Our Lady of Pellevoisin

Visionary Estelle Faguette

The years after the French revolution were to be decisive and also tumultuous ones for France, as the need for a Monarchy was replaced with the more acceptable Republic. These were difficult years for the people of France as it recovered from the Prussian invasion as different reigns disappeared overnight to be replaced with a Republic and new forms of government. And with these decisions France was to see different leaders came and go, which left the people with feelings of instability, at a time when many people were struggling with poverty and disease.

But it was during the year 1876 that once again France was given a great favour from Heaven, with a visit from our Lady to the visionary Estelle Faguette. This was at a time when many thought Estelle was going to die including herself, as she was suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis an incurable disease, and was suffering much pain.

It was during the night of 10th February that Estelle came perilously close to death as the doctor affirmed. But Estelle survived that night and it was on the night of 14th-15th of February that Estelle first saw a vision of our Lady and upon her appearance a demon that was trying to torment poor Estelle vanished!

Our Lady was to appear several times to this visionary and also our Lady promised Estelle that she would be cured within the week and it was on 19th of February 1876 upon receiving the Eucharist, that Estelle proclaimed herself cured!

Her doctors were astounded as none had any hope at all for Estelle and were simply waiting for this dreaded disease to ravage her body. This not only astounded the doctors but also all those who heard Estelle say that through our Lady she would be cured and she was!

Estelle came from a poor family where her Mother was deeply devout whilst her Father, remained indifferent towards religion as he concentrated on providing for his family, as in all families times were difficult. It was through her Mother that Estelle developed a deep love and reverence for our Holy Mother and prayed to her often.

Our Lady was to repay Estelle's love for her in a miraculous way in that Estelle was to be totally healed of tuberculosis, but though our Lady relieved Estelle of this disease she also confided to her beloved child that her sufferings would now be spiritual. She also warned Estelle that many would think her mad and that some of her friends would abandon her. But Our Lady offered this consolation in her words, "pay no attention to all that. I will help you."

On 16 of February Estelle was tormented again by Satan, but once again his demonic appearance ended once Our Lady came to Estelle’s aid. Her words of loving comfort were, "I am merciful and Mistress of My Son. The few good works and the intense prayers, which you offered me, have touched My Motherly heart...". Our lady was to reiterate this later when she said. "I am merciful and hold sway with my Son"...Have courage, patience and resignation; you will suffer and will not be free of troubles; try to be faithful and make known my glory".

Our Lady emphasised love and devotion to her Son and most especially in receiving the Eucharist in a worthy manner, she also emphasised the importance of prayer and exhorted Estelle and others to pray much for the forgiveness of sins, and to offer sacrifices for the repentance of others.

Estelle was also told of the tribulations that France would have to endure but she then added, "One can be saved in every state. Where you are, you can do a great deal of good, and you can publish my glory."

During these appearances our Lady also requested that a Scapular be made and with these words said to Estelle, "You will yourself go to the Prelate and you will show him the pattern you have made. Ask him to help you as much as is in his power, and tell him nothing would please me more than to see this worn by every one of my children, and for them all to endeavour to atone for the outrages my Son receives in the sacrament of His love. See the graces I shower upon those who will wear it with confidence and will help you to propagate it."

The Scapular has a picture of The Sacred Heart of Jesus and on the other side it has an image of Our Lady showering all those who wear it with Graces from Heaven. This Scapular gained the approval of the Catholic Church on April 4th, 1900.

Estelle Faguette died in 1929.

I would encourage all to learn more about Our Lady of Pellevoisin.

Peace of Christ to you ALL.

Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Our Lady of Beauraing

Our Lady of Beauraing

Also known as Our Lady of the Golden Heart
Memorial 29 November
Date(s) 29 November 1932 - 3 January 1933

Beauraing 1932
Beauraing is a small village in the French speaking part of Belgium.
Our Lady appeared there to 5 children Andree and Gilberte Degeimbre 15 and 9 years old, Fernande, Gilberte and Albert Voisin 15, 13 and 11 years old.

