Betania, Venezuela (1976-90) Our Lady wants to be known as.... The Reconciler of People and Nations Summary Maria Esperanza of Betania, Venezuela has witnessed 31 apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary over the course of 15 years. The Virgin called herself the "Reconciler of People and Nations" and warned of impending war and suffering. Many visitors have come to the site, reporting numerous miracles and signs. On one occasion in 1984, 108 people claimed to have witnessed a public apparition of the Virgin. The local bishop approved the authenticity of Maria's experiences in 1987. Timeline Nov 22, 1928 Maria Esperanza Medrano de Bianchini is born in Betania, Venezuela. 1933 Maria has a vision of St. Theresa of Lisieux who gave her a rose. 1940 Maria nears death from bronchial pneumonia and receives a vision of Mary who recommmends the appropriate medications. During her adolescence she was healed from a paralyzing illness after an apparition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 1950 Visits Padre Pio and promises her that "When I leave, she will be your consolation." Oct 3, 1954 She subsequently enters a Franciscan convent for a brief period before being told that she did not have a vocation. St Therese appears to her and tells her that her that she is to be a wife and mother. She receives another vision from the Sacred heart of Jesus instructing her to go to Rome, where she meets her future husband, Geo Bianchini. Dec 8, 1956 Maria marries Geo Bianchini on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 1974 Maria and Geo purchase a farm shown to her by Mary in a vision predicting that it would become a center of "constant prayer and pilgrimage" for all "the nations of the world". Mary introduces herself as "Reconciler of People and Nations". March 25, 1976 First apparition of Mary at the grotto site. March 25, 1984 108 people see the Virgin at the grotto as she first appears to the children at a waterfall and then to the adults of the group at Mass. 1984 Pío Bello Ricardo, S.J., Bishop of Los Teques opens an investigation. Nov 21, 1987 Archbishop Pio Bello Ricardo emits the Pastoral Instruction on the apparition of Our Blessed Virgin Mary in Finca Betania, approving the apparitions received by Maria. Jan 5, 1990 The Virgin appears for the last time (31) to Maria. Dec 8, 1991 A eucharistic miracle was reported in which the Host began to bleed. Tests in Caracas later determined the blood to be human. Aug 7, 2004 Maria Esperanza dies in New Jersey, USA. Jan 31, 2010 Bishop Paul Bootkoski, Ordinary of the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, opens her cause for beatification and canonization. (Since Maria Esperanza died in New Jersey, her cause is being initiated there.) Photo Gallery Description of the Virgin "And when she revealed herself, she went to the top of the tree, and I saw she was beautiful, with her hair brown, dark brown, her eyes that were lgiht brown and she had very fine, very pretty eyebrows, tiny mouth, a nose very straight and her complexion was so beautiful, it was skin that seemed like silk. It was bronzed. It was beautiful. Very young. Her hair was down to here, to her shoulders." - Maria Esperanza Messages The Virgin appeared 31 times between March 25, 1976 to January 5, 1990. Twenty-four of the apparitions came after 1984. The messages that Our Lady of Betania brought is one of reconciliation and love: "Behold, children, the love of a Mother, who cherishes you... and comes as a strarting point to lead you toward a law of justice, love, peace, and reconciliation! I call you, for the great moment of reconciliation has arrived.... I extend my love to all my children, dwellers on earth, and be loyal to Jesus, so may discover the wonderful secret of unity...which will help us find the key to God's kingdom! ...Forgive one another. Love one another. Serve one another... All of you are children of God. All are loved." Click here to read messages. Miracles, Cures, and Signs There have been over 500 miracles and cures reported at Betania. On December 8, 1991, a eucharistic miracle was reported in which the Host began to bleed. Tests in Caracas later determined the blood to be human. Pilgrims have claimed to have seen the Virgin (over 2,000 testimonies) and various celestial phenomena such as mist coming from the hill, a profusion of flowers, the sound of an invisible choir, the scent of roses and the irregular movement of the sun. Maria was the subject of many miraculous happenings including the stigmata and exuding sweet aromas. The eucharist has appeared in her mouth and she allegedly displayed gifts of healing, levitation, bilocation, and prophecy. One of the most remarkable phenomena is the rose that spontaneously bursts forth from her chest, having done so 16 times. Approval The bishop of the diocese, Pío Bello Ricardo, S.J., Bishop of Los Teques, opened an investigation 1984. He interviewed witnesses and examined more than 500 cures attributed to Our Lady of Betania, among which was the cure of a baby's spina bifida, as documented in Westchester County Medical Center in Valhalla, New York. November 21, 1987 --"After having studied repeatedly the apparitions of the Most Holy Virgin in Betania, and having begged the Lord earnestly for spiritual discernment, I declare that in my judgement the said apparitions are authentic and have a supernatural character. I therefore approve, officially, that the site where the apparitions have occurred be considered as sacred." - Bishop Pio Bello Ricardo
