright spot and the presence of the Holy Family in it. Our Lady was wearing a veil and her light-blue dress. A white sash was tied round her waist; she had roses on her feet and the beads in her hands. Baby Jesus was still wearing a golden-starred, pink frock, and kept His small hands clasped. His face was serene and nearly smiling. Saint Joseph was serene but did not smile; he was dressed in brown, from his shoulders a length of brown material hung down like a cloak, and he held a stick with a lily in blossom on its top. There were also some angels.
Our Lady looked at me smiling, but I began to speak first and expressed the wish of many with these words, “Dear Lady, the people told me to ask you whether their sick children must be carried here for being healed.” In a heavenly voice, She answered,
“No, it is not necessary for everybody to come here; those who can afford it may come and they will be healed or remain sick according to their sacrifices, but they must not commit great sins anymore.”
I begged Her to work a miracle so that the people might believe her words. She answered:
“The time for it will come, many will be converted, and I will be recognized by the Church.” Then She added gravely, “Meditate upon these words all the days of your life, summon up your courage in all your sorrows. You will see me again in the hour of your death; I will keep you under my cloak and will take you to Heaven.”
Eighth Apparition: Saturday, May 20, 1944, at 6:00 p.m. Adelaide, escorted by the parish priest Don Cesare Vitali and her cousin, Maria, went to Bergamo to the Bishop’s in order to reveal to him the secret disclosed by the Virgin Mary. Her cousin spoke to the Bishop about the announcement given by Adelaide of a miracle that would happen at the end of the first cycle of apparitions. That evening at Ghiaie, there was a huge crowd waiting for Adelaide. Adelaide sees the Holy Family again in the sky while 30,000 people watch.
Miracles with the Sun drew over 250,000 people at one time.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“Like all the other evenings I got on to the granite slab and waited for Our dear Lady to show herself. The Holy Family appeared again, and Our Lady told me,
“Tomorrow will be the last time I speak to you, then for seven days I will let you reflect on what I have told you. Try and get my words straight, as they will be very useful for you when you grow up, if you want to become all mine. After these seven days, I will come back four times more.”
Her voice sounded so harmonious and sweet that, so far as I tried to reproduce it, I was never able to.”
Doctor Eliana Maggi testified under oath on January 16, 1946, before the Episcopal Committee,
“That Saturday was a rainy day. At the outset of the apparition a sun ray shone on the child’s head. I raised my eyes to the sky and saw a cross-shaped rift in the sky and a shower of golden and silvery spots for a minute or two, and everybody hailed it as a miracle.”
Don Luigi Cortesi wrote,
“Somebody noticed a strange beam of light shining upon the child and reverberating over the surrounding faces. Others noticed the sun had a cross shape. Others saw the solar disc whirl dizzily, forming a ring not larger than half a meter. In the lower layers of the atmosphere some people saw a rain of golden stars, small yellow clouds in the shape of hoops – so thick and near that somebody tried to catch them in full flight. On the onlooker’s hands and faces the most various colors shaded off with the yellow color prevailing over the others. Phosphorescent hands were seen; light globes in the shape of Hosts… “
Ninth Apparition: Sunday, May 21, 1944, at 6:00 p.m. Adelaide is accompanied by 200,000 people and sees the Holy Family again. The apparition of that Sunday was the last of the first cycle. Since the early morning, a “human stream” flowed into Ghiaie di Bonate. A sturdy fence was raised all around the place of the apparitions and in the late afternoon some keen men got several sick people to lie down inside it. During the apparition, Adelaide was submitted to several tests by the physicians present.
Doctors and professionals evaluate the young visionary.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“This apparition was also preceded by the doves, and the Holy Family revealed itself in the bright spot. They were dressed like yesterday.”
Many testimonies from the site of the apparition and from surrounding villages described an impressive solar phenomenon. The sun came out of the clouds, whirled dizzily on itself, and projected beams of yellow, green, red, blue, and violet light in all directions. The beams of light colored the clouds, fields, trees, and the stream of people. After a few minutes the sun stopped its whirling, and those phenomena began soon again. Many noticed that the disc had turned white like a Host. The clouds seemed to be lowering down on the people. Some noticed a Rosary in the sky. Others saw a majestic Our Lady with a trailing cloak. Some people, who were at a greater distance, saw Our Lady’s face looming in the Sun. From nearby Bergamo many witnesses observed the sun become pale and radiate all of the rainbow’s colors in all directions. They also noticed a large yellow light beam falling over Ghiaie, perpendicularly.
Tenth Apparition: Sunday, May 28, 1944. Adelaide spent the week fruitfully in a spiritual retreat in Bergamo, at the Orsoline Sisters’, in order to prepare herself for her First Communion. Several pilgrims arrived at Ghiaie di Bonate, urged by their great faith. The rumor of miraculous healings had spread. On Whit Sunday, Adelaide received her First Communion and was soon taken back to Bergamo into the Sisters’ convent. She would go back to the place of the apparitions in the late afternoon. At 6:00 p.m., Adelaide sees the Virgin Mary along with two saints on either side of her. There were 300,000 people in attendance! (about the size of four Super Bowl crowds!)
While in ecstasy, Adelaide is poked, prodded, and tested.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“On this day I received my First Communion. Like all the other evenings, I was taken to the place of the apparitions, and the bright spot appeared again, revealing Our Lady with the angels and two Saints at her side. The Lady told me,
“Pray for the stubborn sinners who make my Heart suffer because they do not think of death. Pray also for the Holy Father who is living difficult moments. He is ill-treated by many, and many attempt his life. I will protect him and he will not leave the Vatican. Peace is coming soon, but I am anxious for that world peace in which everybody loves one another like brothers. Only in this way the Pope will suffer less.”
Our Lady held two black doves in her hands. They stand for the harmony that married couples must have in order to create blessed families in the presence of Our Lady. She teaches also that there cannot exist a blessed family without living trustfully in Our Lady’s motherly hands. Our Lady did not reveal the name of those two Saints she had at her sides. The two Saints were dressed in violet and wore a brown cloak. Our Lady was dressed in red and wore her green mantle. She also wore a crown-shaped diadem studded with small, bright, variously-colored pearls. She turned her eyes to the two Saints, then slowly disappeared.”
The solar phenomena repeated itself – seen not only in Ghiaie, but from very distant locations. The parish journal of Tavernola, dated June, 1944, described,
“At 18 hours sharp (6:00 p.m.), people noticed a fading of the solar light together with a flash – similar to sudden lightning. The sun looked green, then bright red, then gold yellow. Furthermore, it whirled dizzily. On seeing that spectacle, people poured into the streets.”
Eleventh Apparition: Monday, May 29, 1944. On that Monday a stream of people flowed to the place of the apparitions. The influx of sick and invalid people was so impressive at Ghiaie di Bonate that a special service of volunteers, Red Cross nurses, doctors, and ambulances had to be on hand. There were many miraculous recoveries in the field — so much so that Bergamo’s Curia established a special office for the customary investigations. At 6:32 p.m., Adelaide saw the Virgin Mary with angels. Again, 300,000 people were in attendance!
Crowds peaked at 350,000 to witness miraculous signs.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“Also in this apparition the Virgin Mary appeared with some angels, dressed in red and with her green mantle; her manifestation was preceded by the two doves and the bright spot. She held the two black doves in her hands and carried a Rosary on her arm. The Blessed Virgin smiled at me and said:
“The sick who want to be healed must trust me more and sanctify their suffering if they want to earn Paradise. If they do not do this, they will not be awarded and will be severely punished instead. I hope that all those who get to know my words will make every kind of effort to earn Paradise. Those who suffer without complaining will obtain anything they ask from my Son and me. Pray a lot for those who have a sick soul; my Son Jesus died on the cross to save them. Many people do not understand these words of mine — that is why I suffer so much.”
While Our Lady was touching her mouth to send me a kiss by joining her forefinger and thumb, the two doves fluttered around her and escorted the Blessed Virgin while she went off very slowly”.
Twelfth Apparition: Tuesday, May 30, 1944, at 6:50 p.m. That day the sultriness was oppressive. Besides heat and weariness, people pushed frightfully on the enclosure, which was really tough to withstand. With 250,000 people eagerly waiting and watching, Adelaide sees the Virgin Mary with angels.
Witnesses precariously climb a tower full of others to get a better view.
From Adelaide’s diary:
“In this apparition the Blessed Virgin appeared dressed in pink with a white veil. She had the dark doves with her no more; around Her there were only angels. With a more than motherly smile She told me,
“Dear child, you are all mine, but even if you are dearest to my heart, tomorrow, I’ll leave you in this valley of sorrow and weep. You will see me again in your hour (of death); I will take you to Paradise enwrapped in my mantle. I will also take with me those who understand you and suffer.”
She blessed me and went off more quickly than the other evenings.
Thirteenth Apparition: Wednesday, May 31, 1944, at 8:00 p.m. The flow of pilgrims from everywhere carried on incessantly from the night before. The authorities were worried for the public order. It is believed that more than 90,000 people arrived from Piedmont, many of whom were on foot. That afternoon, the sun rays were scorching on the huge crowd. Towards 6:30 p.m., Adelaide was carried by a commissioner to the place of the apparitions in his arms. Adelaide complained of sharp pains in her inside. The doctors consulted together. In spite of the pain, nobody could persuade her to go home. Then, suddenly, she got up on her feet and started praying. After some time, she said firmly, “She is coming any moment now!” She let out a deep sigh, and then her look became clear and radiant. The Holy Family was there. About 350,000 people were in attendance for the last apparition. A solar phenomenon was again seen at Ghiaie and from other locations. Many healings occurred on this day and soon afterwards – about 300 documented complete recoveries.
Adelaide has a picture drawn to illustrate how Blessed Mary appears.
From Adelaide’s diary: Our Lady appeared at eight that day. She was dressed like in the first apparition. She smiled but not so cheerfully like on the other occasions, but her voice was sweet. “Dear daughter, I am sorry I must leave you, but my time has passed. Do not lose heart if you do not see me for a while. Think of what I have told you; I will come back in your hour (of death). You will be a little martyr in this valley of real sorrows. Do not get discouraged, I wish my triumph to happen soon. Pray for the Pope and tell him to act quickly, because I want to be solicitous to everyone in this place. If anything is required from me, I will intercede with my Son for it. I will be your award if your martyrdom is cheerful. These words of mine will be of great comfort to you in your trials. Endure everything patiently and then you will reach me in Paradise. Those who make you suffer intentionally will not come to Heaven if they do not make amends for their wrongs and do not repent deeply. Cheer up, because we will meet again, my dea little martyr.”
I felt a sweet and gentle kiss on my forehead. Then she disappeared like she had done the other evenings. The two white doves preceded each visit of Our Lady. The Blessed Virgin always had white roses on her feet.”
The solar phenomenon was observed also on the 31st of May, both at Ghiaie and in other places. Many recoveries took place on that day.
June 13 and July 13, 1944: The solar phenomena repeated its “performance” – on the 13th of each month for two more months.
After the apparitions, Adelaide was isolated, intimidated, frightened and psychologically tortured, insomuch as a scholar pushed his way into doing his own investigation. Don Luigi Cortesi, a young philosopher and brilliant teacher of Bergamo’s Seminary, arrived at Ghiaie on Friday, May 19, 1944. He soon took action with the typical scholar’s inquiring attitude, with urbanity and amiability – so much so that it was not difficult for him to take the matter in his hands and play the role of inquisitor of the events connected with Ghiaie. He did not act with a bishop mandate, but of his own free will. By attending the apparitions, he infringed the Bishop’s prohibition, but he thought that the church authorities would allow somebody to infringe the prohibition in order to investigate and report the events. On May 22, he gave an abundant account to the bishop, who did not reproach him, but thanked him instead. He interpreted those thanks like an implied consent and went on studying the little girl, who in the meantime had been taken to Bergamo. On May 27, the implied consent became an explicit permission, and from that day on, Don Cortesi took the matter into his own hands.