Our Lady appeared 33 times to these children and the first time was on November 29th, 1932 and the last one January 3, 1933.

On November 29 1932 Fernande, Andree and her sister Gilberteand Albert Voisin went to the local convent school to meetup with Albert's sister Gilberte. Albert rang at the door to the convent and as he waited, he turned around and looked toward the street and the railroad bridge and the little Lourdes grotto. He saw Our lady there dressed in white and when the girls turned around they saw her too above the bridge and the grotto, clouds covering her feet. The girls also saw Our Lady dressed inwhite with her feet hiden by a little cloud.

This was the first apparition and nobody would believe them, not their parents, the Mother Superior of the convent or anybody in their village did.

On December 1, Our Lady appeared for the second time and from that time she would appear nearby a hawthorn tree near the grotto to the children. As soon as Our Lady appeard the children were thrown on their knees and prayed Hail Marys in a loud, high voice. They would only stop if Our Lady was talking to them.

On December 2 Albert asked Our Lady if she was the ImmaculateVirgin, and She smiled and nodded her head, and said to him:"Always be good."

The news was spreaded rapidly and on through the village and the rest of Belgium and beyond. More and more people would come to the hawthorn tree in the grotto to pray the rosary with the children.

On December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception the children were in ecstasy and matches that were lighted were held underneath their hands, they also got pinpricks, etc. but they were not injured or harmed in any way.

The local priest Fr. Lambert and the Church authorities were very prudent about the apparitions and refused to getinvolved. Even the local bishop ordered the priests not to go to the site.

The children were closely watched at the apparitions and questioned separetely.

On December 29 Mary also showed her Golden Heart surrounded by rays to Fernande, the next day also to the other children. Our Lady instructed to build a chapel for pilgirms and She said: "I am the Immaculate Virgin"

Our Lady also said she would give proof that she was theImmaculate Virgin and said: "pray, pray very much and always". Our Lady was wearing a white dress and veil, and a crown.

On January 1, 1933 Our Lady said to Gilberte Voisin to "Pray always," and said that on January 3 she would appear for the last time and would speak to them separately.

On January 3 a crowd of over 30,000 people came to the grotto for the last apparition of Our Lady to the children. She had a message for each of them.

To Gilberte Voisin she said: "I will convert sinners. Goodbye:"

To Andree she said: " I am the Mother of God, the Queen ofHeaven. Pray always. Goodbye:"

To Fernande: "Do you love my Son and me?" which Fernande replied yes "Then sacrifice yourself for me. Goodbye". Our Lady then disappeared.

In July 1935 the bishop appointed a commission of inquiry and in February 1943 Bishop Charue gave his permission for public devotions to Our Lady at Beauraing. In July 1949 the shrine was officially recognised and 2 important documents were issued. One was about the many cures that had taken place at Beauraing and the second one was to affirm that the Queen of Heaven appeared to the children of Beauraing in 1932-1933.

Our Lady of Good Success

Visionary Venerable Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres.

Mother Mariana's early life is shrouded in mystery, so let us begin with the favour that was granted to this most Holy and extraordinary woman of Spain!

Mother Mariana was to be the recipient of Divine Prophecies, but in her wish to remain hidden from the world not much is known about this most wonderful Religious.

God gifted Mother Mariana with the ability to discern souls and to advise her fellow sisters in what is pleasing to God and that all of them should live to please their Father in Heaven and spend less time worrying over the opinion of others. The sisters listened to their Superior as they knew she was wise and that God had touched this woman in a singular way.

But not all the sisters were in favour of these messages nor of their Superior, who strove to maintain a disciplined religious life, many of the sisters did not wish to have such a regimented life and longed for the Rule to be relaxed. They opposed Mother Mariana and those that listened to this most Holy Nun, so much so that they threw Mother Mariana and her supporters into prison.

Mother Mariana suffered severe torments for the sake and the souls of these disobedient Nuns, but her Faith remained undisturbed and her heart at peace, for she remained truly humble and accepted all from the hand of a Loving God.

