September 29 Feast Day of the Archangels We know of the great involvement of St. Michael during the apparitions at Garabandal, teaching the girls how to receive Communion, and distributing it to them ,when Priests were not available. And we have a story of St. Gabriel accompanying St. Michael and our Blessed Mother on one particular visit on July 2 ,1961.
LUNCH WITH CONCHITA . September 29, 2012 I had the extraordinary blessing today of having a long lunch with Conchita, and learning some invaluable life lessons. I wrote down alot on napkins to be accurate. The first was, I talked to her in general terms about the Warning ( because so many people are concerned and worried about it, I never discuss dates ). Her advice was amazingly simple and profound ! She said " Have faith and do not worry. If you have faith, you have everything ! " , Pray and don’t worry “. Her concise advice demonstrates how to live a simple happy life. (sounds like she got some advice from Padre Pio). God bless her and her example to us. Lunch lesson#2. We were discussing how so many people are going to psychiatrists, or take drugs or drink to fight lonliness, and she said " Do people realize how lucky they are, that there are churches everywhere, where God is waiting to talk to them ? " Lunch lesson#3. We talked about how the world's perception of happiness is linked to consumerism. Here is her idea of "happiness". She said (I'm paraphrasing) If you seek money, money is not happiness, if you seek health, it is not happiness, if you seek Heaven, Heaven IS Happiness ! Lunch Lesson#4. On the topic of how to pray. We talked about how to "ask" God for help with a particular intention. We tend to " tell him " what we want, instead of realizing he already knows what we want, or really need. We have to learn to submit ourselves to his will, trusting in him and he will provide what we truly need, and what we need to do to draw ourselves closer to him. I know I'm as guilty as the next guy that "thinks I know what’s best for me ". I am still learning how to completely trust God in everything, don't feel bad, I'm a work in progress too,lol. Lunch lesson#5. Suffering . Who wants it ?? You know when you're in the presence of a true holy person when they embrace suffering, almost joyfully. Padre Pio said "if you knew the value of suffering, you'd never give it up ". I listened on how she described the purpose of suffering, and "taking up your cross" has so much spiritual value, we truly don't comprehend it sometimes. We talked about there is so much cancer in the world, and the suffering it brings, and again there was a simple profound thought ,is it possible the illness is allowed by God, and maybe this person will actually benefit from the illness by bringing them closer to God then they would have ever been. Lets face it, when you are really sick ,what is the first thing you think about ,praying to get well ! I can tell you from experience, having to have had two surgeries in December of 2023 to remove a cancerous tumor from my kidney ,and go back for a second operation to repair damaged veins still bleeding, I never had prayed for God and Jesus to be closer to me and heal me than at that time. It’s humbling. Her little story was simple, inspiring ,and brilliant. She said (again I’m paraphrasing the long story), There was a sheep herder, who each day would tend to his flock, and each day one of his sheep would run toward the edge of a mountain cliff, and almost fall over. Each day he would pull him back, but the sheep "wanted to run toward the edge of the cliff". Finally the Sheepherder decided to break a leg on the sheep, well knowing this was painful, and would prevent the sheep from walking. Each day though, he would pick up the sheep and carry it on his shoulders as he went out into the field. This allowed the sheep to still be outside, but more importantly the two of them bonded and became closer because the sheep was dependant on the herder. The herder knew that this the right thing to do, even though I’m sure it was not what the sheep wanted, but in the end, he healed, walked again , and the two were closer than ever. I never looked at suffering again the same way. I offer it up daily and ask God to draw me closer to him, for he knows best.
Conchita’s Diary note to Jesus “I would like to visit you more. I want to be your little light that calls and lights up for you and grows brighter to give light to souls that want to come where you are. I also want to be the part within the door of the tabernacle so I can be more united with You. I want to be so much, but I am nothing, nothing, nothing. But since I am the daughter of Mary, the Mother of God, I am redeemed with the Blood of Christ Crucified, and because of that I am something.” From “Conchita’s Diary “ Chapter 14 (1963, age14 )
Thank you for sharing this! So profoundly beautiful, and yet so simple. It is we who make everything so horribly complicated and difficult. Thanks be to God for all His graces and blessings, which never end!
Such a beautiful quote and desire for a 14-yr-old. It reveals how profound the impact of Our Lady upon a heart open to the grace of God.
And when one thinks of the discernment of authenticity of a particular apparition, how can they not examine the Catholic spirituality and maturity of a living seer. Especially that of Conchita. It boggles my mind. And some would criticize my level of confidence.