Don Cortesi isolates the young visionary and pushes her hard to lie.
After the apparitions ended, the child was taken away from Ghiaie, and Don Cortesi gave orders that nobody could approach the girl without his permission. Don Cortesi submitted the young girl to the hardest trials for a long time, relentlessly pressing the child’s psyche and conscience harshly. Finally, on September 15, 1945, he succeeded in making her retract the truth by deceitfully forcing her to write the following,
“It is not true that I saw Our Lady. I told a lie, because I saw nothing. I did not have the courage to speak the truth, but then I told everything to Don Cortesi. Now I regret having told so many lies.”
But here is how Adelaide reported this situation in her personal diary:
“In a room of the Orsoline’s convent in Bergamo, after closing all doors, Don Cortesi dictated the words to be written on the wretched note. I remember perfectly that, on account of the state of moral violence I was being submitted to, I stained it, and he split the sheet of paper and made me write it again, with great patience, in order to reach his aim. That’s how the betrayal was carried out.”
Things became worse for a long time as Don Cortesi carried on with his cruel inquisitional action. After receiving increasing protests from honest people, Bergamo’s bishop was obliged to prohibit Don Cortesi from approaching the child. But it was too late – as the phony statement cast great concerns and doubts upon the whole affair. Once Adelaide was back with her family for a few weeks, she reasserted in writing the following on July 12, 1946,
“It is true that I saw Our Lady. I formerly said that I did not see Our Lady because Don Cortesi had dictated this to me, and I wrote what he wanted, out of obedience.”
This paper was signed by seven witnesses, including a parish priest and four nuns. Another diary entry by Adelaide demonstrates the fear and negative psychological impact that Don Cortesi had upon her:
“In 1947, I went to the ‘Wisdom Sisters’ – and here I made a big mistake. I related all that had happened in the apparitions, claiming with precision that I had seen Our Lady and heard her words. Towards the end of my narration I was seized with fear – Don Cortesi’s words, ‘You do evil when you claim you have seen Our Lady’ overwhelmed me. At first I kept silent. Then I made up my mind to repeat what I had learned from Don Cortesi, and so I said that I had not seen the Virgin Mary.”
Adelaide was kept alone away from her family for months.
On July 11, 1944, Father Agostino Gemelli, a world-famous psychiatrist and psychologist, expressly entrusted by the bishop with the in-depth examinations of Adelaide Roncalli, wrote the following in the conclusions of his long report to Monsignor Bernareggi, bishop of Bergamo.
“Lying can be absolutely ruled out … her personality is dominated by spontaneity, simplicity, directness … We are witnessing a precociously positive type, realistic and concise – that is furthermost from the hysterical type… We can declare that the claimed visions of Bonate are true and are not the fruit of a sick mind, neither an effect of imagination, nor an effect of suggestion.”
The Theological Committee, unfortunately, was swayed instead by the persuasive arguments of Don Cortesi, the self-appointed, unethical scholar over the world-famous psychiatrist! Between May 21 and June 10, 1947, the spiritual court met, and Adelaide was summoned unexpectedly to bear witness. The infamous note that Cortesi had coerced her to write against her will was presented. Adelaide felt deceived by Don Cortesi, so she chose to be silent and weep. She was afraid to expose Don Cortesi as a fraud in front of so many priests. She explained later that she chose to be silent to avoid the emotional dilemma.
This did not help the truth to come forth, so on April 30, 1948, the bishop of Bergamo issued a decree denouncing the apparitions. However, in a strange maneuver of wording, he explained that the documented genuine healings during the “phony” apparitions were coincidental divine acts granted by the Virgin Mary because of those in the crowd who had sincere beliefs – not due to Adelaide Roncalli’s presence or words. So, Mary was present for others and healed them for their devout faith? But she was not present for Adelaide who was responsible for attracting the crowds? How twisted is that logic?
One year later in 1949, Pope Pius XII granted the child Adelaide a private audience, certainly professing his faith in the apparitions simply by receiving her. He listened carefully to the secret intended for him from Our Lady that Adelaide revealed to him from the fifth apparition on May 17, 1944.
On July 8, 1960, Pope John XXIII sent a letter regarding the Ghiaie events:
“We must allow for the circumstances that need to be studied and valued above all things. What is valid is ‘subjecta materia’ — is the seer’s witness – and the authenticity of what she still maintains at 21 years of age and in conformity with her first statement at 7 years of age – but withdrawn on account of the threats and fears of hell exerted by somebody. It seems to me that the terror for those threats still persists.”
On occasion of the 30th anniversary of the apparitions, Mr. Cortinovis presented the bishop, Clemente Gaddi, a petition signed by 7,000 worshippers who expressed the wish to pray at the place of the apparitions with the bishop’s permission. Monsignor Gaddi answered that he could not reopen the trial unless in the presence of new, serious, and substantial elements – and that the provisions of previous bishops would remain in force. But he added that he could neither prohibit nor prevent people from going there to pray.
Adelaide as an older adult now, still professing the truth of the apparitions.
On February 20, 1989, Adelaide Roncalli decided to reassert, solemnly and officially, before a notary public, the truthfulness of the apparitions:
“On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the apparitions I declare hereby again that I am absolutely persuaded of having had the Apparitions of Our Lady of Ghiaie di Bonate from the 13th to the 31st of May, 1944 … with clear conscience and in full possession of my mental faculties, I deem to be the plain truth …”
Despite the sincere interest and support by two popes, the psychiatric “bill of health” by a world-renown psychiatrist, the genuine healings of hundreds of people, and the hundreds of thousands who witnessed the supernatural events, one man managed to coerce and traumatize our 7-year old visionary – creating doubt and confusion — a mess that nobody has been able to untangle or resolve. And thus, one of the grandest of apparition encounters had remained hidden from our awareness because it had existed only in the “rejected” category of the Marian files, due to one man’s unethical and abusive — yet trusted efforts. However, beginning in 2002, the apparitions are now becoming accepted and have received the first level of approval. Now 76 years old, in 2013, Adelaide continues to assert the truthfulness of the apparitions. Our Blessed Mother was correct when she predicted,
“You will suffer a lot, but do not cry …
In this valley of deep sorrows, you will be a little martyr.”
In a later apparition in another part of Italy, Our Blessed Mary referred to the “work she had tried to accomplish at Bonate.” In 1996, in a series of apparitions in Brazil, South America, Our Lady referred to Ghiaie di Bonate several times – a place the visionary had never heard of. Blessed Mary is validating her own appearances!
“Our Lady of All Nations”
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (1945-1959)
Ida Peerdeman was 39 years old when the first apparition of Mary came to her in Amsterdam on March 25, 1945, on the Feast of the Annunciation – which was also Palm Sunday that year. While she and her sisters were sitting around a ceramic heating stove, discussing the current troubles from World War II, Ida saw a light in the corner of an adjoining room and was drawn to it. Out of the light came Our Lady. Mary asked Ida to repeat after her what she was about to say. Then Mary spoke slowly, and Father Frehe told Ida’s sister to write down what Ida was saying. From1945 to 1959, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Ida Peerdeman 56 times. Our Lady requested the official recognition of her vocation as “Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate. Mary then promised that as “The Lady of All Nations” she would “give peace, true peace, to the world.”
Through her various messages to Ida, Our Lady describes in detail how her image should appear, what those details mean, and how it should be crafted.
“I am standing on the globe, and both of my feet are set upon it firmly. You also see my hands clearly as well as my face, hair, and veil. The rest is as in a haze … Now, I will explain to you why I come in this form. I stand as the Lady before the Cross – with head, hands, and feet of a human being – but with the body, however, of the Spirit, because the Son came through the will of the Father. The Father and the Son want to bring me into this world as Coredemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate. This will be the new and final Marian dogma. This image will precede. This dogma will be much disputed, yet it will be carried through.”
Visionary Ida Peerdeman who had amazing predictions through Blessed Mary.
The following is a selection of messages from her 56 visits, demonstrating some very interesting and accurate predictions:
March 25, 1945:
(First apparition) Blessed Mary gives Ida the date “May 5,” shows her a Rosary and says, “It is thanks to this.” Ida is given a vision in which she sees many Allied soldiers in front of her. Mary takes the crucifix of the Rosary and points at the soldiers, saying, “These will soon go home.” Just a little over a month later, on May 5, 1945, the Allied forces liberated Holland from Nazi occupation – exactly as Our Lady had foretold.
April 21, 1945: Ida describes a vision in which people are fleeing and moving away.
“I am told that this is the exodus of Jews from Egypt – and that Israel will rise again. A representation of God the Father appears in the clouds. He is holding His hand over His eyes, and the Lady tells me that Yahweh is ashamed of His people.” Just three years later, the state of Israel became independent on May 14, 1948. Israel today is increasingly a secular state (42% according to a recent Israeli government poll) with 25% admitting to “not being very religious.” One could imagine that this secularism would be an offense toward God coming from His “chosen people.”
August 29, 1945:
Ida gets a glimpse of what would be the Gulf War in 1990-1991. “This is a new yet strange war, much later, which will cause terrible disaster.” Images from that war were later confirmed by Ida as what she had seen. But since she died in 1996, she cannot tell us if it might have actually been the bigger conflict in 2003.
October 7, 1945: Ida describes (in a vision from Mary) seeing “China with a red flag.”
Four years later in 1949, Chinese communist forces led by Mao Tse-tung defeated the nationalist forces and established the People’s Republic of China – with a red flag flying over its new capital in Beijing.
Also, in her message of that same date, Blessed Mary tells of the end of the Cold War some 44 years later. Ida describes “swastikas beneath the Cross. I see time fall, then stars – they fall away; sickles and hammers – everything falls beneath the Cross.” The Cold War ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The flag of the Soviet Union contains a sickle and a hammer.
August 30, 1947:
Our Lady gave Ida visions which showed the close coordination between the United States and the Vatican that would happen decades later. Ida was told that at that time in the future “the Pope is kept informed of everything.” Ida was shown a large room in the Vatican with the Pope seated there. Secret meetings are being held there. There is an envoy from the United States and “all sorts of papers are in front of the Pope.” Sure enough, decades later, President Reagan secretly made a decision to share U.S. intelligence with Pope John Paul II to keep the Pontiff privy to events unfolding behind the eroding Iron Curtain. President Reagan dispatched key intelligence officials to brief the Pope in Rome.
“Our Lady of All Nations” image as given to Ida Peerdeman in Holland.
December 26, 1947:
Ida had a vision of conflict embroiling the Middle East. “All at once, I see Cairo clearly, and I get a strange feeling about it. Then I see various Eastern peoples: Persians (Iranians), Arabs, and so on. Mary tells her, “The world is going to be torn in two … Great sorrow and misery will come.” Then Ida sees a great crack appearing, a break winding right over the world. Heavy clouds are hanging over it, and she feels great sorrow and misery. The recent Egyptian revolution that started in 2011 might be the unfolding of Our Lady’s prophecy about Cairo. This uprising is a watershed event similar to the Iranian revolution of 1979. Perhaps Our Lady was also referring to the Islamic world being ripped in half between the Arab Sunni and the Iran Shia groups.
On this same date Our Lady warned of more conflict to come in the Middle East. Ida has another vision: “I see a round dome. I am given to understand that it is a dome in Jersualem.” The Dome of the Rock is a domineering and captivating feature of Jerusalem’s skyline. Mary says, “In and around Jerusalem heavy battles will be waged.” This could refer to a number of conflicts over the years.