Mother Mariana was a Spanish Conceptionist who set sail for the new world in order to spread the Word and Love of God into distant lands, hence she arrived in Ecuador, in order to fulfill this mission of making God known throughout the world.

But Mother Mariana was no ordinary woman and it soon became apparent that God had found favour with her and she became the recipient of Divine Prophecies and Mystical events. It has been recorded that Mother Mariana suffered several deaths and at her first death she appeared before God and was given the choice to remain in Heaven or return to earth and suffer for those who's lives would become abhorrent to our Heavenly Father. Mother Mariana chose the latter and suffered in expiation for those who had no love nor reverence for God as would happen when the world entered the twentieth century! She also died on Good Friday in the year 1588 where upon her death she was shown the terrible heresies which would afflict the Church in the twentieth century. She was horrified at such sights and her heart was grieved at the outrages she saw in this vision!

Mother Mariana was to receive many visions and also prophetic messages in her life time, beginning as a child when she was only 9 years old and she saw our Lady appear to her and informed her that she would become a religious of the Order of the Immaculate Conception. In 1582 our Lady once again appeared to Mariana and said to her, "My daughter, will you sacrifice yourself for the people of this time?" Upon seeing in a vision what the future held for the Church, Mariana agreed to our Lady's request, for she was truly horrified to see the decadence which would be all pervasive in the twentieth century!

Our Lady warned Mother Mariana of great Chastisements that would befall this world if the lack of reverence for God persisted and revealed to Mariana the great level of disbelief that would herald in the end for the world as we know it.

Mother Mariana became aware that the greatest grief for our Lord was the indifference and ingratitude towards His Most Sacred Heart and His Presence in the Tabernacles by His Priests and religious, Mariana was obviously deeply distressed at this and offered herself in expiation against these outrages!

Our Lady told Mother Mariana, "Oh, if only human beings and religious knew what Heaven is and what it is to possess God, how differently they would live, sparing no sacrifice in order to enter more fully into possession of it! But some let themselves be dazzled by the false glamor of honors and human greatness while others are blinded by self-love, not realizing that they are falling into lukewarmness, that immense evil which in religious houses destroys their fervor, humility, self-renunciation and the ceaseless practice of religious virtues and fraternal charity and that child-like simplicity which makes souls so dear to my Divine Son and to me, their Mother." Our Lady always emphasized greater devotion to her Son and also the Sacrament of Penance and to restore among her priestly sons a love for God and His Church.

And also gave these prophetic Messages, that in the twentieth century due to a lack of religious fervor by the sons and daughters of the Church, a great falling away would happen. And our Lady continued, "under the appearance of virtue and bad-spirited zeal, would turn upon Religion, who nourished them at her breast." "During this time," she continued, "insomuch as this poor country will lack the Christian spirit, the Sacrament of Extreme Unction will be little esteemed. Many people will die without receiving it – either because of the negligence of their families or their false sentimentality that tries to protect the sick from seeing the gravity of their situations, or because they will rebel against the spirit of the Catholic Church, impelled by the malice of the devil. Thus many souls will be deprived of innumerable graces, consolations and the strength they need to make that great leap from time to eternity..." "As for the Sacrament of Matrimony, which symbolizes the union of Christ with His Church, it will be attacked and profaned in the fullest sense of the word. Masonry, which will then be in power, will enact iniquitous laws with the objective of doing away with this Sacrament, making it easy for everyone to live in sin, encouraging the procreation of illegitimate children born without the blessing of the Church. The Christian spirit will rapidly decay, extinguishing the precious light of Faith until if reaches the point that there will be an almost total and general corruption of customs. The effects of secular education will increase, which will be one reason for the lack of priestly and religious vocations..." "Moreover, in these unhappy times, there will be unbridled luxury which, acting thus to snare the rest into sin, will conquer innumerable frivolous souls who will be lost. Innocence will almost no longer be found in children, nor modesty in women, and in this supreme moment of need of the Church, those who should speak will fall silent."

