​In 1917, Our Lady of Fatima told the 3 shepherd children that if men did not stop offending Her Son, the world would be punished by means of wars, famines, and persecutions of the church.

By 1932, this prophecy was well underway. Communists were in power in Russia. Mussolini was leader of Italy. Hitler was rising in Germany. The world was in depression. Unemployment, bread lines, hunger and riots were wide spread.

In a French speaking part of Belgium, lay a village called Beauraing. Sixty miles southeast of Brussels, Beauraing was mostly a farming community of about 2000 people.

Once staunch Catholic, many Beauraing villagers were lead away from the Church. The Marxist Labor Party won many district elections. Many were now anti-Catholic.

On November 29, 1932, Fernande and Albert Voisin, age 15 and 11, respectively, went to meet their sister, Gilberte, age 13. Gilberte attended an Academy conducted by the Sisters of Christian Doctrine. Gilberte's sister Fernande and brother Albert would often walk their sister home from school at the end of the day. Accompanying them this day was the two Degeimbre girls, Andree, age 14 and Gilberte, age 9.

Waiting for Gilberte Voisin to come out of the convent, the other four children went to the convent garden to visit the Lourdes Grotto. Albert was the first to notice a beautiful luminous lady dressed in white, walking in the air with her feet inside a cloud. Looking to see what Albert was talking about the other children saw the lady as well.

The lady looked about 18. Her eyes deep blue with rays of light coming from her head. She wore a long white pleated gown with a belt. The dress reflected a sort of blue light. Her hands were held together as if in prayer. Later she would carry a Rosary on her right arm during all other visitations.

The lady continued to appear in the following days. On December 2, Albert was the first to speak asking her, "Are you the Immaculate Virgin?" The Lady smiled and nodded Her head, then saying, "Always be good." Disappearing, She returned 3 more times that very day.

On several occasions the Lady told the children that She desired them to be present on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. On December 8th some 15000 people were present, as the word of the vision had spread. During this apparition, Dr. Maistriaux, Dr. Lurquin and other doctors were there to pinch, slap, prick and shine flashlights in the children eyes. There was no response from the children during the Lady's visit.

Dr. Lurquin took a lighted match to Gilberte Voisin's left hand; still there was no response. After the apparition Dr. Lurquin looked to see what damage the match had done. There was no sign of injury.



On December 17, the Lady asked for a chapel to be built.
On December 23, she stated that she desired people to come on pilgrimage.
On December 21, the beautiful luminous Lady clearly stated, "I am the Immaculate Virgin."
On December 29, the Blessed Virgin opened Her arms in Her usual gesture of farewell.

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This time Fernande saw a Heart of Gold, surrounded by glittering rays. In the coming days all the chosen children witnessed this event which happened in all the remaining apparitions. The Heart was without question, the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Beginning with the Dec. 30th apparition, Our Lady began to repeat, "Pray, pray, very much.

On Jan 3, 1933, after two decades of the rosary, again She appeared. She spoke to each child separately, given each a secret and ending by saying good-by.

Fernande was the last to receive word. At this time many spectators witnessed a loud noise like thunder, seeing a large ball of fire. Our Lady said to Fernande, "Do you love My Son?" 'Yes,' Fernande replied. "Do you love Me?" asked the Lady. 'Yes,' Fernande answered. "Then sacrifice yourself for me."

As Fernande was asking what sacrifices she should make, the Lady of light extended Her arms in gesture of farewell showing Her gold heart, then She disappeared saying good-by.

Though this was the last visitation, the children prayed the rosary in the Grotto every day. There were reports of a number of healing and many sinners were converted.

In 1935, a Commission was appointed to investigate the Events in Beauraing. On February 2, 1943, Bishop Andre Marie Charue authorized public devotion to Our Lady of Beauraing. Decrees of healing were to follow. On July 2, 1949, the Bishop released a document to Clergy in the Diocese declaring that the Queen of Heaven did appear to the children.

The statue of Our Lady of Beauraing was blessed on August 22, 1946, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart. The Chapel was consecrated August 21, 1954.

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November 29, 1932 was a cold and windy night.  There was a chill in the air, which gave the promise of an early and bitter winter.  The Degeimbre family was huddled around the kitchen, the warmest room in the house.  Two friends of Germaine’s had dropped over for coffee and conversation.  The children were eating supper.

