Garabandal and priests

The reported apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Garabandal, Spain are not approved or disapproved as of this date (2011). I convey this message because what is said here is clearly in line with the teaching of the Church and of great importance.

The visionaries acquired a profound desire to pray and offer sacrifices for priests and to foster this practice amongst the laity.

Our Blessed Mother many times told the children the necessity of sacrifices and prayer on for priest. She said that their true vocation is self sacrifice imitating that of Jesus Christ. The failure of a vocation concedes a lack of devotion on behalf of the laity spiritually obliged to uphold these men in their labors.

As Conchita expressed in a 1971 message, "Let us pray a lot for priests. We ourselves are to blame for many priests who are on the road to perdition, because we do not pray enough for them, because we do not sacrifice ourselves, and also because we should be giving an example to those priests who are consecrated to the Blessed Virgin...We have to help those priests...that they may rise and pursue their course."

When asked in 1966 what the Blessed Virgin desired of priests Conchita replied;

"What the Blessed Virgin wants from the priest first of all is his own sanctification.

-He should fulfill his vows through love of God, and lead many souls to Him through example and prayer, for in our time it is difficult otherwise.

-May the priest be sacrificed through love of souls in Christ!

-May he retire from time to time in silence to listen to God who speaks to him continually.

-May they think a lot about the Passion of Jesus so that their lives are more united to Christ the Priest and thus invite souls to penance and sacrifice, and also make more tolerable to them the cross that Christ sends to us all.

-To speak of Mary who is the surest one to lead us to Christ and also speak about and cause people to believe that there is a heaven, so too there is a hell."

Love Crucified