On Friday, we will be traveling to Krakow (Cracow), Poland and I don’t have a clue what my greetings will be yet.
But today is Wednesday! After a good night’s sleep, we were still very tired this morning. I think we are wearing out. We showered and loaded the car, had a lite breakfast and headed out to a very special Shrine to Our Blessed Mother in L’Ile Bouchard, France, which we had visited on one of our earlier pilgrimages.
It was cold and raining, very difficult driving at times, so we took the back roads and avoided the highways and toll roads. It was a peaceful ride through the countryside except for a few very narrow roads which I could tell Susan wasn’t too happy about (with her “total silence). I kept telling her that there were no cliffs and I could pull on the grass at the shoulder of the road if I had to … but she didn’t hear me or elected not to respond to me.
We were running early for Mass so I stopped in the village before L’Ile Bouchard to have a cup of Hot Java to warm us up. There were people around the Cafe’ and I really wanted to show off my Grey Cargo Pants that are now Rust Colored because of the bleach I used as laundry soap when we were at Rosa’s Inn (testing to see if you remember!). I realized today that my cargo’s are now actually “tye-dyed”, but I am wearing them again tomorrow so that we don’t have to do laundry again (left the bleach with Rosa)!
We lit a candle for all your intentions…as we always do.
We had changed our aggressive plan for today and decided to make this ouronly stop and, hopefully, make it with the bad weather in time for the 11:15 Mass. There is a beautiful story below about the apparitions here …but this Shrine had special meaning for me.
It was here that I first started to pray for Karina to Saint John Paul II before he was canonized … a young girl we had met at our Cathedral many, many years ago who was severely challenged in many ways .. and I Prayed to Saint John Paul for the first time, here, for Karina to speak and have a normal life. Six years later it happened…..and Karina speaks!
So, when we entered the Church of St. Giles and Our Lady of Prayer at L’Ile Bouchard Church today, I immediately saw a Side Chapel Shrine in honor of Saint John Paul II and went to his Shrine to thank him. It was a special moment for me and it was emotionally rewarding to thank him. I know that Our Blessed Mother also had a hand in it so Ithanked her too.
A group of school children came in to Pray the Rosary with their Religious Instructors as well as for Mass and we figured out that they were going to receive their First Holy Communion this weekend. During the Homily, the young Pastor of the Church instructed them on the how to receive Communion. Several times the adults in the Congregation would laugh at Father’s demonstrations of what not to do … don’t hold both hands over your head … don’t say “Merci” instead of “Amen” … don’t grab the Host and start chewing on it, etc.
After Mass we sat in the back to finish our morning prayers and the Father came over to greet us. He was very glad that we had come from America to the Shrine and astonished when we told him that this was our second time. We told him we were going to Krakow to visit with Cardinal Dziwisz and his Episcopal Secretary, Father Tomasz and he asked us to tell him that the Relic of Saint John Paul II that the Cardinal had gifted him with the Shrine of Our Lady of Pray in L’Ile Bouchard was being encased alongside a relic of Mother Theresa in an elorabate setting and would soon be installed in the Parish Church …before the upcoming Synod. We promised to deliver his message.
We went for a coffee and hopefully a toilette down the street so we could Pray our Rosary calmly back at the Shrine. The Cafe with Creme was one of the best we have had. We finished and returned to the Parish Church of St. Giles.
We were all alone back at the Shrine before the place of the apparition where we had lit candles and entered your intentions and peacefully spent at least another 1/2 hour (if not more, but who is counting) with Our Blessed Mother.
When we left we programmed the queen for our B&B and added a stop for a restaurant so we could eat along the way. Didn’t happen, so we stopped in a supermache and purchased today’s lunch, tonight’s snack, and tomorrow whatever. We had food and a bottle of wine of course.
The ride to our B&B was 2 hours and I finally got tired of the rain and the sound. I wanted to jump out of the car but managed to make it there. Susan felt the same.
Working on today’s trip report
This B&B is lovely and our accommodations are great although, a bitdangerous with the spiral staircase. I’ll bring a bucket up because once I’m upthat’s it until the morning. We worked on these reports and after a bite to eat we retired for the evening.
In complete faith, you received the message of the Archangel Gabriel
and became the mother of Jesus, the only Son of God:
Teach us to pray, in order to grow in faith.
At the Visitation, you exulted with joy in the Magnificat:
Teach us to give thanks to God.
At Cana, you asked Christ to provide wine for the wedding-feast:
Teach us to intercede in favor of our brothers and sisters.
Standing at the foot of the Cross, you suffered with Jesus for the love of
sinners:
Teach us to welcome the mercy of the Father.
At Pentecost, you prayed with the Apostles when they received the
plenitude of the Holy Spirit:
Teach us to ask the Spirit to help us bear witness to the Gospel.
You are the Mother of the Church and the Protectress of families. May you
watch over each of our families:
Teach us to love each other faithfully.
You are the Mother of humanity and the Patroness of France. Open our
country to the universal love of God:
Teach us to serve with generosity.
Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you !
Our Lady of Prayer, teach us to pray.
December 8, 1999
André VINGT-TROIS
Archbishop of Tours
Love Susan & Tom
May God bless all of you … Always!
Well, we are back in France and the trip was tedious with all of the traffic and then all of the AutoVia (Highway/Tollway) road construction. I think Susan would have been happier going back to Lekitio again. Passing lots of trucks in narrow lanes for miles was not fun for her or for moi. At one point, we must have passed a convoy of 100 trucks, They were not allowed in the left lane. Thank God!
We were in bed last night by 8:30 P.M.. I think we were both traumatized and I was exhausted after cooking dinner for 2 and a 3rd large glass of wine. I got up around 6:30 AM and I let Susan sleep after I moved her to the bedroom till about 8AM. I made a sandwich for the road and got breakfast ready to go for when she awoke. Half a pot of coffee later I was cleaning the kitchen, taking out the garbage and working on the computer. This new coffee we bought was real hi-test.
Susan got up and relaxed over a cup of coffee and our days itinerary. (And, as Susan reviews to send this email to you right now, she is saying … “EVERYONE IS GOING TO THINK I AM ONE LAZY WIFE/TRAVELER BECAUSE TOM SEEMS TO BE DOING ALL OF THE WORK!!!! … I’M IN TROUBLE NOW!)
We would have to leave soon to visit our first shrine … Our Lady of Guadeloupe in Hondarriba, Spain … another mountain shrine for sailors. After yesterday’s Shrine, I figured I should join the Navy first. Susan said from her research that getting in was iffy if the caretaker wasn’t there so we both sat down and had more coffee, finally deciding we had enough mountain costal towns for now, so we will leave this for another pilgrimage. We took our time but finally said goodbye to Rosa and headed out.
Arriving at our B&B
We arrived in Gans, France at our next B&B and were met by one of the two owners, Jackie. The B&B has been owned by Jackie’s Parents and their family for years. Nowadays, Jackie and his Mom, Jacquelyn, run the B&B with the help of their staff. He was born in Bordeaux, raised in Martinique and spent holidays in Nantucket, CT during his lifetime. He and his Mom own this lovely home and he was very gracious and showed us the residence that all the guests were able to use.
