The Apparitions of Our Lady of Garabandal
By Michael K. Jones

The Church's Position of Garabandal

San Sabastian de Garabandal is located on a mountain about a days ride from Madrid Spain. On June 18, 1961 Conchita Gonzalez (Feb. 7, 1949) Loli Mazon (May 1, 1949) Jacinta Conzalez (April 27, 1949) and Mari Cruz (June 21, 1950) experienced the first of what would be many apparitions.

From the beginning there were many believers as disbelievers. Regardless, these events at San Sabastian de Garabandal still remain a constant wonder well beyond the last apparition of November 13, 1965.

Still under investigation by church authorities the visions at San Sabastian de Garabandal stand solid as a rock. Through the years the unusual phenomena, testimonies and eye witness accounts offer strong evidence to the validity of Our Lady of Garabandal.

The first manifestation was that of Saint Michael the Archangel. The focus of his message; the great struggle of good and evil, and the coming of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (note: the first apparition of the Virgin Mary at Garabandal was July 2, 1961.)

During the time prior to the vision the four girls would succumb to a spell of ecstasy. Walking backwards with their heads leaning back to the shoulders they would look to the heavens arriving at the same destination thought each girl were are a different location.

It is interesting to note that the arrival of the children to the same destination was at the exact same time. Also worth noting; while walking backwards the girls would never stumble but simply step over anything in their way. Many say having witnessed the girls in the ecstasy first hand was all the proof needed to believe.

The end result of scientific evaluation revealed no rational humanistic explanation. All the blows, pin pricks, etc. could not explain how the children could detect a priest even in lay or military garb, how they could read minds or do a number of other unusual tasks.

Objects (such as rosaries) presented to the Blessed Virgin by the children would emanate sweet odors, or become luminous. After the blessing of objects the visionaries while in ecstasy would return these items to the crowd of people.

It is interesting to note that these objects were given to the children by people they did not know. One would think all these items strung over the arms of the children would quickly entangle. Not so! The four girls while walking backwards with their eyes to the heavens would remove Blessed Objects from their arms with ease, returning these Objects to its rightful owner.

The first visible miracle was announced by the angel of Friday June 22, 1962. On the 29th, the coming miracle was announced publicly. Conchita states that a 15 day advance notice came Monday July 2, 1962. The visible miracle took place Wednesday July 18, 1962.

The children had so often receive Holy Communion by the Archangel Michael on days no priest were able to give it to them. On the day of the promised miracle Conchita while in ecstasy received communion. While onlookers watched the communion host became visibly clear on the tongue of Conchita.

The miracle of the Visible Host is certainly an important even. It was in response to the children’s repeated plea for a miracle that would prove the authenticity of the apparitions. It is estimated that some 2000 to 3000 people were in the small village on this day.

There were several reliable witnessed who stood very close, some within inches of Conchita at the moment of the miracle. They affirm she first opened her mouth and put out her tongue. They certify that at that moment there was absolutely nothing on her tongue. Then suddenly the White Host appeared on her extended tongue remaining visible for about two minutes.

There were other unexpected event to take place in the mountain village of San Sabastian de Garabandal as well, far to many to list on this page. I will therefore omit them and write about the Warning, Great Miracle and Chastisement given to the four little visionaries.

This future promised miracle and chastisement as told to Conchita by Heavenly Hosts will be announced 8 days in advance so the world would know of its coming before hand. These futuristic events are likened to the futuristic events given the children of Medjugorje. Medjugorje and Garabandal are very similar in nature.

Like the promised miracle at Garabandal the prophecy of the children of Fatima Portugal, also predicted a future historical event. Receiving messages from heavenly hosts the children of Fatima announced the coming occurrence three months before it was due to happen. As promised, the miracle of the dancing sun was witnessed on October 13, 1917, even as the children of Fatima foretold it would. On that day an estimated 70 thousand witnessed the phenomena.

