Last Saturday, Alex Guillen from in El Paso (Texas) was celebrating his 50th birthday with his wife, Nancy, and some friends. The couple have a statue dedicated to Our Lady in their garden - which they call "Mary's Garden." From the footage below, they seem like a genuinely devout family, from an ordinary Latino background.
It appears that during the birthday celebrations a strange light was seen coming from outside. When the couple and their guests went to investigate, they saw what appeared to be an image of Our Lady (I must confess that it wasn't that clear to me) imprinted on their garden wall. The local TV station sent a news crew to film the event, whose cameraman caught the "apparition" as it appeared to become clearer throughout the night. I think you'll agree that this part of the footage is quite strange, to say the least!
Needless to say, many people began turning up to witness the strange phenomenon. As they took photos of the incident, it seems that some saw other bizarre things, too - such as demonic images and a figure that looked like Our Lord. Nancy Guillen describes a typically devilish "goat's head" pattern on what she believes to be Our Lady's mantle. Apparently, the number "5" is also visible - though it just looked like a shadow to me, as did the supposed skull that someone claimed to have witnessed.
Nancy spent the weekend searching for images our Our Lady on the internet, specifically looking for examples of where the Virgin Mary had appeared accompanied by demonic characters. She eventually came across the image of the alleged apparition of Our Lady of Pellevoisin, which is claimed to have occurred in a small French town in 1876. According to Nancy Guillen this image of Our Lady corresponds to the one found on her garden wall. Unfortunately for her, though, the visions at Pellevoisin were never authenticated by the Church, and successive local ordinaries have remained silent on the matter. Having said that, Pope Leo XIII did approve an Archconfraternity of Mother All Merciful of Pellevoisin in 1894 (see Catholic Culture). Whatever happened in the El Paso garden seems to have given Alex and Nancy Guillen, and their numerous friends and neighbours, a great amount of comfort and joy. It also appears that, as many have already commented on another news item, the local area is known for its social problems and could therefore do with the Virgin Mary's protection against demonic forces.
What are we to make of apparitions and alleged visions like the one in El Paso? As we know many of these phenomena seem to cause more problems than they solve. Some surely must be the result of over-active imaginations or trickery, whilst others sometimes are genuine visits from Our Lady, granted by God for the salvation of souls. Of course, still other such events, especially the ones that seem to cause disobedience and dissent from the Magisterium, come from the "father of lies" and the "sower of confusion" himself.
It is important to stress that the Church has not, as far as I know, even started to investigate this latest phenomenon. Therefore, until the local bishop approves the vision it might be more prudent to shy away from this strange event, rather than allow oneself to be attached to something that could eventually prove to be dangerous.
Have a look at the news item above, and let me know what you think!
Update: Here is a follow-up news item, again on KTSM News Channel 9, which shows how pilgrims, including nuns, are now making their way to the El Paso home. This particular report is actually quite a beautiful portrayal of simple faith.
[Image: The supposed apparition of Our Lady of Pellevoisin; source: Mary Pages]
7 comments:
I accept that the Catholic Church, at the highest level (Vatican) has to investigate and validate such claims. The problem is that it takes too long (e.g. Medjugorje) and as a result the delay further fuels debates and arguments amongst Catholics.
And the devil laughs!
God bless.
I dunno. It just looks like a combination of light and shadow to me.
I need to look up my old research but the area of the Lourdes apparition had long been associated with strange occurrences, said to be demonic at the time.
It was, of course, a fearful area , a rubbish dump for all the material from the local hospital, soiled bandages etc.
This made the apparition to Bernadette even more challenging to the authorities, especially when she originally called the vision "that thing" in the local patois until the Lady revealed her identity.
If this "fuels more arguments amongst Catholics" better this than the endless bickering on Church politics which is, quite frankly, making us a source of friendly fun in
my local Churches Together group.
I don't know about the devil laughing. Sounds pretty human to me.
Regards.
I recommend buying "Private Revelation: What Does the Catholic Church Teach?".
I am, like you, wary of these apparitions that pop up around the world. I recall that, in the very early days of Lourdes, the devil appeared as Our Lady but with a black mask.
These occurences are, in many ways, ideal ammunition for satan who uses them (many of them) to sow dissent and discord).
I keep well clear until the Church pronounces.
I have looked at these fascinating videos. No one has mentioned the letter "M" which is clearly visible on the so-called apparition. Is this a sign of identification?
It is important to be open, but careful. We should not be dismissive but neither credulous. If the image is a genuine gift from heaven it will be authenticated in other ways - conversions, healings etc of such a kind that they witness to the reality of grace. The official Church is usually very slow to deal with this kind of thing, though I agree with Victor in that it takes too long.
I am reminded of the occurrences at Civitavechia near Rome, where a statue was said to be weeping blood. The local bishop was very much against all of this and confiscated the statue. One day as he held it, it wept blood in his hands. He fainted. He then authorized a small shrine to be constructed in the local church. Be careful, not credulous but not dismissive. Wait and see.
You may be interested to know that my book "Visions" is precisely about such an apparition. Details on my Blog.
God bless.
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