THIS DAY IN GARABANDAL HISTORY : OCTOBER 1, 1961: "THE BLESSED VIRGIN TOLD ME ONE THING . . . MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL YOU [DON VALENTIN] HAVE WRITTEN UNTIL NOW." First day and also first Sunday of the "month of the Holy Rosary" Conchita, at the end of a nocturnal ecstasy, told Don Valentin that she had just learned something from the Blessed Virgin which was far more important than anything that the pastor of Garabandal had been able to note until now. It dealt almost certainly with the future conversion of Protestants or Anglicans, according to what Conchita herself told Placido Ruiloba at that time: "Why do you criticize the Protestants, since 'soon' [better said 'without delay' ('pronto'), since that Spanish word does not in effect mean necessarily 'soon,' but rather the fact that an event will occur 'fast and unhindered'], we will be reunited (or "ONE" - comunes)". Our Lady would reveal gradually to the visionary the first element of a future "major Church event," that is, "the perfect Unity of all Christians at last being accomplished, the very "reunification of Churches" in the Unique Church of Christ! True she began revealing it, one might reasonably think, through the deceased Padre Luis, from August 15, 1961 on other people there. Kind of a prophetic preview and experience of the future worldwide AVISO? [The Warning]. Excerpted from 'Garabandal' Book,by J. Serre, page 105 [Photo] Pastor Don Valentin
CONCHITA ON LIVING AND SPREADING THE MESSAGE (PART 2) “Do all to complete and spread the message, not necessarily as the message of Garabandal but as the wish of the Blessed Mother. Prayer, Penance, and Sacrifice, visit the Blessed Sacrament, pray for Priests. Do not be concerned about the time. If you are not received as Garabandalists, bring the message as from the Blessed Mother, even without the word Garabandal. Think about the passion of Jesus. In these times, the best book you can have is the Bible. Read it every day. “Needles” magazine, Spring Issue 1974 page 17 “GARABANDAL” magazine January-March 1990
THE SUN DANCES – 3 times in 1972 ! (including October 3rd) “ NEEDLES” magazine, Winter 1973 Issue , pages 19,20 By Fr. Joseph A. Pelletier On 3 separate dates in 1972, people witnessed the Sun “dancing” in the skies of Garabandal. On May 24, 1972, June 8, 1972, and October 3, 1972. May 24, 1972 - “This happening is mentioned in the “NEEDLES” (Fall 1972 issue pg.24). The magazine quotes Marita Foley as follows: “On Wednesday May 24, while some 40 of our group were gathered together after the recitation of the rosary, the Salve Regina and other prayers, under the Pines, someone exclaimed “ Look at the Sun !, Look at the Sun ! “ We did so. And to our amazement the sun was spinning in a clock wise direction. ( The event took place at 6:30pm and lasted about a half an hour ). • A special thank you to Tony Ambrosio who donated these rare magazines for all of us to enjoy an learn from.
CONCHITA ON LIVING AND SPREADING THE MESSAGE From a 1966 Locution with Jesus “ Let us give thanks to God for having chosen us to help our fellowman find the road of true peace with a joyful destination through the messages that Our Mother has given us. Let us pray much, receive Jesus in the Eucharist frequently, and do penance so that God, Our Lord, is reflected in our lives and we are able to project His Presence”. “GARABANDAL” magazine April-June issue 1985, page 4. “GARABANDAL” magazine January-March 1990
OCTOBER 5 , 1930 JOEY LOMANGINO’S (earthly ) Birthday. I could write pages of what an enormous blessing it was to meet Joey, first as a boy, and have a healing from the kissed medal on my legs, then 20 years later, and start working with him, becoming friends with him, getting to know his family, and all the spiritual lessons he taught me along the way, always with a smile and laughter. I treasured all 20 + years I knew him, and what makes me smile everyday is how all my pages has grown, knowing he is watching over me, and knowing his life's work of making Mary’s “Message of “Garabandal” known around the globe, continues everyday here, with his blessing, since 2009. He was the greatest Apostle of Garabandal. I know he is enjoying his Heavenly reward now. God bless you Joey. I once asked Joey, “ what was your greatest blessing in life ? “ ( thinking to myself well maybe it’s meeting Padre Pio, Conchita, the messages of Garabandal, his family ). He said “ my blindness “. A little dumbfounded I said “ why ” ? “Because if I had never been blinded , I never would have probably been saved” . He taught me one lesson after another. He saw through “spiritual eyes”, Your soul and its final destination , that should be our focus and aim in life. Thank you and may God bless you Joey with eternal rest in his kingdom.