Our Lord also warned Mariana, "Know, moreover, that Divine Justice releases terrible chastisements on entire nations, not only for the sins of the people, but for those of priests and religious persons. For the latter are called, by the perfection of their state, to be the salt of the earth, the masters of truth, and the deflectors of Divine Wrath. Straying from their divine mission, they degrade themselves in such a way that, before the eyes of God they quicken the rigor of the punishments..."

But also with a message of hope, for our Lord added, "For in all times I have need of valiant souls to save My Church and the prevaricating world." And that our Lord would be appeased by such souls who offered themselves in expiation for the sins of others.

Remember all this and more was revealed to Mother Mariana in the 16th century, we in this century are left with much to ponder on, among Mother Mariana's prophecies was also this, that the Immaculate Conception and Papal Infallibility would be strictly defined and declared dogma!

Mother Mariana died on January 16, 1635.

When her body was exhumed from its rest, her body was found to be incorrupt.

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Our Lady of Lavang

Our Lady of Lavang - La'Vang, Vietnam 1798

In 1533 the first Catholic missionaries arrived in Vietnam. Just one hundred years later there were over a hundred thousandCatholics and seminaries were established and in 1668 the first 2 native priests were ordained.

All through history Catholics have been persecuted including in Vietnam. Specially in 1698 there were severe persecutions. In the 18th and 19th century there were more persecutions. But the Vietnamese Catholics stood firm no matter how dangerous it was. In the 18th century there were already a hundred thousand martyrs. Today bishops and priests are still harrassed because of the communist regime.

By the end of the 17th century the Catholics in Vietnam was so bad that many people fled into the jungle near Lavang near Quang Tri a village in central Vietnam. There a lot of people became sick and they were hungry. One day as the people there were praying the rosary together, they saw a beautful lady holding a little child, with angels all around her. She was simply dressed but with a long cape and she had a crown on. The people recognized her as Our Blessed Lady, Queen of Heaven. Our Blessed Lady comforted and consoled them and taught them how to make medicine from leafs of trees. And anybody who would go there to pray she would protect. She appeared several times to the people of Lavang.

They built a simple church for Our Blessed Lady and several people were cured there.

In 1805 the Vietnamese emperor wanted to get rid of all the Catholics. 30 Catholics were killed by the soldiers right at the little church and the church was burned, but, not by the soldiers who were afraid cause they heard about the miraculous cured people. The altar and the chandeliers were not destroyed in the fire although they were made of wood.

In 1885 a new church was build made of bricks on the same spot as the old one was. It was completed in 1900 and one year later the first celebration of the Shrine of Our Lady took place.There were over 130,000 people there at the shrine. During the years this number only grew more and more and in 1925 they had to enlarge the church, which was completed in 1928. This church was destroyed in the summer of 1972 duringthe Vietnam War.

On June 19th 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized 117 Vietnamese martyrs and recognized the importance of theLady of Lavang and desired a rebuilding of the Basilica forthe 200th anniversary of the first apparition of the Lady of Lavang in August of 1998.

Our Lady of Banneux

Banneux, Belgium 1933: January 15th - March 2nd 1933
Visionary: Mariette Beco (11 years old)

Mariette was born on March 25, 1921 and the oldest of 7 children. Her family was very poor. Mariette came from a Catholic family who never went to church or pray. Still she was religious, she once found a rosary and kept it with her all the time.

It was January 15th 1933 and it had snowed and it was cold. She was looking after the baby of the family and while she sat there she suddenly saw outside a young lady who was very beautiful with light all around her. She called her mother and said this is Our Blessed Lady and she is smiling at me. She then took out her rosary and started to pray while she kept looking at the Lady. The Lady wanted her to come to her, so Mariette wanted to go outside, but her mother locked the door cause she had not seen the Lady and didn´t trust it. Mariette looked outside the window and the Lady was not there anymore.

January 18th Mariette goes outside in the evening, and although she is very afraid of the dark she starts to pray her rosary kneeled down in the snow. She sees Our Blessed Lady again, and she must follow Our Lady. Mariette obeys and comes to a small stream where Our Blessed Lady stands above the road. Our Blessed Lady says to Mariette that she needs to put her hands into the water and the Lady said that the stream was specially for her. The lady says goodnight and leaves again.

