The Virgin of the Poor

Mariette Beco, at age eleven, was the oldest of seven children. Her father was a lapsed Catholic living in a poverty-stricken socialist part of Belgium. Her mother was not a practicing Catholic, and Mariette had stopped going to church and receiving instruction in the faith. On the night of January 15, 1933, she was looking out the window for her younger brother Julien and saw a beautiful and luminous young lady who was beckoning to her.

Her mother did not believe Mariette's account, but on looking out saw a figure of light outside. She would not allow Mariette to go out for fear of witchcraft. Mariette's father tried to explain away the phenomenon as having been caused by light reflections but could not give a demonstration to establish his claim. The next day Mariette's friend took her to the parish priest, who was skeptical and thought her account was simply a copycat version of the just-finished Beauraing apparitions. At the next apparition, the Virgin led Mariette from her house to a spring, which she said would bring healing to all nations. She also asked for construction of a chapel. There were eight apparitions in all. The parish priest was initially skeptical but eventually accepted the authenticity of the apparitions. In 1949, upon completion of extensive investigations, the bishop of the region officially approved the apparitions.

Distinctive features of the apparitions include: people were converted in large numbers simply by listening to accounts of the apparitions (Mariette's father was one of the converts); the path from Mariette's house to the spring is now open to the public and is the only place in the world which traces a route taken by the Virgin; Mary's self-description was "Virgin of the Poor," and this was especially significant since the world had just gone through a devastating economic depression and Banneux was one of the poorest areas in Belgium; the apparitions of Banneux, along with those of Beauraing, were taking place just before the onset of the Second World War and signified the Virgin's empathy with a world soon to witness terrible suffering (both towns are located in the Ardennes, which was where the Battle of the Bulge, the single most devastating battle of the War, was fought); the Virgin said the spring was for "all nations," an echo of the post-World War II apparitions of Amsterdam, and also a prophecy since over five hundred thousand pilgrims from around the world visit the spring every year and over fifty miraculous cures have been documented; over three thousand monuments and shrines, three hundred chapels, and twenty-five churches around the world are dedicated to the Virgin of the Poor.

Description of the Virgin

Extraordinarily beautiful, enveloped in a "great oval light," the Virgin wore a long white gown with a sash of an "unforgettable blue" and a white, transparent veil covering head and shoulders. Her right foot was visible and "crowned with a golden rose" between the toes. She had a Rosary on her right arm with diamond-like beads and a golden chain and cross. She stood on a cloud with her head and shoulders bent slightly to the left.

Messages

Upon reaching the spring, the Virgin told Mariette, "Place your hands in the water," which she did. Mariette then repeated the Virgin's words, "This stream is reserved for me. Good evening. Au revoir." (Second apparition, January 18, 1933)

Mariette: "Who are you, lovely Lady?" The Virgin: "I am the Virgin of the Poor." The Virgin's reply to the next question indicated that Mariette had misunderstood her statement of the previous day. Mariette: "Beautiful Lady, yesterday you said, 'This spring is reserved for me.' Why for me?" The Virgin: "This spring is reserved for all nations—to relieve the sick." (The Virgin appeared to be amused by this misunderstanding). "I shall pray for you. Au revoir." (Third apparition, January 18, 1933)

Mariette: "What do you wish, my beautiful Lady?" The Virgin: "I would like a small chapel." After this the Virgin blessed her with the sign of the cross and Mariette collapsed (without any resultant harm). (Fourth apparition, January 20, 1933)

The Virgin: "I come to relieve suffering." (Fifth apparition, February 11, 1933)

Mariette: "Blessed Virgin, the chaplain told me to ask you for a sign." The Virgin: "Believe in me, I will believe in you. Pray much. Au revoir." This was one of the most intriguing replies in the literature of Marian apparitions. Many times the recipients of Marian apparitions were asked for signs, and many times the Virgin furnished unmistakable signs of her presence. But here we see that Heaven operates by its own rules: Heaven's "sign" was the miraculous spring that would draw millions of pilgrims, a "sign" that would be shown in good time. The true miracles of God are always subtle. Although they elicit faith, they are displayed only when they serve a clear and permanent purpose. But a sincere faith had to come first. (Sixth apparition, February 15, 1933)

The Virgin had a grave expression and said, "My dear child, pray much. Au revoir" (Seventh apparition, February 20, 1933)

In her final apparition, the Virgin was grave and sorrowful, "I am the Mother of the Savior, Mother of God. Pray much." She blessed Mariette and said, "Adieu—till we meet in God." In French, au revoir means "see you again" and adieu means "goodbye." (Eighth apparition, March 2, 1933)

Mariette was also given a "secret" at one of the apparitions which has never been disclosed.

Conclusion

In these difficult times when we too are faced with disaster, denegeration and war, the love and concern of the Blessed Mother for her children remains as relevant as ever. Let us pray to the Virgin of the Poor that she may guide and protect her poor children, especially the most innocent, the most vulnerable, and those most in need of mercy.

Roy Varghese is a prolific author in the areas of religion, science and Mariology. The above article is excerpted from the text God Sent, Crossroad, 2000.