Another message on this same date involved a foretelling of chemical and biological warfare. Ida describes her vision from Mary in great detail:
“Then I see a very peculiar scene. I have to look at the sky, and something seems to be launched into it. There is something flying past me so rapidly that I can hardly see it. It is shaped like a cigar or torpedo, and its color is like that of aluminum. All of a sudden, I see something shooting off from the back. I feel about with my hand, and different terrible sensations come over me. At first, a total numbness. I live and yet I do not live. Then I see horrible images of people before me. I see faces, wide faces, covered with dreadful ulcers, something like leprosy. Then I feel terrible deadly diseases: cholera, leprosy – everything those people have to suffer. Then that is gone again, and I see tiny black things floating about me. I try to feel what it is, but that is not possible. It seems to be very fine matter. With my eyes I cannot discern what it is. It is as if I would have to look through something, and below I now see brilliant white fields. Upon those fields I see those little black things, but enlarged, and it is as if they are alive. I don’t know how to describe this properly. I ask Mary, “Are these bacilli?” She answers,
“It is hellish… and that is what they are inventing… that Russia, but others as well. Peoples be warned!”
Then I feel my face and my whole body swelling. It feels like my face gets very bloated, and everything is stiff and swollen. I cannot move.”
Despite more than one hundred countries signing an international ban on chemical and biological weapons at the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, two Russian scientists revealed that Russia had employed as many as 30,000 people to secretly work on such weapons by the late 1980’s.
March 28, 1948 (Easter):
Blessed Mary continues to share her concerns about the Middle East: “The gates are opening. The Eastern peoples are holding their hands before their faces in Jerusalem. They will wail over their city.”
October 1, 1949:
Ida sees a conflict in the Balkans, 42 years before it happens. “There is a war there; there is much fighting.” Mary tells her, “Child there will be a severe fight. Economic disasters will come.” As predicted, the former Yugoslavia in the Balkans was ripped apart between 1991 and 1995 which led to the creation of three separate nationstates: Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia.
Our Lady made emphatic warnings about Russia’s future experimentation and development of chemical and biological weapons. She showed Ida a vision:
“The Lady takes me along to glass buildings, underground, too – all kinds of people are working there. These seem to be Germans, Frenchmen, Poles, but others, too. I hear them speaking different languages. It seems to be deep in Russia, somewhere in the great uninhabited plains of northern Russia. Mary says,”
“They are making chemicals there. America, be warned! Intervene, do intervene! Not only human lives are at issue here, but higher powers.”
Ida accurately predicted President Regan keeping the Pope informed in the 1980’s.
December 16, 1949:
During a visit from Our Lady, Ida is given a vision of “a sign on which is written 50-51-53.” Mary tells her that during this period there will be a fight and disasters. These were the years (1950-1953) of the Korean War which started one year after her vision from Mary. Later, Our Blessed Mary tells Ida more details:
“The fighting in Korea is a sham and the start of a great misery. By this I mean that there will be periods of apparent tranquility. But this will not last long. The Eastern peoples have been roused by a type of humanity which does not believe in My Son.”
Ida then, in 1950, saw “demarcations being made at intervals” with “barbed wire and walls” – three years before the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was formed. The so-called truce between North and South Korea has been a false one or “sham” as violent skirmishes continue to this day with recent attacks and 50 deaths in 2010.
August 15, 1950 (Feast of the Assumption):
Ida envisions Taiwan and another island nearby, feeling that something big would happen there. Taiwan is where the Chinese nationalists fled when the communist Chinese revolution occurred in 1949. China would love to claim these islands. In this message Mary exclaims, “America, take warning here!” Four years later, President Dwight Eisenhower used veiled threats of nuclear weapons to hold off communist China’s attempts to invade in 1954, 1955, and 1958.
December 10, 1950:
Ida is given a vision from Mary in which she sees “a glaring light, a blinding light in Russia. It is as if it explodes from the ground upward. It is a horrible sight.”
Mary tells her that she “will no longer see anything” because she would “be blinded by that light.” Ida then felt something very disgusting come over her…
“I saw a scorched plain. It is a ghastly sight, just as if death had gone over it.”
Three years later in 1953, Russia detonated its most powerful hydrogen bomb.
On that same date, she again foretells the end of the Cold War. Mary describes a “thick line in Germany… Europe is divided in two. I will remove that line with one sweep of the hand.” Thirty-nine years later, the Berlin Wall that divided Germany for decades came down quickly without any resistance.
April 2, 1951: “The world is not saved by force; the world will be saved by the Spirit. See that my prayer is made known throughout the world, among all the nations. They all have a right to it. I assure you that the world will change.”
April 29, 1951:
“For the world is not saved by force. The world will be saved by the Spirit. For it is nothing other than ideas which rule the world.”
July 2, 1951:
“The first and greatest commandment is Love. One who possesses love will honor one’s Lord and Creator in His creation. One who possesses love will do nothing dishonorable towards one’s neighbor. That is what this world lacks: Love of God, Love of neighbor.”
November 15, 1951: “I was Co-Redemptrix from the moment of the Annunciation. The Mother has been constituted Co-Redemptrix by the will of the Father. Tell this to your theologians. Tell them likewise that this dogma will be the last in Marian history.”
December 31, 1951:
Blessed Mary predicts, “After much fighting, China will return to Mother Church.
After much fighting.” Perhaps this is a civil war yet to come in China as Catholics are still persecuted there, and there is much tension with the Vatican over the selection of bishops.
February 17, 1952: “The Lord Jesus Christ came and brought the Church and the Cross as a gift from the Lord and Creator. The Church is, and will remain.”
December 8, 1952:
“Realize why I come as the Lady of All Nations. I come in order to bring all nations together in the Spirit, in the true Holy Spirit. People, learn to find the Holy Spirit. Strive after Righteousness, Truth, and Love. Do not reject your brothers. Teach them to know the True Spirit. A burdensome task lies upon the people of this time. Authorities, parents, think about the youth. Bring them to the true Church, the community.”
March 20, 1953: “The time is here, the time in which the world shall know that I have come here as the Lady of All Nations. I want this to be made known to the world now. Tell this to the Pope’s Sacrista. This is my message to him. You shall not fear anything. He shall read all the messages and pass them on to the Holy Father. Do not be afraid, child. You will get there. Have no fear. For I am the one bringing the message. The time has come. (a long pause) 1953 – that is the year of the Lady of All Nations.”
May 10, 1953: “Ask the Holy Father to pray the prayer … and to lead all the nations in praying it.” (To the pope:) “Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, teach your peoples this simple yet profound prayer. It is Mary, the Lady of All Nations, who asks this of you. You are the shepherd of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tend your sheep. Know well, great threats are hanging over the Church, are hanging over the world. Now the time has come for you to speak of Mary as Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate, under the title, Lady of All Nations. Why is Mary asking this of you? Because she has been sent by her Lord and Creator so that under this title and through this prayer, she may deliver the world from a great world catastrophe. She is now asking that the people may hear this title from you, the Holy Father.”
The Shrine in Holland (Netherlands) today for Our Lady of All Nations.
December 3, 1953:
“The powers of hell will break loose. They will not, however, defeat the Lady of All Nations.”
May 31, 1955: Our Lady instructs Ida to repeat these words:
“A time of great inventions is to come. There will be alarming inventions, such that even your shepherds will be astonished and say, ‘We are at a loss.’ I just said: alarming inventions will be made. God allows this; but you peoples, you can see to it that it does not result in disaster. You peoples, I beg you … the Lady begs you; hear this well. Never has the Mother of God begged you … So that you do not arrive at alarming things, nations, the Lady begs you now, today; ask the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to protect His people, to bring His people to unity once again. People have to attain unity, to be one, and over them, the Lady of All Nations. One community, peoples; here I am stressing these words: one community.”
She may have been referring to such alarming inventions as what scientists achieved in May of 2010. For the first time, scientists made a chain of DNA of some 1,000 genes from off-the-shelf laboratory chemicals and created the first creature which had no ancestor that could reproduce on its own, marking the age of artificial life.
“The Lady of All Nations is now permitted to come in order to banish Satan. She comes to announce the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will only now descend over this earth. But you should say my prayer.”
(The Prayer:) “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send now your Spirit over the Earth. Let the Holy Spirit live in the hearts of all nations. That they be preserved from degeneration, disaster, and war. May the Lady of All Nations, who once was Mary, be our Advocate.”
Ida states that Our Lady made it clear that She wanted this prayer and image spread together worldwide as a means of combatting evil and stopping wars. She also wanted Amsterdam to play a more central role and have a church built there in her honor. The city was not very grand at that time in 1945, but today it truly is more of an international city, hosting 177 different nationalities.
Ida was very conscientious about these messages, making sure to always transmit everything as faithfully as possible. But she, herself, just wanted to disappear, to remain unknown — to not play a role in the forefront. She often said, “It is not I; I am merely an instrument. These are simply Our Lady’s messages.”
Finally, on May 31, 1996, Ida was delighted in that Bishop Bomers and Bishop Punt of Haarlem authorized public devotion and approval of the messages. “Now I can die,” said Ida at age 90, and she was gone in less than two months.
(Mary had last said to her, “Adieu, see you in Heaven.”)
“Our Lady of Sorrows”
LA CODOSERA, CHANDAVILA, SPAIN (1945)
On May 27, 1945, ten-year old Marcelina Barroso Exposito and her cousin Augustina were walking to the village on an errand for her mother. The girls were walking through an area known as Chandavila when they noticed something strange in the distance. They were about to ignore it, but then a strange force somehow propelled them to the chestnut tree where they had seen something odd. Floating a little above the ground was the image of Our Lady of Sorrows. She was easily identified by the black robe and mantle that she wore. Stars embellished her gown and sparkled all about her. Her hands were joined, and her beautiful face bore every mark of deep pain and overwhelming sadness. Marcelina alone saw the Lady, and when the vision disappeared, she ran with her cousin to the village. Her message was actually greeted with great excitement.
Young Marcelina spots the weeping Virgin Mary hovering near a chestnut tree.
Days later on the morning of June 4, 1945, Marcelina returned to the place of the apparition and beheld the Virgin once again. This time Blessed Mary spoke, telling her to return in the afternoon when she would then ask the girl to perform a sacrifice in the presence of all who attended. Word got around quickly as one thousand people of both Spanish and Portuguese nationalities eagerly attended. Marcelina went into an ecstasy on the way to the site as hundreds observed her in that surreal condition. At the sight of the chestnut tree she stopped and beheld the vision of the Virgin Mary at some distance. Our Lady invited the girl to crawl on her knees to her – a distance of about one hundred feet. The Virgin reassured her,
“Fear not. Nothing will harm you. I will be putting before you a reed mat and herbs so that you will not be hurt.”
Marcelina’s mother fainted upon seeing her daughter in an ecstatic state and starting to crawl on he knees over sharp rocks and rugged terrain. The child stopped and remained kneeling by the tree for about ten minutes. Marcelina saw the glorious image of a beautiful church with the Virgin Mary appearing on the altar. Blessed Mary invited the child to dip her fingers in holy water and bless herself. When the child crawled closer to the Virgin, Blessed Mary asked Marcelina if she would like to join her in heaven.
The child answered enthusiastically, “Yes, Ma’am, now!” Blessed Mary smiled and kissed Marcelina on the forehead. As she did so, the mantle of the Mother of God softly touched Marcelina’s face. The Virgin then requested that a chapel be built at this place of the apparitions. When the vision disappeared, Marcelina was no longer ecstatic and began talking normally with her friends.
“Our Lady of Sorrows” with a pierced heart over the chestnut tree.
But the pastor of Codosera, Father Juan Antonio Galan y Galan, began checking the girl for injuries. So did her friends as they all examined her knees and body – but could not find any scratches, bruises, or any type of injury. It was amazing to everyone!
With each encounter that Marcelina had with the Blessed Mother, more and more people attended. One of these pilgrims was a 17-year old girl, Afra Blanco Brigade, who had come with her friends on May 30, 1945. Upon her arrival, she thought she saw something dark in the clouds. The next day, she again went to the place of the apparitions and once again saw the dark object. This time it drew closer until it was clearly recognizable as Our Lady of Sorrows. This vision proved to be emotionally overwhelming for Afra who fell into a deep faint.
