Scripture tells us how God communicates Himself and His messages to His people. He uses dreams, visions, inner voices. He also anoints prophets to be His mouthpiece to proclaim His messages to the people. Scripture are flooded with stories of miracles and supernatural events and these were normal back then. In the last century-and-a-half, we have heard of (and for some,have seen) numerous accounts of Marian Apparitions in different parts of the globe.The visionaries are usually young, quite normal, not particularly well educated and not extraordinarily holy or spiritual prior to the vision. These are the type of people the Lady chooses to reveal her message of and a warning. If we heed, there would be peace.
But if we do not, a great chastisement would befall mankind.
Below is the Marian apparitions that have received official approval by the Roman Catholic Church (although the list may vary in other websites)and their corresponding messages and prophesies.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
GUADALUPE, MEXICO 1531
Juan Diego, 57
Our Lady's message is about love and compassion and her universal promise of help and protection to all mankind. Speaking in Juan's native tongue, the beautiful Lady identified herself: "My dear little Son, I love you. I desire you to know who I am. I am the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of the true God who gives life and maintain its existence. He created all things. He is in all places. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. I desire a church in this place where your people may experience my compassion. All those who sincerely ask my help in their work and in their sorrows will know my Mother's Heart in this place. Here I will see their tears; I will console them and they will be at peace." Mar left an image of herself miraculously on Juan Diego's tilma. A poor quality cactus cloth, the tilma should have deteriorated in 20 years but shows no sign of decay 469 years later. It still defies all scientific explanations of its origin.
VIRGIN OF THE POOR
BANNEUX, BELGIUM
January 15, 1933 to March 2, 1933
Mariette Beco, 11
Mary told Mariette, "I am the Mother of the Savior, Mother of God, pray much." She also described herself as the "Virgin of the Poor" and promised to intercede for the poor, the sick and the suffering.
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
LOURDES, FRANCE
February 11 to July 16, 1858 (18 visitations)
St. Bernadette Soubirous, 14
The Lady told her that we all must "pray for the conversion of sinners," have "Penance, penance, penance!" and to "go tell the priests to have people come here in a procession and to have a chapel built here."
OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
RUE DU BAC, PARIS, FRANCE
Summer of 1840 (3visitations)
St. Catherine Laboure, 24
The Miraculous Medal was revealed to St. Catherine as a powerful means of grace for the faithful. "Have a medal struck after this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces; abundant graces will be given to those who have confidence," On it were written these words in gold: "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." Inscribed on the reverse of the medal is the letter M surrounded by a cross, and below it two hearts...one crowned with thorns and the other pierced by a sword. Mary also revealed to St. Catherine, "The times are very evil.Sorrows will befall France; the throne will be overturned. The whole world will be plunged into every kind of misery."
THE IMMACULATE VIRGIN AND MOTHER OF GOD,
QUEEN OF HEAVEN
BEAURAING, BELGIUM
November 29, 1932 to January 1933 (33times)
Fernande Voisin, 15; Gilberte Voisen, Albert Voisin, 11; Andree Degeimbre, 14; and Gilberte Degeimbre, 9; Mary calls for prayer for the conversion of sinners, . "Pray,pray very much." "Pray always." "I will convert sinners." "I am the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven. Pray always." She also wanted a chapel to be built.
KNOCK, IRELAND
August 21, 1879 (2 hours or so) Mary Mcloughlin and Mary Beirne
The two woman visionaries saw three figures : Mary, Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist. They also saw an altar with a young lamb on it in front of a cross, and angels surrounding the altar. Thirteen other people also saw the vision. This was a silent apparition---no sound was heard and no verbal message was given. The symbolism of a lamb,cross and altar has been seen as pointing to the sacrificial death of Christ and the Mass, and yet these were behind Mary in the apparition at Knock,suggesting that the focus was on her and her role as a mediator.
OUR LADY OF ALL NATIONS
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
March 25, 1945 to May 31, 1959
Ida Perdeman, "Come back, Come back to the One Who truly loves you! Come back to your Lord truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist! There must be a return to Him first of all, before true peace can come. You have a great task to accomplish. Take courage and fear not. 'The Lady of all Nations'is standing before you...The time is now. This rosary has served you, Persevere to the end in saying it...Keep on praying [the rosary], all of you!... The prayer [of the rosary] is to be made known everywhere."
OUR LADY OF HOPE
POSTMAIN, FRANCE
January 17, 1871 (3 hours)
Eugene, 12 and Joseph Berbadette, 10 and two young girls,9 and 11
Our Lady's message encouraged prayer while emphasizing Jesus ' love concern. " Pray, my children.God will answer before long. My Son lets Himself be moved." The message of Pontmain is Powerful. Embrace the cross; be like children in your faith; have hope.
LA SALETTE, FRANCE
September 19, 1846
Melanie Calvat , 14 and Maximin Giraud,11
Mary expressed concern over the lack of devotion among Catholics. " I call on the true disciples of the living God...my children... the faithful disciples of Jesus Christ who have lived in ... union with God, in suffering and unknown to the world. It is time they came out and filled the world with light. Go and reveal yourselves to be my cherished children. I am at your side ... provided that your faith is the light which shines upon you in these unhappy days. May your zeal make you famished for the glory and the honor of Jesus Christ. Fight, children of light, the few who can see. For now is the time of all times... "Prayer and the need for conversion to avoid chastisement were emphasized. She appealed for penance and end to Sabbath breaking and blasphemy in the region. The apparition is credited with a major revival of Catholicism in the area. She prophesied the crop failures in Western and Central Europe; these eventually led to an economic depression and the revolution of 1848.
OUR LADY OF ROSARY
FATIMA, PORTUGAL
May 13 to October 13, 1917
(every 13th of the month)
Lucia dos Santos, 10; Francisco Marto, 9; and Jacinta Marto 7
Mary's messages emphasized the need for daily rosary prayer for world peace and end of the war, reparation for sinners, the existence of hell, the consecration of Russia and First Saturday Communions of Reparation. Mary asked that we consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart as well. In addition, Mary foretold the end of World War 1,the onset of World War II and the rise of Communism. " When you pray the Rosary, say after each mystery: 'O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fires of hell, Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need.' "She promised. "If my request are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be peace." But she also warned: If my request are not granted. Russia will spread her errors throughout the world raising up wars and persecutions against the Church, the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated."
OUR LADY OF SORROWS
AKITA, JAPAN
June 1973 to May 1982
Sister Agnes Sasagawa, "Pray, pray very much for the Pope, bishops and priests ...If we do return to His Sacred Heart truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist then we shall have the True Peace of the Holy Spirit; otherwise, if we do not return to Him and 'do not repent and better ourselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity." 'At Akita, the angel said: "The Rosary is your weapon....Say it with care and more often for the intention of the Pope, of bishops and priests.....With courage spread this devotion among the greatest number!" On October 13, 1973, on the anniversary of the miracle the sun of Fatima, our Lady spoke to Sr. Sasagawa, she said: Each day recite the prayer of the rosary. With the rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and the priest.... Pray very much the the prayers of the rosary, I alone am able still to save you from the calamities which approach!"
There is one common message in all the apparitions:
JESUS has been offended by the sins of humanity,and Mary exhorts us to prayer and repentance.
