Fr. Bernardo Martinez / APPARITIONS OF CUAPA, NICARAGUA (1980-)

STATUS: APPROVED by the CHURCH

Bernardo Martinez was born in Cuapa on August 29, 1931 and died in 2000 in Venezuela. Bernardo was part of a family of three sisters and two brothers.

Apparently, his family were not well off, so he was raised by his illiterate maternal grandmother, Dona Eloisa James, but what she lacked in for in formal education she made up for with her grounded common sense and memory. She taught her grandson his prayers and instilled the Faith, bringing him to Church and teaching him how to attend Mass with devotion and to have respect for everyone. One day Bernardo had started to call Dona Eloisa 'mom', but she simply answered him: “I am not not your mom, you have two moms, one in the mountains (i.e. his real mother) and one in Heaven (Our Lady).” Bernardo's mother later died when he was 18, and so he continued to live with his grandmother until her death in 1974.

Bernardo wanted to become a priest, but unfortunately his family opposed it, (I have not been able to find the reason why).

So, apparently to keep the peace in the family, he didnt become a priest right away. He reamained single for many years and made his living as a famer, and became a member of a neo-cathechumenal community. One of his duties was to take care of the small chapel to which he held the keys.

He was 47 when he was graced with apparitions of Our Lady for six months. He recounts the begining of the apparitions that started in March 1980, not knowing where they came from and had thougth someone had left the light on in the chapel:

“It was in the old chapel that the signs started on a date that I don't remember, maybe at the end of March. Upon entering the sacristy, I saw that there was light. I later blamed her on Ms. Auxiliadora Martinez because I thought she had left it on.

Another day, I entered the chapel and I found the light on again, it may have been in the first days of April. I wanted to reproach Mrs. Socorro Barea. I did not think that these signs came from Heaven, this is the reason why I wanted to tell these ladies, because of the cost of electricity, to pay more attention to the light because we had very little money .

The keys had been entrusted to me, and whoever is in charge of the keys to a house must take great care of them. It was my concern. But when I wanted to go and reprimand them on the way to their home ... I couldn't tell them anything.

I understood that they were not responsible. I would have blamed them unfairly. So I decided to say nothing and pay the expenses myself.

On April 15, 1980, I saw the statue, all lit. I thought it was the boys playing in the square who had broken the roof tiles, so that the light lit up the statue. I thought that they should be reimbursed for the tiles and the repair costs, because that had already happened before. I approached to look and saw that there was no hole in the roof. I went back to the statue to see if someone had put a phosphorescent string on it. I examined the hands, the feet, the neck… it was none of that.

The light came from nowhere: it emanated from her.

It was a great mystery to me, the light that emanated from her to such an extent that one could walk without tripping. I arrived late, it was dark. It was almost eight in the evening. I realized that it was a strange thing, something not ordinary, in myself I say to myself 'the Blessed Virgin comes to reprimand us'. I decided to ask their forgiveness because I was so moved to have seen it all lit.

I saw it very beautiful, the statue, now I don't see it anymore. I went to ring the church bell, and because I was an hour late, and with the incident of light, the prayer of the rosary was even more late. Everything I had seen was etched in my mind and I thought "I am at fault".

As these thoughts crossed my mind, I remembered something my grandmother said to me when I was a child:

"Never be a light in the street, and darkness at home".

I understood my sin: I wanted others to make peace, but I was a source of discord at home.

I say this because I had helped solve a problem in the city of Cuapa. There was a division among he residents, many of whom opposed the arrival of the Cubans for the literacy program. Little by little, talking to the priest, we settled everything calmly ”.

Bernardo then recalled another incident with Cubans when he wasn't so patient when the peasants were giving thanks to God, a Cuban atheist yelled at them, ''Don't say that! Say what we say: Thanks to Fidel for giving us food.” (i.e. Fidel Castro) Bernardo grew angry with the Cuban, yelling, “We will not become communists!”

He felt guilt now, the light from Our Lady and recalling his grandmother's phrase made him feel guilty for not being able to make peace with all in his own house.

He then made a public apology to all for his lack of pateint and for any hurt he may have caused, during which he recounted the light he had seen, asking to keep it secret. No one kept his secret, and he was ridiculed.