The Garabandal Miracle:

The visionary Conchita says, Our Lady has promised a greater miracle in Garabandal so that all may believe the apparitions and be obedient to the message. "As the punishment which we deserve for the sins of the world is great, the miracle must also be a great one, for the world needs it." It will occur on a Thursday on the feast day of a saint devoted to the Eucharist, at 8:30 in the evening, and will last for about one quarter of an hour. It will also coincide with a great event in the Church. The sick who come to Garabandal on that day will be cured, unbelievers will be converted. There will remain a permanent sign at "The Pines" as a proof of Our Lady's tremendous love for all her children.

"The sign that will remain says Conchita, "will be able to be seen, photographed and televised but it will not be able to be touched. It will appear clearly that it is something not of this world, but of God."

Conchita has been granted permission by Our Lady to announce the date of the miracle eight days in advance. With the present means of communication and travel, eight days are sufficient for people around the world to gather. The day of The miracle may be the last opportunity given us by God and may be also Our Lady's last effort to save the world from the punishment already threatened.

Some time ago Conchita wrote, "The Blessed Virgin will not allow me to reveal the nature of the miracle although I already know it. Neither can I reveal the date of it, which I know, until eight days before it is to happen." Before The miracle takes place Our Lady has said that all mankind will receive a warning from heaven.

The Warning:

Conchita wrote: "The warning comes directly from God and will be visible to the whole world and from any place where anyone many happen to be. It will be like the revelation of our sins and it will be seen and felt by everyone, believer and unbeliever alike irrespective of whatever religion he may belong to. It will be seen and felt in all parts of the world and by every person."

It will happen in the sky, no one can prevent it from happening. We will even prefer to be dead rather than to pass through this Warning. It will not kill us. It will be a "correction" of our conscience. It will cause great fear and will make us reflect within ourselves on the consequences of our own personal sins. It will be like a warning of the punishment to come. In this way the world will be offered a means of purification to prepare itself for the extraordinary grace of the Great Miracle.

Jacinta was told by Our Blessed Mother "that the warning would come when conditions were at their worst." The date was not revealed to the visionaries, however Mari-Loli does know the year; and she said that The Miracle will happen within one year after The Warning.

The Punishment:

If we do not pay attention to the message, the punishment announced by Our Lady will be visited on the whole world after The miracle. During one of their ecstasies the girls were heard praying for the innocent children but, nevertheless, they shed tears at the same time. Since the day they learned about the punishment they have developed a great spirit of sacrifice. They pray very much for sinners and for priests. They often say that if priests are not what they should be many souls will be lost.

Conchita has written: "I cannot reveal what kind of punishment it is except that it will be a result of the direct intervention of God, which makes it more terrible and fearful than anything we can imagine. It will be less painful for innocent babies to die a natural death than for those babies to die because of the punishment. All Catholics should go to confession before the punishment and the others should repent of their sins. When I saw IT (the punishment), I felt a great fear even though at the same time I was seeing Our Blessed Mother. The punishment, if it comes, will come after the miracle"

When Our Lady spoke to the girls of the punishment, her face assumed a look of great sadness. The girls revealed: "We have never seen her look so serious. When she said the words 'The cup is already filling', she spoke in a very low voice."

The Last Apparition On Saturday, November 13, 1965 Conchita had her last apparition of Our Lady in Garabandal. She gives the details in a letter of which the following is a literal translation:

"One day in church Our Lady told me in a locution that I would see her on Saturday, November 13, at the pines; it would be a special apparition to kiss the religious objects so that I could give them away afterwards. I was anxious for this day to arrive so that I could see again the Blessed Virgin and the Child Jesus who have implanted in my life the seed of God's happiness.

It was raining but it did not matter to me. I went up to the Pines carrying with me the many rosaries which people have given to me to distribute them... As I was going up I was talking to myself, being sorry for my defects, desiring not to fall into them again, for it gave me much worry to appear before the Mother of God without wiping them out.

