Finca Betania, Últimas Apariciones

FINCA BETANIA (Venezuela). These are the latest apparitions of Our Lady approved by
the ecclesiastical authorities, since Fatima
JOSE LUIS DE URRUTIA, S.J.
Spain. 1988
MARY, VIRGIN AND MOTHER RECONCILER
OF ALL PEOPLES AND NATIONS
Finca Betania (Venezuela)
On November 21, 1987, Bishop Pio Bello Ricardo, Bishop of Los Teques, issued a Pastoral
Letter on the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin in Finca Betania. Betania is located in his
diocese. After, “dedicating many hours to this matter, interviewing approximately 200
protagonists and studying 381 written declarations, etc,” he finally decided, “In consequence,
after studying with determination the apparitions of the Most Holy Virgin Mary in Finca Betania,
and after assiduously asking Our Lord for spiritual discernment, I declare that in my judgment
these apparitions are authentic and of supernatural character.”
“Therefore, I approve officially that the place where the apparitions have taken place
should be considered as sacred, and that it be kept as a site for pilgrimages, as a place for prayer,
reflection and worship; where all liturgical acts can be celebrated.”
These have been the latest apparitions of the Virgin approved until this booklet was issued.
Of course, the Bishop consulted the Holy See before his approval, according to his declarations,
he investigated the credibility of the witnesses (some pseudo-visionaries); he examined the
spiritual fruits, etc.
Bishop Pio Bello, has a Master’s degree in Theology, from Oña, Burgos, Spain, where his
dissertation for his Ph.D. was in Psychology. He taught this subject at the Catholic University of
Caracas, where he sustained an interest in mystical phenomena and was also Director of the
University.
The First Apparitions of the Virgin
The first apparition took place on March 25, 1976, at 8:30 in the morning on a farm of
about 200 hectares called Betania. Sugar cane, coffee and cacao were cultivated there. There is a
modest farm house located on the property, which today is a fruitful land of forests and
grasslands, surrounded by green hills with abundant springs, and crossed by the small River
Tarma. The temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degrees centigrade, with fresh winds. It is located
12 Kms. from Cúa, Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, Miranda. It is an hour-and-a-half drive
from Caracas by highway. Maria Esperanza is co-owner of the farm.
The apparition occurred above a great tree, on the slope of a hill, where a stream descends,
forming a cascade. People take this water, because they attribute healing properties to it.
The only visionary was Maria Esperanza, although approximately 80 people who were
accompanying her, saw a cloud which covered the hill, extraordinary luminous phenomena and
spinning movements of the sun.