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On Saturday, April 13, 2024 many pilgrims came together in joyous commemoration of the Annunciation of the Lord and of the 48th anniversary of the manifestation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Betania
Our Heavenly Mother, 48 years ago blessed all Venezuelans with her presence, leaving an eternal message of reconciliation, love and brotherhood. This year, on March 25, although it was the very day of this divine manifestation and of the Annunciation of the Lord, because it also was Holy Monday, the solemnity was moved to April 13, in order to honor the Our Lady in a special way.
On March 25, 1976, the Virgin manifested herself for the first time to the Servant of God Maria Esperanza Medrano Bianchini in Betania, delivering a heavenly message of conversion and reconciliation. In 1984, before the astonished gaze of approximately 150 people, Our Lady confirmed the authenticity of her apparitions, which led the local bishop, H.E. Bishop Pio Bello Ricardo, after a thorough investigation which was supervised by His Eminence Cardinal Ratzinger – later Benedict XVI – the head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, to declare the veracity of these events, thus promoting worship in the place, which was later decreed a Diocesan Marian Sanctuary.
The Servant of God Maria Esperanza, messenger of the Virgin of Betania, left an enduring legacy of promoting reconciliation and peace in Venezuela and the world, through the Public Association of the Faithful Betania Spirituality Movement that continues their work of evangelization and the quest for fraternal unity.
The Eucharistic celebration on Saturday morning was presided over by H.E. Bishop Freddy Fuenmayor and was concelebrated by H.E. Bishop Joseph Khawam, H.E. Bishop Emeritus Georges Kahhale, Rev. Fr. Juan Carlos Silva, Rev. Fr. Orlando Gonzalez and Rev. Fr. Antonio Rivas, among other priests. Such solemn event counted on the participation of the Betania Choir. The day was filled with moments of reflection and gratitude, recalling how the Virgin Mary chose Venezuela to share her message of reconciliation and love, turning the Diocesan Marian Shrine Mary Reconciler of All Peoples into a place of pilgrimage and a source of miracles, for thousands of Venezuelans and foreigners.
What a celebration of love and reconciliation in Betania!