Bleeding Host in Poland ‘has hallmarks of a Eucharistic miracle’ by Staff Reporter posted Tuesday, 19 Apr 2016 In 2013 red stains appeared on a consecrated Host (PA) The announcement was made by Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski of Legnica on Sunday A bleeding Host in Poland that “has the hallmarks of a Eucharistic miracle” has been approved for veneration. The announcement was made by Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski of Legnica on Sunday, according to reports. On Christmas Day in 2013, a consecrated Host fell to the floor, the bishop said in a statement. It was put in a container of water and red stains subsequently appeared on the Host. After the discovery, the former Bishop of Legnica set up a commission to observe the phenomenon, the statement said. “In February 2014, a tiny red fragment of the Host was seperated and put on a corporal. The Commission ordered to take samples in order to conduct the thorough tests by the relevant research institutes,” the statement added. Tests were performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Wroclaw at the beginning of 2014. Another study was subsequently performed by the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, which concluded that “in the histopathological image, the fragments (of the Host) were found containing the fragmented parts of the cross striated muscle. It is most similar to the heart muscle. Tests also determined the tissue to be of human origin, and found that it bore signs of distress.” Bishop Kiernikowski said the Host bore signs of “a Eucharistic miracle” and explained that in January of this year he took the matter to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In April, according to a recommendation made by the Holy See, he asked parish priest Andrzej Ziombrze “to prepare a suitable place” for the Host so that the faithful could venerate it. “I hope that this will serve to deepen the cult of the Eucharist and will have deep impact on the lives of people facing the Host,” the bishop added.
Published on Jun 11, 2013 science behind bleeding Eucharist. Taken from the documentary 'Science tests Faith' by Ron Tesoriero. Republic VS Democracy
Remarkable account of God giving evidence of His real presence in the Blessed Eucharist to Our Holy Father Pope Francis, back in 1996 when he was still a Cardinal! Our Lord definately Loves Our Dear Holy Father very much and is speaking to him, we must continue to pray for him.
I love this thread, Josephite. I wanted to add an article from 2005 about what Saint John Paul II said about the Eucharist http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/n...for_confession_purity_in_receiving_eucharist/ The date of the article, March 14, 2005 was when Pope John Paul II was ill from advanced Parkinson's Disease and in the Gemelli hospital with the flu. It was also written less than a month before he died. He sent a letter dated March 8, 2005 to several priests. He wrote this from the hospital. Many people have said that he had mystical experiences. He wrote about the urgency of the call to conversion and need to confess one’s sins. The message was addressed to Cardinal James F. Stafford, major penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary, to his collaborators, to father confessors of Roman basilicas, and to numerous other priests. He said in part, "only people with a sincere awareness of not having committed mortal sin may receive the body of Christ." The Pope called for the Eucharistic mystery to be celebrated "with pureness of heart and sincere love." He concluded, "Clearly and simply preach the true doctrine concerning the need of the Sacrament of reconciliation for receiving communion, when one is aware of not being in God's grace. At the same time, encourage the faithful to receive the body and blood of Christ in order to be purified of venial sins and imperfections, so that Eucharistic celebrations are pleasing to God and associate us with the offer of the holy and immaculate Victim with a heart that is contrite and humbled, confident and reconciled.”
