Edson Glauber, age 22, was a university student studying economics at the time of the apparitions in northern Brazil.  He is a kind, stable, calm young man who demonstrates remarkable balance and good mental health according to Monsignor Rene Laurentin.  The series of reported visits began on May 2, 1994, in Manaus.  Blessed Mary appeared as a “very beautiful seventeen year-old.”  Our Lady told him that she is the Queen of the Holy Rosary.

She appeared along with Jesus, being held in the arms of St. Joseph, on several occasions.  When asked by Edson why Our Lady chose to appear as a mother with her son, she replied,

“Because I want to show all my children, all over the world, the love of a mother that I have for my son Jesus – and the love of a son that Jesus has for me.  For this I chose to appear as mother and son to represent this love.”

Edson tried his best to portray the image of the Holy Family as well as he saw it.  He describes that their three hearts are gathered on the same level.  The Virgin’s heart is pierced by a cross, radiating light to the heart of St. Joseph, which in turn radiates light to the land and into the heart of the little Child Jesus, in the arms of St. Joseph on the right side of the picture.  All three hearts are in alignment at the same height so that no significance or priority is given to any one person.

Our Lady speaks of the consecration to the most chaste Heart of St. Joseph.  His heart appears on his chest, and in his heart there is an “M” with a cross – as if to indicate that the hearts of Mary and Jesus are always together with his.

Edson was given the mission to pray for the young, for their conversion, for peace, and for the world.

Holy Mary speaks to the truth of the apparitions at Ghiaie di Bonate, Italy, where she had introduced herself as the Queen of the Family in 1944 (exactly 50 years earlier!).  Edson had never heard of that place or that visionary before.   But with his spiritual director, an Italian priest, and permission from the bishop of Manaus, the opportunity developed to visit Ghiaie di Bonate in Italy.  While visiting there, Edson learned that apparitions of Mary had indeed taken place and had centered on the importance of the family and family values – just as Our Lady had told him.  The Blessed Virgin insisted upon praying the Rosary and penance to save the world’s problems – which were aggravated by “unbelief.”  Mary had emphasized there the importance of prayer, the Holy Mass, confession, and communion.

Many spiritual fruits of conversion and life changes are attributed to these apparitions.  Thousands of people come every day to Itapiranga to drink the water from the healing fountain.  Some doctors have studied the reported healings there and sent their findings to the Apostolic Prefecture of Itacoatiara.

In her last public apparition on May 2, 1998 (exactly four years later to the day) in Itapiranga, Our Lady warns that she would no longer appear in that place because she had already said what she wanted to convey to the people.  Now it was time to put into practice what she had been telling them to do.

Apparitions continued privately for both Edson and his mother, Maria do Carmo, because Our Lady stated that she wanted to continue to guide them and pray with them for the Church, the world, families, and peace.

In the years, 1998-2000, the Virgin Mary appeared several times to Edson during meetings with groups of young people in Brazil.  Since 2001, Our Lady has appeared frequently on Saturdays during the prayer meeting that takes place in the home of Edson.  In addition to her request to evangelize, Our Lady asked Edson to create a soup kitchen in Itapiranga for needy children.  She also requested that a chapel be built “in memory of the workers who died in the thirties in that region.”  Blessed Mary then requested that Edson bring the healing waters that were flowing at the site of the apparitions to the sick who cannot go there for themselves.  Many conversions and positive life changes occurred after this apparition.

Thousands of people come every day to Itapiranga.  They drink water from the healing fountain.  Some doctors have studied the healings there and then sent their findings to the Apostolic Prefecture of Itacoatiara.

Bishop Jorge Eduardo Marskell remained at a distance from the reported healings and other spiritual fruits – and apparently was also unfavorable of the apparitions, according to Monsignor Rene Laurentin.  But, after five years of general and pastoral verifications, the current bishop of Itacoatiara, Archbishop Carillo Gritti, publicly celebrated Mass in the place of the apparitions.  He also worked to construct a sanctuary.  He interviewed Edson Glauber and his mother, Maria do Carmo, on several occasions.

On May 31, 2009, Archbishop Carillo Gritti approved the supernatural character of the apparitions in this statement:

“Considering these opinions, testimonies, and developments — and pondering all of this in prayer and theological reflection, everything leads me to finding that there are appearances in Itapiranga of a supernatural origin.” 

** To read more about this apparition and its messages from the Blessed Virgin, obtain the book by Dr. Mark Miravalle, entitled: The Three Hearts / Apparitions of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph from the Amazon.