Garabandal, Spain: Our Lady of Garabandal, The Warning and the Miracle
About Garabandal:
In a century of many reported apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary comes one that is still controversial, yet many feel it is very important and worthy of belief. Garabandal, a tiny hamlet of about 300 people–and very primitive–in the Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain was the site of reported apparitions to four young girls beginning on June 18, 1961.
There was a small church in the village of Garabandal, but because of the remoteness of the village, and lack of its own priest, Fr. Valentin Marichalar, a priest in the nearby village of Cosio, traveled by horseback on Sunday, to say Mass for the villagers. As a result Mass was celebrated only once a week.
Above, on the right, see a small stand of 9 pine trees on a hill just outside the village that play a prominent role in the messages.
This amazing testimony, has been told to us first hand by the villagers, mainly Serafin and his wife, Paquita Gonzalez. Serafin is the brother of one of the visionaries (Conchita).
Here is the story of Our Lady of Garabandal as told by the children:
On June 18th, 1961 four girls: Conchita González, Jacinta González and Mari Loli Mazón (all 12 years old at the time) and Mari Cruz González (who was 11), were playing together near the village when they heard a sound like thunder and suddenly an angel (identified as Saint Michael the Archangel) in dazzling white stood before them. The angel said nothing and the girls, terrified by what they had seen, ran to the village church. Over the next few days the angel appeared to them again, but once again said nothing.
They encountered skepticism from their parents, local parish priest and most of the villagers, who accused them of making the whole thing up. But over the next several days, many of the villagers began to join the girls and prayed the Rosary with them.
Finally, on July 1st, the angel spoke for the first time: announcing that he had come to tell them that on the following day, the Blessed Virgin Mary would appear to them as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The next day, July 2, Our Lady did indeed appear as Our Lady of Mount Carmel, holding the infant Jesus with two angels at her side. Interestingly, at that time, this day was the feast of the Visitation, until it was later changed to the 31st of May by Paul VI in the reform of the Calendarium Romanum on February 14, 1969.
Our Lady foretold three momentous events that would occur:
1. A world-wide warning to be seen and felt by all (an illumination of conscience).
2. A miraculous sign to be left at the Pines in Garabandal within 12 months of the warning.
3. A final chastisement if mankind does not repent.
There is much more to the story so click here for more details about the prophecies of Garabandal and the fate of the visionaries.
And bear in mind that the alleged apparitions remain under investigation by the Church. A great deal of misinformation was distributed that cast doubt on the apparitions but most of that proved untrue. We leave it up to you to decide. Personally we can attest to the sincerity of the villagers who were involved in the early days of the reported apparitions.
Click here to learn more about the visionaries and their lives.
Click here for a website dedicated to Garabandal…be sure to watch the outstanding video!
There are several good books about Garabandal available. The most comprehensive is the three-volume set entitled “She Went in Haste to the Mountain“.
Traveling to Garabandal:
The nearest major town is Santander, which has an airport served primarily by Iberia Airlines. San Sebastian de Garabandal is about 50 miles south of Santander. There is no rail service.
There are several tour companies that offer pilgrimages involving a stay at Garabandal.
If you are traveling on your own, you can travel by bus from Santander to Cosio, a little over two miles from Garabandal.
From there you would need a taxi, unless you plan to borrow someone’s mule! Of course, if you are driving, you can make your way directly to the village.
GPS coordinates for the Pines in Garabandal: 43° 11′ 53.4948” N, 4° 25′ 28.3836” W
Contact:
email: rolandogarabandal@gmail.com
Click here for a website dedicated to Garabandal…be sure to watch the video!
Click here for the official website of the parish of Garabandal.
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Sorry, we do not. But perhaps someone will respond to your request.