A few days later, Afra’s grandmother died. While dressed in mourning, Afra’s friends approached her and insisted that she join them for another visit to the apparition site. She agreed and actually knelt down next to visionary Marcelina. Blessed Mary revealed herself to both girls at the same time. The Virgin imparted a secret to Afra, predicted great suffering, and then asked Afra to kiss Marcelina. Our Lady asked for the recitation of the Rosary. She then asked again for a chapel to be constructed on this spot.
The great sadness of the Virgin Mary in La Codosera, Spain.
Days later, Afra and Marcelina went to Villar del Ray and stayed there from July 21 through July 24, giving thanks to the Virgin Mary for all the favors received. While making the Way of the Cross there, Afra became ecstatic at the eleventh station and saw the sufferings of Our Lord and his Crucifixion. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain on the palms of both hands and discovered than an incision in the center of each was dripping blood and causing excruciating pain. Eventually, the stigmata were present on both feet and then were seen to penetrate deeper into the hands. The pain continued and the blood flowed mainly on Fridays in commemoration of Our Lord’s Crucifixion. Afra underwent numerous medical examinations, but treatments to heal the wounds were unsuccessful. It was noted that a sweet fragrance accompanied the stigmata.
Marcelina became a religious in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross in 1975 and took the name Sister Mary of Mercy of the Cross. This Order was dedicated to the care of the sick, orphans, the poor and elderly. She eventually joined a cloistered convent in Ciudad Real. Afra worked for many years in a hospital in Madrid until her death on August 23, 2008, at the age of eighty – after a long and painful illness.
A beautiful church, which enveloped the chestnut tree and apparition site, was eventually built. The Bishop of Badajoz gave permission for the construction of the church as well as approval for the apparitions and Expression of Faith.
“Teacher of Young People”
SIEKIERKI, POLAND (1943-1949)
There was no church in the Siekierki region during the Second World War, so everybody prayed under a large cross. On May 3, 1943, Wladyslawa Papis, age 12, was returning home from praying at the cross when she saw Our Lady appearing above a cherry tree. The girl remembered that she had forgotten her sick uncle in her prayers, so she continued to pray, and Mary watched her and waited. She begged Mary to take her uncle to heaven if he did not recover. Mary turned around three times toward the right and disappeared. It just so happened that this was the feast day for Our Holy Mother, Queen of Poland.
Jesus appeared for the first time on June 28, 1943 at the same cherry tree location and spoke of his great love for people.
On August 31, 1943, one year before the Warsaw Insurrection, the Holy Mother said,
“Pray — for a severe punishment will come, a heavy cross. I cannot hold back My Son’s anger if the nation does not convert. Kneel every day from 12:00 until 3:00 p.m., from August 6th and ask for forgiveness for all the sins of the world.”
On September 26, 1943, Jesus said, “Do not walk indifferently near churches. I am waiting for you in the Blessed Sacrament. I ease every suffering. I console every dejected heart, if the heart turns to me with the trust and confidence.”
On January 19, 1944, Jesus said, “I am waiting for you, hidden in the tabernacle. Kneel before the altar and pray.”
On September 8, 1949, Jesus said, “I am wounded by those who insult me. Make amends for them.”
The original apparitions with an older Wladyslawa Papis
On September 15, 1949, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, the last apparition occurred. Jesus said, “I am with you, but I am leaving now. Pray to My Holy Mother. She listens to your prayers. She hears you.”
During the apparitions, the Holy Mother dictated the Litany and the Chaplet and a song. Both Our Lady and Jesus left many messages for believers. One time Mary appeared as the Teacher of Young People.
The first chapel at the place of the apparitions was built from 1945 through 1946. It was opened on May 3, 1946, the anniversary of the first apparition and the Feast of Our Holy Mother, the Queen of Poland.
Mary asked everyone to pray during the 24 hours of the first Friday of each month. Twenty-four people chose their hours and prayed at home in reparation for sins of the world. Night vigils would be kept on Saturdays before the 3rd Sunday, analogous to the 3rd of May first apparition.
“Queen of the Universe”
HEEDE, GERMANY (1937-1945)
Four girls, Anna Schulte, sisters Margaret Ganseforth (13) and Greta Ganseforth (11), and Susanna Bruns, began receiving visits from Our Lady in November of 1937. The two sisters were going to church for All Saints Day on November 1 when they passed by the church cemetery. Suddenly, they perceived a “floating light” about 100 feet away, hovering about a meter above the ground. In the blazing light formed the image of a beautiful lady holding a child. The two figures wore dazzling crowns on their heads. The girls were spellbound by the incredible beauty of the lady, who smiled kindly at them.
Frightened, they entered the church and reported that they had seen the Virgin Mary with the Divine Child in her arms. Anna Schulte, surprised and curious, left the church to go explore the designated area. After the ceremony, the two sisters, along with Anna, Adele Bruns (15) and her sister, Susanna Bruns, all returned to the site of the apparition in the cemetery.
“It’s there – between the two cypresses!” exclaimed Margaret.
The vision of Mary remained silent. All the girls saw the Virgin Mary except Adele, who impatiently stated that she was going to leave because she did not believe these stories. Margaret and Greta told their mother – who then alerted Father Staelberg, the priest of the parish. But news of these events was received in the village with the predictable skepticism and laughter. It was not until the villagers started noticing the dramatic change in the four girls’ behavior did they begin to consider the appearances more seriously. The usual playful and giddy girls had changed their manner of living to a more serious demeanor with fervent and long prayers while impatiently anticipating Our Lady’s next appearance.
On November 2, at the same time of the day, Our Lady appeared again but without the baby Jesus. Blessed Mary’s hands were clasped in prayer.
On the third apparition, on November 5, Our Lady began asking the girls questions. Mary is standing on a white cloud with a luminous halo “about 30-40 cm surrounding her.” Her age seems to be 18 or 19.
“She wore a golden crown, richly worked … a long white dress fitted at the waist by a cord … a non-transparent white veil falls on each side, doing some folds, and hides her hair … On her left hand, covered by the veil, sits the Christ Child. She raises her arm.”
By the November 7th apparition more villagers were beginning to believe as 4,000 to 5,000 were in attendance, surrounding the four girls. Several priests witnessed the apparition.
The “Queen of the Universe” in Heede, Germany
More than 7,000 returned to the site the next day on November 8. But the civil authorities forbade Father Staelberg from accompanying the girls. Another priest was present that day from Herkenhoff and reported these details:
“Suddenly, the (four) girls fell to their knees, all together, without one or another making a signal to her companions … They posed several questions to the apparition. After a quarter of an hour – during which they continued to be constantly stiff, eyes fixed on a precise point – their questions seemed unanswered, even when they spoke. When Greta was alongside me later, she told me that she had wondered how the Mother of God feels. The response she received was a sad countenance. Greta said, ‘The Mother of God was very sad and very bright.’”
There were an estimated 100 visits by Our Lady to these four girls in Heede. Here are some highlights:
April 5, 1939 – Margaret was alone for this apparition. “I saw the Mother of God directly in front of me, standing two feet away, and asked her how she would like to be invoked.” She replied, “as Queen of the Universe and Queen of the Poor Souls in Purgatory.” When asked what prayer she would like to honor her, she indicated the “Litany of Laurentanas.”
May 12, 1939 – The Virgin appeared 13 times in May, including twice in the initial location and for a full day on each of the 6th and 12th. On May 12, Greta asked, “Will we have diseases?” Mary replied, “Not yet.” Then Greta asked, “Can we come here every day?” – to which Mary responded, “Yes.”
But then the number of occurrences decreased. Many were fearful of visiting Heede because Hitler ruled Germany and forbade participation in this “superstitious nonsense.” The Gestapo forcefully took the children to an insane asylum and strictly forbade the pilgrimages. After one month, the children were released but disregarded the orders of the Gestapo and resumed their visits to the place of the apparitions. The Queen of Heaven was not subject to the Hitler regime, of course, and continued her appearances in secret locations now.
Greta Ganseforth received a stigmata in 1939. On October 19, 1940, Our Lady gave the four girls a “secret” intended for the Pope. Blessed Mary warned them, “Do not say anything to anyone other than the Holy Pope of Rome.” The message was placed in a sealed envelope that was carried by Bishop Berning to Pope Pius XII.
The Virgin also showed them visions of future catastrophes and warned them that a horrifying event called a “Minor Judgment” was in store for the future. She urged them to pray constantly, especially the Rosary, which she said has “immeasurable power” for the conversion of sinners. “The world is about to drink the dregs of the Chalice of Divine Wrath.” Despite Our Lady’s incredible beauty, she was usually solemn-faced, stern, or even shedding tears.
The apparitions of the Blessed Mother came to an end at 8:30 p.m. on November 3, 1940. Each girl received a “secret” from Mother Mary, who then spoke,
“Be good and faithful to the will of God. Pray often – especially the Rosary. Now farewell, my children, until we meet in Heaven.”
On July 23, 1942, Bishop Berning made the following remarks during his homily:
“From Heede came a rich blessing. I could see that Marian devotion dramatically increased — that sacramental life, in particular, has flourished dramatically in this parish.”
Greta Ganseforth began receiving visits from Jesus starting in 1945. Her spiritual director gave her orders to keep a diary of her mystical events. She did not see the Blessed Virgin again but did hear her voice on numerous occasions, speaking to her from a brilliant light.
There was an occasion when a school dance was being prepared which apparently was going to exceed Catholic norms for modesty and decency. At the request of Jesus, Greta sought to have the dance cancelled or at least modified so that it would not be a dangerous occasion of sin for the youth. Greta even appealed to the parents of the students to not go against the warning from Jesus, who stated,
“If they proceed with that dance, all involved will have to answer to Me at their Judgment.”
The dance for October 21, 1945, was cancelled. Along with this event and a number of miraculous healings, other parish priests and clergymen finally believed. Here are more of the messages that Greta received from the visits with Jesus:
“Men did not listen to My Most Holy Mother when she appeared to them at Fatima and admonished them to do penance. Now I, Myself, am coming at the last hour to warn and admonish mankind! The times are very serious! Men should at last do penance, turn away from their sins and pray, pray much in order that the wrath of God may be mitigated. Particularly the Holy Rosary should be prayed very often. The Rosary is very powerful with God. Worldly pleasures and amusements should be resricted.
Men do not listen to My voice. They harden their hearts; they resist My grace. They do not wish to have anything to do with My Mercy, My Love, My merits. Mankind is worse than before the deluge. Mankind is suffocating in sin. Hatred and greed rule their hearts. This is the work of the devil. They live in great darkness. Through the wounds that bled, Mercy will again gain victory over justice. My faithful souls should not be asleep now like the disciples on Mt. Olivet. They should pray without ceasing and gain all they can for themselves and for others.
Tremendous things are in preparation; it will be terrible as never before since the foundation of the world. All those, who in these grave times have suffered so much, are martyrs and form the seed for the renovation of the Church. They were privileged to participate in My captivity, in My scourging, in My crown of thorns, and My Way of the Cross.
The Blessed Virgin Mary and all the choirs of angels will be active during these events. Hell believes that it is sure of the harvest, but I will snatch it away from them. I will come with My peace. Many curse me now, but these sufferings will come over mankind that they may be saved through it … Many expiate all they can for those who curse Me now …
With a few faithful I will build up My kingdom. As a flash of lightning this Kingdom will come … much faster than mankind will realize. I will give them a special light. For some this light will be a blessing; for others, darkness. The light will come like the Star that showed the way to the wise men. Mankind will experience My love and My power ,,, My beloved, the hour comes closer. Pray without ceasing!
Those who are not in the State of Grace (when the Minor Judgment happens) – it will be frightful for them.”
On March 7, 1946, Bishop Berning authorized a statue of the “Mary, Queen of the Universe” to be made for placement in the church cemetery – as directed by the visionaries. Finally, after years of investigation, the Bishop of Osnabruck declared on June 3, 1959, the following:
“The apparitions are undeniable proof of the seriousness and authenticity of these manifestations … In the apparitions and messages of Heede we find nothing contrary to the Faith. Indeed, their similarity to the approved apparitions of Fatima, Lourdes, and La Salette give good indications of their authenticity.”
