Our Lady of Garabandal, Garabandal, Spain, 1961-1965

“Our Lady of Garabandal”
GARABANDAL, SPAIN (1961-1965)
On Sunday, June 18, 1961, the people of the small town of Garabandal often congregated in the village square following Mass at their little church. Two girls, Conchita Gonzalez, age 12, and Mari Cruz Gonzalez, (a second cousin) age 11, decided to sneak away to a nearby apple tree in the yard of their schoolteacher while their parents caught up on gossip. Two other friends, Mari Loli Mazon, age 12, and Jacinta Gonzalez, age 12, had seen them sneak away and followed them. At first they accused the first two of stealing with threats of telling on them, but soon they were all laughing and eating apples. They all fled when they heard their teacher’s loud voice inside her home. They began to feel guilty for their actions and started throwing stones at an imagined location for the Devil so as to please their saddened guardian angels. They grew weary of that play and were startled by a loud clap of thunder.
Suddenly, in the rocky lane, …