Lets look at all the dates pertaining to Joey Lomangino’s life and ask yourself are they significant ? FIRST. October 5 . Born on the FEAST DAY OF ST. FAUSTINA (who saw the upcoming Warning ) SECOND. June 27. After his accident that left him blind, on FEAST OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP ! THIRD. July 16. He woke up on THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL ! FOURTH, Dec. 8th Joey was married on , THE FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FIFTH, He died on June 18th the DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF ST.MICHAEL AT GARABANDAL, AND THE LAST MESSAGE FROM MARY AT GARABANDAL. Hmmmm, I think I see a pattern here .
October 6, 2002, SAINT JOSE MARIE ESCRIVA AND GARABANDAL On October 6, 2002, Pope John Paul II canonized Jose Marie Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei in St Peter’s Square, Rome, in the presence of more than 300,000 people from all round the world. The link between St Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer with the Garabandal apparitions is not well known. In the summer of 1962 he spent a few days of holiday in Suances, Cantabria, during which he visited Garabandal, accompanied by several young men , members of Opus Dei. He spoke cheerfully and profoundly to the girls, an experience they still recall fondly after all these years. As it happens, news of this visit came out by chance years later when somebody showed the girls a prayer picture for God’s favour through his intercession, printed during his canonization. It was then that the girls joyfully recounted the meeting. He would not have risked his reputation if he did not believe in the apparitions,and tell others about his trip to talk to the girls. This was also confirmed by Mother Nieves, Conchita’s Mother Superior at her boarding school.
That's so beautiful, Glenn. You all look so happy in this photo. I think you resemble Joey, too--enough to be related.
TODAY IN GARABANDAL HISTORY: OCTOBER 7,1962 FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY AT GARABANDAL The young visionaries, in ecstasy, cried out in unison: "Viva Santo Domingo que lo (i.e. el "Rosario") ha fundado!" ("Long live St. Dominic who 'founded' the Rosary") as they were reciting the rosary. This feast of our Lady of the Holy Rosary was highlighted by the magnificent ecstasy of Conchita who ran through the village, while singing the rosary for more than an hour. According to the visionary “ the rosary is a very important part of the Message of Our Lady at Garabandal”. from 'Garabandal' Book, J.Serre, page 106 (Below Conchita saying the rosary )
OCTOBER 8, 1962 MARI-LOLI AND JACINTA LEARN ABOUT THE COMING OF A VERY GREAT MIRACLE. After a month of deprivation because of a new disobedience to her parents, Jacinta began to have ecstasies again. On this October 8, 1962, the two visionaries especially learned of the coming of the future great Miracle that would prove the authenticity of the Messages and the "events" occurring at San Sebastian de Garabandal. From 'Garabandal' Book, by J. Serre, page 151
PADRE PIO RESTORES JOEY’S SENSE OF SMELL ! Joey Lomangino tells the story on his second visit to Padre Pio, Feb. 18, 1963 “When I had my injury in 1947, I not only lost my eyes but I lost my sense of smell. So when I knelt down to receive Padre Pio’s blessing, and got the fragrance of roses that came from the wounds in his hands, I was startled and went against the wall with my arms up to protect myself; I didn’t know what it was. Padre Pio pulled down my hand and said in Italian, “Joey, don’t be afraid.” He then touched me on the bridge of my nose and my sense of smell was restored to me after being without it from the day of my accident in June 1947, which was 16 years.”
October 10, 1967 Padre Pio's visit to Garabandal in bilocation! Conchita had written to Padre Pio requesting his advice on various subjects that concerned her, and before the letter had time to reach San Giovanni Rotondo, a group of Padre Pio's spiritual children composed of five Italians, one Frenchman, one Canadian, one Filipino and a Belgian priest, visit her in Garabandal, announcing to her the visit of Padre Pio to respond directly to her questions. Then, on October 10, 1967, through a phenomenon of bilocation (the capacity of one person to be present in two places at the same time), Padre Pio's visit to Conchita took place at her house, where he was about an hour . She can see his figure, unmistakable habit, hear his voice, kiss his hands and notice the penetrating and characteristic perfume that comes out of his wounds. During his visit, he said among other things that he had been in Garabandal four times and, as proof of the authenticity of his presence, he writes in a letter in Aramaic the phrase "in union of prayers" and signed P Pio. Note: It must be reported that Padre Pio never left during his entire religious life, from the Convent in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. His visit to Garabandal only happened by the process of bilocation that only happen to some saints. 10-10-67 Retrieved from the book "Garabandal 67, spiritual chronicle of a year"
