Letters | Sunday, 18 April 2010

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What is Pope Benedict’s position on Our Lady of Garabandal?

Allow me to take this opportunity through your newspaper to ask some questions whilst his Holiness the Pope Benedict XVI is on his first visit to our Maltese islands.
Between 1961 and 1965 Our Lady appeared to four children in San Sebastian de Garabandal, Spain. What is the Pope’s and Church’s position regarding the apparitions?

In 1977 Maltese Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca censored the apparitions of Garabandal, and censored any kind of information to be spread in our country. This was only done in Malta. This episode once more damaged Cur catholic faith, and cast dark shadows on Maltese Catholic Authorities.

These apparitions carried strong messages to Catholic followers, many held on to these messages and rose back with a strong faithful belief. Personally, I do believe, even though I received a refusal to meet the Archbishop to discuss this matter, and ask question as to why these events were and are still censored.
What is hidden? What is wrong? Why?

Many countries around Europe are allowed to pass these messages of Garabandal to followers by priests, Cardinals, etc.
So I ask again, what is the Pope’s position on this matter today? It’s of vital importance that readers should know and be informed that Pope Benedict XVI himself held the investigation when he was the head of the sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It is not only us as a group of followers that need and ask to clarify this position, but even priests themselves are still awaiting answers both from the Pope himself and more likely from our Archbishop.
Therefore, on behalf of many followers, I hereby ask directly to his Holiness Pope Benedict himself. Should these appearances, be made known to the world?

Personally I believe, when our Lady appears to give us a message, the message should be observed and should be allowed to be heard on the date, and not 50 years later. Therefore our local church authorities should make publicly what is their official position today.
The messages are:

October 18, 1961
We must make many sacrifices, perform much penance, and visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently. But first, we must lead good lives. If we do not, a chastisement will befall us. The cup is already filling up, and if we do not change, a very great chastisement will come upon us.

June 18, 1965
As my message of October 18 has not been complied with and has not been made known to the world, I am advising you that this is the last one. Before, the cup was filling up. Now it is flowing over. Many cardinals, many bishops and many priests are on the road to perdition and are taking many souls with them. Less and less importance is being given to the Eucharist. You should turn the wrath of God away from yourselves by your efforts. If you ask for His forgiveness with sincere hearts, He will pardon you. I, your mother, through the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, ask you to amend your lives. You are now receiving the last warnings. I love you very much and do not want your condemnation. Pray to us with sincerity and we will grant your requests. You should make more sacrifices. Think about the passion of Jesus.

Carmel Agius,
Garabandal Centre,
Fgura

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