Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Virgin of the Poor, Apparition of Our Lady at Banneaux (Belgium)

From the 15th of January till the 2nd of March 1933, Our Lady appeared to Mariette BECO eigth times, calling herself the VIRGIN OF THE POOR.

In 1933, The Blessed Mother appeared to an 11 year old child, Mariette Beco in Banneux, Belgium. Mariette comes from a poor family and is the eldest of seven chidlren. She lives with her family in a swampy place just over a mile from the church.

It was raining and freezing cold when I and my parents first visited this place (as you can see from the photos).





The Apparitions

On the evening of Sunday 15 January, 1933, at about seven o'clock Mariette's 10-year-old brother Julien was late coming home for supper. She knelt on a bench by the front window to keep watch for him.



Suddenly, she noticed a lovely lady surrounded in light with a motherly smile. The lady was dressed in a dazzlingly white gown with a blue sash. Covering her head and shoulders, she had a veil as white as the dress. The right foot of the lady was slightly exposed showing a beautiful golden rose. Hung on her right arm was a rosary with a brilliance of diamonds with gold chain.
Mariette thought the oil lamp was reflecting on the window causing the image, yet upon moving the lamp the lady remained. After repeated attempts to call her mother to take a look, Mrs. Beco did see something though not as clearly as did Mariette.


The second apparition took place three days later. Kneeling in the cold frigid night air, Mariette said a rosary. The lady stood on a cloud just a few feet away from Mariette. The lady lead Mariette till Mariette fell on her knees on the side of a ditch, were a previously unknown spring was found.


The lady spoke, "Place your hand in the spring." Mariette did as she was instructed. Speaking aloud Mariette shouted, "This stream is reserved for me." After this the lady disappeared.
Mr. Beco and two sons' had follow Mariette that evening. They witnessed the unusual actions of Mariette and wondered why Mariette kept repeating over and over, "The spring is reserved for me."


The next apparition took place the follow night and Mariette was followed this evening by several observers. During this apparition Mariette ask the beautiful lady, "Who are you?" The lady surrounded in light replied, "I am the Virgin of the Poor."


Mariette asked why the spring was for Her. The Virgin of the Poor told Mariette that the spring was to relieve the sick of all nations. Soon after the Virgin of the Poor disappeared once again.
Other visitations were to occur, 11 in all. On the visitation of Friday January 20th, witnesses heard Mariette say, "What do you wish my beautiful Lady?" The reply received was, "I would like a small Chapel."

The last visitation took place on the evening of March 2, 1933. The Lady exclaimed, "I am the Mother of the Savior, Mother of God. Pray much."

Banneux was investigated from 1935 until 1937 by an Episcopal commission, after which the evidence collected was submitted to Rome. Meanwhile growing numbers of pilgrims came to the shrine.

The Apparitions and the Message were declared authentic by Mgr. KERKHOFS, Bishop of Liège, on the 22nd of August 1949.

Like the children at Beauraing, Mariette married and had a family, being, like them, content to remain in the background.

A small chapel stands where the Virgin of the Poor requested this to be built.

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Litany - Our Lady of Banneaux, Virgin of the Poor

Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Lead us to Jesus,
Source of grace. Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Save all nations.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Relieve the sick.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Alleviate suffering.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Pray for each one of us.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, We believe in thee.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Believe in us.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, We will pray hard.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Bless us.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Mother of the Saviour,
Mother of God, We thank thee.

Let Us Pray:

Our Lady of Banneux, Mother of Our Saviour, Mother of God, Virgin of the Poor, since thou hast promised to believe in us if we believe in thee, I put all my trust in thee. Deign to listen to the prayers that thou hast asked be addressed to thee; have pity on all our spiritual and temporal miseries. Restore to sinners the treasure of Faith, and give to the poor their daily bread. Deign to relieve suffering, to heal the sick and to pray for us, so that thus through thy intercession, the reign of Christ the King may extend over all nations.

R. Amen.