IT'S not that I have been overemphasizing the Marian apparitions in Garabandal, Spain (1961-65), but it was from there that the Blessed Mother was most specific about major events to happen in what many refer to as the "end times," though not the end of the world, in our days.
To review, the chronological prophecies were the Warning, the Miracle and the Chastisement.
What could be most interesting is that in Garabandal, the Blessed Mother had instructed visionary Conchita (then 12 years old) to tell the world eight days in advance the day of the Miracle. Also worthy of note is the fact that Conchita, as well as the other visionaries, said that the Warning, the first of the prophecies to occur, would happen before the Miracle no more than a year apart from the Miracle.
This month, Conchita, now married with children, turned 72 years of age. And that's implying a lot about when the Warning and the Miracle will happen unless Conchita lives to be 200.
One objection is that Garabandal has no Church approbation yet. For me, however, it is sufficient that the apparitions there were confirmed as authentic by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Pope Paul VI, and Padre Pio.
Indeed in his own handwriting, Padre Pio had sent the Garabandal visionaries a letter, preserved to this day, saying as follows:
"Dear maidens, at nine o'clock this morning the Holy Virgin Mary spoke to me of you, dear young girls, of your visions and told me to tell you:" O blessed girls of San Sebastian de Garabandal, I promise you that I will be with you until the end of the ages and you will be with Me until the end of the world, and then united with Me in the joy of Paradise.
"I attach to the present the copy of the Holy Rosary of Fatima, which the Holy Virgin has ordered me to send you. This Rosary was dictated by the Holy Virgin , and wants it to be touted for the salvation of sinners and the preservation of humanity from worse punishments, which the good Lord is threatening. There is only one recommendation: pray and have them pray, because the world is on the road to perdition. They don't believe in you and in your conversations with the white Lady, BUT THEY WILL BELIEVE WHEN IT IS TOO LATE."
Garabandal believers are now into the internet, exchanging views on the messages and prophecies of the Blessed Mother with a growing sense of urgency.
Their common view is that the Warning will occur anytime up to no later than 2016.
Indeed, there now seems to be an increasing number of hints on the occurrence of the Warning. There are now videos being posted on YouTube showing birds and aircraft suspended in the air, unmoving as if frozen in time. These episodes remind me of the declarations of the Garabandal visionaries that during the Warning, everything will stop, including airplanes, all over the world, while each person, believers and unbelievers, gets a look into the condition of their souls as God sees them. Then the machines would go on as usual after the event.
More recent credible Marian apparitions also have turned out to be confirmations of the specific prophecies of Garabandal: Medjugorje, Akita, Kibeho, etc.
And more prophecies that reflect the revelations in Garabandal are being issued from Heaven.
Last February 16, mystic Gisella Cardia was told as follows by the Blessed Mother:
(Note: Recent prophecies can be frightening. Please pray first for help from the Holy Spirit.)
"My loves, thank you for the prayers that you recite, even silently; every gesture, every word addressed to God is a prayer. Children, I continue to ask you to be lights for the world and swords for your defense; we will give you the maximum protection, but pray, speak of God calmly and gently - explain what will be told to you by Heaven without fear, because the Holy Spirit will accompany you.
"Children, pray for Russia, China and America: they will cause turmoil for the world. Turn to God the Savior without any doubts: be bound to true doctrine. Pray for those who fear these moments of darkness that are coming. I say to them: do not fear, because you should only to aspire to Paradise -- there are so many pointless deaths in the world, because you are bowing your heads to the world's elite.
"Pay attention, my children, evil is taking advantage of your spiritual and physical weakness in order to attack you. For this reason I ask you to be strong in faith, because only in this way will you be able to endure, to renounce and to go forward in evangelizing. My children, the volcanoes will awaken almost simultaneously: nature is turning against this ungrateful and sinful humanity.
"Children, pray for the Church: schism is in progress. The Church will rise again... unfortunately, my favored sons (priests) have chosen the path of falsehood, making darkness descend on the faithful. Remember that you will be accountable to God for all your behavior: you are leading my flock into sin, you are no longer taking sin into consideration, what you teach is no longer the true magisterium and for this you will be held to account.
"Darkness is about to descend on this earth and the signs of heaven will be more and more imposing. Convert now. The Antichrist is about to appear publicly, taking the appearance of a saint in his way of doing things; he will even speak of God, but beware, children, beware! Always live out my messages and gather as many souls as possible. My daughter, thank you for always being faithful to me; Jesus will be beside you and I will console you in this Easter offering. Now I leave you my blessing in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen."