Garabandal-Spain
Recently, after attending the World Congress for Families in Madrid, I had the great pleasure of fulfilling a very long dream of going to visit Garabandal also in Spain. I first read about Garabandal about 30 years ago and since longed just to go. I have already visisted, Lourdes, Medjugorje, Fatima, and Now Garabandal! God is really good.
After the end of the congress I, together with a spanish friend Marisa, caught Ryanair and headed for a one hour flight to Santandar where I hired a "smart" car (fiat brand new 3 klms on it) and began our drive to San Sebastian where two rooms had been pre booked for both of us.
Garabandal is a tiny village of about 300-400 people and no straight roads with very ancient houses and older type roof tiles.
Lucia's House where we stayed had lovely rooms and modern conveniences and price not expensive included breakfast. We also had lunch there it was huge and beautiful.
On our first day there I looked around the Church (St Sebastian) which is the centre of the village and activity seems to surround it. Its a beautiful older type of church with the altar being slowly repaired.
There is no resident priest but a priest comes daily to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and other activities of a priest's work.
On the first day Marisa and I also drove up to the hill where the apparitions and the "pines" are. I was a bit glad that we drove even though the road was soooooooo narrow because the top of the hill is quite steep. The pines are also said to be where the Blessed Virgin will leave a sign that she has appeared there.
Right on top of the hill looking down on the village is a marvel to behold, and to even see how the young seers (over 40 years ago were able to ascend towards the pines is a mystery.
The time at the top was beautiful, we (Marisa and I) prayed on our own.
I was drawn especially to the 13thirteenth station of the cross. This was a large image of this station and I had never quite looked at it intently before. I was drawn to this image because of the similarity between it, Michaelangelo's Pieta and abortion.
I just sat on the grassy patch in front of the image and thought and thought and thought. Later I moved and looked around at the other stations but I kept being drawn to the thirteenth station. It was speaking to me and I was trying to listen but couldnt hear what it was saying. But the sorrow in the eyes of the mother was very evident.I think its the sorrow I see in the eyes of post abortive women.
Later we drove back down to our guesthouse for lunch and met an Irish man John and an Australian lady from Queensland (Sarah) and another man who has been going every year for 26years.
John said that now that he is retired he goes yearly and as he lives in Ireland its a short flight so its easy.
Late afternoon Marisa and I decided we would walk up the hill but this time the hard way, walk the way the children did and I wondered if someone might have had to stretcher me down, but no I made it! I walked up the hill! someone who couldnt tie shoe laces walked up the hill (bit puffed though) but I did it! I especially wanted to do it because in Medjugorje I didnt climb Mt Krisvac because I thought I couldnt do it, so this time I was determined. And I did! Not bad for an "ancient person"
As we walked along, we met the other stations of the cross, same..beautiful, and came across a small chapel dedicated to St Michael the Archangel, whose presence is always wherever Mary of Nazareth is. He announced to the children her arrival to speak with them. Wow.
There is a rock there on which St Michael is said to have stood on. OH goodness I touched the rock!
When we reached the top and I had photogaphed all the stations of the Cross, the chapel, and prayed some more and looked for a little while at the most beautiful of God's creation-so green-so shining-so golden days. People even said that these last two days had been beautiful and serene. Perhaps Our Lady helped and loved me and made it easier for me to see.
After a time we began our descent but this time not by the craggy rocks but by the long way which we drove the earlier. It was only about 2 klms and along the way we met John again and a lady doctor who had retired from her work in another country and moved to live there.
That night we had cheese and fruit for dinner in our bedroom and retired early.
Next morning we went to 9am Mass and interestingly the Gospel for the day was "Mary left her home to go to the hill country and visit her cousin Elizabeth" and I was moved by this because "Anne left her home and went to the hill country to visit her "mother" Mary"
The day before, whilst sitting in front of the image of the descent from the cross I had asked Mary would she let me know she heard me and knew the things ask of her and her Son.
I hadn't known what the Gospel for the day was and was very moved by this very tangible sign as a response to my pleas. I also met the visiting priest (Fr Rolando).