One of the sisters in the community told the priest of Juigalpa about it, each time he came he asked Bernardo for news. He asked him to tell him everything, then he asked him how he prayed.

 

Bernardo says: "I answered him: the rosary. Since I was little, I used to say three Hail Mary's” and my grandmother had taught me to call on Her when I was having misfortunes, saying “Don't let me go, my Mother ”. She had taught me to say "Marie, our lawyer, sweet lighthouse of the sea".

I thus learned to love her. She is the love of my soul. She has guided each of my steps since my childhood. And thanks to that, since childhood, my love for her has always remained. She (his grandmaother) taught me this from memory because she couldn't read."

The priest then asks him to pray and to ask the Blessed Virgin if she expected something.

Bernardo complied in his own way:

"Very Holy Mother, please do not expect anything from me. I have a lot of problems in church. Make yourself known to another person because I want to avoid any problems. I already have a lot. I don't want any more. ” (i..e. He was afaid she would call upon him in a vision!)

As the days passed, people began to forget the light of the statue. For my part, I continued my prayer as the priest had asked me. I now understand that the Virgin wanted to prepare me as a farmer prepares the soil. After this public confession that I made before my brothers to whom I asked for forgiveness, a change took place in me… She prepared me for this transformation. ”

“On May 8, 1980, I felt sad due to financial, employment and spiritual problems. I even told myself in the morning that I wanted to die. I no longer wanted to exist. I had worked a lot for the townspeople and I realised that they didn't like anything. I no longer wanted to continue.

In the chapel, I had swept, dusted, washed the altar cloths, and blades (?), and in exchange I had been flouted, called an idiot. Even my own family, my blood brothers, said that if I had not succeeded financially, it was because of my commitment to the sacristy. I was a sacristan voluntarily. I have been working in the house of God since I was old enough to use rags and brooms ... I felt humiliated. I was doing it to serve the Lord.”

"At night I slept badly. I was very hot (…). I had little lunch and said to myself:

"I will go fishing in the river so that I will be cool and calm."

I left early in the morning with a bag and a machete and headed for the river. I felt happy, content in a pleasant environment. I had forgotten everything. When it was noon, I did not want to leave, so much did I feel at peace. I did not feel hungry. Suddenly it started to rain and I took shelter under a tree where I began to pray the Rosary. I was all wet and my clothes were soaked. I picked up the fish from the sand, put them in a bag, and went under a mango tree to see if any fruit was ripe.

I then went to a hill to cut a branch to pick berries, then I went to a jocote tree. (...) The hours had passed like minutes. I say to myself: "it's late". I remembered that I had to feed the animals and that I had to go to town to pray the Rosary with people at five o'clock. (...)

When suddenly I saw a lightning bolt. I thought, "It's going to rain."

But I was intrigued because I couldn't see where the light was coming from. I stopped but I saw neither rain nor anything. Then I headed for a rocky place (…). It was then that I saw another flash in the middle of which She appeared.

“I wondered if it was an illusion or if it was the same luminous statue as in the chapel. But I saw her eyes blink. How beautiful she was… She was standing on a cloud like foam, above a pile of stone (…) The cloud was very white, the rays melted with the sunlight. Barefoot, (…), her dress was long and white. She had a gold belt around her waist. His sleeves were long. She was covered with a pale veil, with borders embroidered with gold. Her hands were joined on her chest. It looked like the statue of the Virgin of Fatima. I remained motionless, unable to run or scream.

I was not afraid, I was amazed."

She stretched out her arms like the Miraculous Medal he had never seen before.

From her hands came rays of light that touched Bernardo's chest.

“It was when She emitted Her light that I was encouraged to speak.

I ask her, "What is your name?"

She answers in a soft voice: 'Mary', then he asks her where she comes from '' I come from Heaven. I am the Mother of Jesus ''

“Hearing this, I asked her, remembering the priest's request “What do you want?”

She replied, “I want you to recite the Rosary every day. (…) I want it to be prayed permanently, as a family, including with children old enough to understand; let it be prayed at a defined time when there are no problems with work in the house.”

She tells me that the Lord does not like prayers that we make hastily or mechanically. For this reason, she recommended to pray the Rosary meditated with the Gospel to put into practice the Word of God.”

