Messages from Heaven - the Apparitions of the Virgin Mary

The listings that follow note the year the purported apparition first began (a number of apparitions have lasted more than two years), the location of the apparition site, the visionaries involved and a very brief description of the principal types of events that are reported to occur. The list is shown in two parts - Western Hemisphere apparitions and apparitions elsewhere in the world. The events indicated with an asterisk denote approval by the local bishop; otherwise, the listing only indicates celebrity, not necessarily the validity or authentication of the apparition itself or the messages and phenomena reportedly occurring.

Some Purported Marian Apparitions in the Last Half of the Twentieth Century

                                 
                                                NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA
                                                     (SINCE 1950)


                   DATE        LOCATION               INDIVIDUAL                 EVENT
                   ____        ________               __________                 _____

                   1953        Sabana Grande, PR      Barrio Rincon              Marian visions &
                                                                                   prophecy
 
                   1954        Dayton, OH             Sr. Mil. Neuzil            Marian visions

               *   1976        Betania, VZ            Maria Esperanza            continuous Marian
                                                                                   apparitions, rose
                                                                                   smell, healings

                   1980 (?)    Paulina, LA            Fr. Albert Hebert          Marian visions
                                                                                   and prophecy

               *   1980        Cuapa, NIC             Edward Martinez            Marian apparitions

                   1981        Worcester, MA          Eileen George              Jesus visions

                   1982        Cankton, LA            Genevieve Huckady     Marian apparitions
 
               *   1983        San Nicolas, ARG       Gladys Quiroga             Stigmata & Marian
                                                                                   visions

                   1983        Penablance, CH         Miguel Poblete             Visions of Jesus &
                                                                                   Mary

                   1984        Guatemala              Carmen                     Marian messages

                   1985        Cleveland              Maureen Sweeney            locutions & prophecy

                   DATE        LOCATION               INDIVIDUAL                   EVENT
                   ____        ________               __________                   _____

                   1986        Michigan               Mariamante                 Marian visions

                   1986        Santa Fe, NM           Vange Gonzales             Marian visions

                   1987        Conyers, GA            Nancy Fowler               Marian  apparitions,
                                                                                   solar phenomena,
                                                                                   healings

                   1987        Terra Blanca, MX       Elba & Zendia              Marian visions

                   1987        El Ranchilo, TX        Bro. David Lopez           Marian apparitions &
                                                                                   prophecy

                   1988        Phoenix, AZ            Estella Ruiz               Marian apparitions
                                                        & family                   & prophecy
                                                 
                   1988        Lubbock, TX            Mary Constancio            Marian messages 

                   1988        El Cajas, EQ           Pachi Borrero              Marian apparitions

                   1988        Scottsdale, AZ         Fr. Spaulding              visions and locutions
                                                        & 6 parishoners            of Jesus & Mary. 
 
                   1989        Marlboro, NJ           J. Januszkiewicz           Marian messages
                                                                                   lights & doves

                   1989        Burlington, ON         Zdenko Singer              Marian & Trinity
                                                                                   visions

                   1990        Hillside, IL           Joseph Reinholtz           Visions & locutions

                   DATE        LOCATION               INDIVIDUAL                   EVENT
                   ____        ________               __________                   _____

                   1990        Santa Maria, CA        Carol Nole                   locutions &
                                                                                     solar phenomena

                   1991        Lake Ridge, VA         Fr. James Bruse              Weeping statues of 
                                                                                     Mary, stigmata

                   1991        Denver, CO             Veronica Garcia              Jesus & Mary visions
           
                   1992        Steubenville, OH       Tony Fernwalt                visions & prophecy

                   1993        Belleville, IL         Ray Doiron                   locutions

                   1994        Hollywood, FL          Rosa Lopez                   Marian visions

                   1994        Emmitsburg, MD         Gianna Sullivan              locutions of Mary

Aside from this listing of purported Marian apparition sites in the Americas, there have been dozens more reported from other locations around the world, the most famous being the on-going apparitions at Medjugorje.

In Medjugorje, the Blessed Virgin has reportedly been appearing to six youngsters (now young adults) in this rural hamlet for more than fourteen years. There have been conflicting evaluations of the nature of the apparitions there. The first Bishop who investigated the apparitions found them explanable by natural means. Because of local political conflicts, these findings were set aside and another council was empowered to evaluate events. Subsequent investigations have been inconclusive as to the supernatural character of the apparitions there. Nonetheless, millions of pilgrims visited Medjugorje prior to the civil war and, even today, a small number brave the sniper fire and harsh conditions to visit the site since the apparitions reportedly are still occurring. The visionaries report that Mary told them about a series of ten future events, many of them horrific, which will occur if humanity doesn't convert and turn back to God. But, Mary also was reported to say:

"Do not think about wars, punishments, evil, because if you do you are on the road toward them. Your task is to accept divine peace, to live it, and to spread it."

At Medjugorje and elsewhere, the messages received have Mary asking each of us to return to her Son through prayer, fasting, conversion and works of mercy. She is seen entreating each of us to come back to her Son; and, like any good mother, she attempts to warn us of the consequences should we fail to do so.

