Our Lady of Banneux

History

Mariette Beco, the eldest of seven children, lived with her family in a modest house on the outskirts of Banneux, near a large pine forest. On the evening of 15 January 1933, while looking out her kitchen window, she saw a woman in white standing in the garden who waved for her to come out, but her mother forbade it. The figure was described as a young lady in a long white gown with a blue sash and a transparent white veil. Three days later, on 18 January, while Mariette prayed in the garden, the Lady appeared again and led her to a ditch where a puddle of water came from a spring, telling her to push her hands into the water and that the spring was reserved for her.

The next day, in bad weather, Mariette asked who the Lady was and received the answer, 'I am the Virgin of the Poor.' The Virgin then led her to the spring and said it was reserved for all nations to relieve the sick. On 20 January, the Virgin appeared again and, when asked what she wanted, replied that she would like a little chapel, then blessed Mariette. On 11 February, Mariette was again dragged to the spring by the Virgin.

On 15 February, the sixth apparition, Mariette conveyed a request from Abbé Jamin for a sign; the Virgin replied, 'Believe in me, I will believe in you,' told Mariette to pray a lot, and gave her a secret before departing.

Church approval

An official episcopal commission investigated Mariette Beco's claims from 1935 to 1937, and the evidence was sent to Rome. In May 1942, the Bishop of Liège approved veneration of Mary under the title Our Lady of the Poor, and he approved the apparitions themselves in 1949. The Holy See gave the bishop permission to approve but did not itself approve the apparitions.

Did You Know?

• The spring at Banneux yields about 2,000 gallons of water a day, with many reports of miraculous healings.
• Pope John Paul II visited the Sanctuary of Banneux on 21 May 1985 and presided over a mass.