ĐTC
gửi sứ điệp cho Đức Giám Mục giáo phận Liège (Bỉ) nhân dịp mừng kỷ niệm 50 năm
Đức Mẹ hiện ra tại Banneux.
Vatican- 21.08.99 - Ngày
22 tháng 8 năm 1948, cách đây đúng 50 năm, Đức Cha Louis-Joseph Kerkhofs, Giám
Mục giáo phận Liège (Bỉ) chính thức công nhận việc Đức Trinh Nữ Maria hiện ra
tại Banneux. Nhân dịp kỷ niệm 50 năm công nhận tính cách siêu nhiên của sự
kiện lạ lùng này, ĐTC gửi sứ điệp cho Đức Cha Albert Houssiau, Giám Mục Liège.
Trong sứ điệp Đức Gioan Phaolô II gợi lại niềm vui được cử hành thánh lễ tại
Đền Thánh Banneux trong chuyến viếng thăm mục vụ tại Bỉ đầu tháng 5 năm 1985.
Sau đó ngài nhắc lại việc Đức Mẹ hiện ra tại Banneux năm 1933, ít năm trước đệ
nhị thế chiến (1939-1945). Đức Maria hiện đến như sứ giả của Ḥa B́nh. Ngài
mời gọi cách riêng các vị có trách nhiệm về các dân tộc hăy trở nên những
người xây dựng ḥa b́nh và những người giáo dục của dân, bằng việc mời gọi mọi
người lo lắng đến người anh chị em ḿnh, cách riêng những người bé nhỏ, hèn
mọn, những người bị khinh chê, và những người bị đau khổ, v́ tất cả là con cái
yêu dấu của Thiên Chúa. ĐTC viết tiếp: Ngày nay, bổn phận chúng ta là cầu
nguyện, để Đức Maria rất thánh, Đấng Trung Gian các ơn Chúa, luôn luôn canh
pḥng và quan tâm đến các con cái của Người, để Người bầu cử cho nhân loại ơn
quí giá về ḥa hợp và ḥa b́nh.
ĐTC c̣n viết thêm như
sau: Những vụ hiện ra tại Banneux mời gọi các tín hữu học hỏi về ư nghĩa các
đau khổ. Ư nghĩa này chỉ t́m thấy trong Mầu Nhiệm Thánh Giá mà thôi. Đứng
trước những đau khổ, không thể giải thích được theo phương diện loài người,
tín hữu Kitô tự nhiên quay về với Thiên Chúa, v́ chỉ ḿnh Người có thể giúp họ
chịu đau khổ và sống ư nghĩa của đau khổ và là Đấng nuôi dưỡng niềm hy vọng
cứu rỗi và hạnh phúc vĩnh cửu. Như tôi đă viết trong Thông Điệp về Giá Trị của
Đau Khổ (Salvifici doloris), tất cả những ai hiến dâng đau khổ của ḿnh, sẽ
góp phần cách mầu nhiệm vào việc nâng thế giới lên với Thiên Chúa và thông
phần cách riêng vào công việc Cứu Chuộc. Nhân dịp kỷ niệm 50 năm công nhận
chính thức việc Đức Mẹ hiện ra tại Banneux, Chúa Nhật 22.08.99, tại Đền Thánh
Đức Mẹ tại đây, Đức Hồng Y Jan Schotte, người Bỉ, Tổng Thư Kư Thượng Hội Đồng
Giám Mục thế giới, cử hành thánh lễ trọng thể cùng với nhiều Giám Mục, Linh
Mục, để tạ ơn Chúa về ơn trọng đă ban cho dân tộc Bỉ và cho cả thế giới.
Sau đây là vài điểm
cần biết về Banneux:
Trong lúc xẩy ra đệ nhất
thế chiến 1914-1918, người dân Banneux dâng xă ḿnh cho Đức Trinh Nữ rất thánh
- Để ghi nhớ biến cố này, sau thế chiến, xă được gọi là "Banneux Notre-Dame".