Our room was very quaint and extremely comfortable … it was a bedroom in their home and had our bed, small TV and a couple small night stands, plus a bathroom of course and the rest of the house … the kitchen, breakfast room, dining salon, Parlor, living room, patio, pool area, etc., etc.. He gave us our key and we put a few things in the room and headed out for
Verdelaise and Our Lady of the Afflicted.
We were going to meet Father Robert there and he was going to show us
around and tell us of the background of the Shrine.
Father Robert met us outside the Basilica
We were 20 minutes late and as we approached the Basilica there was a man standing outside. He wasn’t dressed as a priest but it had to be him and I told Susan we were going to get scolded for being late (only joking,Father). It didn’t happen,
Father Robert was a very gentle man and hugged Susan as soon as they said hello. (We do have to interject right here that Father reminded us so very, very much of our dear friend, Father Tim O’Toole (a/k/a “TOT) … in his peacefulness, kindness, warmth and everything else). I got a warm handshake and greeting too. He took us into the courtyard and sat as he told us about the Shrine and the history of the town.
A close look at the statue of Our Lady of the Afflicted
He then took us into the Basilica with wonderful further explanations on the background of the Shrine. Father Robert was going to leave us to Pray at the Shrine and, hopefully, walk the Way of the Cross up to the top of the hilltop. I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it up the hill with my bad knee, but I was going to give it a valiant effort.
We agreed that Father Robert would meet us back at the Basilica at 4:30 P.M. and then would walk down the street to share a glass of wine and then go to the Rosary and attend the Evening Mass.
We lit a candle for all your prayer intentions
We spent some time in the Basilica praying for your intentions, lit a candle and Susan put your intentions in the box provided.
We walked out to go across the street to the Stations of the Cross that wound up the hill and I realized I couldn’t make it, my knee and leg were really bothering me today. We went back to the car to get a pill and I realized that they were in the bag we left at Jackie’s (our B&B for the night).
We decided that I needed a pill and went back with the intention of returning for the Rosary and Mass. I tried to let Father know but couldn’t get thru to him on the phone, so I took a pill and relaxed on the lounge chair. I would have been fine, except Jackie made us a tropical coconut drink and we couldn’t say no. I woke up late for everything. Susan sent Father an apology and I’m sure he would understand.
The evening was great at Jackie’s and Jacquline’s (we call her mom). We
were in the living room on the computers but didn’t get much done as we laughed and told stories to each other for a long time. Mom sat, and her English was great, even though she didn’t think so. This family is very Catholic and we shared many things that had happened throughout our all our lives. They have a great love for St. John Paul II, just as we do. We were going to tell them about Krakow but decided to wait and get a few things done first, but ended up telling them anyway and then the photos came out and we shut off the computers.
When they fed the other people that were staying at the house Susan and I
went out to the patio to have our sandwich I had made and Jackie brought us a nice bottle of wine. He sat with us and more stories flowed especially about his dad and the army and his life in Conn. during the summers he stayed there and his encounters with women when he was young. Our faces hurt we laughed so hard and mom would come out now and then and confirm his stories and we would laugh again.
Jackie and Jaqueline
We had eaten but mom brought out a small piece of steak and little salad for each of us and then some cake. It was too good to pass up, so we had a second meal. We will diet tomorrow. It was 10:45 and mom and their cook had sat down for dinner and we forced Jackie in to eat or we would have been out there all night.
We all hugged and said good night and Susan and I went to our room feeling like we were again at home with our wonderful new friends.
Susan was asleep in less than 5 minutes and I think I was right behind her. (It was special this morning when Susan told me that she had awoken at Jackie & Jacquoelen’s in our room for the night and she woke up feeling that she was in the bedroom we always stayed in at my Mom and Dad’s in Danbury, Connecticut. That was always a very special bedroom for us and, perhaps, the love and memories of the love and memories of this family brought us “back in time” … thank you for that experience.
Editor’s Note: Tom and Sue Melillo traveled extensively to Catholic shrines and have graciously shared their experiences with us via their daily “trip reports”. Sadly, Tom is no longer with us, but his trip reports live on…and so do the memories of this faith-filled man.
Bueno Dias:
Sure you thought we were going to take the day off, we almost did but it’s Sunday and going to Mass every day doesn’t count as much as we just wanted to stay in our apartment. We woke up fully refreshed, as Susan slept on the large sofa and I had the bed. I think she got the better deal. I made breakfast with the vulture eggs we bought and some ham and cheese and toast and a pot of coffee and we headed out at 9 AM in order to make the 10:30 Mass.
This shrine was only 24 miles away but we didn’t know what to expect as far as the drive. It was a good thing we left early, the road was awful although the ride was beautiful along the northern coast of Spain. The narrow roads were treacherous and the bikers and walkers didn’t make it any easier. Susan developed a headache early on and I also did 1/2 way through.
This ride made the Amalfi Coast look tame with so many blind corners, S-Turns and the like … that at the end I just wanted to jump out of the car. We had to park over a mile from the Basilica of Our Lady of Lekeitio and walk back. I didn’t care, I was out of the car yet, I was plotting our course back for the next 2 hours, there had to be a better way.
Today was first Holy communion
The church was quite spectacular and old, right near the ocean. Today wastheir First Holy Communion Service and the children were precious…..Theadults, another story. Mass was hard to follow since the priest kept stoppingat the most important parts and would talk for 5 minutes. We were hoping he was instructing the children if not he needs a friend to talk to.
The children went to receive Communion the same time everyone went to theside altars to receive from the EMOCH’s. They needed some guidance fromsome of the ushers to pull this off properly but Susan and I kept our mouths shut and sat there.
The Corpus Christi Procession through town
At the end of Mass they began the procession of the Blessed Sacrament intothe town. We took a couple of photos before the church emptied, saw thefamous miraculous statue of sailors and made our way along the route. Wesnapped a couple of photos in the Basilica Plaza but we didn’t want to spendanymore time than we had to because we had another 2 stops so we made our way back to the car and headed out, gratefully via another route.
Winding roads, once again
The next stop was only 12 miles away in Markina-Xemein (The Parish Hermitage of San Michel the ArchAngel and Saint Pallonia (the local Saint). Butit took forever with construction and treacherous “S Turn” (Welcome toBasque Country roads). I think we were both thinking it’s time to go home to our cozy apartment.
Tom standing under the giant rocks
We were glad we went to this famous shrine, where it is said that St. Michael cast Satan into hell and placed the rocks on top that are believed to be 40 million years old. As I walked under them, I was hopeful that they had at least another 1/2 hour to go before they crumbled.
(See Photos.)
Our next stop that we had planned … we skipped. We were done for the day. We headed back to our “hacienda apartment” and arrived by 2:00 P.M. after 5 hours it took us to attend Sunday Mass and drive a total of 60 miles.
Our first line of business after arriving “home” was a Sunday cocktail to get rid of the terror shakes from the drive up and down. Susan then began to expedite the drying of our laundry via the hair drying in our apartment. Our laundry had been out on the “dry rack” for two days and was still wet.
Susan typed our daily trip report while I chilled out on the couch
I began preparing for our dinner this evening before I “faded” and Susancontinued trying to type as I lie here on the couch “chilling” after a grueling drive. I realize I love this sofa … maybe I’ll let Susan have the bed tonight and I’ll take the oversized couch with my “body pillow”.
