Maria Esperanza of Betania, Venezuela has witnessed 31 apparitions
of the Blessed Virgin Mary over the course of 15 years. The Virgin
called herself the "Reconciler of People and Nations"
and warned of impending war and suffering. Many visitors have come
to the site, reporting numerous miracles and signs. On one occasion
in 1984, 108 people claimed to have witnessed a public apparition
of the Virgin.
The local bishop approved the authenticity of Maria's experiences in 1987.
Timeline
Nov 22, 1928
Maria Esperanza Medrano de Bianchini is born in Betania, Venezuela.
1933
Maria has a vision of St. Theresa of Lisieux who gave her a
rose.
1940
Maria nears death from bronchial pneumonia and receives a vision of Mary
who recommmends the appropriate medications.
During her adolescence she was healed from a paralyzing illness after an apparition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
1950
Visits Padre Pio and promises her that "When I leave, she
will be your consolation."
Oct 3, 1954
She subsequently enters
a Franciscan convent for a brief period before being told that she did not
have a vocation. St Therese appears to her and tells her that her that she is to be a wife and mother. She receives another vision from the Sacred heart of Jesus instructing her to go to Rome, where she meets her future husband, Geo Bianchini.
Dec 8, 1956
Maria marries Geo Bianchini on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
1974
Maria and Geo purchase a farm shown to her by Mary in a vision
predicting that it would become a center of "constant prayer
and pilgrimage" for all "the nations of the world". Mary introduces herself as "Reconciler of People and Nations".
March 25, 1976
First apparition of Mary at the grotto site.
March 25, 1984
108 people see the Virgin at the
grotto as she first appears to the children at a waterfall and then to the adults of the group at Mass.
The Virgin appears for the last time (31) to Maria.
Dec
8, 1991
A eucharistic miracle was reported in which the Host began to
bleed. Tests in Caracas later determined the blood to be human.
Aug 7, 2004
Maria Esperanza dies in New Jersey, USA.
Jan 31, 2010
Bishop Paul Bootkoski, Ordinary of the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, opens her cause for beatification and canonization. (Since Maria Esperanza died in New Jersey, her cause is being initiated there.)
Photo Gallery
The Reconciler of People and Nations - Betania, Venezuela
Maria Esperanza Medrano de Bianchini(1928-2004) at age 14
Maria Esperanza Medrano de Bianchini(1928-2004): seer, healer, stigmatist
Maria Esperanza Medrano de Bianchini(1928-2004): seer, healer, stigmatist
Funeral and wake of Maria Esperanza Medrano de Bianchini (Aug 2004)
Description of the Virgin
"And when she revealed herself, she went to the top of the tree,
and I saw she was beautiful, with her hair brown, dark brown, her eyes
that were lgiht brown and she had very fine, very pretty eyebrows, tiny
mouth, a nose very straight and her complexion was so beautiful, it was
skin that seemed like silk. It was bronzed. It was beautiful. Very young.
Her hair was down to here, to her shoulders."
- Maria Esperanza
Messages
The Virgin appeared 31 times between March 25, 1976 to January 5, 1990.
Twenty-four of the apparitions came after 1984.
The messages that Our Lady of Betania brought is one of reconciliation and love:
"Behold, children, the love of a Mother, who cherishes you... and comes as a strarting point to lead you toward a law of justice, love, peace, and reconciliation!
I call you, for the great moment of reconciliation has arrived.... I extend my love to all my children, dwellers on earth, and be loyal to Jesus, so may discover the wonderful secret of unity...which will help us find the key to God's kingdom!
...Forgive one another. Love one another. Serve one another... All of you are children of God. All are loved."
There have been over 500 miracles and cures reported at Betania. On December
8, 1991, a eucharistic miracle was reported in which the Host began to
bleed. Tests in Caracas later determined the blood to be human.
Pilgrims have claimed to have seen the Virgin (over 2,000 testimonies)
and various celestial phenomena such as mist coming from the hill, a profusion of flowers, the sound of an invisible choir, the scent of roses and the irregular movement of the sun.
Maria was the subject of many miraculous happenings including the stigmata
and exuding sweet aromas. The eucharist has appeared in her mouth and she allegedly displayed gifts of healing, levitation, bilocation, and prophecy. One of the most remarkable phenomena is the rose that spontaneously bursts forth from her chest, having done so 16 times.
Approval
The bishop of the diocese, Pío Bello Ricardo, S.J., Bishop of Los Teques, opened an investigation 1984. He interviewed witnesses and examined more than 500 cures attributed to Our Lady of Betania, among which was the cure of a baby's spina bifida, as documented in Westchester County Medical Center in Valhalla, New York.
November 21, 1987 --"After having studied repeatedly the apparitions
of the Most Holy Virgin in Betania, and having begged the Lord earnestly
for spiritual discernment, I declare that in my judgement the said apparitions
are authentic and have a supernatural character. I therefore approve,
officially, that the site where the apparitions have occurred be considered
as sacred."
100 Names of Mary: Stories and Prayers by Anthony F. Chiffolo
The Bridge to Heaven: Interviews with Maria Esperanza of Betania
by Michael Brown, Drew Mariani
God-Sent: A History of the Accredited Apparitions of Mary
by Roy Abraham Varghese
MiracleHunter.com is the best resource for Marian Apparitions on the web. The site includes approval lists, visionary biographies, detailed apparition summaries, messages, official Church statements and a photo gallery.