Ít năm sau, vào đầu năm 1933, Đức Trinh Nữ hiện ra tám lần với em nhỏ tên là
Mariette Becco. Điều cảm động là Đức Trinh Nữ đă không quên rằng xă Banneux đă
được hiến dâng cho Người. Tại Banneux, Đức Maria đem đến cho thế giới một sứ
điệp, như mỗi lần Người hiện ra, rất phù hợp với Phúc Âm. Trước hết Mẹ nói với
các người nghèo khổ: Ta là Trinh Nữ của các người nghèo khổ" ("Je suis la
Vierge des Pauvres"), rồi với các người khác, Mẹ Maria nói: "Ta đến để nâng đỡ
sự đau khổ của nhân loại". Sứ điệp của Banneux cũng là sứ điệp chung cho cả
Giáo Hội, cho cả thế giới, bởi v́ Đức Trinh Nữ nói: "Nguồn mạch an ủi, nâng đỡ
này dành cho tất cả các dân tộc" và Đức Maria mời gọi chúng ta, một lần nữa,
cầu nguyện: "Cầu nguyệïn nhiều! Từ giă con!" ("Priez beaucoup! Adieu!") (Mariette,
là người được Đức Mẹ hiện ra tại Banneux).
Banneux, Belgium
1933
|
In 1933 the Blessed Virgin Mary chose one 11 year
old child in Banneux to be Her instrument. Mariette Beco was born in
Banneux on the 25th March, 1921 and was the eldest of a family of seven
children. Her family who was quite poor. Their home was just over a mile from
the church, which was in a swampy area. Just on the other side of the road
the large pine forests start, which continue until they reach the
Eifel. |
 |
In 1933 the Blessed Virgin Mary chose one 11 year
old child in Banneux to be Her instrument. Mariette Beco was born in
Banneux on the 25th March, 1921 and was the eldest of a family of seven
children. Her family who was quite poor. Their home was just over a mile from
the church, which was in a swampy area. Just on the other side of the road
the large pine forests start, which continue until they reach the
Eifel.
Banneux, Sunday the
15th of January:
There
is snow on the ground and Mariette Beco is sitting at the kitchen window
looking out onto the small garden. It is seven p.m. and she is looking for her
brother Julien who should have been home a lot earlier. Whilst so doing,
she is also looking after the baby in its cradle. Theirs is a Catholic family,
although they never go to church or pray; in spite of which Mariet has
religious tendencies. She once found a rosary on her way to Tancremont and
always carries it with her. While she sat staring into the darkness, she
suddenly, saw just a few meters away from her a young lady who seemed to be all
light and was very beautiful. She called out: "look mother it is Our
Blessed Lady, She is smiling at me". Immediately she took out her rosary and
started to pray, continuing to stare at the apparition. The Lady made it
very clear that She wanted Mariet to go to her and Mariet stood up to go
outside, but her mother who has not seen anything and suspects that it is a
witch. Prevents Mariet from opening the door and in fact, puts the lock on
firmly. Mariet returns to the window, but the Lady has
disappeared.
Banneux, Wednesday the 18th of January:
 |
In the
evening Mariette Beco manages to go into the garden. Despite her fears of dark
she goes outside into the front garden and starts to pray her rosary, kneeling
down in the dark. She suddenly stretches out her arms and Our Blessed Virgin
Mary appears in the distance, looking very small above the woods. A few metres
away from the Lady, she stands still praying and she sees Our Lady who appears
to be praying, gently moving Her lips silently. This lasts for about 20 minutes.
Then Mary motions her to follow Her. Mariette Beco does this and comes out onto
the main road. Obeying Our Blessed Virgin, Mariette Beco kneels down three times
on this road and prays for a few moments. Thus they arrive at a small stream
that was running |
slowly out of the high road side. Our Blessed Lady stands above
the edge of the road and Mariette kneels down beside it. Mary said: "Stretch out
your hands into the water". Mariet does this very carefully puts her hands into
the water, then Our Blessed Lady said; "This stream is especially for
me." She then said farewell to Mariette Beco with the following words;
"Good night and we'll meet again". Whilst She was elevated, Her face remained
turned toward the child.
Banneux, Thursday
the 19th of January:
On this day
Mariet, with her father's old overcoat over her head to protect her from the
severe cold, went outside. She knelt down having walked a few paces through the
snow, to pray. Her father was with her in the garden. After a couple of minutes,
she stretched out her hands and cried out; "There She is !!" All remained silent
until Mariette Beco said: " Who are you beautiful lady?" Our Blessed Virgin
answered her by saying:
Our Blessed Virgin led her along the same path as
the on the previous occasion to the stream. Mariette Beco said; "last
evening you said; 'this stream is especially devoted to Me, why devoted to me?"