There was a commotion outside of feet running up the steps.  Andree and Gilberte knew who it was; they jumped up from the table.  Fernande Voison and her brother Albert were calling for them to join them. Together, the four children went to the local school, run by the nuns, to pick up Gilberte Voison, who was finished for the day at 6:30 in the evening.  Her father, Hector was supposed to get her, but a tradition of sorts had been established.  The two Voison children met her when the father was working, or when they could talk him into letting them go, which was as often as possible.  They always called for Andree and Gilberte D (Degeimbre), and the foursome would frolic on their way to the school, meet Gilberte V( Voison), and continue playing until they reached home.



As far as anyone could tell, this evening was to be no different from any of the others when they had played out this ritual.  But they were not able to see the Lady descending upon them from far up in the heavens.  They walked from the Degeimbre house towards the school.  They played their pranks on the way.  This was actually the highlight of the whole affair.  If they just had to go and pick up Gilberte V and come right home, it would have been boring.  But the little games they played, ringing doorbells, then running before they were caught; these little adventures made it worthwhile.  There was a very special adventure awaiting them, much greater than they had ever expected.



They walked down the block, and turned the corner to the street on which the convent and school were located.  Meanwhile, up above them, the Lady was approaching, a short distance from their view.  The children passed a little grotto, which was a shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes,  and turned into the entrance of the convent.  Albert ran up to the door and rang the bell.  The three girls genuflected in front of the Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes.



Albert danced up and down the steps of the stoop of the convent, waiting for the sister to open the door.  The girls climbed the steps and faced the door.  All of a sudden, Albert exclaimed excitedly, “Look, the Virgin, dressed in white, is walking on the bridge.”

The girls paid no attention to him.  But then Fernande turned around, partly because of the way Albert’s voice sounded, and partly because of the expression on his face.  She looked up and froze in her tracks.  The other girls, meanwhile, were still facing the door.  “It’s only the light of an automobile, silly” they said.

Albert was having none of it.  He made them turn around.  As they looked up, they all went into shock.  There she was, above the bridge.  They all saw  the greatly illuminated figure of a woman in white, wearing a long flowing gown.  She seemed as though she were walking on a cloud.  They were able to distinguish that she was bending her knees, walking on air.



They didn’t know what to do.  They did know they needed an authority figure, an adult, at once.  Albert rang the bell of the convent.  The girls began pounding on the door for all they were worth.  They yelled and cried at the same time.  Sister Valeria answered the door, but upon seeing that it was the children, she turned and went to fetch Gilberte V.  This was the wrong thing to do.  They needed her outside.  While Gilberte V put on her coat and hat, Sister Valeria took notice of the great commotion going on outside the open door.  The children were clamoring inchoherently, and pointing in the direction of the apparition.  She asked them what was wrong.  They all yelled at once.



“Look, sister, the Virgin is walking above the bridge.”



“She’s all dressed in white.”



“We’re afraid.”



The good nun could sense their anxiety.  She tried as best she could to see what they were talking about.  She looked in the direction to which they pointed.  She couldn’t make anything out.  She thought perhaps they were referring to the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Grotto.  She turned on a light, so they could see better.



“It’s only a branch in the wind.” she said.  “Statues don’t walk.”



The children insisted the Blessed Mother was walking above the bridge.  She was plain as day.  The sister strained her eyes, but could see nothing.  About this time, Gilberte V walked out the door, and immediately saw the vision.  She exclaimed in wonder:  “Oh, Look!”



The children were in a state of panic.  They wanted to get home.  They wanted their mother.



“Let’s go home.” they said.  “We’re afraid.”



The nun dismissed them with a comment about their being silly children, and went inside.  She couldn’t help but notice how differently they behaved from the other times they had come to pick up Gilberte V.  They were normally playful, mischievous children.  This time, however, they looked as if they had seen a ghost.  It was equally strange that Gilberte V had taken part in this nonsense.  She had been inside with Sister Valeria just minutes before the incident, and seemed very calm and normal.  However, the minute she walked out the door, she began to act like the others.

Sister Valeria related the story to the Mother Superior, Sister Theophile, and the rest of the community at dinner that night.  She met with strange looks, and a curt comment from Sister Theophile. 

