The Odd Thing About the Events at Garabandal...

Ezkioga

Striking similarities with Ezkioga

Those devoted to Our Lady of Garabandal, while awaiting the Warning, the Miracle, and then the Chastisement, maybe aren't as well acquainted with the apparitions at Ezkioga thirty years earlier.  I've written about it in the past, but I'd like to share something I came across on the apparent link between the two events.  I find it interesting that the events in Garabandal occurred a mere 30 years after the events of Ezkioga - with very similar messages. 

The alleged series of apparitions in 1931 took place not far from San Sebastian, the city in Northern Spain near Garabandal. The visionary was Ramona Olazábal and her visions began on the feast of Mt. Carmel, July 16, 1931 at Ezkioga, Spain. (The BVM was identified at Garabandal as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.)  The visions became popular and attracted crowds, but it was said they became corrupted by anti-clericalist Freemasons and were subsequently politicized. The apparitions were 

later condemned.  

Ezkioga

I found the following account after Googling Garabandal and Ezkioga.

As I was reading about this apparition, a curious fact grabbed my attention:

"Soon phenomena spread to such an extent that there were at least 250 official seers and many more who had lesser experiences in dozens of villages, especially in the town of Ezkioga, where visionaries saw Mary as the Sorrowful Mother, took down her messages, fell into strange rigid trances, or, eyes bulging and rolled back, held up religious items to be blessed.

The visions spread from Ezkioga east, west, and south as far as Orgiva.

Most striking were the prophecies: the apparitions at Ezkioga predicted chastising calamities for mankind, including a world war and three days in which the earth would be plunged into a horrendous darkness. There would also be a "great miracle" that would be seen at Ezkioga but noted in the entire world.

Some said the "great miracle" would be the Virgin appearing with three angels with a half moon at her feet and an extraordinary light that would cover the local mountain. Walls would materialize and from all four sides the Virgin would be seen. Saint Michael would appear on a white horse. "The miracle will begin at a quarter to five in the afternoon and will end at eleven at night," said one account. "The walls will remain as a sign for what has to be done in this place."

One seer said she knew the date of a chastisement and would be allowed to tell people eight days in advance. "Between the chastisement and the miracle there will be little time," she said. "The Virgin has told me which day the chastisement will be and which day the miracle, and I have declared it in writing to my confessor in sealed letters that he keeps, and on the envelope is indicated the day he may open them....

The visions spread from Ezkioga east, west, and south as far as Orgiva. 

Most striking were the prophecies: the apparitions at Ezkioga predicted chastising calamities for mankind, including a world war and three days in which the earth would be plunged into a horrendous darkness. There would also be a "great miracle" that would be seen at Ezkioga but noted in the entire world. 

Some said the "great miracle" would be the Virgin appearing with three angels with a half moon at her feet and an extraordinary light that would cover the local mountain. Walls would materialize and from all four sides the Virgin would be seen. Saint Michael would appear on a white horse. "The miracle will begin at a quarter to five in the afternoon and will end at eleven at night," said one account. "The walls will remain as a sign for what has to be done in this place." 

One seer said she knew the date of a chastisement and would be allowed to tell people eight days in advance. "Between the chastisement and the miracle there will be little time," she said. "The Virgin has told me which day the chastisement will be and which day the miracle, and I have declared it in writing to my confessor in sealed letters that he keeps, and on the envelope is indicated the day he may open them.... http://www.spiritdaily.net/ezkioga.htm

Eight days in advance? Now that is exactly what the seer at Garabandal has said. The fact that these two apparitions are linked geographically and also by this curious fact should be cause for concern for those who automatically assume that Garabandal is genuine. The fact is that the prediction of a great supernatural event which would be announced 8 days in advance was made FIRST at Ezkioga in the 1930s. It turns out that Ezkioga would end up being condemned. In fact, the history of Ezkioga is downright disturbing:

"In 1933 the local bishop, Mugica of Vitoria, condemned the apparitions, banned books about them, and even threatened excommunication if seers disobeyed. In 1934 the Vatican backed him up with a declaration of its own. Church authorities concluded that the apparitions -- or at least a good number of them -- were without merit or even demonic.

It was a region that had seen outbreaks of witchcraft in the 17th century, when wizards were intensely active, casting spells, causing infertility, and denying God and the Virgin Mary, whom the spirits mimicked. The center for witches was in the mountain range of Amboto, where it was said that a deity known as "la Dama" (the lady), patron of witches, lived in caves. The devil was also said to appear as both a black male goat and a man. - Richard, Marian Apparitions

Ezkioga

 This leads me to doubt the authenticity of the alleged apparitions at both Garabandal and Medjugorje.  I wonder why people give so much credence to these things, which can be so easily corrupted by literal interpretation and speculation, as well as the evil spirit and men with an agenda to discredit the Church.

Garabandal

I visited there on my way to Santiago.