After Mass I did the business part of our stay, said our goodbyes, and left. I would so much love to return or even live there there forever and ever. It such a simple life. people live, pray, go to Mass. Life is slow and not frenetic.
After we left Marisa showed me aroundSantadar surrounds, majestic castles, ancient churches. The very ancient and visible signs of Christianity, yet today abandoned for "nothing". We climbed turrets in castles, visited museums, San Vicente de La Barquera, Playa Del Sardiniero, La Magdalena Palace built El Capriccio by Gauda who also designed (was the architect) for the Sagrada Famiglia (Holy Family) CathedralBarcelona in.
We made our way to Santander airport and left after fulfilling this dream.
Back in Madrid I stayed a few days with Marisa and her husband Javier and children Elias and Grazia and did some sight seeing. OH goodness the Al Mudena Cathedral and Crypt. Out of this world. Unknown here in Australia, and many other beautiful spots.
Thank you Lord for your care for me.
Wednesday 6 June 2012
World Congress of Families Madrid 2012.
Attending this congress for the first time was an immense experience. It was a gathering of family organisations whose purpose is to see that the family as God designed it remains intact. A family made up of man, woman and children, and not become deconstructed into forms which are not "family".
Listening to many speakers and experts on the importance of families for the health of societies, nations, men, women and children, expressed and strengthened the need to be strong in this attack on the most basic law of "life" that is "life" created by the meeting and embrace of male and a female and from this a child who will lead into the future. Every child conceived spells "future"
Whilst seeming to be speaking to a converted audience, these congresses are important because we need to be encouraged to continue in this war against the family.
In a time when the natural family is considered "unnatural" and perhaps even despised, the World Congress of Families gathers to say NO to this, we believe that marriage is as God and nature decreed, that is between man and a woman. Other couplings may occur and indeed it is their freedom to choose same sex coupling or other couplings, but "marriage" has from time immemorial has a meaning attached to it. All tribes, nations, societies, times, have understood "marriage" to mean the same. Intimacy between man and a woman and from this children which lead to future. Marriage means fecundity. Same sex and other inappropriate coupling means sterility and no future.
The World Congress of Families and its affiliates reject the anti life mentality and beliefs by means of global abortion demands, sterility, contraception, euthanasia, indeed all beliefs which can rightly be called the culture of death.
The World Congress of Families meets to bring speakers who can expertly speak against the new death dealing ideologies and further meet to strengthen each other and then strengthen the brethren.
From the opening ceremony through all the plenary sessions there was one theme prevalent, family and life and the only possible difficulty was that there were so many speakers that it became impossible to know who to listen to.....a little bi location might have helped here!
The Speakers were of so much note, e.g. Cardinal Ennio Antonelli (Vatican) Chief Rabbi of Madrid Rabbi Moses Bendahan, the Archbishop of Madrid and so many other eminent spokespeople intheir own fields.
The Demographic winter issue (not enough children being born to sustain the future) is frightening (Steve Mosher PRI) Pornography (Patrick Fagan) which is destroying society through its violence and demeaning of sexuality and life.
The congress ended with a beautiful concert and handing over the reins to the next host...Australia in 2013...An important event in Australia
As I wandered from talk to talk I noted the tragedy at the heart of this era is the attack on family. Loss of awe of God and Life. Loss of respect for marital life. Indeed I would say that there is a danger that through loss of "family" children will lose their sense of knowing who they are and sense ofidentity.
Children have a "RIGHT" to a mother and father. They are designed with XY and XX chromosomes meaning male or female and need to model their life according to their genetic makeup.
This is what those who would destroy "marriage" selfishly deny or simply do not know. The genetic material is XY and XX nothing can change that.
Children have a need for a father and mother to teach them male and female models. Father to teach his son how to be a son and then a father. His daughter how to be valued as a girl child and then woman.
A woman needs to model her son and show him how to be soft for his future wife and to teach her daughter how to be a woman...these are the needs of children for their mental, emotional, spiritual and psychological health. Children have a "right" to "good."
