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The apparitions of

GARABANDAL

BY
F. SANCHEZ-VENTURA Y PASCUAL

Chapter Six

THE PRODIGIES CONTINUE

Page 75

naturalness of the children's conversations with Our Blessed Mother. Many feel that it should serve as an example to us all.

"A Miracle, A Miracle!"

39.—At 9:35 p.m., on August 8th, the second vision of the day commenced. All four children fell in ecstasy at the foot of the steps to the high altar. They heaved a sigh.

   "Yes, as you wish, as you command . . . We haven't given any proof yet, and people don't believe.... I don't mind going all over the place. Anything you say...."

   They rose to their feet and left the church in ecstasy, prepared to make a tour of all the spots where they had had apparitions.

   "When's the next time we'll see you, so the people can come? I heard people saying it's an illness we've got, and the little kids throw stones at us ... If you're pleased with us, then it's all the same to us....."

   In no time they had climbed the hillside to the pines. Mary Loly was trembling.

   "Yes, this is where the chapel's going to be built . . . This is a good spot. . . Shall we kneel down?" They knelt and sang the hymn to St. Michael. They kissed something in the air. At that moment, Fr. Luis Andreu looked deeply moved. He turned pale and repeated four times, in a distinct voice: "A miracle, a miracle . . ."

   The little girls retraced their steps to the church, after what Fr. Luis described as "an impressive descent" from the pines. Conchita realized that she had lost a rosary that had been entrusted to her.

   "I've lost the rosary; it was the student's," she said to the Vision. "I'm so upset. Will he scold me? Eh? Where did I drop it? Up the hill. Higher up than where we saw you?"

  They said the rosary, led by Mary Loly and Conchita.

   These notes are taken from Fr. Luis' note-book. They were the last lines that he was ever to write.

   In their descent from the pines, "the children seemed to have wings on their heels". * They lost two rosaries on the way down. One belonged to Fr. Luis, and was mislaid by Mary Loly, although the Virgin told her where it had fallen. The other belonged to the "student", a seminarian called Don Andres Pardo.

   Mary Loly wanted to run and fetch it at once, but it was very late.

   "Not now; it's late. Tomorrow, in daylight, you can go and find it, and, if I don't come back again, you keep it safe and give it to my brother when he comes, because he'll certainly come," Fr. Luis said.

* The words of Fr. Royo Marin.

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