Deepertruth: Our Lady of Garabandal Spain 1961 Part II

This article reflects upon Marian apparitions that occurred during the years 1961 to 1965 in the village of San Sebastián de Garabandal, or Garabandal, in northern Spain, giving rise to pilgrimages ever since. The events coincided with the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II. Garabandal is the only Marian apparition event to have prophesied and commented on Vatican II (Serre & Caux 2001: 256).

Nevertheless, in Christendom, travelling to Garabandal is regarded as an alternative pilgrimage. Garabandal attracts only a small number of dedicated followers and pilgrims. After a visit in April 2009, the high season for pilgrimages to the village, I can confirm that few pilgrims find their way to Garabandal. On the other hand, an unexploited site such as Garabandal is attractive to pilgrims. The pilgrimage route is in several ways unique compared to journeys to other Marian pilgrimage shrines, since it has not yet been approved by the Catholic Church. Pilgrimages to Garabandal were even officially forbidden for several years.

The Catholic Church authorities originally declared travelling to Garabandal as forbidden for church officials such as priests and others. Attempts were made to prevent pilgrimages by forbidding the celebration of Masses that referred to the apparitions (Nolan & Nolan 1989: 286). We ask ourselves why this was done, and we may also ask why it is no longer forbidden to do this pilgrimage.