Visions of Garabandal

It was in 1963 that a man by the name of Joey Lomangino who had been cured previously by St. Padre Pio, went to see him again with a big question he had weighing on his heart. A friend of Joey's was interested in visiting the town of Garabandal, Spain to visit a group of four girls who had been reported of seeing apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Joey knew nothing of them and, besides he only wanted to stay at San Giovanni where he could be near Padre Pio. Joey persuaded his friend to put the matter before Padre Pio and accept whatever the Padre Pio would say. Joey asked the question:
“Father is it true that the Virgin Mary is appearing to four girls in Spain?”

The answer was simply: “Yes.”

But Joey still wanted an out, and so he asked:

“Father, should we go to Garabandal?”

The answer again was simply: “Yes.”

And so with the assurance that these apparitions were of God, and following the instructions of Padre Pio, Joey Lomangino went to Garabandal. So what is it that is in Garabandal? And what is it's story?

The Garabandal apparitions were apparitions of Saint Michael the Archangel and the Blessed Virgin Mary that are claimed to have occurred from 1961 to 1965 to four young schoolgirls in the rural village of San Sebastián de Garabandal in Northern Spain. The visitations numbered in the thousands, drew huge crowds, and featured supposed paranormal phenomena, much of it filmed or photographed, with thousands of witnesses. The women receiving the visions were Mari Loli Mazón , Jacinta González, Mari Cruz González  and Conchita González.

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

According to the visionaries, the purpose of the visitations was to call for a "conversion of heart". The visionaries reported receiving two 'messages', one directly from the Blessed Virgin Mary and the other from the Virgin Mary by way of Saint Michael the Archangel. The first, revealed on October 18, 1961, states:

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

The June 18, 1965 apparition, in which Conchita heard the second message, was televised live by Spanish television. Only Conchita González, regarded by most devotees of Garabandal as the "principal visionary", reported receiving the second "message":

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

The second message caused particular controversy when it was revealed that Conchita had actually written "many cardinals, many bishops and many priests are following the road to perdition." She was asked many times to verify this information. The young women stated many times that Mary stressed the importance of the priesthood, and focused attention on priests above other witnesses at the apparitions.

What is also interesting about this message and the series of visions is that it directly correlates with the occurrences in the Church at the time with Vatican II. Was our Blessed Mother warning us that the events of Vatican II would lead to many priests on the road to perdition? Indeed, there is a significance to the timing of these apparitions.

Along with this message at Garabandal, Our Lady also gave to them a Papal Prophecy stating that after Pope John XXIII there will be three more popes and then it will be the end of our times but not the end of the world.  According to the prophecy then, the death of the third pope, John Paul II, signalled a line of demarcation, and we are now in the phase that leads up to the great prophesied events and the end of our times. For many this is unconvincing since we now have had five popes with the election of Pope Francis. But there is something we must consider which lends credibility  to the prophecy and that is the accuracy with which Conchita described the popes after John XXIII. On the day Bl. Pope John XXIII died, Eloisa de la Roza Velard said to Conchita, "Maybe the next pope will not continue the Council?" But Conchita replied emphatically that another pope will continue the Council. This of course, was Pope Paul VI. Conchita told Mother Maria Nieves Garcia, M.M.C., Superior of the school in Burgos, that one of the popes to come would have a very short reign. (Pope John Paul l reigned for 33 days.) Conchita also told Mother Nieves, the pope that follows will be of the same name and will be a great lover of the Virgin. This clearly refers to Bl. Pope John Paul II. This confirms that Conchita's words were true and that each pope she described fulfilled the truth of the overall prophecy, to which there is still more.

But what about Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, how do they fit in all this? If Conchita was told about all the above mentioned popes, she must know about them as well but has declined to say anything publicly. Fr. Eusebio Garcia de Pesquera, author of "She Went In Haste to the Mountain", had in his possession for his book, a lengthy interview which Fr. Materne Laffineur conducted with Conchita in 1966, but he did not publish everything and said some of it was not for now. Perhaps it dealt with this subject.

It is also possible that what is referred to in the prophecy of the three popes, is that they mark the end of one time and the first of another (end?) “time” and the threshold of the great prophesied events. Therefore, was Pope Benedict's resignation caused by a supernatural calling from above for another Pope to come and make ready the Church for future prophecies to come true? What future prophesied events am I referring to?

Besides the two "messages", the visionaries forecast a "warning", a "miracle" and a "punishment" (if people do not correct their ways). The warning is described as a momentary stopping of time around the world, and people see the spiritual condition of their souls, and how they should amend their ways. Within a year of the warning, a miracle will take place. The miracle will leave a permanent sign in Garabandal, which can be seen, televised and photographed, but no one will be able to touch it. It will be a clear sign of God and not something that could be speculated to be "man-made".

It is definitely clear as I have mentioned before in many of my other posts, that we are in a time when something BIG is going to happen. And happen very soon! For it is said that Conchita herself will announce to the world that the event is about to happen 8 days before. Conchita is currently 64 years old.

But again I must tell you all not to worry, and not to be afraid. As Our Lady said in her message to the four girls of Garabandal, "I love you very much, and I do not want your condemnation. Ask Us sincerely and We shall grant your plea. You must make more sacrifices. Reflect on the Passion of Jesus."

God love you all! Pray the Rosary daily!