The makings of a great dinner
We had a great dinner of steak, mushrooms (for me), corn (for Susan on her potato), nuked potatoes and a nice bottle of 2008 “something Tinto”.
After cleaning up, we locked up our apartment for the last evening, sat andtried to find English speaking TV for about 30 seconds and retired for the evening … looking forward to tomorrow.
In the morning, we are back in France.
So, Au Revoir … Adios from Espana!
Hail, White Lily of the ever peaceful and glorious Trinity! Hail Vermilion
Rose, the Delight of Heaven, of whom, the King of Heaven was born, and by
whose milk He was nourished! Do thou forever feed our souls by the
effusions of your divine influences.
Amen.
Love Susan & Tom
Bueno Dias: Sure you thought we were going to take the day off, we almost did but it’s Sunday and going to Mass every day doesn’t count as much as we just wanted to stay in our apartment. We woke up fully refreshed, as Susan slept on the large sofa and I had the bed. I think she got the better deal. I made breakfast with the vulture eggs we bought and some ham and cheese and toast and a pot of coffee and we headed out at 9 AM in order to make the 10:30 Mass. This shrine was only 24 miles away but we didn’t know what to expect as far as the drive. It was a good thing we left early, the road was awful although the ride was beautiful along the northern coast of Spain. The narrow roads were treacherous and the bikers and walkers didn’t make it any easier. Susan developed a headache early on and I also did 1/2 way through. This ride made the Amalfi Coast look tame with so many blind corners, S-Turns and the like … that at the end I just wanted to jump out of the car. We had to park over a mile from the Basilica of Our Lady of Lekeitio and walk back. I didn’t care, I was out of the car yet, I was plotting our course back for the next 2 hours, there had to be a better way.
Today was first Holy communion
The church was quite spectacular and old, right near the ocean. Today was their First Holy Communion Service and the children were precious…..The adults, another story. Mass was hard to follow since the priest kept stopping at the most important parts and would talk for 5 minutes. We were hoping he was instructing the children if not he needs a friend to talk to. The children went to receive Communion the same time everyone went to the side altars to receive from the EMOCH’s. They needed some guidance from some of the ushers to pull this off properly but Susan and I kept our mouths shut and sat there.
The Corpus Christi Procession through town
At the end of Mass they began the procession of the Blessed Sacrament into the town. We took a couple of photos before the church emptied, saw the famous miraculous statue of sailors and made our way along the route. We snapped a couple of photos in the Basilica Plaza but we didn’t want to spend anymore time than we had to because we had another 2 stops so we made our way back to the car and headed out, gratefully via another route.
Winding roads, once again
The next stop was only 12 miles away in Markina-Xemein (The Parish Hermitage of San Michel the ArchAngel and Saint Pallonia (the local Saint). But it took forever with construction and treacherous “S Turn” (Welcome to Basque Country roads). I think we were both thinking it’s time to go home to our cozy apartment.
Tom standing under the giant rocks
We were glad we went to this famous shrine, where it is said that St. Michael cast Satan into hell and placed the rocks on top that are believed to be 40 million years old. As I walked under them, I was hopeful that they had at least another 1/2 hour to go before they crumbled. (See Photos.) Our next stop that we had planned … we skipped. We were done for the day. We headed back to our “hacienda apartment” and arrived by 2:00 P.M. after 5 hours it took us to attend Sunday Mass and drive a total of 60 miles. Our first line of business after arriving “home” was a Sunday cocktail to get rid of the terror shakes from the drive up and down. Susan then began to expedite the drying of our laundry via the hair drying in our apartment. Our laundry had been out on the “dry rack” for two days and was still wet.
Susan typed our daily trip report while I chilled out on the couch
I began preparing for our dinner this evening before I “faded” and Susan continued trying to type as I lie here on the couch “chilling” after a grueling drive. I realize I love this sofa … maybe I’ll let Susan have the bed tonight and I’ll take the oversized couch with my “body pillow”.
The makings of a great dinner
We had a great dinner of steak, mushrooms (for me), corn (for Susan on her potato), nuked potatoes and a nice bottle of 2008 “something Tinto”.
After cleaning up, we locked up our apartment for the last evening, sat and tried to find English speaking TV for about 30 seconds and retired for the evening … looking forward to tomorrow. In the morning, we are back in France. So, Au Revoir … Adios from Espana!
Hail, White Lily of the ever peaceful and glorious Trinity! Hail Vermilion Rose, the Delight of Heaven, of whom, the King of Heaven was born, and by whose milk He was nourished! Do thou forever feed our souls by the effusions of your divine influences. Amen. Love Susan & Tom
The 4 of us did well in the bed last night although 1/2 of our pillows spent most of the night on the floor. I think we fell asleep that way and didn’t move. We were still tired at 9 AM when we awoke. At 11:00, I made eggs and toast and our second pot of coffee. We weren’t moving fast today, if at all. We needed a break and 3 nights in this perfect B&B was what the doctor ordered.
We needed food since tomorrow was Sunday and everything is closed on Sundays, so we decided to go back to the store we went to yesterday and get what we needed. The store was in Azpetia, the birthplace of St. Ignatius, and only 15 minutes away. We arrived there just before it re-opened at 3:30, and by the time we walked to the Basilica, the door was open.
We lit a candle for your intentions here in Loyola
We went in to say our morning prayers and Divine Mercy, it was cold in there, so we decided to say the Rosary on the way home.
We lit a candle for your intentions and departed for the store.
Stocking up on groceries for the next couple of days.
We stocked up for 2 days. We bought some calamari and fettuccine for tonight and a couple steaks for tomorrow. They with both go well with the salad I was going to make with Rosa’s lettuce. We were home by 5:15 and still exhausted. Susan typed yesterday’s report as I dictated and cooked.
Dinner came out delicioso
Dinner came out delicioso, if I do say so myself.
There was enough left over so we gave it to Rosa and Mike, later she brought us over desert.
Maybe I should learn to read Spanish!
During the cooking, I put laundry in with what I thought was detergent and was surprised when the black socks came out brown and my gray cargo’s are now rust colored. LOL, I had bought bleach! The whites came out fine … I had laundered them separately.
After dinner we crashed and tonight Susan ended up on the huge sofa since the bed seemed to have shrunk and the body pillows were fighting each other.
Buenos Noches with Amor!
O most Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of gentleness and mercy, I, an unworthy sinner, fly to you with sentiments of confidence and love. I begyou who stood close to your most beloved Son as He hung upon the cross, graciously to remain near me, a miserable sinner, and near all priests who throughout the whole Church will offer Holy Mass this day. By your gracious favor help me to offer a sacrifice which is worthy and acceptable in sight of the most high and undivided Trinity. Amen.
We got up this morning to see the Sun out and it appeared it was going to be a beautiful day. We both woke together and packed up a bit and then we went down for our Cafe Con Leche & Toast to dunk in it. We weren’t in the dining room for 15 minutes and we came out … we could hardly see across the street. A very heavy fog had moved in to Garabandal and, when you are in the mountains and in the clouds, it gives a whole new meaning to the word “fog”.
As Father Rolando had announced to us the evening before, Mass today was at 10:00 A.M. So we headed to the Church to, hopefully, get in our Morning Prayers together before Mass (we had slept in a little late this morning and had packed and brought some of the luggage down to the car).