Mariette Beco was the oldest of seven children in a poor family that lived mainly on produce from their little vegetable garden. Banneux is a small village at the edge of the Ardennes Mountains. On January 15, 1933, Mariette (11) was looking out the window down the road for her father to return as she watched over two of her ill brothers. As she peered through the curtains into the dark winter evening, she saw a bright glowing shape hovering near the vegetable garden. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief, but a second look now saw the glowing figure of a very beautiful woman, wearing a flowing white gown, white veil, and brilliant blue sash. The woman held a Rosary in her right hand and was nodding and smiling at Mariette. She rubbed her eyes, shook her head, and looked again — but the vision did not go away. She removed a burning oil lamp and placed into the next room, certain that it must be casting reflections. But when she returned to the window, the beautiful glowing lady was still there! She insisted that her mother come see, but she refused. Finally, the mother was persuaded to take a quick look, and she admitted she saw something white hovering over the garden — but none of the other details that her daughter was seeing. She was forbidden to go outside, and the apparition vanished.
Visionary Mariette Beco in 1933.
At school the next day Mariette told her story to her best friend, Josephine Leonard, who just laughed at her. But Josephine was surprised at how hurt she seemed and began to wonder if there was really something to it. The two girls went to see the parish priest, Father Louis Jamin, after school. Mariette’s behavior and attitude had dramatically changed. She decided now to not skip school as she had been doing, take her studies seriously and prepare thoroughly, and attend the local parish to pray every morning before school. No longer was she a mischievous, unruly, careless truant.
Nobody believed her story except her father. It was he who accompanied her to the garden three nights later on January 18 at seven in the evening to observe her next encounter. She suddenly knelt on the frozen ground, started praying the Rosary, and saw the “Lady in white” descending from the sky in the distance. The image was small at first but glowing brightly and getting closer as she floated down between two pine trees. Her father watched in amazement as she raised her arms as if greeting someone. Mariette was delighted at how close Mary was this time — hovering just a few feet above the ground on a small gray cloud of smoke.
The site of the apparitions in Banneux in 1933.
The father was impressed by his daughter’s words and behavior, so he rode on his bike to get others as witnesses. As they returned, they found her leaving the garden area and entering the road, drawn down the road as if in a trance. Mariette said, “She is calling me.” They watched in amazement as she was thrown to her knees twice on the pavement in the cold, twelve-degree air and started praying earnestly. It sounded like her knees cracked on the frozen ground. They followed her to a stream where Mary had led her and stated,
“Plunge your hand into the water. This spring is to be dedicated to me.”
Then Mariette returned home and went right to bed. Her father, amazed and moved by the whole event, summoned Father Jamin and told him everything he had witnessed. Then the father made an appointment for a confessional the next day so that he could return to the Church again. That same evening, at 7:00 p.m., Mariette saw the Blessed Virgin again. Now as many as 20 others were observing her visitations. Mariette asked her, “Who are you, madame?”
“I am the Virgin of the Poor.”
Again, she was led to the icy-cold stream. Mary explained to her,
“This small brook is to be reserved for all nations to relieve the sick.”
Mariette did not even know the words “nations” or “relieve” yet, but reported them to the others. Our Lady returned the following evening again, this time stating that she wanted a little chapel built in her honor at Banneux. After this vision, Mariette fainted. The Blessed Virgin did not return for several weeks. Many scoffed at Mariette, teased her, criticized and laughed at her.
The Virgin Mary begins appearing to Mariette Beco.
Then on February 11, Our Lady appeared to Mariette and guided her to the spring again.
“I come to relieve the suffering.”
The Virgin Mary also said that ‘it would be pleasing’ to her if Mariette made her first Communion. So she went to Father Jamin, who in turn wanted some kind of a sign that this was really the Virgin.
On February 15, Mariette went out into the garden with her mother and a rosary. Immediately, the Virgin appeared, and Mariette quickly dropped to her knees.
Mariette: “Holy Mother, Father Jamin asked me to ask you to give us a sign.”
Virgin Mary: “Believe in me, and I will believe in you! Pray very much.”
On February 20, Blessed Mary emphasized in a grave tone,
“My dear child, pray very much … … Au Revoir (good-bye).”
Blessed Mary leads Mariette to a stream that will heal others.
On March 2, in the pouring rain, Mariette returned to the garden at 7:00 p.m. On this occasion of her last apparition, Mary told her, “I am the Mother of God.” Others witnessing these events remarked how Mariette’s speech would become rapid and high-pitched while having conversations with Our Blessed Mother.
The stream began providing amazing cases of miraculous healings: a fractured skull, deafness, broken jaw, cerebrospinal meningitis, paralysis, and many more. Benito Garcia from Spain had a badly injured right arm. His wife had heard stories of the healing waters and insisted that they walk from Barcelona to Banneux. Benito thrust his injured arm into the spring and felt it to be boiling hot. He exclaimed,
“I have come all the way from Spain. If you are indeed the Virgin of the Poor, then prove it to me!”
The Virgin of the Poor in Banneux, Belgium.
He withdrew the drain-tube from his arm, and the wound healed immediately in front of many witnesses! Bishop Kerkhof documented at least twenty miraculous cures between 1933 and 1938.
A little chapel was built — keeping it small due to Mary’s specific request. It was dedicated on the Feast of the Assumption in 1933. Mariette was interrogated so often that she wished that she had just kept the whole matter to herself, not saying one word about her visions.
The house and apparition site today as a place of pilgrimage.
During the Second World War, Cardinal Van Roey issued an encyclical in which he declared that the events surrounding the apparitions were worthy of serious study. On August 22, 1949, the Bishop of Liege affirmed in a pastoral letter that the eight appearances made by Our Lady to Mariette were to be believed. Banneux is now one of the most visited shrines of Our Lady in northern Europe.
“The Virgin with the Golden Heart”
BEAURAING, BELGIUM (1932-1933)
On the evening of November 29, 1932, Albert Voisin (11) and sister Fernande Voisin (15) met up with their best friends, Gilberte (9) and Andree (14) Degeimbre to walk to the convent academy to meet Albert’s sister, Gilberte Voisin (13), who was staying late to study until 6:30 p.m. They entered the grounds and passed a small Lourdes grotto in front of the railway embankment that skirted the convent garden. Albert saw her first and said that he saw the Virgin Mary, dressed in white, walking above the railroad bridge. The children scoffed and ignored him until they saw her too — just as he had described. The girls looked and could see the luminous figure of a lady dressed in white, walking in mid-air, her feet hidden by a little cloud. Now they were pounding on the convent door, but the irritated nun, Sister Valeria, could not see anything in the sky. When Albert’s sister came to the doorway, she immediately saw the glowing lady also. They raced to their homes fearfully, but no adults would believe their incredible story, and they were sent to bed in disgrace for such lies. Sister Valeria reported the incident to Mother Superior Theophile, who scolded her for such nonsense.
The next night it happened again, but this time they were delighted to see her — yet still nobody believed them. Adults began to suspect tricksters perpetrating a hoax, so at least six adults trailed the children on the third night in a protective and investigative manner. The five children shrieked with delight when they saw her —even closer this time where they could see her beautiful features in greater detail. Her feet were hidden by a little cloud as she floated only a couple feet above the ground in front of them. She was dressed in a glowing white gown, hands joined in prayer, blue eyes raised toward Heaven with rays of light surrounding her head. But she reached outward with her arms and then disappeared. The children ran to find the adults who had spread out to watch for pranksters.
The five visionary children in Beauraing, Belgium, 1933.
Suddenly, the children were overwhelmed as Mary re-appeared near the shrubs of the convent entry gate. But the adults could not see what all the children had reacted to. One mother decided to return later that night with three of the older kids to investigate further. The three dropped hard to their knees, simultaneously, on the cobble-stoned street, reciting the Hail Mary “as one voice” of a high pitch. The mother was impressed that they seemed to be looking at the same exact yet invisible object. As she approached where they were gazing, her own daughter cautioned her not to walk into Mary as it might offend or disrespect Mary. The mother began to believe.
Mother Theophile addressed all the children severely in school and said that there would be “no talk of visions.” On the next evening, Mother Theophile padlocked the convent’s garden gate and let dogs loose in the yard as a further disincentive to the curious. But this did not deter the children or the curious adults.
On December 2, during the next vision, Albert asked if she was the Immaculate Virgin. She nodded yes to the two girls. When asked what she wanted from them, she replied, “Always be good.” The adults heard the girls answer in unison as if one voice, “Yes, we will always be good.” More visits continued with more people gathering to watch as word continued to spread quickly.
The Virgin Mary appears to the children much to their amazement.
On Sunday, December 4, the children assembled at about 6:30 p.m. – this time bringing with them a little boy with polio and the blind uncle of the Degeimbre girls. Again, they asked Mary if she was indeed the Blessed Virgin, to which she nodded yes. They asked her to heal the two sick people, but there was no obvious response.
On December 5, the children were being watched by a very large crowd when Albert asked the Virgin for some sign to convince the adults that the visions were authentic. On the 6th, Blessed Mary appeared with a Rosary, so the children immediately began to pray it. She asked them to be present on the 8th.
By December 8, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, up to 15,000 were in attendance near the convent. During this beautiful visitation only visible to the children, Dr. Maistriaux studied the children carefully — lighting a match under Gilberte’s hand, getting no response or burns. Pinching, pin pricks, and shining bright lights never affected their eyes nor broke their concentration. The local priest, Father Lambert, and the church authorities were taking a very cautious and prudent attitude, refusing to get involved. The local bishop ordered his priests not to go to the site.
The apparitions did not occur every night, but the children assembled and prayed the Rosary anyway. When she did appear, they would all drop to their knees in unison. When questioned afterwards, separately, they stated that Mary told them that her last apparition would take place soon.
The railroad bridge and convent where the apparitions occurred.
Nine thousand people showed up on December 29, hoping for some miracle. On that evening, Fernande Voisin claimed to have seen the Virgin reveal a golden heart, radiating heavenly rays of light. On December 30, Gilberte Voisin and Andree Degeimbre also witnessed the golden heart of Mary – along with Fernande, who heard Our Lady state, “Pray, pray very much.” On the last day of 1932, all the children saw Mary’s golden heart.
On January 1, 1933, Blessed Mary spoke to Gilberte Voisin, asking her to “Pray ALWAYS!”
On January 2, Mary indicated that January 3 would be her last visit, but that she would speak to each of them separately.
By January 3, some 35,000 people had traveled to the tiny site, clogging roads by mid-day. Ninety doctors had applied for special reserved sites to study the children. After two decades of the Rosary, four of the five children dropped to their knees in unison, leaving Fernande, the oldest in tears because she could not see anything. The four children received private personal messages from Mary that night. Mary explained to Gilberte Voisin that the main promise of Beauraing is, “I will convert sinners.” To Andree, Mary said, “I am the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven. Pray always.”
The children kneel all at once before Mary near the convent gate.
Fernande Voisin was heartbroken that she had not seen or heard Mary at all this time. She began praying the Rosary as the other children began to leave. Suddenly, many people saw a flash of light “like a ball of fire” envelope the hawthorn tree, throwing sparks, and creating a clap of thunder. The Virgin had returned to meet with Fernande after all and asked her, “Do you love My Son and Me?” Fernande replied that she did. Our Lady then stated, “Then sacrifice yourself for me.” With that said, the Virgin glowed with extraordinary brilliance and extended her arms so that the girl could see her golden heart with rays of light. Then Blessed Mary said, “Goodbye.”
Within a few weeks of the last visit, reports of miracle healings began. A young girl, Pauline Dereppe, was healed of a severe bone disease after praying at Beauraing. A middle-aged woman, Madame Van Laer, was cured of her tuberculosis. As this news spread, two and a half million pilgrims traveled to Beauraing in 1933!
