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Virgin of the Poor

Virgin of the Poor

Short Summary: In Banneux, Belgium, the Virgin Mary appeared eight times to 12-year-old Mariette Beco, identifying herself as the "Virgin of the Poor" and promising healing for all nations through a nearby spring.

Details

Location: Banneux, Belgium

Year: 1933

Prayer: Virgin of the Poor, Through your intercession, guide us to trust in God's great mercy. May the healing you continue to provide be a source of strength and hope for all nations. Help us to bring comfort to the weary, and may we faithfully respond to your call for prayer, humility, and service to those in need. Amen.

Verse: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." —Matthew 11:28

Full Story

The apparitions began when Mariette Beco, a 12-year-old girl, saw a glowing figure approach her home one cold, windy evening. As she pressed her face against the frosty window, the glow transformed into the silhouette of a beautiful woman, hovering a few feet above the ground. The woman, clothed in white and radiating light, smiled at Mariette, who knelt in awe at the sight. This mysterious figure would later reveal herself as the Virgin of the Poor - the first time an apparition directly connected with those in poverty. Over the course of two months, the Lady appeared to Mariette several times, guiding her to a nearby spring and stating, "This spring is reserved for me... for all nations... to relieve the sick." The Virgin urged Mariette to pray and promised her aid to the suffering. The apparitions occurred eight times in total, and Mariette recorded the Virgin’s words, such as the notable statement: "Believe in me, I will believe in you." The events were thoroughly investigated by the Church, and officially recognized as credible in 1949. Many pilgrims have since visited the spring, seeking physical and spiritual healing. One documented healing involved Benito Garcia, a Spanish man suffering from a severe arm injury that required a drainage tube. After immersing his arm in the spring’s water and praying to the Virgin of the Poor, he found the water to be "boiling hot". In front of everyone present, he then experienced an immediate healing. His case was among the more than 20 miracles documented by Bishop Kerkhof over a span of five years, contributing to the recognition of Banneux as a site of healing. The small spring continues to flow, yielding 2,000 gallons of water per day.

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