We arrived at the Village Church and saw Father Rolando on the front patio, and on his cell phone. I told Susan … “he’s probably hearing a confession since he is so busy” … and then he actually did go into the Church to hear Confessions before Mass.
Again, at the beginning of Mass, Father greeting us in English at the Opening Prayer and at the Sign of Peace. He had Michael not only read the First Reading in English, but he motioned to him after he had proclaimed the Gospel … for Michael to read the Gospel in English as well! (Michael told us later he had no idea that was going to happen.)
After Mass, we went back to the Sacristy once again … this time Roberto accompanied us so that he could translate if need be. We exchanged our feelings in both English and Spanish (through Roberto) to each other before our departure … it was a bittersweet moment to bid farewell to Father Rolando … he has been very special to us since our first visit to Garabandal. We promised him that we will return in “approximately one year” and that, next time, we will remain in Garabandal for a longer stay. Father then departed for his next Mass in another village.
We stood in front of the Village Church and spoke about so many things with Roberto before leaving. He is originally from Mexico and had moved to Amsterdam. He was in Garabandal on a spiritual retreat. A very young and nice man who has a great loved of Our Blessed Mother, Jesus and our Catholic Faith.
After bidding farewell to Roberto, we headed across the street to the Garabandal Pilgrim Center, where we once again met Michael as promised.
Giving Michael the tablet with Mystical City of God on it
Susan and I had brought a “tablet” with us on this trip that had The Mystical City of God book on it. The two of us decided to “gift” Michael with the tablet so that he could read The Mystical City of God at his leisure. I knew he was going to give me a hard time accepting such a gift, but when he said … “well, I will accept it as a loaned gift and will give it back to you when you return to Garabandal”. We laughingly agreed to appease him (ha-ha, Michael!). He is savvy enough to figure out the tablet, but I took a little time to teach him how to bookmark his page, etc.
We then purchased a few things from the Foundation to bring home with us. Michael gave us two relics on medals that Our Lady had kissed with the visionaries when she was here. We bid farewell to our “new friend” and we know that he will see him again.
We returned to Sari & Papa’s to finish loading the car, pay our tab and bid farewell until next time. Susan was in no hurry to leave …hoping that the fog would lift and the sun would come out.
So, reluctantly, she hopped in the car and we made our way down and up and down the mountain toward our next stop … Our Lady of Bien Apareicida and the Miraculous Cross at Limpias, Spain, which was about 10 minutes away.
We were the only two people, unfortunately, at Our Lady of Bien Apareicida. It was a beautiful Shrine where an exquisite statue of Our Lady (although very small), sits high and perched above the Altar. This is a favoritedestination for many and place of pilgrimage for many people … just not today, I suppose.
The Staue of Our Lady at Bien Aparecida
That was “okay with us” so that we could enjoy and Pray. The two of us lit a candle for your Special Intentions and sat in the Church Praying our Rosary. I realized that it was close to 3:00 P.M. … time for Divine Mercy. I really wanted to Pray our Divine Mercy Prayers at Limpias and in front of the Miraculous Cross of Christ. So, we left Bien and agreed to finish our last decade of the Rosary at Limpias as well … for today was the Decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries and we felt it appropriate.
We made it to Limpias at 3:00 P.M. on the dot and we are now “two for two”! IT WAS LOCKED AGAIN! We have been to Limpias 4 times … we have been lucky enough to have been into the Shrine only twice! Very Sad.
Outside of the Church that holds the Miraculous Crucifix of Limpias
So the two of us sat in our car directly in front of the Shrine and finished our Rosary and Prayed Divine Mercy … keeping Christ company from outside.
Once again, we have to be careful….cars are not the only things on the road in the Basque Country!
We then began our treck to our next B&B in the Basque Country of Spain. Our stomachs were once again growling since it was 3:00+ in theafternoon and we had only had coffee and some bread-fast in the morning. The drive, which was mainly on the highway, went through numerous big cities in Spain and I wanted to beat rush hour and traffic.
We were two minutes away from our apartment B&B and we opted to drive 6 miles further to get to a “Supermarche” (grocery store), knowing that we had to eventually eat. We didn’t even have time for a photo op in the store because we ran through the store and grabbed anything we could find that looked appetizing (including a frozen pizza).
We arrived at our next B&B around 6:00 P.M. and “Rosa”, the owner, was waiting to greet us and happily showed us to our very small room (LOL: See Photos). This was/is “heaven” and we weren’t sure if we would ever get in the car again!
Dutifully, we managed to get out a Trip Report, had our pizza and some cheese, Chorizo, bread and a large glass of wine. We were already in our “jammies” so, shortly thereafter, we were in our bedroom. There was only oneproblem when we went to retire: There were two pillows. Unfortunately, each of them were about 5 feet long and the bed was a bit of an oversized queen bed. As we tried to figure out how to position the two of us and negotiate our pillows, it felt like there were two other bodies in our bed … I don’t know what happened because, two seconds later, I was fast asleep and I think Susan followed me shortly thereafter.
We slept really good last night and were ready for our climb up the mountain to Los Pinos. We didn’t shower, since it was warm and we knew we were going to sweat. I ran down and got a pot of coffee and, after wiring up, we grabbed a couple walking sticks and headed out. We stopped at the Village Church first to see Our Lady and Pray our Morning Prayers.
We walked through the village to the path to Los Pinos. Every time we begin our path up the rocky gorge, we remember our first visit to Garabandal in 2007 when we made our climb in the pouring rain and the water was gushing over our feet … we don’t know how we made it that year since it is a difficult climb without rain. Now we are 8 years older so maybe the tough climb has something to do with it.
Marker showing where Saint Michael the Archangel appeared
We Prayed the Stations of the Cross, as always, on our way up and stopped at the Shrine to St. Michael the Archangel (this is always a good place to “take a breather”).
Susan disappeared behind the Shrine to rid herself of the turtleneck she had worn, thinking it might be cold up there.
We decided it would become our “towel” because it was getting very hot during our climb.
We met our new friend “Roberto” on the way up … and a young man from Mexico who lives in Holland now.
Roberto pointed out the new “easier” path when he first met us … do we look that “old”? We told him that we always take the aggressive path in honor of Our Lady. We spoke for a short time and continued our climb.
Reaching Los Pinos is always a thrilling moment for both of us. This is a very special, spiritual and Prayerful place … you can feel it all around you. We finished the last Station of the Cross directly in front of the Pine Tree where Our Lady appeared numerous times to the four visionaries. There were a couple of women up at the Pines Praying their Rosary … probably 15-20 years older than us. They had taken the “easy path” up, but we give them credit because they still made the climb. They left when we finished our last Station to give us our private time at Los Pinos. We told them to stay but they had to get back to the village.
We Prayed our Rosary on the bench in front of Our Lady’s Shrine realizing that, unfortunately, we were not going to be able to make it up the RosaryPath this year as we did on our last visit here. Our hearts said “yes” but my knees and our feet said “no”.
Sue wanted me to get a “pine cone” to take home with us for our little “Shrine”. Listening to her request, I tried to whack one out of the tree and almost broke my walking stick. With no success, I decided Our Mother did not want me to take one so I quickly went over to St. Michael to ask him to pray for me for forgiveness (LOL).