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“Oh sister”, she said, “How can you tell such a story?  You sound as childish as those children.”  The words spit out like a machine gun.  Sister Theophile was angry.  Sister Valeria dropped the subject.  She felt a flush of embarrassment rush to her face.  The Mother Superior had made her positon on the matter very clear.  Sister Valeria wondered why her superior was so angry.  However, prudence dictated that the younger sister not get involved in it any further.

Meanwhile, the children ran down the streets towards the Degeimbre house, as if they were possessed.  They passed a man on the street.  From their expressions, he thought there was a fire somewhere.  “What’s happened?” he asked.

Without skipping a beat, or slowing down for an instant, one of them yelled “We saw something in white.”



When they arrived at the Degeimbre house, Germaine was still sitting at the table with her two friends, Raymond Gobert and Jules Defesche.  It seemed to her that the children had just left the house.  She knew immediately that something was wrong with them.  Their faces were flushed.  They were completely out of breath.  They were in a state of shock.  They all spoke excitedly at the same time, in between trying to catch their breath.



“I think we saw the Blessed Virgin!”



“We saw a man in white!”



“I think it was the statue that moved!”



“The Blessed Virgin was walking!”



The reaction from the adults was typical, and one which we’ll see more of as we delve into the apparitions of Mary.  The first blush of shock was followed by total disbelief, coupled with annoyance, which finally turned into downright anger.



The Mother:  “Be quiet, you silly children.  Before long you’ll have us believing that a stone statue can move.”



The older Degeimbre daughter, Jeanne, set a pattern from the outset, which was to continue throughout the apparitions.  She said what everyone else thought. 

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She lashed out angrily at her sisters.  “You two see the virgin?  Now if I had seen her, that would be different.  But you two!  You’re not good enough.”



Germaine gave them a brisk dismissal, sending her two girls off to bed.  Then she tried to sweep the whole incident under the carpet.  Using her harshest tone, she turned to the three Voison children.  “Now listen to me, you children.  Don’t tell any of this foolishness to your parents.”



Fernande, the oldest, spoke for the rest.  “Of course we will tell them, Germaine, just as we told you.”AND IT BEGAN







The characteristics of these apparitions include:





The Blessed Virgin identified herself as “The Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven”;

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She also nodded in agreement when a child asked if she was the Immaculate Virgin
Our Lady of Beauraing wore a sashed white gown that reflected a blue light; she held her hands together in prayer and carried a rosary on her right arm; rays of light surrounded her head
the children could see her beating heart, which was illuminated like gold
the message of Beauraing was simple: “Pray, pray alot”; “Pray always”; “I will convert sinners”
the Blessed Virgin asked for a chapel to be built, and for pilgrimages to be made
two of the many cures that have taken place at the spot have been declared as miracles by the Catholic Church
For more infomation, visit these websites:

the official website for the Shrine of Our Lady of Beauraing
story by Michael K. Jones, from the Medgorje USA website
story of Beauraing by Leo de Bondt, who maintains MaryPages.com
Mary’s words at Beauraing from Theotokos.org.uk

As with all apparition – even those approved by the Church – some discernment is needed.  The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith produced a document to guide the faithful.  Jimmy Akin has a translation of document available.

If you want me to pray for your special intentions, please leave them in the comment box associated with this post.

May God bless you.









Timeline

June 21, 1917
Fernande Voisin was born.

April 19, 1918
Andree Degeimbre was born. She married Georges van den Steen from Flanders in 1941. Andree had 3 children: Christian, Yvan and Marie-Ange. She died on June 11, 1978, the first of the five to die.

June 20, 1919
Gilberte Voisin was born

September 3, 1921
Albert Voisin was born.

August 13, 1923
Gilberte Degeimbre was born.

Nov 29, 1932
Albert and Fernande Voisin and Andree and Gilberte Degeimbre approached the convent door to call for Gilberte Voisin as they did every night. Albert ran ahead of the girls and rang the door to the convent. As he waited for a sister to come to the door, he turned around and looked toward the street and railroad bridge “Look! The Virgin, dressed in white, is walking above the bridge!” he cried out. The girls did not believe him but when they turned around they saw the figure of a beautiful Lady in white walking above the bridge and the grotto by the convent with clouds covering her feet. The sister who came to the door could not see the Blessed Virgin Mary, but Gilberte Voisin did.

