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Beauraing, Belgium (1932 - 1933)
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Summary |
Timeline
Nov 29, 1932 |
Albert and Fernande Voisin and Andree and Gilberte Degeimbre approached the convent door to call for Gilberte Voisin as they did every night. Albert ran ahead of the girls and rang the door to the convent. As he waited for a sister to come to the door, he turned around and looked toward the street and railroad bridge “Look! The Virgin, dressed in white, is walking above the bridge!” he cried out. The girls did not believe him but when they turned around they saw the figure of a beautiful Lady in white walking above the bridge and the grotto by the convent with clouds covering her feet. The sister who came to the door could not see the Blessed Virgin Mary, but Gilberte Voisin did. |
Dec 17, 1932 |
The Virgin Mary asks for a chapel to be built |
Dec 21, 1932 |
The Virgin clearly states, "I am the Immaculate Virgin." |
Dec 23, 1932 |
Our Lady states that she desires people to come on pilgrimage. |
Dec 29, 1932 |
The Virgin opened Her arms in Her usual gesture of farewell. This time Fernande saw a Heart of Gold, surrounded by glittering rays. All the children witnessed this in the remaining apparitions. |
Jan 3, 1933 |
The Virgin Mary appears for the final time at Beauraing. |
1934 |
Similar apparition claims multiplied throughout Belgium (Onkerzele, Lokere, Naasteveld, Tubize, Olsene, Etikhove) |
1935 |
The Holy Office turned the examination of the matter over to the Primate of Belgium, Cardinal Van Roy. |
Feb 2, 1943 |
After long investigations and especially-difficult negotiations with Rome, the cult of Our Lady of Beauraing was recognized. |
July 2, 1949 |
The Bishop released a document to Clergy in the Diocese declaring that the Queen of Heaven did appear to the children. |
Aug 22, 1946 |
The statue of Our Lady of Beauraing was blessed the Feast of the Immaculate Heart. |
Aug 21, 1954 |
The Chapel was consecrated. |
Photo Gallery
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Description of the Virgin
The Virgin Mary appeared as a beautiful lady in white walking above the bridge and the grotto by the convent with clouds covering her feet. The Virgin, with hands joined and turned toward the sky, carried a rosary hanging from her right arm. During the five last apparitions, she showed a heart of gold, surrounded by rays, on her chest.
Visionaries
The children belonged to two families: the Voisins (Fernande, 15 years; Berthe, 13 years; and Albert 11 years) and the Degeimbres (Andre, 14 years, and Gilberte, 9 years old). These working families were for the most part non-practicing Catholics.
Messages
The Virgin Mary urged the children to pray and sacrifice. She asked, "that people pray much," "that a chapel be built" (December 17, 1932), "that people come here in pilgrimage" (December 23). She promised the conversion of sinners. All these points are common with Lourdes. During the five last apparitions, she showed a heart of gold, surrounded by rays, on her chest. During the fourth apparition (December 4) and the seventh (December 21), she declared herself to be "the Immaculate Virgin" (analogous to Lourdes). During the last apparition (January 3, 1933), she added: "I will convert sinners. I am the Mother of God, the Queen of heaven." Twenty thousand persons were present that day.
The secrets given to the children have never been revealed.
Click here to read the messages of Our Lady of Beauraing.
Miracles and Signs
After the fourth apparition, there were sick people in the crowd. The visionaries prayed Our Lady to heal them. But it was only after the last apparition that healings took place. Here, however, the matter begins to deteriorate. A certain Come Tilman, fifty-eight years old, became a visionary in his turn, and at the first vision, he was healed of spondylitis. However, a medical and psychic examination of the visionary, made on June 1934, was negative. Meanwhile, similar apparitions multiplied in Belgium. It was thus that in 1935, the Holy Office turned the examination of the matter over to the Primate of Belgium, Cardinal Van Roy.
During the apparition of December 8th, Dr. Maistriaux, Dr. Lurquin and other doctors were there to pinch, slap, prick and shine flashlights in the children eyes. There was no response from the children during the Lady's visit.
Dr. Lurquin took a lighted match to Gilberte Voisin's left hand; still there was no response. After the apparition Dr. Lurquin looked to see what damage the match had done. There was no sign of injury.
Church Approval
Bishop of Namur approved the apparitions on February 2nd, 1943.
Shrines
Les Santuaires de ND de Beauraing
Rue de l’Aubepine 37
5570 Beauraing
Tel from US: 011 32 82/ 71-1218
Fax from US: 011 32 82/ 71-4075
info@sanctuairesbeauraing.com
Books
Amatora, Mary. The Queen's heart of gold;: The complete story of Our Lady of Beauraing. Pageant Press; [1st ed.] edition (1957)
de Bertier, G. Catholicisme II, 1360
Gerard, G. Les 33 apparitions de la Vierge à Beauraing et leur
caractére. Bruxelles: Les Grandes editions, 1933
Laurentin, René. Mary in Faith and Life in the New Age of the Church. The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute 1980. pp 353-486.
Sharkey & Debergh. Our Lady of Beauraing;
Toussaint & Joset. Beauraing, Les apparitions.
Windeatt, Mary Fabyan. Our Lady of Beauraing. T A N Books & Publishers (May 1988)
Vraies et Fausses apparitions, pp. 22-23
Enciclopedia mariana theotokos, Genova, 2d. ed., 1958, p. 24;