The following are the sites of purported Marian apparitions located outside the Western Hemisphere, the events indicated with an asterisk have received the approval of the local Bishop:

SOME PURPORTED MARIAN APPARITIONS NON-AMERICAN SITES SINCE 1960 YEAR LOCATION INDIVIDUAL EVENT ____ __________ __________ _____ 1960 Balestrino, France Caterina Richero visions 1960 Turzovka, Czech. Matous Lasuta visions & prophecy 1961 Garabandal, Spain 4 local girls apparitions, mystical hosts, healings & prophecy 1962 Janonis, Lithuania Ramute m-Mapiukaite visions 1964 San Damiano, Italy Rosa Quattrini visions 1966 Montichiari, Italy Piercina Gilli visions & prophesy 1966 Port San Stefano, IT Enzo Alocci locution & prophesy
YEAR LOCATION INDIVIDUAL EVENT ____ __________ __________ _____ * 1968 Zeitun, Egypt Farouk Atwa+200 th. photographed, televised apparitions above St. Mary's Coptic Church 1968 San Damiano, Italy Carmella Carabelli visions & prophesy * 1969 Akita, Japan Sr. Agnes Sasagawa visions, prophecy bleeding & crying statues of Mary 1970 Vladmir Pr., Ukraine Josyp Terelya visions & prophecy 1972 Milan, Italy Fr. Stefano Gobbi locutions & prophecy 1973 Belgrade, Yugoslavia Julka visions & prophecy 1974 Putot-en-Auge, France Madeleine locutions & prophecy 1975 Calabria, Italy Sr. Elena Aiello visions & prophecy 1975 Binh Loi, Vietnam Stephen Ho Ngoc Ahn visions, healing transportation 1978 Chiang Si, China various witnesses apparitions 1980 El Escorial, Spain Amparo Cuevas stigmata, visions & prophecy
YEAR LOCATION INDIVIDUAL EVENT ____ __________ __________ _____ * 1981 Kibeho, Rwanda six teens apparitions & prophecy 1981 Medjugorje, Croatia 6 village teens visions, locutions, prophecy, healings, solar & rosary phenomena 1981 Rome, Italy John Paul II vision & solar phenomena 1982 Eisenberg, Austria Aloisia Lex visions & permanent grass cross * 1982 Damascus, Syria Maria al Akharas Locutions, fragrant oils, healings 1985 Naju, Korea Julia Kim visions, statues flowing oil, eucharistic miracles & prophecy 1985 Oliveto Citra, IT Twelve children visions, prophecy & aroma of roses 1985 Melleray, Ire. Ursula O'Rourke visions, Breda Coleman prophecy & statue of Mary seen moving
YEAR LOCATION INDIVIDUAL EVENT ____ __________ __________ _____ 1986 Blue Mountain, Aus. Paul visions & moving statues of Mary 1986 Cameroon, Afr. Eight children visions & healings 1987 Inchigella, Ire. Rosemary O'Sullivan pillar of light, visions 1987 Bessbrook, N.Ire. Beulah Lynch visions & prophecy 1987 Hrushiw, Ukraine Maria Kizyn visions 1987 Rome, Italy Sr. Anna Ali visions & prophecy 1988 Gortnodreha, Ire. Christina Gallagher visions, prophecy & stigmata 1988 Cachiche, Peru several parishoners statue of Our Lady of Lourdes crying 1989 Zarvanystya, Ukraine Chornij Zenovia visions 1989 Burlington. Ontario Zdenko Singer visions & prophecy 1990 Litmanova, Slovakia Ivetka Korcakova visions & Katka Ceselkova prophecy 1993 New South Wales, Aus. Matthew Kelly locutions 1994 Rome, Italy Marisa Rossi visions, messages & eucharistic miracles

The varied physical phenomena reported at Marian apparition sites can be categorized into four basic types:

solar phenomena - pilgrims at various sites report multicolored displays or pulsations by the sun. This phenomena has been video-taped and photographed thus confirming some of its physical characteristics.

physical healings - a number of pilgrims report spontaneous healing of chronic medical problems as well as acute diseases such as cancer. While healing does occur, medical science has been unable to determine the physical agent in a number of cases.

changes in state - rosaries of pilgrims have changed of religious color, statues have been observed objects crying, bleeding or moving. Tests conducted reveal varying results. Most rosary changes appear related to chemical reactions involving skin oils created while praying the Rosary. Blood has been analyzed and found to be human and the tears have been tested to show human chemical markers at some sites.

stigmata - a number of visionaries have a visible imprinting of Christ's crucifixion scars. Markings bleed regularly (usually on Friday's). Several visionaries report internal stigmata which correspond to external scars but which are endured internally.

Perhaps the most important effect these occurrences create is the growth in spiritual awareness and prayerfulness. Tens of millions of people worldwide have conducted pilgrimages and created prayer groups as the direct result of the Marian apparition phenomena. The "miracle" of rosaries changing color is not the color change but the return to an active prayer life by many who visit the sites of Marian apparitions.

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Last updated 9/20/96