When I heard that, I said to myself- “How is that?”, Because I did not know that the Rosary was biblical. That's why I asked her, “Where are the meditations?”

She told me to look for them in the Bible and went on to say:

''Love each other. Fulfill your obligations. Make peace. Do not ask our Lord for peace because if you do not do it there will be no peace. (i.e. work for peace yourself). Repeat the first five Saturdays. You received many graces when you all did this. '' (NOTE: 'Fulfill your obligations.' No doubt she means to fulfil the precepts of the Church, go to Mass on the days of obligation and to fufill our daily duties according to our state in life.)

Bernardo: Before the war, we used to do this. We went to Confession and Communion every First Saturday of the month. But since the Lord had set us free from the bloody battles in Cuapa, we no longer continued this practice .

Then she said: “Nicaragua has suffered a lot since the earthquake. It is threatened with more suffering. It will continue to suffer if you don't change.” (NOTE: this is the 1972 Managua earthquake that is referred to  - 10,000 were killed, the property damage skyrocketed into the millions-this could be another prediction of an earthquake - another strong one hit in 1992 - and although not as deadly, the tsunami caused destruction-it was the strongest quake to hit Nicaragua since the quake of 1972).

And after a brief pause, she said, "Pray! Pray, my son, the Rosary for the whole world. Tell believers and non-believers that the world is threatened by grave dangers. I ask the Lord to appease His Justice, but if you do not change, you will hasten the arrival of the THIRD WORLD WAR.'' 

(Observations: she said if the world doesn't change, it will 'hasten the arrival' of WWIII - so the arrival of WWIII can be slowed down if there is enough penance and conversion - however, note she did not say it would be stopped. WWIII has obviously been pronounced as a punishment for sin  similar to the prophecy of Jonah that foretold the destruction of Nineveh.  The citizens delayed the foretold punishment with their conversion, but it was destroyed about 70 years later when the people forgot the warning and returned to their sins.)

After saying these words, I realised that I had to tell people and I said to her:

“Madam, I don't want any problems, I already have a lot of them in church. Ask someone else.”

She replied: '' No, because Our Lord chose you to give the message ''

(...)

The cloud rose and threw her arms in the air, like the statue of the Assumption that I have seen so many times in the cathedral of Juigalpa. She looked up at the sky, and the cloud that supported her raised her. She was like in a niche of light, and at a certain distance, She disappeared from my sight.

I then gathered the machete, the bag, and the branches and went to cut the coyoles thinking that I would not say anything to anyone about what I had seen and heard. I went to pray the Rosary in the chapel, without saying anything.

When I got home I felt sad. My problems were growing. I prayed the Rosary again, asking the Most Holy Mother to free me from temptation, because I thought it was a temptation.

During the night, I heard a voice asking me to speak. I awoke again, and I prayed the rosary again.

I couldn't find peace. I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want people to talk about it. They were already speaking because of the statue I had seen lit. I thought:

"Now it will be worse. I will no longer know peace.”

I did not return to the place of the apparitions. The mangoes and jocotes were lost. I went to the river, but by another road. I go there every day to bathe and give my calf a drink. During this period of secrecy, a great weight seemed to have fallen, fell on me, and I heard something like a voice telling me to speak. But I didn't mean (to do) it. To forget my growing suffering, I tried to amuse myself. But nothing managed to interest me. I was looking for my friends in order to entertain myself, young and old friends, but to the best of my joy, I heard the voice and my sadness returned. I had become pale and thin. People asked me what was wrong if I was sick.

Eight days passed thus ."

On May 16, I was on my way to feed the calf. I crossed the pasture without finding the calf. I was walking with a stick in my hand. (...) I saw a flash of light. It was noon. In full light, because as I said, it was a hot sunny day, there was an even stronger light than daylight. In that flash, She appeared. I saw her in the same way as I had seen her on May 8, She stretched out her hands and in the extension of her hands, the rays of light appeared to me. I stayed to watch it. I remained silent thinking:

“It's Her! It is the same. The same Woman appeared to me again.”

I thought she was going to blame me for keeping you what she asked me to say. I felt guilty for not talking about it the way she wanted it, and at the same time, in my mind, I said to myself:

'”I haven't been where she usually appears but She appears to me anywhere and now She's here.