After an hour up at Los Pinos, we headed back down to the Village via what we call the “Saint Padre Pio Path” which is the long way down via a very narrow road that will allow some small vehicles to drive up to the Pines. This path is a very peaceful return to reality with a beautiful and scenic walk and views of Garabandal and the mountain ranges.
On our way down, I spotted an elderly woman making her way back home down another path. She had a bag in her hand. I realized it was garbage after she stopped and threw it into the woods … I caught her red-handed with a photo (see lady with the blue hat).
Once we reached Garabandal, we stopped at the fountain. The first time we visited here, I told Susan that one side was hot water and the other cold water … she is so trusting that she had believed me! So each time we are there, I try to test it again to see if she is still gullible … LOL.
Tom typing up the notes for the day
We were in time for lunch back at Sari & Papa’s, but we had not made arrangements with them so we accepted the fact that we had planned to fast for the day, went up to our room to shower (we knew we would need it after Los Pinos) and then went down to the Salon at our Posada to get caught up on Trip Reports done which wasn’t easy with our stomach’s growling but we survived.
As we were working in the Salon, we heard loud thunder so we went out to see what was going on. There was a tremendous hail storm going on. The weather can really change quick here!
By the time we were finished and ready to attend Mass at 7:30 P.M., the storm had cleared. We left early for Mass so that we could stop at the new Garabandal Foundation Center where we met our new friend, “Michael” … an American from Philadelphia who moved to Garabandal to work at the Foundation. He told us that he had never been to Garabandal, but that, one day, on November 22, 2014, he got a “calling” from Our Blessed Mother that he shouldmove here. He sold everything (his family thought he was nuts) and he arrived at Garabandal on December 8th … the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. I think he told us that he was in the Seminary for a while and wasfloundering with his life decisions, not knowing what to do. He seemed to be enormously happy and content being here in Garabandal. My gut feeling is that Michael will be in Garabandal for a long, long time. He is a tremendous young man and we feel Blessed to have met him and shared time with him.
Here we are with Father Rolando
It was time for Mass so we all left the Foundation together to walk across to the Church. Father Rolando began Mass with a very long dissertation which, for some reason, I understood him to be telling everyone that there was not going to be the usual offering of Special Intentions today because he had done it yesterday when we arrived in Garabandal.
He also explained that if they looked in the Petition Box, they would see pages and pages of Special Intentions in English that we had delivered to Our Lady in Garabandal.
During Mass, Padre Rolando offered the Opening Prayer and the Sign of Peace to the Congregation in Spanish and then to Susan and I, in English, as he had done the day before. Tonight, we also surprised us with a special treat … unbeknownst to us, he had arranged for Michael to get up after the First Reading in Spanish (which was very long) and Michael re-read it to the Congregation (for us) in English. No one seemed to mind, not even us (although we had pre-printed all of the Readings for every day of our pilgrimage.)
When Mass concluded, we went in to the Sacristy to than Padre Rolando and he pulled out this very, very old and special Cross with our Crucified Lord on it and allowed us to venerate it after he did. This Cross was kissed by Our Blessed Mother here in Garabandal over 50 years ago … how special is that? Father then gave us a “bath” in Holy Water (I tried to tell him that we had already showered … LOL). And he Prayed a very Special Blessing over us … just incredible to both of us. A lot of hugs and kisses later, we left Padre (stomachs still growling) and headed back to Sari & Papa’s for dinner.
Michael & Barry joined us for dinner
As we entered the dining salon, we were pleasantly surprised to see that Michael and Barry (whom we met yesterday at lunch) were seated at our dinner table. The food began to come out. Michael Prayed Grace. No one spoke for a while as we chowed down … I guess we were all famished. After our stomachs quit growling, we all began what turned out to be wonderful conversations. We got on the subject of The Mystical City of God. Michael told us he had the books back in Philadelphia, but had never read it. He had a lot of questions about it which I gladly answered and shared my thoughts.
Another table of eight came in for dinner around 9:30 P.M. The four of us continued to sit and chatted for another 30-40 minutes until it was time to go to bed. Michael told us that he would open the Foundation Center early for us in the morning after Mass and we all bid each other farewell for the evening. On the way to our room, Susan and I stopped to talk to the people at the other table. A few of them spoke English and they told us that they were from Madrid and were visiting Garabandal until Sunday. They told us that they saw us at Mass and they confirmed what Father Rolando had said at Mass. We shared a few laughs and left to retire after a long and beautiful day.
Tom and Sue Melillo were indepedent travelers who visited many shrines in Europe and the Holy Land. They kindly posted daily reports of their travels and we are pleased to include them here.
Buenos Dias:
Before I begin today’s report, Susan and I want to thank those of you who have sent your well wishes, Prayer request updates, new Prayer Requests and just communications, in general, to let us know you are thinking of us. As much as we are enjoying our “personal pilgrimage”, it is so great to hear from loved ones … makes us feel wanted, I suppose (and, Kler, every time we get an email from a loved one, we say YEAH (as Kler would say!).
So back to Monzon de Campos … 6:00 AM came early … That’s pretty stupid … it usually does. There was no hesitation about getting up and getting going. Beatriz told us she would have coffee and juice and something for us to eat in the salon at the hotel. She’s no dummy getting up at that hour. As she promised it was ready and we made coffee for there and a large shot of caffeine for the road and headed out.
Barring any road delays, we were going to make Mass in Garabandal on time. The drive was two hours and forty-five minutes to and over the Cantabrian Mountain Ranges. The first forty minutes got us more than two-thirds of the way there. The rest of the time you can ask Susan about. I was in Heaven … Susan was much warmer. Susan did manage to take 100 pictures of our trek over the mountains but she has to remember to keep her eyes open. LOL
On the way to Garabandal
We pulled into Garabandal with twenty minutes to spare before Mass and we parked at Sari’s and Papa’s restaurant/Posada. We saw papa on our way up walking down the 3 mile drive from Garabandal to Cosio (which he does every day). We laughed later when we found out he gets a ride back to Garabandal from Coscio. He looked great, and Susan decided to walk more, maybe not here but in the next life.
We walked to church for the 10 AM mass and saw Father Rolando out front and got a wonderful warm greeting as he welcomed us. We went into the church to say our morning prayers and when I saw the Statue of Our Lady, the tears flowed. This is a happy place for us and a very, very “special memory of The Virgin Mary” for me!
Just as Mass was going to start Fr. Rolando left the church and a few minutes later he returned with a Monstrance. In the meanwhile, the sacristan was scurrying around to get ready for Adoration and put the Intention box in the Sanctuary near the altar.
Susan and I agreed that we should place all the intentions we have been carrying and praying for in the Intention Box to Our Lady of Garabandal and offer your Intentions to God through her Intercession. Susan filled the Special Intention Box with some difficulty since we had so many. We could both sense something special. Mass that day (and as always with Padre Rolando) was as special and sacred as always. After saying his Prayerful welcome to the Congregation in Spanish, Father turned to us and Prayed the welcome to us in English. We were astonished.
