Finca Betania, Últimas Apariciones

Maria Esperanza experienced additional apparitions on August 22, 1976 (a group of people
had gone to place a Cross on the tree at the Virgin’s request); March 25th; May 1st, 2nd and 3rd,
1977. Some of her companions saw the cloud and the solar phenomena.
On March 25, 1978, with 15 other people she saw Our Lady. They also experienced a
particular phenomenon of the sun: it spun and it seemed to be coming toward them.
On Sunday, March 25, 1984, 150 people accompanied Maria Esperanza for an open-air
Mass at noon. After Mass they saw the Virgin above the cascade under seven different auspices.
The apparitions took place over a three-and-a-half hour period, with a five to ten minute interval
between each one of them. Signed testimonies of these apparitions were obtained from 108
people. The Blessed Mother appeared as Our Lady of Lourdes, of Mount Carmel, of the
Miraculous Medal… and at the end, She appeared with Her Son in Her right Arm as if She was
offering Him to us. This image lasted thirty-five minutes, and when it ended it, it seemed like all
the vegetation was on fire. It was a tremendous experience, and it brought forth the longing for a
profound change in their lives.
Since then, there have been numerous apparitions, particularly on Saturdays, Sundays and
on Marian Feast days. According to the Bishop’s Pastoral Instruction, there have been close to
one thousand proven visionaries.
The Intervention of the Church
“After the first apparition, Bishop Pio Bello states, a movement of piety and religious
formation, centered in Betania, was promoted and directed by Mrs. Bianchini. There, people are
reunited, especially on weekends and on Marian feast days, to offer prayers and to reflect.”
“The Bishop of the diocese at that time, Bishop Juan Jose Bernal, permitted some liturgical
celebrations at the place. He himself administered the Sacraments, especially in favor of the
peasants of the neighboring small villages. During this period of time no formal ecclesiastical
investigation was made regarding the happenings.” He also blessed the grotto dedicated to Our
Lady of Lourdes in Betania, on December 8, 1977.
After the extraordinary apparition on March 25, 1984, and its quick divulgence, numerous
witnesses offered Bishop Pio Bello their declarations in an oral and written fashion. This
convinced him, with a certain doubtful and skeptical attitude, to personally assume direction of
the investigation of the numerous apparitions.
After three years, Bishop Pio Bello’s investigation culminated in the previously quoted
Pastoral Instruction. In it the Bishop points out, “I do not intend to affirm that all and each one
of the apparitions that have taken place in Finca Betania are authentic… there also have been
cases of simple hallucinations… also in Lourdes there were repeated pseudo-visionaries… but
this did not lessen validity from the appreciable volume of the numerous testimonies to which I
do grant credibility.”
A letter of the famous Marian, Father Rene Laurentin (Multiplication des apparitions de la
Vierge aujourd’jul, Editions Fayard. 1988, p. 53), states, “Those who come to the site of the
apparitions receive a strong dose of faith and spirituality. Their Christian life has improved.
People who never prayed before, now pray the Rosary regularly. People who would not go to
Church, now go regularly receiving both, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Holy
Communion.”
“There have been outstanding conversions. During the Sacrament of Reconciliation, many,
and I too, have been able to verify this. All admit to have experienced deep inner change. The
apparitions have drawn them closer to God and thus, they have renewed their Christian life…
either through prayer, either because of the water from the cascade… receiving not only spiritual