In May of 1933, the Bishop of Namur set up a committee to evaluate the visions. In 1943 Bishop Charue authorized public devotions to Mary at Beauraing. Finally, in July of 1949, the apparitions were finally approved by the investigating committee (after 16 years).
Many more appearances of the Virgin occur over the next months.
“The Commission has thoroughly studied the events, and we are convinced of the supernatural character of the visions. We are able in all serenity and prudence to affirm that the Queen of Heaven appeared to the children of Beauraing during the winter of 1932-1933, especially to show us in her maternal Heart the anxious appeal for prayer and the promise of her powerful mediation for the conversion of sinners.”
Albert Voisin became a missionary schoolmaster in the Belgian Congo. Others married and raised children. Pope John Paul II visited the official shrine on May 18, 1985. The Beauraing cemetery now contains the tombs of Andree Degeimbre and Fernande Voisin.
“Our Lady of Victory”
WIGRATZBAD, GERMANY (1919, 1938)
Antonie Radler (20) contracted the Spanish Influenza in 1919 and was gravely ill. Her mother prayed desperately to the Blessed Virgin for help. Suddenly, Blessed Mary appeared at her bedside and laid her hands upon the young victim. Antonie was instantly healed.
Fully recovered, Antonie was working one day in her father’s butcher shop when the Gestapo arrived and ordered her to replace the painting of the Virgin on the wall with that of the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler. She was also ordered to salute him in the Nazi fashion, saying, “Heil Hitler.” Antonie refused and barely escaped several attempts upon her life. She always maintained that her Guardian Angel – in the form of a mysterious cyclist – protected her.
The Virgin Mary with Jesus in Wigratzbad, Germany
The parents were so delighted with her escape from harm that they erected a small Lourdes grotto in their garden. It was blessed by Father Basch on October 11, 1936, the feast day for the Maternity of Mary. A month later, while praying before the statue, Antonie saw Blessed Mary smile sweetly and then heard the words,
“O Beloved Lady of Victory, conceived without sin, pray for us.”
Then, on December 15, 1936, while praying at the Lourdes grotto in their garden (during the octave of the Immaculate Conception), and while reciting the third sorrowful mystery of the Rosary, Antonie heard an “angelic chorus” singing these words,
“O Mary! Immaculate, conceived without sin. Beloved Lady of Victory, pray for us.”
A second appearance of the Blessed Virgin happened to a young girl named Cecilia Geyer on February 22, 1938. It was about 6:30 a.m. when Cecilia heard a “murmur” and then saw Our Lady appear in a bright cloud.
“Suddenly, I found myself in the little grotto of Antonie and heard this message:
“Build a chapel here for me. I shall trample underfoot the serpent’s head. People will come here in large numbers, and I wll pour upon them a flood of graces. St. Joseph, St. Anthony, and the souls in Purgatory will help you.
Go now and worship My Son in the Blessed Sacrament.”
Realizing that all the churches were closed at that hour, Cecilia asked Mary where should she go?
“Before my astonished eyes there appeared a chapel in the place designated by Our Lady. Inside, on the altar, was Jesus in a monstrance, surrounded by beautiful rays of light.”
Work began on the chapel on July 2, 1938. All went well until the night of November 21, when Antonie was arrested by the Nazis and jailed in the local prison. She underwent numerous interrogations.
On the night of December 7-8, Antonie witnessed a large bright cloud forming and rising in her jail cell. Suddenly, the Virgin Mary appeared to her and announced her impending release. She would spend Christmas with her family; Antonie was indeed released on December 18, the Feast of the Expectation of Our Lady.
Today, the chapel built at the site of the apparitions is host to an estimated 500,000 pilgrims each year. Although no official statement was made by Bishop Stimpfle, he was frequently known to say,
Lucia Santos (9) and her two cousins, Francisco Marto (8) and Jacinta Marto (6), were herding sheep when what they thought was an early summer rainstorm caused them to seek shelter in a cave. A sudden stiff breeze whipped the tree branches and caused them to be afraid. Suddenly, in front of them, appeared a shining, young, incredibly handsome man who was “more brilliant than a crystal penetrated by rays of the sun.” He began walking toward them over the tops of the olive trees as if following the sun’s rays to the ground at the entrance of the cave. He told them he was the Angel of Peace and taught them a prayer of adoration.
The three visionaries: Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta in 1917.
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You! I ask pardon of You for all those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You. Pray thus; the Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplication.”
He saw them again later that summer and again in the autumn of 1916. They learned about praying frequently and sacrifices. He interrupted their play:
“What are you doing? Pray! Pray a great deal! The most Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs for you. Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the Most High. This will draw peace upon your country. I am its guardian angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and endure with submission the suffering which the Lord will send you.”
On another day, while pasturing their sheep, the children decided to pray near the cave as the angel had urged them to do. They became aware of an extraordinary light shining on them. When they looked up, the angel was standing over them. In his left hand, he held a chalice with a Host suspended above it. Drops of blood fell from the Host into the chalice. Leaving the chalice suspended in mid-air, the angel knelt down and made them repeat three times:
“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I offer you the most precious Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for all the outrages, sacrileges, and indifference with which He, Himself, is offended. And through the infinite merits of His most Sacred Heart and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of You the conversion of poor sinners.”
Then he took the chalice and Host with both hands, giving the Host to Lucia and sharing the chalice between Jacinta and Francisco. (from Lucia’s “Second Memoir”)
“Take and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Make reparations for their crimes and console your God.”
But, wait a minute – only priests can convert the bread and wine into the Body and Blood. How can an angel do this? This question was raised in later apparitions, and the answer from Heaven was this: Yes, only priests can do this; Angels are borrowing the consecrated Host and wine from tabernacles of parishes. So, was any parish nearby missing anything?
The Angel of Portugal meets with the three children in 1916.
Not well known until now is the fact that a local parish 18 miles away had their Host strangely missing from within the locked tabernacle about that same time. The chalice was present, but it had been moved to a different position inside the tabernacle. The priest was so dumbfounded — as he held the only key — that he never told anybody other than his bishop. It bothered him for years as he could not explain the disappearance of these precious items entrusted to his care and protection. Several months before he died, he confessed this inexplicable incident to others.
On Sunday, May 13, 1917, a flash of light from a clear blue sky interrupted their play. They ran down a slope toward a tree only to have another flash of dazzling light send them back 100 yards in another direction. Then they saw a large ball of light settling on the top of a small evergreen tree. Inside the glowing ball was the figure of a beautiful woman of all white, more brilliant than the sun, more clear and more intense. She defied gravity by standing on the top of this tender shrub. The intense light enveloped the children, just three feet away. They were terrified, but her soft voice calmed them and melted their fears away.
“Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you. I am from Heaven. I want to you to come here on the 13th of every month at the same hour for 6 months. Then I will tell you who I am and what I want. You will all go to heaven someday. Are you willing to suffer all that would happen to you as reparation for sins and for the conversion of sinners?”
Lucia answered “Yes” quickly for all three of them. Streams of light flowed from her hands to the soil of the Earth. They felt deeply connected and dropped to their knees, praying as they had been taught by the angel. Mary told them to say the Rosary to obtain peace for the world and the end of war. Then she glided away into the eastern sky until she was so small that they could no longer see her. Only Francisco was unable to hear her although he saw everything. Since the younger ones could not keep a secret easily, soon many knew what had happened. Lucia’s father dismissed it completely, and her mother was outraged by what she assumed was a great and shameful lie. All three children were saddened by the negativity and doubts of others.
Yet, when June 13th came around, the three children and a number of bystanders returned to the site for Mary’s 2nd visit — and they were not disappointed. As only the children saw the light approach, bystanders noted that the sun seemed to dim in the cloudless sky. And, although the adults could not see Mary, they did witness a wispy pillar of smoke next to the holm oak. They could not clearly hear Mary’s voice, but they did report a small sound – “like the buzzing of a bee.”
The Virgin Mary appears on May 13, 1917 to the three kids.
This time when the Lady appeared, she said that she would be taking Jacinta and Francisco with her to heaven rather soon, but that Lucia would remain on Earth “for some time longer” to help promote her Immaculate Heart to the world. The rays of light extended from her hands again, and they felt the connection along with a vision of the Immaculate Heart – “a heart encircled by thorns that pierced it, in front of Our Lady’s right palm.” A crowd of about 50 witnesses observed the little cloud (that Mary had stood upon) rise slowly and retreat toward the east. The top branches and leaves of the holm oak were also bent as if a weight had just been on top (where Mary had appeared).
Again the doubts, ridicule, and abrasive comments soured the children’s desire to return in July, but, at the last moment they all decided to keep their rendezvous with the Lady. Two to three thousand people were already waiting for them there! Mary again insisted that they pray the Rosary fervently. Mary called herself the Lady of the Rosary. Then, the Lady did something entirely different — her rays of light poured through the children into the earth below them, opening up a view of Hell:
“The rays of light seemed to penetrate the earth, and we saw, as it were, a sea of fire. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves, together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in huge fires, without weight or equilibrium, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear. The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals, black and transparent like burning coals.”
The Lady then shared some prophecies if offenses against God did not stop.
“You have seen Hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world a devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace. The war (World War I) is going to end; but if the people do not cease offending God, a worse one (World War II) will break out during the pontificate of Pius XI (whom nobody had heard of at this date). When you see a night, illuminated by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given to you by God that He is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father.”
“To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace.”
Blessed Mary meets the three shepherd children again on June 13.
And if Russia was not consecrated to her, many terrible things would happen throughout the world. One awful event would involve a pope. Another vision showed tall buildings being destroyed. A final secret was to be kept to themselves. The publicity toward the children was endless on every day. Lucia later reported the details of these visions:
“At the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an angel with a flaming sword in his left hand. Flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire – but they died in contact with the splendor that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand. Pointing to the earth with his right hand, the angel cried out in a loud voice, ‘Penance! Penance! Penance!’ And we saw in an immense light that is God, something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it – a bishop dressed in white. We had the impression that it was the Holy Father. Other bishops, priests, men and women religious, were going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big cross of rough-hewn trunks, as of a cork tree with the bark. Before reaching there, the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins, and half trembling with halting step – afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way. Having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big cross, he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him. And, in the same manner, there died, one after another, the other bishops, priests, men and women religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the cross, there were two angels – each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God.”
The Virgin Mary concluded with this:
“When you pray the Rosary, say, after each mystery: O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fires of Hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need.”
Arturo Santos, the administrator or mayor of Ourem, arrived on the much anticipated August 13 apparition date in a carriage drawn by two black horses. Pacing and acting nervously, he offered to protect the children from the growing crowds and escort them to the site in his carriage. Although they refused, he changed tactics and said they needed to visit the priest, Father Ferreira, in Fatima before the event. The three children and their two fathers agreed to go, and the children were indeed questioned by the priest. But then Santos suddenly urged them to hurry up — and quickly loaded them back into the carriage, taking off before the two fathers could react and catch up. According to Lucia, it was masterfully orchestrated.
Jacinta, Lucia, and Francisco ready to meet Mary again on July 13.
News of the abduction reached the 18,000 waiting for the children, nearly inciting a riot among those who had gathered at the apparition site with great anticipation. But these many thousands were not to be disappointed as Mary did give them a number of signs that she had kept her promise to be present. There were two loud explosions – like cannon fire – that came from the holm oak where she had always appeared. People began to flee in fear. But then, strangely, the people were pulled toward the tree as if by an electric current. Some fainted – others were afraid. The clouds took on a fantastic sequence of colors: blood red to pink to blue to indigo. There were flashes like lightning. A wispy pillar of smoke rose next to the tree. Some spoke of a falling of roses! Every person had some level of experience that day and came away feeling great awe and inspiration.
