For a period of time, on the 7th of each month, in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Candles – Dr. Jose Gregorio Hernandez, the Eucharist will be dedicated to the Servant of God Maria Esperanza Medrano Bianchini, visionary and messenger of Our Lady Reconciler of All Peoples, Our Lady of Betania. Thus, her life, work and intercessory power will be shared, and her cause of canonization driven forward; as explained on Sunday, February 7, 2021, by Father Gerardino Barracchini, Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Candles and Episcopal Vicar for Holiness, during the first Mass dedicated to this purpose.
Accompanied by the songs of the Betania Choir, during his homily at the Eucharistic celebration, Father Barracchini assured that “God loves us like a good father”. After Mass, he invited two of the daughters of the Servant of God Maria Esperanza and one of her sons-in-law, to talk about their experience with her, expressing that she could become a role model.
Mrs. Maria Coromoto Bianchini Marrero gave a briefing on the life of her mother. “The Servant of God Maria Esperanza Medrano Bianchini was born in Barrancas, Monagas State in Venezuela, on November 22nd, 1928. Although she desired to be a nun, the Lord called her to be a spouse, a mother of seven children and grandmother of twenty grandchildren. Her life was a life surrendered to God and to prayer, which transformed her into an example of love and obedience to the Church, of hope in a better world, of charity for everyone she knew, and of humility before God Almighty.
On March 25th, 1976, she saw Our Lady as Mary, Virgin and Mother Reconciler of All Peoples and Nations in the place indicated by the Virgin, called Finca Betania. Then, in 1984 the Mother of God appeared to her and 150 people in Finca Betania. The Church approved these apparitions in 1987. […]. Maria Esperanza carried out a tireless missionary work of spreading the message of love, reconciliation and family unity throughout the world. After suffering an illness similar to Parkinson’s disease, she gave her soul to the Lord, with a reputation of holiness, in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, USA, on August 7th, 2004, at the age of 75. Five years after her passing, she was declared Servant of God and a cause was opened for her canonization because of her example of life, her fame of sanctity and power of intercession to obtain favors from the Lord.”
Her daughter, Mrs. Maria Auxiliadora Bianchini Leon spoke of the endless line of people who came to her wake and burial. “Her true commitment was to spread the Word of God,” she said. She also mentioned the patience that her mother had to listen to others for hours, and then give a timely and loving word of comfort. She explained that during the last days of her life, despite all her sufferings, she experienced great peace and was always smiling. “She was always cheerful and hopeful.”
Mr. Carlos Marrero, one of the sons-in-law, highlighted, among other aspects: “The Servant of God was not only a mother for her children, but also for anyone who came looking for comfort, a timely word, a shoulder to lean on and vent life sorrows and anguish. […] She was a human being in every sense. She insisted over and over again that, of the three theological virtues: faith, hope and charity, the one that pleased God the most was charity. She was a strong example of this virtue. She was a woman of few words and of a lot of action. […] She always said: ‘If it weren’t for the sacrament of the Eucharist and daily prayer, it would be impossible for me to endure.’ Mrs. Bianchini was a dedicated wife, a devoted mother and an unconditional friend. Her great loves were the Blessed Virgin and Our Lord Jesus, and her main goal was to imitate them to perfection.”