When I arrived at the pines, I began to take the rosaries out and heard a sweet voice, that of the Virgin, which you always distinguish among others, calling me by my name. I answered her 'what?' At that very moment I saw Her with the Child in her arms. She was dressed as usual and smiling. I told Her, 'I have come to bring you the rosaries so that you can kiss them.' She said to me, 'I can see it.' I had been chewing gum, but as I was seeing Her I did not chew it; I placed the gum on a tooth. She must have noticed for She said, 'Conchita why don't you get rid of the chewing gum and offer it up as a sacrifice for the glory of my Son?' I, a bit ashamed of myself, took it out and threw it on the ground. She said afterwards, 'Do you remember what I told you on your saint's day - that you would suffer much on earth?... Now I repeat it to you. Have confidence in Us. Then I added, 'How unworthy I am, O Mother of us, of so many graces received through you, and now you have come to me to help me carry the little cross I have." She said, 'Conchita, I am not coming only for you but I am coming for all my children, with a desire to get them closer to Our Hearts.' She asked for the things I was carrying. 'Give them to me so that I can kiss all you are carrying with you.' And I gave her everything. I was bringing with me also a small crucifix which I gave her to kiss. She kissed it and said , 'Put it in the hands of the Child Jesus.' And I did that and He said nothing. I said 'This cross I intend to take with me when I go to the convent.' But he did not reply. After kissing everything She commented, 'My son, through this kiss, will work wonders. Distribute them to the others..." Of course I will do it.

After all this she requested that I tell her all the petitions for others which I had received. She said, 'Conchita, tell me, tell me things about my children. I have all of them under my cloak.' And I commented, 'It is too small and there is no room for all of us.' She smiled at this.

'Do You know, Conchita, why I did not come personally on June 18 to give you the message for the world? Because it pained me to say it myself, but I have to say it to you for your own good and, if you fulfill it, for God's glory. I love you very much and I desire your salvation; to gather you all around God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Conchita, won't you respond to this?' I said, 'If I could be always seeing you, yes; but otherwise I can't because I am very bad...' 'You do all you can,' Our Lady added, 'and We will help you, as well as my daughters Loli, Jacinta and Maricruz...'

She did not stay long with me. She also said, 'This will be the last time you see me here, but I will always be with all my children.' Afterwards she added, 'Conchita, why don't you go often to visit my Son in the Most Blessed Sacrament? Why do you let yourself be carried away by laziness and not go to visit Him Who is waiting for you day an night?'

I have written above, it was raining hard. Our Lady and the Child did not get wet. I was not aware it was raining while seeing them, but when I stopped seeing them I was soaked. I also told her, 'O how happy I am when I see you. Why don't you take me with you right now?' She answered, 'Remember what I told you on your saint's day. When you go before God you must show Him your hands filled with good works done by you for your brothers and for the glory of God; now your hands are empty.'

I spent a happy moment with my mother from heaven, my best friend, and with the Child Jesus. I have stopped seeing them but not feeling them close. Again they have sown in my soul great peace, joy and a desire to conquer my defects so that I will be able to love, with all my strength, the hearts of Jesus and Mary who love us so much..."

Conchita ends: "The Blessed Virgin Mary told me before that Jesus does not want to send the punishment in order to distress us but in order to help us and reproach us because we pay no attention to Him. And the warning will be sent in order to purify us for the miracle in which he will show us His great love, and in order that we may fulfill the message."

This in brevity is the story of Our Lady of San Sabastian de Garabandal. See our other pages on Garabandal, below.

NEWS UPDATE: June 18, 2014: Joey Lomangino who was suppose to receive his eye sight back on the day of the promised Garabandal "Miracle," passed away June 18, 2014. It was quite the shock to believers because Garabandal seer Conchita said Joey would be here for the Garabandal Miracle. Sad to say but I did some research in and around that day of his passing and found no mention of any event in the world related to a miracle. It would suggest a failure took place in regard to this apparition. Even so, I have not lost my faith in the Garabandal apparitions.