Lucia later reported that the children were ushered off to Ourem where they were locked in a room and told that they would not be let out until they revealed the secret that Our Lady had entrusted in them. This caused them to miss their August 13th rendezvous with Mary. An elderly lady tried to squeeze the secret from them but failed. The authorities offered a bribe of gold coins and jewelry – which also failed. So they were then locked in the prison area of the council building. They were shown a cauldron of oil placed over a fire and told that if they had not revealed the secret by the time the oil boiled, then they would be either hung or have their heads chopped off.
They were taken to a foul-smelling detention cell and thrown in with adult male prisoners. The other prisoners became impressed – even inspired – by the strong religious conviction of the young visionaries and their lack of fear in the face of death threats. The children decided to recite prayers, recognize their suffering as necessary, and get the other prisoners on their knees to pray with them. Afterwards, the prisoners decided to cheer up the children with songs, harmonica music, and dancing.
The Virgin Mary shares many predictions and visions on September 13.
The children realized that if they were put to death, it would be the ultimate sacrifice, and they could go to heaven sooner! When they faced the authorities at the crucial moment of decision — as the oil finally had boiled, they were filled with sweet peace, fearless conviction, and steadfast devotion to Mary’s wishes. Santos had lost his advantage over the children since they had decided to become joyous martyrs, so he drove them back home on August 15. A crowd cheered their return, but others were gathering to assault Mr. Santos – so he left rather quickly. (He was removed from office on December 8 of that same year.)
Blessed Mary met the children instead on the 19th of August in Valinhos. Lucia was with Francisco and her older brother John when she became aware of the signs that a supernatural visit was coming: a sudden cooling of the air, the paling of the sun, and a flash of light. She had to bribe her excited brother with two pennies to leave and go find Jacinta quickly. Just as they returned to the field, a second flash of light occurred and the “brilliant Lady” appeared over another holm oak tree.
“I want you to continue to come on the thirteenth and to continue to say the Rosary every day. In the last month, in October, I shall perform a miracle so that all may believe in My apparitions. If they had not taken you to the village, the miracle would have been greater. St. Joseph will come with the baby Jesus to give peace to the world. Our Lord also will come to bless the people. Besides, Our Lady of the Rosary and Our Lady of Sorrows will come. (Lucia asks about the donations that have been left at the site) Have two litters made. One is to be carried by you and Jacinta and two other girls dressed in white. The other one is to be carried by Francisco and three other boys. The litters are for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and the money that is left over will help towards the construction of a chapel that is to be built. Pray! Pray a great deal and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to Hell for not having someone to pray and make sacrifices for them.”
A huge crowd gathers to see the miracle on October 13, 1917.
Lucia’s brother John was frustrated that he could not see or hear the Blessed Mary, but he was satisfied with hearing “a clap of thunder similar to the firing of a gun” as Mary departed. Jacinta broke off a small branch that Our Lady had rested her feet upon, which had been touched by her magnificent robe, and took it home. On the way, Lucia’s mother demanded, skeptically, to hold the branch. She was shocked to behold a “magnificent fragrance” that she could not identify – and was a changed woman from this point forward.
With the dawn of September 13th, crowds of people surrounded the children’s homes, overflowing on the roads, immobilizing movement, and demanding the children pray to Mary for certain things. As the children finally made their way to the apparition site, it is estimated that as many as 30,000 awaited them. Lucia was almost finished reciting the Rosary when the flash of light came. Then a globe of light appeared before the crowd – but this time, thousands could witness it, including three priests: Vicar General of Leiria, Monsignor John Quaresma, and Father Manuel do Carmo Gois. Here is the Monsignor’s detailed eyewitness account:
“At noontime, silence fell on the crowd, and a low whispering of prayers could be heard. Suddenly, cries of joy filled the air, many voices praising the Blessed Virgin. Arms were raised to point to something above, ‘Look! Don’t you see?’ I, too, raised my eyes to probe the amplitude of the skies, hoping to see what the other fortunate eyes were seeing before me. There was not a single cloud in the whole blue sky, yet to my great astonishment, I saw clearly and distinctly a luminous globe, coming from the east to the west, gliding slowly and majestically through space. My friend also looked up and had the happiness of enjoying the same unexpected but enchanting apparition. Suddenly, the globe with its extraordinary light disappeared before our eyes. There was a little girl near us, about the same age as Lucia. She was excited with joy and kept saying, ‘I still see Her … now She is coming down to the foot of the hill.’
The stunning Miracle of the Sun brings the crowd to their knees.
Lucia then asked the vision of Mary, hovering over the holm oak tree, “What do you want of me?”
“Let the people continue to say the Rosary every day to obtain the end of the war. In October, I will perform a miracle so that all may believe. (When Lucia offered two letters and a bottle of cologne as gifts from the people, Mary said:) None of that is necessary for Heaven.”
Lucia shouted to the people as Mary rose to leave, “If you want to see Our Lady, look that way (to the East).” When the crowd looked, hundreds or more saw the luminous globe ascending towards Heaven. But thousands who were present also witnessed other supernatural details: a sudden cooling of the air, a dimming of the sun – so much so that thousands could see the stars at mid-day, a white mist surrounding the holm oak and the children, and a shower of white, iridescent flower petals that vanished upon reaching the ground.
Visionary Jacinta.
October 13 was rainy and windy, but more than 70,000-100,000 were present to see the miracle that Mary had promised. Finally there would be proof of either a divine presence or a hoax. So skeptics as well as believers were all present together. Reporters were sent from even the most skeptical newspapers.
Promptly at noon, Mary arrived with the usual flash of light. Her snow-white feet rested upon the flowers and ribbons which adorned the tree. The faces of the children assumed an unworldly expression, their features more delicate, their color mellow, their eyes intent upon the Lady. And they were strangely dry in the pouring rain.
“I want a chapel to be built here in My honor. I am Our Lady of the Rosary. Continue to say the Rosary every day. The war will end soon and the soldiers will return to their homes. People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend Our Lord any more for He is already too much offended.”
The Blessed Virgin opened Her hands, which emitted a flood of light. While she was rising, she pointed them toward the sun, and the light gleaming from her hands brightened the sun itself.
“Look at the sun!” cried out Lucia. The rainclouds rolled back to reveal a dimmer sun — like a white disc that people could stare at without hurting their eyes. The huge crowds watched the sun bob up and down like a bright silver top. Then, it began spinning, rotating upon itself with exceedingly great speed, shooting off every imaginable color, then plunged toward the earth in a zigzag fashion. Many of the 70,000 witnesses thought they were going to die and dropped to their knees, but the sun stopped abruptly and returned to its normal position and brightness. All rain-soaked clothing was suddenly dry on every drenched person, and mud puddles were completely gone. Here are six eyewitness accounts (the last one is from Jacinta’s father):
The incorrupt body of Jacinta 15 years after her death.
“Suddenly the people broke out with a cry of extreme anguish. The sun, still rotating, had unloosened itself from the skies and came hurtling towards the earth. This huge, fiery millstone threatened to crush us with its weight. It was a dreadful sensation. During this solar occurrence, the air took on successive different colors. While looking at the sun, I noticed that everything around me darkened. Everything had the color of an amethyst – the sky, the air, everything and everybody. A little oak nearby was casting a heavy purple shadow on the ground. This did not give the impression of being an eclipse. While still looking at the sun, I noticed that the air had cleared. Everything far and near had changed now. Now everybody and everything looked yellow!”
“The sun was sometimes surrounded by blood-red flames. At other times it was aureoled with yellow and soft purple. Again, it seemed possessor of the swiftest rotation and then seemed to detach itself from the heavens, come near the earth, and give forth a tremendous heat.”
“The sun came out with a well-defined rim and seemed to come down to the height of the clouds. It started to rotate intermittently around itself like a wheel of fireworks for about eight minutes. Everything became almost dark, and the people’s features became yellow. All were kneeling in mud.”
“It looked to me as a luminous disc, with a bright, well-defined rim. It did not hurt the eyes. It looked like a small, brightly polished wheel of iridescent mother-of-pearl. The sun was not opaque, veiled, or diffused. It gave light and heat and was brightly outlined by a beveled rim.”
“The sun cast different colors, yellow, blue, and white. It trembled constantly. It looked like a revolving ball of fire falling upon the people. As the sun hurled itself towards the earth in a mighty zigzag motion, the multitude cried out in terror, ‘We are all going to die here.’ At last the sun swerved back to its orbit and rested in the sky. Everyone gave a sigh of relief. We were still alive.”
“We could look at the sun with ease. It seemed to be continually fading and glowing in one fashion, then another. It threw shafts of light one way and another, painting everything in different colors – the people, the trees, the earth, even the air. Everybody stood still and quiet, gazing at the sun. At a certain point, the sun stopped its play of light and then started dancing. It stopped once more and again started dancing until it seemed to loosen itself from the skies and fall upon the people. It was a moment of terrible suspense.”
Visionary Lucia becomes a nun in the early 1920’s.
The Miracle of the Sun was also witnessed from other nearby cities within 600 square miles. This account comes from a priest who vividly recalls that day as a nine-year old boy, living in the village of Alburitel, ten miles away from Fatima:
“About noon, we were startled by the cries and exclamations of the people going by our school. The teacher was the first to run outside to the street with all the children following her. The people cried and wept on the street; they were all pointing towards the sun. It was the Miracle promised by Our Lady. I feel unable to describe it as I saw it and felt it at the time. I was gazing at the sun; it looked so pale to me – it did not blind. It was like a ball of snow, rotating upon itself. All of a sudden, it seemed to be falling, zigzag, threatening the earth. Seized with fear, I hid myself amidst the people. Everyone was crying, waiting for the end of the world. Nearby, there was a godless man who had spent the morning making fun of the simpletons who had gone to Fatima just to see a girl. I looked at him, and he was numbed, his eyes riveted on the sun. I saw him tremble from head to foot. Then he raised his hands towards Heaven, as he was kneeling there in the mud, and cried out, ‘Our Lady, Our Lady.’ During the minutes that the miracle lasted, everything around us reflected all the colors of the rainbow. We looked at each other, and one seemed blue, another yellow, red, and so on. After ten minutes, the sun resumed its place as pale and without splendor.”
While this was going on, the three children were treated to their own private visions. To the left of the pale sun appeared St. Joseph, holding the Child Jesus in his left arm. Both he and Jesus raised their right hands and made the Sign of the Cross three times over the world. Our Lady stood in all of her brilliance to the right of the sun, dressed in her blue and white robes of Our Lady of the Rosary. Only Lucia was privileged to gaze upon Jesus, dressed in red as the Divine Redeemer, blessing the world as foretold by Mary. Beside Him stood Our Lady, dressed now in the purple robes of Our Lady of Sorrows, but without the sword. Finally, the Blessed Virgin appeared again to Lucia in all of her ethereal brightness, clothed in the simple brown robes of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Sister Lucia receives another visit on December 10, 1925.
After a long study and careful interrogation of many witnesses, the Bishop of Leiria made the following proclamation:
“The children long before set the day and hour at which it was to take place. The news spread quickly over the whole of Portugal, and although the day was chilly and pouring rain, many thousands of people gathered. They saw the different manifestations of the sun paying homage to the Queen of Heaven and Earth, who is more radiant than the sun in all its splendor. This phenomenon, which no astronomical observatory registered, was not natural. It was seen by people of all classes, members of the Church and non-Catholics. It was seen by reporters of the principal newspapers and by people many miles away.”
After the last apparition on October 13, 1917, the three children tried to return to their ordinary routine life. But the general public continued to seek them out and ask a thousand questions. Francisco and Jacinta’s parents sold their flocks and kept the children closer to home so that they would be more available to speak with inquisitive visitors. The two children would escape whenever possible, often hiding in the rock area where the angel first met with them. Lucia would join them there, when possible, as she was still shepherding her family’s sheep. Together they would recite the Rosary and reminisce about the many things Our Lady had shared with them. They continued to keep the “secrets” to themselves, although Mary’s mention of the “conversion of Russia” was confusing. Lucia thought Russia might be the name of a wicked woman!
