ARTICLE – The Apparitions of Garabandal: Messages and Relation to Evangelization (Part 1 – The Phenomenon)

April 8, 2025 by Pierre-Alain Giffard News, Recommended Texts

Between June 1961 and November 1965, the remote, traditionally Catholic mountain village of San Sebastián de Garabandal in Cantabria, northern Spain, became the site of reportedly numerous extraordinary events centered around four young schoolgirls. These girls – Conchita Gonzalez (b. 1949), Mari Loli Mazón (1949–2009), Jacinta González (b. 1949), and Mari Cruz González (b. 1950) – claimed to receive apparitions, initially of an angel identified as Saint Michael the Archangel, and subsequently of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary was often described in appearance and dress resembling traditional portrayals of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, leading to the designation “Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Garabandal”. These events, occurring in a poor village largely untouched by modern amenities at the time, attracted significant attention, drawing pilgrims and observers.

The sequence of events began on the evening of Sunday, June 18, 1961, when the four girls claimed to see a brilliant figure, later identified as St. Michael the Archangel. St. Michael reportedly appeared several more times in June. On July 1, 1961, he is said to have spoken for the first time, announcing that the Virgin Mary would appear the following day as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. On July 2, 1961, the girls reported seeing the Blessed Virgin Mary, sometimes accompanied by the Child Jesus and two angels, one being St. Michael. These apparitions reportedly continued with remarkable frequency – estimated at over two thousand separate occurrences – over more than four years, concluding with a final apparition to Conchita alone on November 13, 1965. The interactions were described as having a simple, childlike character; the girls reportedly conversed with the Virgin about daily life, were kissed by her, held the Infant Jesus, and even handled her crown of stars. During the apparitions, the visionaries were consistently reported to fall into a state of ecstatic trance. Witnesses described them crashing to their knees simultaneously, often on rocky ground without apparent injury, their heads tilted sharply upwards, blessing themselves, and engaging in conversation with an unseen entity.

Reports include claims of the girls moving in unusual ways during their ecstasies, sometimes referred to as “ecstatic marches,” seemingly defying gravity or normal physical limitations.Instances of apparent levitation were described, such as the girls lifting one another with seemingly impossible ease to “kiss” the apparition. During these states, they were also reported to be insensitive to pain (e.g., pinpricks) or bright lights shone directly into their eyes. A specific event often highlighted is the alleged “miracle of the Host” on July 19, 1961, where a consecrated Host reportedly materialized visibly on Conchita’s outstretched tongue, supposedly placed there by the angel; this event was captured on film.

The visionaries were also claimed to possess knowledge beyond natural means. A frequently cited example involved devotional items (like rosaries or medals) given to the girls beforehand to be presented to the Virgin for a kiss. During the apparitions, the girls could reportedly return each object unerringly to its correct owner, even among crowds or when objects were mixed together.

Several medical professionals, including pediatricians and neuropsychiatrists, observed the girls during the events. Reports compiled by Francisco Sanchez-Ventura y Pascual, an attorney and professor, cite these medical observers confirming the girls’ psychological normality outside the trances. These professionals reportedly concluded that the ecstatic states could not be explained by known pathological or physiological conditions, noting the absence of expected negative symptoms despite the frequency and duration of the events. The accompanying parapsychological phenomena (telepathy, levitation, clairvoyance) were described in one joint medical report as a “veritable scientific miracle,” with the doctors concluding they could find no convincing scientific explanation.

“Continued in Part 2”

Pierre-Alain Giffard
Email: pierre.alain.giffard@gmail.com

Book on parish revitalization and gowth:

BOOK – Revive and Thrive: Transforming Parishes into Mission Driven Communities provides a blueprint to breathe new life into parish communities and engage in the core principles of evangelization and disciple-making.