Dec 17, 1932
The Virgin Mary asks for a chapel to be built

Dec 21, 1932
The Virgin clearly states, "I am the Immaculate Virgin."

Dec 23, 1932
Our Lady states that she desires people to come on pilgrimage.

Dec 29, 1932
The Virgin opened Her arms in Her usual gesture of farewell. This time Fernande saw a Heart of Gold, surrounded by glittering rays. All the children witnessed this in the remaining apparitions.

Jan 3, 1933
The Virgin Mary appears for the final time at Beauraing.

1934
Similar apparition claims multiplied throughout Belgium (Onkerzele, Lokere, Naasteveld, Tubize, Olsene, Etikhove)

1935
The Holy Office turned the examination of the matter over to the Primate of Belgium, Cardinal Van Roy.

1941
Andree Degeimbre married Georges van den Steen from Flanders in 1941. Andree had 3 children: Christian, Yvan and Marie-Ange.

1941
Fernande Voisin married Albert Despas, who worked at the local tax office. Fernande was a nurse who made home visits. In 1954 they moved to Namur. She had five children: Rose-Marie, Michel, Emmanuel, Noel and Marie-Francoise.

Feb 2, 1943
After long investigations and especially-difficult negotiations with Rome, the cult of Our Lady of Beauraing was recognized.

1945
Gilberte Voisin married Amedee Pierret in 1945, a police officer from Sainte-Marie. He was killed while on active duty in 1953, leaving two children: Michel and Bernadette. Gilberte returned to Beauraing.

July 2, 1949
The Bishop released a document to Clergy in the Diocese declaring that the Queen of Heaven did appear to the children.

Aug 22, 1946
The statue of Our Lady of Beauraing was blessed the Feast of the Immaculate Heart.

1947
Gilberte Degeimbre married Andre Philippe. For a long time she lived in Italy with her husband and their two children. She has since returned to live in Beauraing with her husband.

1948
Albert Voisin married Yvonne Embrechts from Liege . That same year, they left for the Belgian Congo, first to Lubumbashi followed by Kowezi where their 3 children were born: Claude, Francine and Bridget. Previously, he spent his military duty in Ireland and Germany and was a teacher in Ottignies for 2 years.The family returned to Beauraing in 1961 where Albert taught at the "Institut Notre Dame."

Aug 21, 1954
The Chapel was consecrated.

June 11, 1978
Andree Degeimbre was the first of the five to die.

May 9, 1979
Fernande Voisin died from kidney cancer.

January 3, 2003
Gilberte Voisin died in an accident on January 3, 2003, the 70th anniversary of the last apparition at the exact hour that the Blessed Virgin said: "I will convert sinners"
December 23rd, 2003
Albert Voisin died.







First apparition - 11/29/1932: At night, 6:00pm, Fernande Voisin, (age 15) and his brother Albert Voisin (age 11) went to call his sister Gilberte Voisin (age 13) in the school of the Sisters of the Doctrine of Christ. They were with friends Andrée Degeimbre (age 14) and his sister Gilberte Degeimbre (age 9). There was a bridge, a garden and some trees in front of the school. Meanwhile, Albert sees Our Lady near of bridge. He tells the girls and they don’t believe. The boy does not stop to look. So, they look and also see the apparition. Children frighten and knock on the door of the school. Sister Valerie comes to see. Children show where is Our Lady, but the sister does not see and says it is a nonsense. But Gilberte Voisin arrives and also sees the apparition. All return to home worried and tell what happened to the family. They don’t believe. The children remain sad, cry and pray.

Second apparition, 11/30/1932: At the same time, the children return to the school to call Gilbert and Our Lady appears for a moment near a thorn bush. She saying nothing, just smiled. She was a beautiful and wonderful woman about 20 years, skin and pink lips, black eyebrows. She had a white dress with blue and a white veil over the head. She had clasped hands and blue eyes. Rays fine and gold came out of his head forming a crown.

Third, fourth, fifth and sixth apparitions, 12/1/1932: Our Lady appears again above the bridge, but disappears to reappear on the holly bush. She disappears again and reappears under the hawthorn tree. She smiled to the children, but said nothing.

Seventh apparition, 12/2/1932: Albert asks: "Are you the Immaculate Virgin?" Our Lady nodded. Children also ask: "What do you want?" The Lady answers: "Be always good." Children respond humbly: "Yes, we’ll always be good."

