THE STORY

San Sebastian de Garabandal is a small hamlet of some 80 humble dwellings in the Cantabrian Mountains of Northwest Spain.  From June 1, 1961 to November 13, 1965, a lady appeared to four young girls of the village.  During this four-year period, an extraordinary number, over 2000, of apparitions occurred, some lasting a few hours.  The four girls (Conchita Gonzales, Mari Loli Mazon, Jacinta Gonzalez, and Mari Cruz Gonzalez) were eleven and twelve years old at the time.  While praying on the outskirts of the village, they heard a sound like thunder.  Suddenly, there stood before them a dazzling angel.  He said nothing and quickly disappeared.  Pale and visibly shaken, the girls ran to the village church, and the apparition soon became known.  Over the next twelve days, the angel appeared to them several more times, and on July 1, he spoke for the first time, announcing that on following day the “blessed Virgin” would appear to them.

          News spread quickly, and numerous visitors joined the villagers to witness the event.  At six o’clock p.m., the children were headed for the spot, where they had seen the angel, when the Blessed Virgin appeared with an angel on each side.  They recognized one of the angels as the one who appeared to them.  Above the Virgin was a large eye that the children thought to be the eye of God.  They spoke openly and familiarly with the Lady and the rosary in her presence.  Over the next year and a half, she would appear hundreds of times.