I'm going to be in good shape, She'll follow me wherever I go.”

So she said to me with her soft voice, but in a reproachful tone:

"Why didn't you say what I asked you to say?"

I replied: '' Madam, it's that I'm scared. I am afraid of being ridiculed by people, afraid that they will laugh at me, that they will not believe me. Those who will not believe this will laugh at me. They will say that I am mad ''

''Do not be afraid. I will help you. And talk to the priest.”

Then there was another flash, and She disappeared.

Then I continued on foot and discovered the calf that I had not seen before. I took her to the river, gave her some water, and returned home.

I got ready to go to the chapel while praying the rosary. I thought I should speak to Mrs. Lilliam Riz from Martinez and Mrs. Socorro Barea from Marin. This is what I did. I trust them more than other people in the Cuapa community. I took them aside and told them everything I had seen and heard. They berated me. (...). I promised that in the future I would speak. I went home to rest.

The next day, at dawn, I felt a strange happiness. All the problems seemed to be resolved.

On May 17, everyone who came to my house heard what I had to say to them. Some believed me, others listened out of curiosity and pretended to believe me, others did not believe me and laughed.

But it didn't matter to me. When the time came, we prayed the Rosary and then I told them everything.

Once again, I noticed the same thing, some believed, others did not, some listened, surprised, surprised. Others analysed, others remained silent, others laughed and called me crazy, each according to how he felt, but nothing mattered to me. I felt the happiness of saying everything.

On May 19, I went to Juigalpa in the morning and told the priest what the Lady expected from me. I tell him everything I have seen and heard. He listened to me and said,

“Could it be someone who wants to scare you in the hills?”

I answered no because it would be impossible in the river and in the hills where I will cut the cane as well as in the middle of the pastures where I pass because nobody can hide there: they would be exposed.

He said to me, " Perhaps it is a temptation that is persecuting you?"

I replied that no, that I did not know. Because with him I could not say what I had seen and heard, but as regards temptation, I did not know because I did not know. He told me to go back and pray the Rosary at the place where the apparitions had taken place, to make the sign of the cross when I saw Her and not to be afraid, because whether it be good or bad nothing would happen to me. He also asked me, in the future, not to speak to anyone about what I would see or hear. But what I had already seen, I can tell the people of Cuapa. I consider this apparition as an extension of that of May 8 and I call it, that of the reprimand.”

Bernardo returned to pray at the place of the apparition but the Lady did not return.

During the night, She appeared in a dream, at the place of the apparition.

Bernardo says: "She gave me the same message as the first time. Then I entrusted her with certain intentions, because now people entrusted me with certain requests.

She replied, "Some will be answered, others will not."

(…) She raised her right hand, indicating the space and said “Look at the sky ”.

I looked in that direction. (…) She presented something like a film in the sky, which I will describe.

I saw a large group of people dressed in white walking towards the east. They went, all bathed in light and joy, they sang. I heard them, but I did not understand the words they said. It was a heavenly celebration. It was such happiness. Such incomparable joy that I have never seen it in any procession. Their bodies radiated light. I felt transported. I couldn't explain it to myself in my wonder.

She said to me: '”Look, here are the first communities of the beginnings of Christianity. These are the first catechumens. Many of them were martyrs. Do you want to be martyrs? Would you like to be a martyr?”

At the time, I did not know exactly what it meant to be a martyr, I now know, having asked, that it is the one who openly confesses Jesus Christ in public, who is a witness ready to give his life.

She asked me and I answered yes.

Then I saw another group. People were also dressed in white with luminous rosaries in their hands.

The grains were very white and threw multicoloured fires. One of them had a large open book.

He read and after listening, they meditated silently. They seemed to be in prayer. After a moment of silent prayer, they prayed the Our Father and ten Hail Mary. I prayed with them. When the Rosary was finished, the Blessed Virgin said to me:

"These are the first to whom I have given the Rosary. This is how I want you to pray the Rosary.”

I answered yes to the Lady. Some people told me that they may have been Dominicans. I do not know the religious and to date have never seen anyone of this order.