Fr Rolando gave us a warm greeting
After Mass, Benediction started and we all prayed for twenty minutes for all the intentions left for Our Lady. We knew and later confirmed that this was done every Thursday and people wondered why it was done today on Wednesday. We were very touched because we had emailed Padre Rolando long before our journey to tell him of our return to Garabandal. He knows that on our many previous pilgrimages to Garabandal, we carry many intentions and we knowand are grateful that Father Rolando did this today … especially for all of you and your Intentions. I know Our Mother had a hand in it.
We have some very special shrines yet to go and some very special intentions we will still deliver even though we know that your and our prayers will be answered in God’s way and time. We saw Father after Mass and thanked him for that special moment when we knew him and everyone else in the church were praying for you. We talked a little and, surprisingly, I understood him and he told us Mass tomorrow was at 7:30 PM.
We headed back to the car and Hotel to check in and Sari and Papa where there and we hugged and kissed. It felt like we never left. There was a new addition. Another secret kept from us before our return … BABY Alan, just 2 months old and adorable. I couldn’t find flowers on the way so I gave Sari a present of laundry soap. We all cracked up.
We got everything to the same room she always gives us with a view of the pines and rosary mountain. We weren’t planning on the climb today, we just wanted to have lunch and explore the new developments and changes that hadoccurred since our last visit 3 years ago. The first business was lunch and Sari didn’t disappoint. We could hardly move after lunch but forced ourselves to walk the village and visit the old and the new. After 3 PM Divine Mercy and the rosary in the church we went back to the room and unpacked and rested for a few minutes. We used the Salon downstairs as our computer room and caught up on reports and e-mails.
Before we knew it … it was time for dinner back at Sari & Papa’s wonderful restaurant. We were both still full but we weren’t going to eat again until tomorrow night so we forced it down. All of it! (It was great and we have never hungered at Sari & Papa’s in Garabandal.
After a great dinner, we returned to the “Salon” to continue to do computer work. It was like we were in our own four story home … so peaceful and comfortable and quiet. We worked for a while and went upstairs to retire for the evening …. so happy to be back at our “Casa de San Sebastian de Garabandal” and looking forward to our full day in Garabandal, at Los Pinos, hopefully the Rosary Path and all that Garabandal has in store.
May God bless all of you … Always!
I love thee, most lovable Lady, By the love which I bear thee, I promise ever to serve thee, and to do as much as I can, that thou be loved by others also. I put all my hopes in thee, all my salvation. Receive me as thy servant and cover me with the mantle of thy protection, thou the Mother of mercy!
We wanted to break the alarm clock when it went off this morning, but instead we reluctantly got up and showered before breakfast. More vulture eggs and bacon and we have managed to reduce the amount of caffeine with only 11/2 cups each. It’s nice not having the shakes!!
This morning was laundry day……we couldn’t put it off any longer. Before going to the laundromat, we stopped at a Carrfour super-market superstore. This made W-Mart look like a 7-11. We didn’t have the camera and a good thing, I didn’t know where to look first. They had an amazing array of everything.
We loaded up on water, wine, paper towels and laundry soap. We then went to the woman’s clothes and bought 10 Pasminas for the residents at the Foundation Home. We found the laundromat on the first try, again another placestuck on a small side street with no parking available. On our second try, Sue and I both were praying quietly and a spot came open just around the corner. Almost 2 hours later we had fresh clean clothes to hopefully get us home. I’ll never complain about doing the laundry at home again since it’s only 20 feet away.
On the way from Madrid to Prado Nuevo, we saw a gas station and it was time to fill up so we stopped and a young man jumped out of nowhere and pumped it for me. We had a few laughs and he said to me: car wash? I looked at the car and agreed it was time, so they included it on the bill and I drove in to meet the same young man who got the wash going. The car was so clean we decided to vacuum and clean the inside windows to add the finishing touches.
We were hungry so we went into El Escorial and had a burger, it wasn’t bad, and we then went to the shrine around 3:00 PM, an hour before Antonio and Marie del Carmen (Padre Guillermo’s Mom and Dad) were to meet us. When we entered, Eduardo, one of the caretakers, came over to say hello. We met him 3 years ago and when we said Americanos he remembered us and we each got a hug. He opened the gate protecting the tree Our Mother appeared on and let us venerate it: I held on tight as I did so. We then walked to the end of the shrine to the first station and prayed the Stations of the cross alone with Jesus and Our Mother. As always, the peace and tranquility wasoverwhelming.
At 4:00 p.m. sharp Tony and Carmen arrived and we hopped into their car and went to the cemetery to visit Florita’s grave. It was bittersweet that we hadn’t seen her before she died but we were happy that she was now at home withthe Lord.
The rosary in the field in front of the first apparition and Mass in the Chapel: what more can I say. It was off to the Foundation home again with the Pasminas and flowers for the Sisters. Sister Pilar was not there, so it was the universal language again. The women loved their gift as Susan draped and tied one around each one of them. It was a warming sight since most of them have no family at all.
I took a lot of pictures and will make a video for them with them in it and send it after we get home. They still watch the video from the last trip we made through here in 2012. Two of the women had a race so we could see
how fast the could walk it was funny. There is a lot of love and care given to these people and I know they are truly grateful no matter what state of health they are in.
The room where Luz Amparo received the Stigmata is now a chapel.
After the home we went to Fr. Guillermo’s rectory and community family house the has around 40 people who live and work there for the good of the whole and 10 priest and religious. I thought the Sisters worked hard, and the Sisters agreed, but these people work harder taking care of the land and livestock, the repairs and building and everything else you can think about. We got to see the room where Amparro had first received the stigmata of Christ, which is now a chapel.
We finally bid farewell to Fr. Guillermo and his parents and God willing we will see them next year. It was 9 PM and we had to get up early to pack and planned to go to mass at the foundation chapel where the house the original statue of Our Lady that was desecrated many years ago.
Back at the hotel we packed and jumped into bed hoping for a good night’s
sleep. Sue was out in a flash and I contemplated how much I was going to
miss that garage. LOL ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Well these 2 days were very busy and extremely special to both of us. We were out and running at 8 AM and getting back to our hotel at 9 PM. It was still light out so it didn’t feel so bad, until the morning.
We had breakfast at our hotel (more vulture eggs) and headed towards Madrid to finally meet Consuela and Humberto. We found a parking space on these packed, narrow streets right in front of their home. It was a wonderful moment after 3 years of communicating, and Consuela being our messenger to Florita, and all the people at Prado Nuevo.
I wasn’t sure what to expect today since the translations that we sent each other were not the best. I was down right amazed at the English they could speak and the Spanish we could follow. We laughed and joked and had the best time with them, we never stopped talking. Consuela was preparing lunch for us and we brought the wine.
Consuela made a wonderful Paella…enough for ten people I believe!
She made a wonderful Paella of chicken and calamari with lots of onions and tomatoes over a small pasta noodle.(it was enough for 10 but we managed to leave them a few leftovers). It was hard to leave but we had to find our hotel and get to Prado Nuevo in time for the Rosary and Mass that began at 5.
Our hotel even had a private garage
Our hotel was unbelievable with your own private garage, a king size bed and a dumb waiter in your room for room service so they didn’t bother you. I felt like a cloistered Nun. Of course no one spoke English but they were warm, friendly and helpful. We dropped ALL our bags after we lugged them up the stairs from the garage, not realizing they had an elevator in the lobby. DUH.