January 19th Mariette goes outside again with her fathers old coat over her head to protect her from the cold. She kneels down again to pray. Her father was in the garden too. Mariette then saw the Lady again and asked herwho she was. Our Blessed Virgin then said:

"I am the Virgin of the Poor".

Our Blessed Lady then leads her again to the stream and Mariette asks Her why the stream is devoted to her(whilst she was pointing at herself). Our Blessed Lady said that this stream was for all nations..... for the sick! Mariette thanked Her and Our Blessed Lady said goodbye to her.

January 20th Mariette goes out again although she feels sick, to pray the rosary. Then she sees Our Blessed Lady again and asks Her what Her wishes are. Our Blessed Lady then answers that she would like a small chapel. And blesses Mariette for this task. Mariette looses consciousness cause she is sick but was carried inside by her father and a neighbour. Inside she regaind consicousness again.

From January 21 till February 11th Mariette keeps prayingher rosary outside in the carden, even though it is very cold. She didn´t see Our Blessed Lady and so far only Mariette beliefs in Our Blessed Lady of the Poor.

February 11th Mariette is outside with a few other people praying the rosary. Near the end of the second rosary, people see Mariette stand up and kneel down at the stream. She dips her hands into the water and makes the sign of the cros. Our Blessed Lady says: I have come to relief the suffering, I shall see you again soon. After that she disappears.

February 15th Our Blessed Lady appears again and Mariette asks Her for a sign as her Chaplain has instructed. Our Blessed Lady answers: Have faith in Me: I shall believe in you. She then tells Mariette a secret. Then she says:Pray a lot and goodbye.

February 20th Our Blessed Lady appears again at the end of thesecond rosary Mariette is praying and leads her to the stream. She asks Mariette again to pray a lot and says goodbye again.

March 2nd.It was 7 pm and raining. Mariette goes out and starts praying the rosary. At the third rosary the rain suddenly stops. Our Blessed Lady appears again and says to Mariette:
I am the Mother of the Savior, Mother of God, pray a lot. Adieu. This was the last time
Mariette saw Our Blessed Lady.

The apparitions of Our Blessed Virgin in Banneux arefully approved by the Holy See in 1949.

Our Lady of Lourdes

Visionary St. Bernadette Soubirous

Lourdes is probably one of the best known Apparitions of Our Lady, which also verified and made clear the Dogma/Doctrine of The Immaculate Conception, which was authorised by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854.

But let us take a closer look at this young girl and the message of Our Lady, which was entrusted to the young Bernadette Soubirous. She was born into a poor peasant family, in the year 1844, the first of six siblings. These were difficult years for her family and five of her brothers were to die at very young ages. Bernadette herself almost died of cholera, but, was able to survive this illness. As the family was destitute neither parent could afford medications.

Because of the poverty of her parents, Bernadette lived at different times with a foster mother at Bartres. Being that she was so poor, Bernadette was denied a decent education, and could neither read nor write. This was discovered as she began to receive instruction to prepare for her first Communion.

But it was in the year 1858 on February 11th, that Bernadette’s life would be changed forever. It was a cold day and Bernadette with two of her sisters were sent out to gather firewood for their cold and austere home. Being fragile in health, Bernadette did not cross the stream, but instead decided to wait for her sisters.

It was here that Bernadette thought she heard what sounded like a clap of thunder, as she pulled her shawl closer about her shoulders. It was as she was gazing at the sky to see if there were storm clouds, that Bernadette first saw a very beautiful woman looking at her from across the stream. The beautiful lady was dressed in what looked like a luminous white dress with a sash of blue around her waist and two golden roses on her feet. Bernadette was awestruck but also frightened as to what to do, she then saw the beautiful lady make the sign of the Cross before she disappeared, no words were spoken.

Bernadette was entranced by this beautiful lady, and thereby she returned to what is the grotto at Massabielle. It was on February 18th that Our Lady told Bernadette that she would not live a happy life on earth, but that her happiness was assured in Heaven. Our Lady gave several messages to Bernadette asking for Penance from the people and a greater devotion to our Lord and Savior.