Then I saw a third group, all dressed in a brown dress. I thought I recognised Franciscans. Likewise, they prayed the Rosary. As they passed, after having prayed, the Lady said to me again: 

"They received the Rosary from the hands of the first.”

After that, a fourth group arrived. It was a huge procession, dressed like us. They were so numerous that it would have been impossible for me to count them. Previously, I had seen many men and women, but this time it was like an army in battle with Rosaries in hand. They were dressed normally, in all colours. I was very happy to see them.”

“On July 8, 1980, about 40 of us went to the place where the apparitions had taken place. We prayed and sang, but I did not see Her. In my prayers, I begged Her to see Her again.

At night, while sleeping, I had a dream. I dreamed that I was at the place of the apparitions, praying for the world. In my dream, I remembered that the Virgin asked me to pray for Nicaragua and for the whole world because of serious threatening dangers. I then remembered what the priest had told me when I had entrusted to him the message of the Virgin, in particular, to pray for the men and women religious, the priests, and the Pope. Remembering all this, I began to pray, I began to entrust them. And I entrusted the whole of humanity to the Rosary.

There was a boy from Cuapa unjustly imprisoned, accused of being a counter-revolutionary against the Communist government. Her sister asked me to petition for him. She was very sad because she couldn't speak to him alone when she visited him in prison. After I finished the rosary, I realised that I had forgotten to pray for this boy, and I thought: "I will pray for him, but the Rosary takes me so long"

I thought in my dream the same way as in the place of the apparitions. I say to myself “I have to go home, otherwise I will be late. I'm going to say three Hail Marys.” In the dream, I knelt down and folded my arms. I looked up again, praying for the innocent boy. When I looked down and looked at the rocks where the Blessed Virgin had appeared, I saw an Angel.

He was dressed in a long white tunic, he was tall and very young. He body seemed to be bathed in light. He had a physique and a male voice. He wore no ornament, coat or crown. He was simple but beautiful. His feet were not on a cloud. They were bare. He had a warm, friendly demeanour and seemed very serene. I felt a respect for him, but my feeling towards him was different from what I felt before the Lady. (…) With Her I dare ask Her questions, talk to Her and make requests.

With the Angel, I speak with difficulty. I heard the Angel say to me:

"Your prayer has been heard" After a moment of silence, he added:

''Go and tell the prisoner's sister to console him on Sunday, because he is very sad; to advise him not to sign a document that they will urge him to sign, a paper in which he assumes his responsibility for some sum of money; she shouldn't worry; she can talk to him for a long time; she will be treated in a friendly manner; tell him to go to the Juigalpa Police headquarters on Monday to complete all stages of his release because he will be released that day; to take 1,000 Cordoba as the amount of the fine ."

I tell him that I had another request written by a cousin who lives in Zelaya.

She had come to see me in Cuapa to ask me to speak to the Blessed Virgin about two concerns: a problem at home, alcoholism and another work problem due to the changes brought about by the Revolution. She wanted to know how to deal with her father and brother's alcoholism, because they got violent when they drank too much. She also wanted to know how to solve the problems she encountered in her teaching job. She had explained to me that she did not want to lose her job, that gradually led her to renounce her faith. It made her suffer a lot, because she didn't want to lose her job, much less deny her faith. (I.e the Communist government of Nicarauga was pushing their atheist agenda.) (…) I did not go into details.

The Angel replied, “The people around them should be patient with them, and not complain when they are drunk.” Later, he added, "Go and tell them to stop this vice; to do it little by little. In this way, this desire will leave them.”

He told me to warn my cousin that they were going to attack him; and that they would shoot him in the foot, injuring him in the left heel. Later, they would kill him.

On hearing this, I was so afraid that I said to the Angel, "Could we not avoid my cousin, this misfortune, by reciting many Rosaries?”

He replied, “No, he will die, but if he listens to your advice, his life can be prolonged.”

He then added, about my cousin, "She shouldn't be afraid, and she should stand firm where she is". He says she shouldn't quit her job, because as a teacher (who has faith in Our Lord), it could do a lot of good for people.

He went on to say, “Don't turn your back on problems and don't curse anyone.” And the Angel at the end, disappeared.

I woke up. I immediately began to pray the Rosary, without being distracted by this dream. Then, I remembered its contents. I remembered everything. Everything was printed. I did not know what to think. But I choose to speak to the inmate's sister in secret because I feared that he would ignore his duty.”