We then headed out to Prado Nuevo running just a late since we made the wrong turn onto the highway and had to go 10 miles before we could turn around. My fault not the Queens’. (ed note: the Queen is what the Melillos have named their GPS device)
Father Guillermo saw us coming thru the field and ran to greet us. We hadn’t seen him in 3 years, when he was a Deacon and spent so much time telling us of the miraculous stories that happened at this Sacred Shrine. Our Lady told Amparo, the visionary and stigmatist, that this shrine would be one of the greatest in the world, the likes of Lourdes and Fatima and people would come from all over to visit. We believe it……it is so very Holy and special and seems more so on this our 3 rd visit.
Father Guillermo introduced us to his parents, who volunteered to be our guides.
Fr. Guillermo introduced us to his parents, who were assigned as our guides. He warned us that neither spoke any English but it didn’t matter we all made do. The woman talked and Tony and I laughed. They were to stay with us for the Rosary and Mass and then take us to visit the grave of Florita. That we opted out of until the next afternoon, we wanted to bring her flowers.
The Chapel at the Shrine
Mass was special in this little chapel packed with the devout, not to mention the 100 or so people outside in chairs that couldn’t fit in the chapel. They are going to have to expand soon with another larger church especially since the approval of the apparition is moving forward rather quickly. They need prayers, so please remember them even though I know Our Lady is watching over them.
After Mass we went with Maria Del Carmen and Antonio AKA Tony, the parents of Fr. Guillermo to the old church and gift store and then headed to the Foundation, and the home for the aged that the Blessed Mother requested fromAmparo, were we first met and made Florita part of our family They now have 5 such homes.
Sister Pilar
Sister Pilar met us at the gate and took us in to the residence to see andintroduce us to everyone. Most remembered Florita and we remembered a few of them from our last visit, especially Thomas I think is his name.
He is the only man in residence, since he lives with and helps take care of his wife. 3 years ago we had a nice conservation, he reminded me of my mom and dad and the love they had for each other.
The sisters serving those in the residence
Sister was great and we got to talk to many of them and exchanged lots of hugs and kisses. You can see the joy on the Sisters’ faces as they serve the residents. We stayed until Fr. Guillermo came and we made our plan to meet his mom and dad on Mon at 4 PM at the Shrine to go to Florita’s grave, then the Rosary and Mass.
We bid them all a good night and made it back to our hotel just as the sun was going down, 9:30 p.m., with lots to do to get organized we poured a glass of wine and managed an hour before it was lights outs.
Hasta Manana:
My Queen, My Mother, I offer myself entirely to thee. And to show my devotion to thee, I offer thee this day, my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me as thy property and possession. Amen. In Loving Memory of Our Florita
Thank you for sharing our 2015 “Personal Pilgrimage” with us!
Tom & Susan Melillo
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 (USA)
E-Mail:
As I was about to end this trip report I lost the whole thing some how. I wanted to scream and yet had to laugh. The Author of the Mystical City of God, and who was commanded by God to write it, had written it twice before the final writing as she was told to burn it by two temporary confessors. She got me! Read this story below it is worth you time and get the book, which is proclaimed as the second most important book after the Bible.
As I stated before, we set the alarm for 6 AM wanting to make the 7 AM mass at Our Lady of the Pillar. We passed through the town with only a dozen youths hanging around, who were drunk and apparently had partied all night and this one old lady who walked faster than us to get to the Pillar on time. That wasn’t going to happen so we got behind her and managed to keep pace.
Mass was again so very special for us in this most Sacred Shrine to Our Lady. (I hope you read the story). After mass we lit more candles and headed for breakfast at the hotel. They had meat and cheese but it is Saturday and we don’t eat meat on Saturdays. We thought about a doggie bag but gave up the idea. Wired from our coffee and some toast we got our bags and went down to the lobby and I went down to the garage. This wasn’t any fun since some idiot parked in a no parking area. All cars are assigned a spot and this was not a spot. Some people also trying to leave had a problem negotiating their exit and scratched their car as they finally got up the ramp.
The guy was right behind me and it took almost 15 minutes of back and forth to get clear enough to approach the ramp. Well, a few scratches on both sides of the car later, I did get out….trying patiently to remember that I had just gone to Mass. (as much as I wanted to YELL at this lazy so-and-so)
We headed to Agreda and I was calmed as we said our morning prayers and Susan then re-read the story of this marvelous woman we were about to see. We arrived at the shrine, which is also a convent of cloistered nuns, and our instructions from Sister Patricia was to ring the bell and she would tend to us. How good is that!
As we waited for this sweet old lady to finish with another person we decided what we wanted to buy in the case before us. We then tried to explain to her what we wanted and the man she was waiting on helped her to understand.
Greeting Sister at the monastery
After she understood she escorted us to a small room with an opening to another room but had a bar and curtain. We weren’t sure what to expect sowe waited and in a few moments the curtain opened and our Angel of the day appeared, Sister Patricia of the Trinity. She was lovely and warming and answered all our questions after we all greeted each other thru the bars.
She taught us how to buy things in the gift shop and where to go to seeVenerable Maria De Jesus. We talked for a while, and knowing they were preparing for a big festival tonight, we reluctantly bid farewell.
The turnstile worked perfectly in the gift shop, as I told Susan the items and the Sister on the other side delivered them. She sent the bill and we sent the money and they returned the change. Great system I think some of the stores we go to should adopt.
The incorrupt body of Blessed Maria Agreda
Into the Chapel we went to venerate this Saintly Woman, who has been denied Sainthood for 350 years because of her book, which was dictated to her by the Blessed Virgin Mary, is not in sync with the overwhelming understanding of the Divine by man. She was beautiful and encased in glass, and very tiny as most Saintly incorrupt people are except for Saint Pio. (sorry Pio) We prayed before her to pray for all of you and you intentions. I know she heard us!
As usual, we left our prayer intentions…. for us and for all of you.
I have read this book 3 times and I will read it again and again. It is the most influential thing that has happened to me for the understanding of our faith. I cried on the way there and cried when I left.
We visited the cemetery after we left next to the Shrine hoping to find the grave site of the family but gave up for it was so big and headed for our overnight about an hour and a half away. This was Susan’s kind of drive, a few hills and mostly flat as we were allowed 80 MPH. We arrived to this quaint little village and our hotel which was bustling with visitors.
After checking we went for a walk thru the town and checked each rest. menu we saw for non-meat items. We were hungry. We settled for a restaurant down from our hotel and dined on Sardines (again), Queso (cheese) (again) and then I had Baclava (salted cod) and Susan had eggs, the size of a vultures, and I didn’t even get a bite before she devoured it all. As we dined outside, storms swept into the valley from all sides, and we only got a couple drops before we finished.
A group of Priests and Deacons showed up at the restaurant
A group of priests and deacons and seminarians came to the restaurant and we conversed and laughed since they all knew how to cook as we told them of our seminarian cooking classes.
We are back at the room and Susan is finishing yesterday’s story as I finish this one. Tomorrow we are in Madrid and Prado Nuevo, to meet a Counsuelo and her husband Humberto for lunch at their house. We have been communicating with her for 3 years and she would bring messages to Florita and the nuns at the nursing home for us. We can’t wait to meet them. Later at Prado Nuevo when we go to Mass we hope to see Padre Besan and Padre Guillermo, who was a seminarian when we first met him and was just ordained, as well as the Sisters, Priest and elderly at this Shrine to Our Lady that we hold dear to our hearts.