Transmission of life is written into the cells of nature and belongs in marital embrace where the process of beginning of life (fusion of ova and sperm and their following dynamic) is mysterious. Therefore artificial sterile couplings are an offence against nature and an attack against the Holiness of God and the dignity of the human person who has received "life" (mystery) from God and has value because it is inhabited/received by God.
Much had to happen to prepare the world for a human family to receive Jesus, and it will grieve God very much to have this the concept of "family" destroyed, as at the beginning.
Attending this congress for the first time was an immense experience. It was a gathering of family organisations whose purpose is to see that the family as God designed it remains intact. A family made up of man, woman and children, and not become deconstructed into forms which are not "family".
Listening to many speakers and experts on the importance of families for the health of societies, nations, men, women and children, expressed and strengthened the need to be strong in this attack on the most basic law of "life" that is "life" created by the meeting and embrace of male and a female and from this a child who will lead into the future. Every child conceived spells "future"
Whilst seeming to be speaking to a converted audience, these congresses are important because we need to be encouraged to continue in this war against the family.
In a time when the natural family is considered "unnatural" and perhaps even despised, the World Congress of Families gathers to say NO to this, we believe that marriage is as God and nature decreed, that is between man and a woman. Other couplings may occur and indeed it is their freedom to choose same sex coupling or other couplings, but "marriage" has from time immemorial has a meaning attached to it. All tribes, nations, societies, times, have understood "marriage" to mean the same. Intimacy between man and a woman and from this children which lead to future. Marriage means fecundity. Same sex and other inappropriate coupling means sterility and no future.
The World Congress of Families and its affiliates reject the anti life mentality and beliefs by means of global abortion demands, sterility, contraception, euthanasia, indeed all beliefs which can rightly be called the culture of death.
The World Congress of Families meets to bring speakers who can expertly speak against the new death dealing ideologies and further meet to strengthen each other and then strengthen the brethren.
From the opening ceremony through all the plenary sessions there was one theme prevalent, family and life and the only possible difficulty was that there were so many speakers that it became impossible to know who to listen to.....a little bi location might have helped here!
The Speakers were of so much note, e.g. Cardinal Ennio Antonelli (Vatican) Chief Rabbi of Madrid Rabbi Moses Bendahan, the Archbishop of Madrid and so many other eminent spokespeople intheir own fields.
The Demographic winter issue (not enough children being born to sustain the future) is frightening (Steve Mosher PRI) Pornography (Patrick Fagan) which is destroying society through its violence and demeaning of sexuality and life.
The congress ended with a beautiful concert and handing over the reins to the next host...Australia in 2013...An important event in Australia
As I wandered from talk to talk I noted the tragedy at the heart of this era is the attack on family. Loss of awe of God and Life. Loss of respect for marital life. Indeed I would say that there is a danger that through loss of "family" children will lose their sense of knowing who they are and sense ofidentity.
Children have a "RIGHT" to a mother and father. They are designed with XY and XX chromosomes meaning male or female and need to model their life according to their genetic makeup.
This is what those who would destroy "marriage" selfishly deny or simply do not know. The genetic material is XY and XX nothing can change that.
Children have a need for a father and mother to teach them male and female models. Father to teach his son how to be a son and then a father. His daughter how to be valued as a girl child and then woman.
A woman needs to model her son and show him how to be soft for his future wife and to teach her daughter how to be a woman...these are the needs of children for their mental, emotional, spiritual and psychological health. Children have a "right" to "good."
Transmission of life is written into the cells of nature and belongs in marital embrace where the process of beginning of life (fusion of ova and sperm and their following dynamic) is mysterious. Therefore artificial sterile couplings are an offence against nature and an attack against the Holiness of God and the dignity of the human person who has received "life" (mystery) from God and has value because it is inhabited/received by God.
Much had to happen to prepare the world for a human family to receive Jesus, and it will grieve God very much to have this the concept of "family" destroyed, as at the beginning.
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