Mary, Virgin & Mother, Reconciler of All Peoples & Nations

Apparition in Betania

https://www.saintpetermerchantville.com/single-post/2016/10/09/The-Great-Apparition-in-Betania 

Rev. Timothy E Byerley, Ph.D

Although Maria Esperanza had frequent visions & locutions of Jesus, Mary & the saints, something very unusual occurred in Betania on March 25, 1984. Around 150 people, including Maria Esperanza’s entire family & many of her spiritual sons & daughters were at a tropical sugarcane farm called Betania (Bethany), about 50 miles south of Caracas. 

It was a Sunday, & the group was gathered there to enjoy a day of relaxation & fraternity. As the children were playing in front of a small waterfall, they suddenly looked up & saw the Blessed Virgin. They ran to tell their parents & everyone hastened to the area in front of the waterfall, now called the grotto.

Over the next 3 hours the entire group saw Our Lady 7 times. Each visit lasted from 5 to 10 minutes, except the last at dusk, when the Virgin appeared for half an hour.

Our Lady identified herself as Mary, Virgin & Mother, Reconciler of All Peoples & Nations. This flash of divine intervention transformed Betania into an international focal point of reconciliation & Marian spirituality overnight. The experience transformed the spiritual lives of those present as well.

Word of the event spread rapidly & the local Bishop of Los Teques, Pio Bello Ricardo undertook an extensive investigation. He consulted with then-Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger later Pope Benedict XVI, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. On November 21, 1987 three & a half years later, Bishop Pio Bello issued his pastoral letter on Betania. He said:

“IN CONSEQUENCE, AFTER STUDYING WITH DETERMINATION THE APPARITIONS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN FINCA BETANIA & AFTER ASSIDUOUSLY ASKING OUR LORD FOR SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT: I DECLARE THAT IN MY JUDGMENT THESE APPARITIONS ARE AUTHENTIC & OF SUPERNATURAL CHARACTER.

“THEREFORE, I APPROVE OFFICIALLY THAT THE PLACE WHERE THE APPARITIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS SACRED, & THAT IT BE KEPT AS A SITE FOR PILGRIMAGES, AS A PLACE FOR PRAYER, REFLECTION & WORSHIP; WHERE ALL LITURGICAL ACTS CAN BE CELEBRATED ESPECIALLY THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS & THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS OF RECONCILIATION & THE EUCHARIST, ALWAYS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE CHURCH & THE NORMS OF THE DIOCESE.”