Ok this is it, it’s 7 PM and we will relax and and read for awhile and lights out.
Adios amigos,
O Mary Immaculate, Virgin so fair
Mother of Our Savior, please hear my prayer
Intercede, dearest Mother
to Your Heavenly Son.
Tell Him I am truly sorry for all the wrongs I have done.
Ask Him to guide me by the Gifts of The Holy Spirit
in all of my deeds and way.
So that I may give Him glory, honour and praise at the end of my days.
Amen.
Love to you all
Susan & Tom
The victory of Christ over hell
As reported by Mary of Agreda
Venerable Mary of Agreda was born on April 2, 1602, in Agreda, Spain.
Christened Maria Fernandez Coronel, she took the blue habit and made her vows as a nun in the Franciscan order, and in 1627 she became abbess of the Agreda Franciscan monastery until her death on May 24, 1665. The process to declare her a saint began almost immediately after her death, in 1672, as she had lived a life of evident holiness in the eyes of her contemporaries.
During her life, she had experienced mystical phenomena including privaterevelations. The most famous of these writings is the Mystical City of God: Divine History of the Virgin, Mother of God, which had been dictated by the Virgin Mary Herself. Even after death, Sister Agreda continues to defy the rationalists and non-believers: her body, kept in her convent, is incorrupt. Like asmall number of deceased mystics and Catholic saints, the nun’s body refuses to naturally decay, even after 339 long years.
JUST A NUN FROM AGREDA
Another notable character on our journey is Sister Marie de Jesus Agreda, born April 2, 1602, in Agreda, Spain. Christened Maria Fernandez Coronel, she donned the blue habit and took her vows as a nun in the Franciscan order, and in 1627 she became abbess of the Agreda Franciscan monastery until her death in 1665. The Encyclopedia Britannica states:
“Her virtues and holy life were universally acknowledged, but controversy arose over her mystical writings, her political influence, and her
missionary activities (my italics). Her best known work is The Mystical City of God (1670), a life of the Virgin Mary ostensibly based on divine revelations granted to Maria. It was placed on the Index Libroum Prohibitorum in 1681, but the ban was lifted in 1747.”
THE 502 RAPTURES
In 1620, teenaged Sister Maria of Agreda, began having unnerving visions, or raptures. Cloistered in the convent, she would meditate for hours,
sometimes all day, and return and tell her fellow sisters wondrous stories of her “over 500” spiritual travels to a faraway land, meeting savages and
telling them of the Word of Christ. She experienced many of these episodes ofrapturous meditation and bi-location, and word began to spread of the young nun in the convent. Finally, convinced of the reality of her experiences, she wrote a book in which she described, in great detail, her missionary work bringing the Word of Christ to the savages of The New World. In early Fifteenth-Century Spain, this was not a prudent claim to make during the height of the Holy Inquisition, which quickly put to death untold thousands found “guilty” of witchcraft and dealings with demonic forces.
Before long the Inquisition took a pointed interest in the good Sister of Agreda, and she found herself at the center of a dangerous, whirling controversy. She insisted to the Father Inquisitor that she was indeed bi-locating and doing God’s work, but to no avail. A very public trial ensued with the full brunt of the powerful Church bearing down on the poor nun from Agreda. During the height of her trial, a newly returned expedition of conquistadors and friars arrived in Spain with a wondrous tale.
A PUZZLING SCENARIO
It seems that the Spanish explorers, while in the unexplored region north of Mexico, had encountered numerous Native American tribes in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas who had already been converted to Christianity, and somehow knew of “Jesus Christ” the Savior. Even more fantastic were the Indian’s claims of being visited by a white-skinned “Blue Lady” who appeared to many, drifting in a blue haze while she preached the word of the Lord in their native languages. She helped them to build crosses and places of worship,and even handed out rosaries and religious objects.
“From 1620 to approximately 1631 the Spanish nun flew from Spain to the North American State of New Mexico on more than 500 occasions. Thus it was established in the open case of the Holy Inquisition against the nun in 1635, in which it was affirmed further that no one in the convent noticed her absence during those flights. On occasion they would happen twice during the same day. . . How then can we explain a woman of scarcely eighteen years of age that could bi-locate to New Mexico, and while there, she would dedicate herself to distribute among the natives rosaries and other liturgical objects as she instructed them about the truth of the Christian faith. . . Her trips occurred shortly before the diocese of Mexico decided to send evangelizers [north] towards those unexplored territories. Her visits made their
efforts considerably easier. 11”
POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THE CONQUEST OF NEW MEXICO
These first Spanish explorers to the Southwest were amazed by the Natives knowledge of Christianity and were baffled by the rosaries they were shown and by their earnest descriptions of the “Blue Lady” that had come from afar and preached to them.
“Finally, when the first Franciscans, led by Friar Benvenedes, arrived [at the Isleta Pueblo] they discovered a singular spectacle. Thousands of
Indians approached the Franciscans and asked earnestly for baptism. Benvenedes wrote later of the Spaniard’s efforts to ascertain how the
Indians had foreknowledge of Christianity:
“‘When those Indians were asked to tell us what was the reason for which, with so much affection, they asked for baptism and religious
indoctrination, they answered that a woman had come and preached to each one of them in
their own tongue.
The rapid Spanish conquest and control of New Mexico in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries may have partially been due to Sister Agreda’s solo
missionary efforts on behalf of a bewildered Catholic Church.
“Only in New Mexico did the Franciscans baptize more than 50,000 people in record time and rapidly install twenty-five missions and minister to more than ninety towns. The Indians remembered with special veneration the Blue Lady, the one whom they gave this name due to her blue mantle of celestial tones she wore on her back. 14” During the mid-Sixteen-hundreds, the celebrated bi-locating nun from Agreda garnered national notoriety. King Philip of Spain may have enlisted her help in foreign affairs, and it is firmly documented that the king carried on a life-long correspondence with her. It is surmised by some that Sister Agreda may have even bi-located to foreign courts on covert foreign-policy missions on behalf of Spain. Now one would think that this story, alone, is compelling, but the unbelievable saga of our talented nun and her doppleganger-twin does not end there.
INCORRUPTIBLE IN DEATH
Even in death, Sister Agreda defies the rationalists and supplies non-believers and the faithful with evidence of her fantastic talents. In a
secluded crypt on the grounds of the convent we find what proves to be the latestdramatic chapter to her unbelievable story. Sister Marie Jesus Agreda’s body, it turns out, is incorruptible. Like a small number of deceased mystics and Catholic saints, the nun’s body refuses to naturally decay, even after 335 long years. The flush of her cheeks and her life-like features still baffle the Catholic Church and modern science. During an opening of her casket in 1909, a cursory scientific examination was performed on the pristine body in peaceful repose, astounding the scientists and doctors who were allowed to perform the examination. In 1989 a Spanish physician named Andreas Medina participated in another examination of Sister Maria Jesus Agreda as she lay in the convent of the Conceptionist nuns, the same monastery where she had lived in the 1600s.