It was here that Our Lady requested that Bernadette dig the ground so that a spring could burst forth. Bernadette immediately began digging the ground, taking no account of some of the derision from the crowds. Eventually a spring did burst forth which remains to this day.

But it was the message on March 2nd where Mary told Bernadette, "Tell the priests that people should come here in procession and that a chapel should be built on the site." Also on March 25th, the Blessed Virgin revealed to Bernadette, "I am the Immaculate Conception."

Our Lady was true to her word and Bernadette upon the completion of the messages from the Blessed Virgin Mary, decided after suffering ridicule and the curious crowds which followed her around, to enter the Religious life.

She eventually entered the Sisters of Notre Dame, but after a health scare she was given the last rites, the Church therefore gave approval for Bernadette to make her vows. Bernadette was able to recover and spent time working in the Sacristy as part of her duties.

Bernadette was a very humble soul and disliked the 'fame' that seemed to plague her. She always referred to herself when questioned by the curious as 'the broom placed behind the door once it has been used', she never sought nor received special treatment. If anything the opposite occurred, when some in her community became jealous of the favour that was shown to this young nun. She suffered in silence many cruel taunts and persecutions from within her religious community. After suffering much agony and in her death throes, she cried out "Blessed Mary, Mother of God, pray for me! A poor sinner, a poor sinner".

Bernadette died on April 16, 1879, at the age of 35.

She was canonized in 1933 by Pope Pius XI.

Upon exhuming the body of this Great Saint her body was found incorrupt and she lay in a glass reliquary, in the convent chapel.

I encourage all to read about this most momentous Vision, Our Lady of Lourdes.

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

Our Lady of Knock

Ireland, Knock
Thursday 21 August 1879 at 8pm

On August 21 1879 Margaret Beirne was locking up the church when she saw a strange brightness but left. At the same time Mary Beirne and the housekeeper who she has been visiting both saw "Statues". The housekeeper said that it were no statues but it was the

Blessed Virgin. After that 13 more people saw the beautiful women,who was all dressed

in white and wearing a brilliantcrown. On the right of the Blessed Virgin was St. Joseph

and on the left St. John the Evangelist dressed like a bishop. On the left of St. John was an

altar with a lamb and a cross surrounded by angels. This vision lasted for 2 hours.

Miraculous healings have been reported soon after the area. And still today it is a place

where many pilgrims visit.Our late beloved Pope John Paul II visited Knock in 1979

and Mother Teresa of Calcutta visited the shrine in 1993.

Our Lady of La Salette

Visionaries Melanie Mathieu and Maximin Giraud

In the years 1845 to 1850 were troubling times for Europe of epic proportions as we will discover. This was a time when many in Europe were still feeling the effects of the the French Revolution, which devastated France and sent tremors into neighbouring countries.

But it is the year 1846 that we will focus on, for this was the year when Our Lady appeared to two illiterate youths, namely Melanie Mathieu and Maximin Giraud.

These were two simple children, who's main job was to protect the cattle on the pasture above La Salette, for their employers. These two children had received very little in the way of education and came from very poor families.

But it was on Saturday, 12th September, 1846 that would irrevocably change the lives of these two youths forever. For it was on this day that the two children would see a beautiful Lady of indescribable beauty.

This beautiful Lady appeared to them as if on a circle of light, and when the light opened it revealed this most beautiful Lady sitting on a rock with her head in her hands as she wept inconsolably. She seemed to be wearing a long, white dress with pearls studded on it and also a white shawl, hanging from her neck was a crucifix and upon her head a Crown.

The two children were very upset to see one so beautiful, weeping so bitterly and both were also a little afraid, when confronted with this most wondrous Lady, they did not know what to do nor how to console her.

Our Lady looked at both children and still weeping she told them to warn the people that unless they changed their way, great tribulations would strike the population, for she could no longer hold back the Hand of her Son.