Articles on evangelization and parish revitalization:

Prayers and Prayer Groups to Support the Evangelization Project

Learn more

DONATE for the Evangelization Project

Learn more

ARTICLE – The Apparitions of Garabandal: Messages and Relation to Evangelization (Part 4 – A Call to Evangelize)

The relationship between the apparitions of Garabandal and the mission of evangelization operates on two levels: Firstly, the content of the core messages attributed to Garabandal – the calls for conversion, penance, prayer, renewed devotion to the Eucharist, and leading good lives – aligns substantially with the fundamental themes and
ARTICLE – The Apparitions of Garabandal: Messages and Relation to Evangelization (Part 3 – The Prophetic Announcements)

Beyond the two formal messages, the Garabandal narratives include prophecies of three major future events, plus other related predictions. The Warning (Aviso): This is described as a future, universal, supernatural event originating directly from God, which science will be unable to explain. It is depicted as having both an external
ARTICLE – The Apparitions of Garabandal: Messages and Relation to Evangelization (Part 2 – The Core Messages)

Two formal ‘messages’ were given for public dissemination, forming the core of the Garabandal communications. First Message (October 18, 1961): This message was reportedly delivered through St. Michael the Archangel. It contained a call to action: “We must make many sacrifices, perform much penance, and visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently.
ARTICLE – The Apparitions of Garabandal: Messages and Relation to Evangelization (Part 1 – The Phenomenon)

Between June 1961 and November 1965, the remote, traditionally Catholic mountain village of San Sebastián de Garabandal in Cantabria, northern Spain, became the site of reportedly numerous extraordinary events centered around four young schoolgirls. These girls – Conchita Gonzalez (b. 1949), Mari Loli Mazón (1949–2009), Jacinta González (b. 1949), and
ARTICLE – Embracing failure: When Hopes Are Shaken, A New Path Is Taken

Failure is rarely comfortable, often discouraging, and sometimes even humiliating. Yet failure is not foreign to the Gospel or to the Christian life. Our life journey whether in personal growth, mission, or evangelization, is rarely a straight line. In fact, it is often marked by stumbling, learning, getting up, and
ARTICLE – Abide, Be Transformed, Be Sent

Evangelization is not first an activity but a life lived in communion with God. It begins in intimacy, deepens through the renewal of the heart and of the mind, and naturally flows outward in mission. • Talk to God – Abide.Begin with intimacy. Not as duty, but as relationship. This
ARTICLE – Those Who Understand the Heart of Jesus Will Engage in Evangelization

“The heart of Jesus aches for the lost — for every soul wandering in darkness, unaware of His love. His is a heart that seeks, pursues, and never gives up, burning with mercy and longing to bring each one home to the Father.” To understand evangelization in its deepest sense
ARTICLE – Understanding the Charismatic Renewal within Catholic Theology

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal represents a significant movement within the Church that emphasizes the active and experiential presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Originating in 1967, the Catholic Renewal has been described as a “current of grace” intended for the renewal of the entire Church, not
ARTICLE – Evangelization: A Call to Live the Gospel

In every age, the Gospel has called believers to something greater than comfort or routine. It invites us to a life of witness. The world is searching. People are hungry for truth, for peace, for something deeper than the noise and conflict that surrounds them. As followers of Christ, we
ARTICLE – A Self-Assessment Tool for Discerning Your Evangelization Style

DOWNLOAD THE SELF-ASSESMENT TOOL HERE Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral WorkEmail: pierre.alain.giffard@gmail.com Book on parish revitalization and gowth: BOOK – Revive and Thrive: Transforming Parishes into Mission Driven Communities provides a blueprint to breathe new life into parish communities and engage in the core principles of evangelization and disciple-making. Articles on evangelization
ARTICLE – Discerning Your Role in Evangelization and Renewal

Introduction: The Universal Call to Evangelization and Renewal Evangelization stands as the very essence of the Catholic Church’s mission. As articulated by Pope Paul VI, the Church exists fundamentally “in order to evangelize.” This profound calling involves the proclamation of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, encompassing His
ARTICLE – Following Christ: A Blessing or a Burden?

Imagine standing at the edge of an uncharted path, uncertain of what lies ahead. You’ve heard whispers of its beauty, tales of those who have walked it before, and the promise that, despite the challenges, it leads to something greater than you could ever imagine. But hesitation lingers—what if the
PRAYER – For God’s Miracles in Every Situation

Heavenly Father, Almighty and Ever-Loving God, I come before You with a heart full of faith, trusting in Your boundless mercy and infinite power. You are the God of miracles, the God who opens the seas, who raises the dead, who turns sorrow into joy, and darkness into light. Nothing
PRAYER – The Way of the Cross

THE WAY OF THE CROSS (Click here for a PDF printable version) LUKE 9:22-25 Jesus spoke to his disciples and sternly ordered them not to tell anyone: “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on

Ticket	Seats Available	Amount CAD	Select	Ticket Amount CAD	Total Amount CAD
				0	0
				0
				0

Diocese of/de Pembroke