Whilst saying this she pointed towards herself. The Blessed Virgin smiled and
said: "This steam is for all nations…for the sick!". Mariette Beco repeated
these words with a very clear voice and spontaneously, said:" Thank you! Thank
You!!" Then Mary said: "I shall pray for you, goodbye for now".
Banneux, Friday the 20th of
January:
|
Mariet
is not very well, but this does not prevent her from going outside at 7
p.m. She commences to pray the rosary and after a few moments calls out:
"there She is" she then says; "beautiful
Lady, what are Your wishes?" and Our Blessed Virgin answered: "I would like a
small chapel built" Mary then spread out Her arms horizontally without moving
them from Her chest, and with Her right hand She made the sign of the cross by
way of a blessing over Mariette for this task. Due to sickness and cold
Mariette Beco lost consciousness. Her father and their neighbour carried
Mariette Beco inside where she quickly regained consciousness and went to sleep
peacefully. |
 |
From the 21st of January until the 11th of February
Mariet continued to pray her rosary in the garden each evening, despite the
cold. Our Blessed Lady did not appear and Mariette Beco is the only person who
continues to believe in Our Lady of the Poor who she so much wants to see again.
Banneux, Saturday the 11th of
February:
Mariet Beco was on the road with a few
other people. It is not until near the end of the second rosary that the people
see her stand up and kneel down at the familiar place and thus reaching the
stream. She dipped her hands into the water and made the sign of the cross. Then
Our Blessed Lady said: "I have come to relief the suffering, I shall see you
again soon". Then Our Lady disappeared as usual above the pine trees. Mariet
stood up, ran towards the house and wept. She did not understand what the Virgin
had told her. "I come to relieve suffering." She did not understand the meaning
of the words "to relieve."
Banneux, Wednesday the 15th of
February:
|
The Blessed Virgin
appeared for the sixth time in Banneux. Mariet is delighted and says: "The
Chaplain has instructed me to ask You for a sign". To which Mary answered:
"Have Faith in Me: I shall believe in you". She then entrusted Mariette Beco
with a secret. Finally She said: "Pray a lot, goodbye for now". After this even
the Chaplain has to 'believe'. The older and more important people become, the
more difficult it seems to become to simply believe!!
|
 |
Banneux,
Monday the 20th of February:
It was
bitterly cold; even so Our Blessed Lady appeared at the end of the second
rosary. She led Mariet to the stream and smiling sweetly, She said to
Mariet: "My beloved child pray a lot" Then very seriously, She said.
"Goodbye for now." Mariet now has to wait until the second of March before Our
Blessed Lady appears during the third rosary for the eighth and last time. Our
Lady is very serious and She says: "I am the Mother of The Redeemer - Mother of
God". From the seriousness with which She says this it is certain that this is
importantly related to FAITH. Is it then so difficult to Believe in the
great power of The Mother of God?
Banneux, Thursday
the 2nd of March:
 |
Ten days
later Mariette Beco saw the Blessed Virgin Mary for the last time in Banneux.
Torrential rain had been pouring down since three p.m. Mariet Beco went out, it
was 7. pm. She was reciting her third rosary when the rain suddenly stopped. She
remained silent, stretched out her arms, got up, took a step forward and knelt
down. At home, Mariette Beco revealed the message entrusted to her by Mary. "I
am the Mother of the Saviour, Mother of God, Pray much. Adieu." |
Banneux was investigated from 1935 until 1937 by an
Episcopal commission, after which the evidence collected was submitted to Rome.
Meanwhile growing numbers of pilgrims came to the shrine, and in May 1942 Bishop
Kerkhofs of Liege approved the cult of the Virgin of the Poor. In 1947 the
apparitions in Banneux themselves received preliminary approval, with this
becoming definite in 1949. Like the children at Beauraing, Mariette Beco married
and had a family, being, like them, content to remain in the
background.
"These apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary
in Banneux are fully approved by the Holy See:
1949"
Source
Banneux