The children were horrified at what Our Lady was to reveal to them, and also overwhelmed. She warned of a coming famine that would corrupt crops and bring untold misery and tragedy to many families. Our Lady told the children the reason why such punishment would come, as nearly all people had lost sight of God and were dismissive of Him, even unto blaspheming His Holy Name!

Our Lady told the children these words, "If my people do not obey, I shall be compelled to loose my Son's arm. It is so heavy I can no longer restrain it. How long have I suffered for you! If my son is not to abandon you, I am obliged to entreat Him without ceasing. But you take no heed of that. No matter how well you pray in the future, no matter how well you act, you will never be able to make up to me what I have endured on your behalf. I have given you six days to work. The seventh I have reserved for myself, yet no one will give it to me. This is what causes the weight of my Son's arm to be so crushing. The cart drivers cannot swear without bringing in my Son's name. These are the two things which make my son's arm so heavy."

Our Lady then went on to ask the children, "Do you say your prayers well, my children?" Both Melanie and Maximin told the truth and declared they did not pray much at all, Our Lady beseeched them to practice and keep a good prayer life, she also said that so few practiced prayer nor attended any type of Worship, except for a very few elderly people in the villages.

She once again warned both children of the coming Chastisements if people did not ammend their ways or repent of their sins. Our Lady also imparted secrets to each child and recommended that both children share with the world her message of grief and to warn people to once again embrace God, or they would face a great Tribulation!

When the children told the local community and the Presiding Bishop they both faced much opposition and at times open ridicule leading to persecution, not too many people wanted to hear of coming chastisements. But even though Melanie nor Maximin had great education, they both remained steadfast and resolute in warning the world of what Our Lady had commissioned them to do!

Unfortunately what Our Lady predicted came to pass in the Great Potato Famine which spread from Europe to Ireland with untold and unparalelled tragedy. During the years 1845 to 1850, more than a million Irish people starved to death, and millions more left the shores of Ireland never to return to their homeland again.

The children eventually confided the secrets given to each of them privately to the Reigning Pontiff Pope Pius1X, at his request. The Pope was later heard to exclaim, " These are the secrets of La Salette: Unless the world repent, it shall perish!"

Later Mgr de Bruillard as Bishop of Grenoble released this statement:"We declare that the apparition of the Blessed Virgin to two shepherds, on September 19, 1846, on a mountain in the Alps in the parish of La Salette, bears in itself all the marks of truth and that the faithful are justified in believing without question in its truth. And so, to mark our lively gratitude to God and the glorious Virgin Mary, we authorise the cult of Our Lady of La Salette."

As for both Melanie and Maximin they were to lead complicated lives, both tried to enter religious communities which they failed at. Maximin after trying to gain employment, eventually started his own religious shop selling devout items, due to many unsrupulous people, there were questions raised about his level of business acumen. Maximin died a holy death at only 38 years old.

Melanie herself also tried different religious Orders none of which worked out. Being of an outspoken nature, Melanie did not attract large groups of friends, Melanie possessed a deep honesty but little personal 'charm'. She eventually died alone in Italy at the age of 73.

The message of La Salette still holds true for today, and I would encourage all to read of this momentous Vision, our Lady of La Salette.

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Paris, France on Rue de Bac, 1830
Visionary Sr. Catherine Laboure


