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by John O'Connell
Banneux, a small town in Belgium, is merely 56 miles away from Beauraing, where Our Lady appeared to several children in the 1930's. Remarkably, only two weeks after Our Lady's apparitions in Beauraing ended, the Holy Virgin appeared to a little girl in Banneux.
At 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 15, 1933, Mariette Beco, age 11, was waiting for her brother to come home. As she looked out the window of her home, Mariette saw a beautiful Lady in the garden. She told her mother that she saw the Holy Virgin. Her mother dismissed her daughter's words. The Becos were far from being devout Catholics and had not attended church that Sunday. When Julien, Mariette's brother, came home he saw no one in the garden. Mariette began to pray the Rosary--with a rosary she had found in the road. Informed of the matter, the pastor of the parish church initially thought little of Mariette's claim.
The next day Mariette attended Mass for the first time in a long time. She also returned to school and for the first time knew her religious lessons.
On that Wednesday evening, Our Lady appeared to Mariette who was kneeling in prayer in the garden. Our Lady beckoned to Mariette to follow her. The Virgin Mary showed her a spring and told her: "This spring is set aside for me." Then she vanished. When Mariette returned home the Abbé was waiting for her. Mariette described the Holy Virgin. The beautiful Lady wore a long white robe, with a blue sash around her waist, and light emanated from her head. Her right foot was bare, standing on a golden rose. Her arms were raised to her golden heart. A rosary hung from her right arm.
That Thursday, Mariette queries the Holy Virgin, "Who are you, my beautiful Lady?" Our Lady replied, "I am the Virgin of the Poor." "The spring is set apart for all countries, to help the sick."
On Friday, Mariette asks, "What is your wish, my beautiful Lady?"
"I would like a small chapel." Mary then blessed Mariette. Then on Saturday, February 11, Our Lady again led Mariette to the spring. Mary announced: "I have come to relieve suffering. Good-bye for now."
On Wednesday, February 15, Mariette tells the Blessed Virgin Mary that the Abbé requests a sign from the beautiful Lady. Our Lady responds: "Trust me. I will trust you." She then confides a secret to Mariette. Mary then added: "Pray much. Goodbye for now."
On the following Monday, Our Lady again brought Mariette to the spring, telling her: "My dear child, pray much. Good bye for now."
Mary appeared to Mariette for the last time on Tuesday, March 2. Our Lady told her: "I am the Mother of the Savior, Mother of God. Pray much. Farewell." Mary then blessed Mariette before leaving.
Mary always appeared to Mariette at 7:00 p.m. in the garden outside the Beco's home.
A small chapel was built at the site of the apparitions, as Our Lady had requested. Later the diocese erected a large basilica to honor Our Lady of Ban-neux. The spring has brought forth many miracles that have occurred through the Virgin of the Poor's intercession.
John O'Connell is Editor of The Catholic Faith magazine.
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