FAMILY LIFE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEDIENCE

In the first message of Our Lady of Garabandal are these words: "But first we must lead a good life." .

Although this message was not made public until October 18, 1961, the visionaries had known about it since July. And as soon as the Blessed Virgin revealed it, she proceeded to instruct the young visionaries on its content and how to live a good Christian life. 

For the young women, one of the things the Virgin wanted to emphasize was the need to be obedient, especially to their parents. The wife of an American couple with young children who lived in Spain for some time told me one day that the Spanish spoil their children a lot until they are five years old. When they reach that age, everything changes and the rod is not spared. I do not know if it is always like this, but the parents of the visionaries of Garabandal were quite strict, except for the parents of Jacinta, Simón and María, who were quite gentle and benevolent; some said that Simón was the holiest man in the village. 

Perhaps because of this, Jacinta had more freedom with her parents than the others and sometimes had a tendency to talk back to them. As a result of this attitude, she received two very painful lessons during the events narrated in She Went in Haste to the Mountain. 

One day Jacinta, Loli and Conchita were called to the same place (to receive communion from St. Michael). The three knelt in a line before the Angel; Jacinta was in the middle. It all began as usual: a few introductory words from the Angel about what they were going to do, the "I confess" from the girls, "This is the Lamb of God... Lord, I am not worthy". The Angel gives Communion to the first girl in line, as usual. Meanwhile, Jacinta, the next in line, raises her head, opens her mouth and sticks out her tongue, preparing to receive Communion. But the Angel, not in the usual way, but as if she were not there, passes by her with the Body of Our Lord to the third girl. Upon realizing this, the girl's eyes opened and filled with tears. Everything inside her asked in anguish: "Why? Why?" She did not understand why the Angel had refused her Communion in that way. The explanation (and the lesson) came immediately. Didn't she remember the argument she had had with her mother? What had the Virgin Mary told them so many times? She had to do more to overcome that defect, that lack of submission, that way of speaking. She could not receive the Lord in that state. Jacinta, crying, acknowledged her guilt. How could she do anything else? She had to resign herself to the punishment of being without the Eucharist, so painful in those circumstances. When she returned home, her mother immediately realized that something had happened to the girl. She had returned in such a different state from the other times! - What happened to you? - The Angel did not want to give me Communion (and tears filled her eyes again). - And why? - Because of an argument I had with you, which I don't remember. Mother didn't remember either, but things don't go away so easily before God. Sins don't disappear with simple forgetfulness, but with sincere repentance and with confession - strictly necessary for mortal sin. - The Angel - said Jacinta - won't give me Communion until I confess. 

The other lesson came at the end of the winter of 1962. It was a cold night. Jacinta wanted to stay awake in the kitchen, because an apparition had been announced for four in the morning; but her father, Simão, told her that if she went to bed to rest, he would advise her in due time. The girl resisted, became stubborn and even persistent. Her father wouldn't let her do what she wanted and forced her to obey. Then she went to her room in a bad mood, crying and protesting. She was afraid of falling asleep and missing the apparition. But that's exactly what happened. After a while, she woke up suddenly - her father had made a noise when he got up - and immediately asked him: - Daddy, what time is it? - A quarter to six. - Do you see? I missed an apparition because of you! And she began to cry, both in pain and in pity. - You can go and pray in Calleja 2 now - Simão replied. The girl went, but waited in vain for the visit to take place, as had happened on so many other days at that time. She returned home even sadder and, in the days that followed, her unhappiness turned into real suffering when she saw that what she had so hoped for did not happen. Her companions, on the other hand, continued with their ecstasies and apparitions as normal. Jacinta began to weaken. Her parents began to worry seriously, because the girl's mental suffering began to affect her health. Her color became pale, she lost weight, and she stopped smiling. Jacinta asked herself: "Why is the Virgin Mary doing this to me? Will I ever see her again?"

This last thought was unbearable. She would lean on her companions whenever they had an apparition and would say to them anxiously: "Ask the Virgin Mary why she doesn't come to me. Ask her if I will see her again. Ask her…" And Loli and Conchita asked and asked, but their questions went unanswered, day after day. Finally, after almost a month, Loli came to Jacinta with important news: "The Virgin Mary told me that you will see her the next day…" For Jacinta it was as if she suddenly saw light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. She smiled again, her face regained its color, and her heart filled with hope. The long-awaited visit arrived on the scheduled day. When Jacinta found herself once again before the graceful face of Mary, she could not help but ask: "Why didn't you come to me? Why did you leave me in this state for so long?" - For the evil you did to your father that night. How many times do I have to tell you that you must obey your parents, even before you obey me? The punishment had been severe, but full of mercy. 

The Virgin Mary only sought the well-being of her daughters, so full of good will, but also so full of defects. They had to change. The punishment lasted a month. The lesson would last a lifetime. A final note on family life comes from an interview conducted in 1962 by Canon Julio Porro of Tarragona with three of the visionaries: Conchita, Jacinta and Mari Loli. When asked which sins of the parents most offended the Virgin, the answer was: "Arguing".