Catherine Leboure and the appartions

Catherine Leboure was born on May 2nd 1806 atFainles-Moutiers a little village in France.
She came from a family of 11 children and she was the 9th child. She lost her mother at when she was just 9 years old so she already experienced suffering then. She had a divine call and joined the community of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris. In the first few months she started as a novice the appartions started, the first one on July 18th 1830. Against noon Catherine hears somebody calling her name. Catherine is a 24 year old novice and she looked in the direction of the sound and pulled away a curtain. there she saw a child like 5 years old, dressed in white.The child says:"Come to the chapel, the Holy Virgin is waiting for you". Catherine walks to the chapel of the convent, together with her guardian angel. She sees Mary sitting on the directors seat. The guardian angels says again:"There is the Holy Virgin." Mary enthrusts her several things. She tells Catherine that she has an assignment for her for the difficult times there were about to come. Mary promised help and mercy for those in prayer. Specificly she talked about the religious persecution later in that century. Catherine told her confessor, who didn´t believe much of it untill a week later the revolutionstarted in Paris. On November 27th, that same year,Catherine sees Mary again in the chapel. She is dressed in white, standing on a globe with a golden ball in her hands. A voice within says her that the ball represents the world and the rays of light which came from it, is the mercy for the people who love her. The golden ball dissapears when Mary moves. A scene shows with around her golden letters who form the text: "Oh Mary conceived without sin; pray for us who have recourse to thee. On the backside Catherine saw a big M above the cross, under it a heart, one surrounded with thorns, theother pierced with a sword. Again Catherine heard the innervoice to make a medal of this scene. Later this medal would be called the "Miraculous Medal". Until shortly before she died Sr. Catherine didn´t tell anybody about the apparitions, only to her confessor since that is what Our Lady had asked her to do. On December 31st. 1876 Sr. Catherine dies at an age of70 years. 57 years later her body was exhumed and found in perfect condition. And her body was placed in a shrine in Rue de Bac. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 27, 1947

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Vision received by St. Juan Diego

The Aztec culture practiced for many years human sacrifices to appease their 'god' Huitzilpochtli (the Hummingbird Wizard). The estimate of their total human sacrifices was approx 20,000 people a year, the Aztec culture also practiced cannibalism.

But it was in the year 1531 that a beautiful lady appeared to a simple peasant, who was very devout, his name was Juan Diego, he was amazed at the beauty of this lady who then identified herself as the 'Mother of the one True God'.

This beautiful lady brought a message of love and compassion for that region and country and instructed Juan to tell his Bishop of her appearance, Juan as you can imagine was overcome by this august mission, for he was a very simplistic soul. Juan himself was born in 1474 but it was in the year 1524 and 1525 he was converted and baptized, as well as his wife, receiving the Christian name of Juan Diego and his wife the name of Maria Lucia.

Being of a devout nature Juan each day would walk miles to attend Mass, in very rough terrain often taking up to 3 hours to arrive, but it was on one of these journeys that Juan’s life took an unexpected turn, when the lovely lady appeared before him with these words, “Juanito, Juan Dieguito “, “the most humble of my sons”, “my son the least”, “my little dear”.

After revealing who she was to Juan our Lady gave these messages to Juan to deliver to the local Bishop, “Know and understand well, you the most humble of my son, that I am the ever virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and the earth...I vividly desire that a church be built on this site, so that in it I can be present and give my love, compassion, help, and defense, for I am your most devoted mother . . . to hear your laments and to remedy all your miseries, pains, and sufferings."

Juan took this message to the Bishop, who obviously was sceptical of what Juan was relating to him and the Bishop then asked for proof, that this was indeed Our Lady. After several Visitations from Our Lady she instructed Juan to pick some flowers and place it in his 'tilma', Juan did as he was instructed. When he returned to the Bishop he emptied his 'tilma' and there to the astonishment of the Bishop was the miraculous image of Mary Most Holy. Eventually a Church was built where Our Lady had instructed and thousands converted to Christianity. Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared the patroness of the Americas.

Juan Diego died on May 30, 1548, at the age of 74.

In April of 1990 Juan Diego was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. The following month, in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, during his second visit to the shrine, John Paul II performed the beatification ceremony.On July 2002 he was canonized by the Church, during a ceremony celebrated by John Paul II, again in the Basilica of Guadalupe.

Since then there has been scientific research which purportedly shows the reflection of Juan Diego in the Image of Our Lady on his tilma. I would encourage all to read this most miraculous of Apparitions, Our Lady of Guadalupe.

APPROVED APPARITIONS

Introduction

This century there has been an enormous amount of purported visions of Our Lady and Our Lord, with very deep messages for our troubled world.

In this Topic both Emmy and myself will be posting about different Visions, their message and the seers in question.

We will only write about the Apparitions that have either the local Bishops approval and or the Approval of The Catholic Church.

We hope you will find our topics both informative and enlightening.

Peace of Christ to you ALL.

Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.