Francisco knew that he would be taken to heaven relatively soon, so school studies seemed pointless. Praying the Rosary became his primary activity. He told people,
“I liked to see the Angel so much, but I liked Our Lady much more. What I liked best about the apparitions was seeing Our Lord in that light that the Blessed Virgin put into our hearts. I love God very much. He is so sad because of so many sins. We must not commit even the smallest sin.”
Often while the girls played among the rocks, Francisco would go off by himself and pray alone. One day the girls heard him shouting in distress – so uncharacteristic of his nature! The cries were electric with fear and shocked the girls. They came upon him, trembling with fright, and unable to rise from his knees. His voice shaking, he told them,
“It was one of those huge beasts that we saw in Hell. He was right there, breathing out flames!”
Sister Lucia is given an important vision on June 13, 1929.
The girls encouraged him not to ever think again about what they had seen in Hell.
Many people asked for the children to pray for them. One peasant woman and her son knelt before Francisco, asking Our Lady to cure her husband’s illness and keep him home and from going to war. Francisco asked them to pray the Rosary with him. Much later, the lady happily returned to report that Our Lady had granted both of her requests!
Jacinta also had several miracles attributed to her. One day, a woman with a foul disease fell to her knees before Jacinta. Jacinta knelt beside her, said three Hail Mary’s, and assured her with an unusual certainty that she would be healed. And the woman was indeed cured.
On another occasion, Aunt Vitoria’son had left their Fatima home and had not been heard from in some time. The woman sought Lucia but found Jacinta instead. Jacinta pleaded very much to Our Lady to help him find his way back home. The man had been jailed in Torres Novas until he managed to escape, fleeing to the hills where he had become lost. Fearful, he fell to his knees and prayed. A few minutes later, the image of Jacinta appeared to him, took him by the hand, and led him to the main road and gave him directions. Then she vanished before his eyes. By morning he had found his way home, thanks to her good directions. But, Jacinta had never been to that area, nor had she actually been with this man in person, according to her.
On another occasion, a soldier about to leave for the war had a sick wife at home and three small children. He wept like a child, begging Jacinta for either a cure for his sick wife or a change in his military orders. She told him to pray the Rosary with her and then assured him that Our Lady would grant his requests. Several months later, he brought his wife and children back with him, happily reporting that his orders were changed at the last moment and his wife had been healed as promised.
As Francisco became gravely ill and unable to move from his bed, Our Lady appeared to both Francisco and Jacinta again. She stated that she would be coming for Francisco very soon and Jacinta would follow not long after. Jacinta eagerly confided in her cousin,
“Our Lady asked me if I still wanted to convert more sinners. I said yes. She wants me to go to two hospitals, but it is not to cure me. It is to suffer more for the love of God, the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. My mother will take me there, and afterwards, I am to be left there alone – and will die alone.”
The Third Secret: A pope may be killed in the future.
A woman visited Francisco’s sick room one day to ask him to pray that her husband and her son might be reconciled. Her husband had banished the son from their home, greatly upsetting the mother. Francisco reassured her, telling her not to worry because he would be going to heaven soon – and would ask Our Lady for that grace when he arrived. Sure enough, it was later learned that the father and son were reconciled on the very day that Francisco went to heaven!
After much suffering but no complaining, Francisco died quietly before age 11 from pneumonia on April 4, 1919. His skeletal remains were transferred from the Fatima cemetery to the great Fatima basilica on March 13, 1952.
Jacinta spent two months in St. Augustine’s hospital, and then returned home from September through December, 1919. She had many visits from Lucia during that last period of time at home. By mid-January she was sent to a second hospital – this time in Lisbon (as predicted by Mary), where she suffered through February with the foul-smelling rotting of her own body from purulent pleurisy and two infected ribs. She sent word to Lucia that Our Lady had appeared again to her, telling her of the exact day and hour that she would be taken to heaven. She also foretold some other matters. One doctor asked for her prayers, and she prayed for him – but told him that he would die soon – and he did. She told another one of her doctors that he and his daughter would die soon, and they did, shortly after her death. She also confided to Mother Godinho that a well-liked, young, dynamic priest “will turn out badly” – and later, he indeed abandoned the priesthood and took up living in open scandal.
Father De Marchi lists a number of teachings from Blessed Mary that Jacinta shared with Mother Godinho during her stay:
“The sins which cause most souls to go to hell are the sins of the flesh.”
“The world is perishing because the people do not meditate.”
“Many marriages are not of God and do not please Our Lord.”
“Wars are punishment for sin.”
“Priests must be very, very pure.”
“Confession is a Sacrament of Mercy, and we must confess with joy and trust. There can be no salvation without confession.”
“The Mother of God wants more virgin souls bound by a vow of chastity.”
Pope John Paul II visits Lucia after the Virgin saved his life.
Jacinta died at 10:30 p.m., alone, in her hospital bed, on February 20, 1920. A nun swore that tears of dried blood were on her face, suggesting that she shared something of her Savior’s agony. Doctors were amazed that after three days, her body smelled “as sweet as a bouquet of roses.” This was a surprising and drastic change in fragrance from the horrible, repulsive stench of her illness. She still looked alive in her coffin with cheeks and lips of a beautiful pink color. A number of witnesses testified to the extraordinary sweet odor emanating from her body. It was clearly the fragrance of flowers!
On September 12, 1935, her body was transferred to a memorial where people could honor her life. When the coffin was opened for positive identification, her parents, medics, clerics and a few others were stunned that her body had not yet decayed in 15 years! During her transfer to the final resting place in the great basilica in 1951, her coffin was opened again – and her body was still incorrupt with very little decay after 31 years.
After these two young visionaries died, a small chapel was built at the site of the apparitions in the Cova da Iria. But on March 6, 1922, two bombs were placed at the site – one in the chapel and one by the holm oak tree. The bomb in the chapel blew the roof off, but the one by the tree, where Mary had appeared, failed to explode. This attack enraged people, leading to a rebuilding of the chapel, and a grand procession of 60,000 faithful followers on May 13, 1923 to return the preserved statue of Our Lady to its home in the chapel.
Lucia became a nun and joined the Dorothean Convent in Tuy, Spain. On December 10, 1925, Blessed Mary appeared to Lucia in her room at the convent. The Child Jesus was at Mary’s side, elevated upon a luminous cloud of light. Our Lady placed one hand on Lucia’s shoulder while in the other hand she held a heart surrounded by sharp thorns. The Child Jesus spoke first:
“Have pity on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother. It is covered with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce It at every moment, and there is no one to remove them with an act of reparation.”
Then Blessed Mary added,
“My daughter, look at My Heart encircled with the thorns with which ungrateful men pierce It at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Do you at least try to console Me and announce in My name that I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation for all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to Confession and receive Holy Communion, recite the Rosary and keep Me company for a quarter of an hour while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary with the intention of making reparation to Me?”
Lucia could never forget this vision of Mary’s bleeding heart. She could not get her confessor or superior to spread this devotion. Two months passed, and on February 15, 1926, the Child Jesus appeared again to Lucia, inquiring if she had spread this devotion. Lucia explained the complications that her superior had had in trying to promote this by herself. The Child Jesus replied,
“It is true that your superior alone can do nothing, but with My grace, she can do all.”
While praying in the convent in 1927, Lucia received permission from Heaven to reveal the first two parts of the Secret: the vision of Hell, and the urgent need for devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mary then explained further to Lucia,
“You have seen Hell, where the souls of sinners go. To save them, God wants to establish throughout the world the devotion to My Immaculate Heart. … I shall come later to ask for the Consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart.”
True to her word, the Virgin Mary appeared again to Lucia on June 13, 1929, while she was praying in the convent at Tuy, Spain, during the Holy Hour of Adoration and Reparation. In her own words, Sister Lucia writes:
“Suddenly, a supernatural light illuminated the whole chapel, and on the altar appeared a cross of light which reached to the ceiling. In a brighter part on the upper part of the cross, could be seen the face of a man and his body to the waist. On his breast was an equally luminous dove, and nailed to the cross, the body of another man.
Pope John Paul II meets Lucia in 2000; Luminous Mysteries in 2002.
A little below the waist, suspended in mid-air, was to be seen a Chalice and a large Host onto which fell some drops of Blood from the face of the Crucified and from a wound on His breast. These drops ran down over the Host and fell into the Chalice. Under the right arm of the Cross was Our Lady. Under the left arm of the Cross were some big letters, as if it were crystal-clear water running down over the altar, formed these words: Grace and Mercy.” Then Mary stated:
“The moment has come in which God asks the Holy Father to make, in union with all the bishops of the world, the Consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means.”
Both Pope Pius XI and Pope Pius XII ignored her requests. On May 18, 1936, Father Goncalves, her confessor, challenged Lucia as to whether she should persist in this request. Lucia replied,
“I do not know. Recently, I was speaking with Our Lord and asked Him why He would not convert Russia without the Pope doing that consecration. Jesus replied, ‘Because I want My whole Church to recognize that consecration as a Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so that later on it will put the devotion to the Immaculate Heart beside the devotion to My Sacred Heart’.”
On October 24, 1940, Sister Lucia was ordered by the Bishop of Gurza to write to the Pope and simply ask for the consecration of the world with only a “special mention” of Russia. She knew this was NOT what Mary had requested, so she prayed to Jesus. He responded that if the Pope were to respond to this favorably, He would reward that act by shortening the days of World War II – but that it would not bring about world peace until the consecration was specific to Russia. On December 2, 1940, Lucia made the request.
Pope Pius XII consecrated the world (with an oblique mention of Russia) on both October 31, 1942 and again on December 8, 1942. Winston Churchill notes in his writings on World War II that in early 1943 (almost immediately after the Pope’s act), “the hinges of fate” turned in favor of the Allies, and that thereafter the Allies won almost every battle, whereas before they had almost always lost. And Jesus confirmed his promise to Lucia again in early 1943 that “the present distress would be shortened.”
Sister Lucia finally wrote down the third part of the Fatima Secret on January 9, 1944.
During one of Our Blessed Mary’s apparitions in Montichiari, Italy, on Dec. 7, 1947, she appeared with two young children. Mary made a reference to one of her messages in Fatima. The visionary, Pierina Gilli, asked who the children were, and Mary replied, “Francisco and Jacinta.”
The Virgin Mary finally appeared to Lucia in May of 1952, and stated again,
“Make it known to the Holy Father that I am always awaiting the Consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart. Without the Consecration, Russia will not be able to convert, nor will the world have peace.”
On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II almost died from an attack by a would-be assassin. He traveled to meet Sister Lucia one year later on May 13, 1982 and thanked her for being saved by Our Lady of Fatima. The third secret had described a man clothed in white falling to the ground as though dead from gunshots. Doctors said that the bullet should have killed him but had traveled an odd, zigzag path to miss vital organs. That bullet fit neatly and permanently into the crown of Our Lady of Fatima’s statue when the Pope visited the Fatima shrine. The Pope had a statue of Fatima placed, facing Russia from his Poland, and on March 25, 1984, he consecrated the world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart in a joint effort with the world’s bishops in Rome. Within 5 years the Soviet Union was peacefully breaking apart and the Berlin Wall came down without a fight.
The Fatima, Portugal Basilica today.
Sister Lucia was still adamant about what Mary had asked for back in 1917. Pope John Paul II had renewed the same prior consecration to the world both on May 13, 1982 and March 25, 1984 – but both efforts failed to target Russia specifically, and the bishops involved did not organize a ceremony of reparation in their dioceses. Sister Lucia continued to insist on the specific conversion of Russia to the Catholic faith.
Jacinto Marto and Francisco Marto were beatified before a million pilgrims at Fatima by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 2000.
She did live “somewhat longer” — to the age of 97, dying on February 13, 2005. Her cause for sainthood was formally opened on February 13, 2008.
Today, millions visit the shrine at Fatima in Portugal every year. Pope Benedict XVI has stated that the message of Fatima is the most prophetic message of the 20th Century.