Eighth apparition, 12/2/1932: On this night, at 9:00pm, the children return. The Lady appears and asks: "Will you always be good?" Children respond: "Yes, we'll always be good."

Ninth apparition, 12/4/1932: Our Lady appeared with folded hands. She looks at the sky and children. The crowds go to Beauraing for the apparitions.

Tenth apparition, 12/4/1932: Our lady returns on this night, at 9:00pm, and children ask: "If you are the Virgin Mary, we ask that you heal our little friend Joseph and uncle of Andrée." But Our Lady does not respond. Children ask: "What day you will came back?" She replies: "The day of the Immaculate Conception." They ask: "We must build a chapel?" She says: "Yes."

Eleventh apparition, 12/5/1932: Children require a miracle during the day, but Our Lady does not respond. They ask when they should return. Our Lady replied: "Tonight."

Twelfth apparition, 12/5/1932: On this night, Our Lady appeared again at 9:00pm with clasped Hands and looked at the sky. Then, she opened her Arms.

Thirteenth apparition, 12/6/1932: Our Lady holds a Rosary for the first time, but did not give message. The children were questioned during all day. All who have spoken with them, found them very simple and sincere.

Fourteenth apparition, 12/6/1932: The children were pressured all day for questionings. Our Lady came back and just said: "Come the day of the Immaculate Conception."

Fifteenth apparition, 12/7/1932: The Virgin looked at the sky again during the apparition. The crowds still going to Beauraing.

Sixteenth apparition, 12/8/1932: In this day of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady was beautiful. She said nothing, but it was brighter than the other days. Thousands of people were present. In the four following days, children and many people went to the place of the apparitions, but Our Lady did not appear.

Seventeenth apparition, 12/13/1932: Our Lady came back to appear, but did not give message.

Eighteenth apparition, 12/14/1932: Our Lady just smiled and looked her seers full of goodness. People wanted her apparitions, but she did not return on two days following.

Nineteenth apparition, 12/17/1932: Children ask: "At the request of the clergy, we ask you what you want of us." The Virgin tells: “I want a chapel.” The visionaries say: "Yes, we will have it built here."

Twentieth apparition, 12/19/1932: Our Lady appears and remains silently, smiling, looking again the sky and the people.

Twenty-first apparition, 12/20/1932: Our Lady came joyful and smiling. People expect a spectacular message, but she said nothing.

Twenty-second apparition, 12/21/1932: The visionaries say: "Tell us who you are." Our Lady says: "I am the Immaculate Virgin."

Twenty-third apparition, 12/22/1932: Our Lady came silent with her Hands folded and a Rosary on his Arm. She opened her Arms before disappearing.

Twenty-fourth apparition, 12/23/1932: Fernande asks: "Why do I appear in Beauraing?" She answers: "That you to come here on pilgrimage." Children ask: “Will you give us a sign?” Our Lady does not respond.

Twenty-fifth apparition, 12/24/1932: Many people are present in the city during the day. They expect a sign in sky, but Our Lady did not return within two days.

Twenty-sixth apparition, 12/27/1932: Many people don’t understand the way of the apparitions. Our Lady came back on this night, but she did not explain her apparitions.

Twenty-seventh apparition, 12/28/1932: Our Lady warned: "Soon it will be my last apparition. Soon I shall appear for the last time."

Twenty-eighth apparition, 12/29/1932: There is something new. When Our Lady opened her Arms, there was a Heart of gold and surrounded by small rays in her chest. She came back with her Golden Heart in the following days.

Twenty-ninth apparition, 12/30/1932: Our Lady sais: "Pray, pray much."

Thirtieth apparition, 12/31/1932: The Lady did not give message.

Thirty-first apparition, 1/1/1933: Our Lady says: "Pray always.”

Thirty-second apparition, 1/2/1933: Our Lady warns: "Tomorrow, I will speak to each of you separately."

Thirty-third and last apparition, 1/3/1933: Our Lady told a secret to Albert, Gilbert Degeimbre and Gilberte Voisin. After, she said to Gilberte Voisin: "I will convert sinners." She said to everyone: "I am the Mother of God, Queen of Heaven. Pray always." Our Lady said to Fernande: "Do you love my Son? Do you love me? Sacrifice yourself for me." And says to everyone: "Goodbye."