People said “Bernardo is crazy. You have to take him to the asylum.”

“That's why I was afraid. I tell Madame Socorro to send her that it concerned her personally.

I tell her the next day. She asked me how it would be possible since she was not allowed to speak with him. I tell her to trust the Lord, to go there and do whatever the angel asked. Together we prayed the Rosary for her brother who was in prison.

We went to see him on Sunday July 13. She was alone with him for a long time, thanks to which she was able to tell him not to sign the document. They were all kind to her. When she returned to Cuapa the same day, Sunday afternoon, she asked for a loan of 1000 cordobas from a man who does not lend anything without guarantee. He gave it without any guarantee, without bail, and added:

“If you want more, I'll give you more.”

They presented the document to the boy, but he refused to sign it.

Madame Socorro went to the Juigalpa police station on Monday to take all the necessary steps to eventually release him. She found the people at the station quite friendly. They released the brother by fining him 1000 cordobas. She tells them that she was poor, that they could lower the fine a little. They reduced it by 200 córdobas. Everything was accomplished.

They left quickly and returned to Cuapa where, arriving at my house, they expressed their gratitude to me. I told them not to thank me, but rather to thank the Lord and the Blessed Virgin. I suggested that they pray the Rosary.

Madame Socorro was very happy and asked me if she could tell people about it. I say yes. Many believed thanks to this event. And for me as for others, this providential outcome was perceived as a grace. He left prison on Monday July 14, and the next day I went to Zelaya to tell them about the message received. I spoke to three of them. She believed me and told me that she would continue to work as a teacher. My uncle listened and promised me that he would try to give up his vice little by little. Then I quickly went on horseback to my cousin's ranch but he didn't believe me. He believed nothing. He listened out of politeness.

He was indifferent and even harsh because, in an insulting tone of voice, he said to me “Cousin, are you looking for an opportunity to have a drink?”

I returned home with a feeling of sadness and prayed the Rosary for him.

A few days later, I heard that he had been robbed and assaulted at his home. I went back to Zelaya to give him advice and tell him to sell his ranch and return to Cuapa. So he could avoid these incidents. He paid no attention to me despite what I had told him during the previous visit. It was already partly accomplished: I told her about a theft. They stole two mules from him. I told her about a break-in. They broke a door to him one night and stole it again. I told her that his left heel would be injured. It was so.

During this second visit to Zelaya, he showed me his wound, but did not believe it. He says it was a fluke. It hadn't brought about any change in him. Sad, I went back to Cuapa again, inconsolable! I insisted on praying the rosary for him.

Two months and a day later, on September 9, 1980, his sister-in-law who lived in Cuapa and believed nothing I said, received a telegram informing him that my cousin had been found murdered.

The same day at midnight, according to the fourth vision, his corpse arrived in Cuapa. Everything the Angel had told me turned out to be correct. I made an appointment with the Lady, but it was cancelled. We couldn't go because the river was too deep, it was in flood. The current was too strong and the river overflowed from its bed due to the strong wind. It rained abundantly all night and the day after the seventh day as well as all night the following day. It rained non-stop all day the eighth day of August. It was impossible to cross! I was accompanied by a group of women. Arriving at the edge of the river despite our will, it was impossible for us to cross. It would have been impossible, even on horseback. "

In the rain, the group stuck in front of the river begins to sing and pray the Rosary, and becomes joyful. Then it is again possible to cross, and they join the place of the apparitions. The priest had followed them, Bernardo feels that he never really believed him. Arrived at the place of the apparitions, the priest is astonished - “I dreamed of this place last night ... ''

She will not appear this time there, and the priest says with certainty to Bernardo "Pray, and She will appear again”.

“On September 8, 1980, I went to the place of the apparitions in the hope of accomplishing what I had not achieved in August.

I accompanied many people again, there were also children. We prayed the Rosary, and as soon as we were finished I saw a bright light. We only saw this light. It was clear and there was no sign of rain. I say to myself internally: “The lady is about to arrive! '' The other sign was the great inner joy that I know when I am about to see Her.

I then saw a second bright light, during which, She always appears, and I saw her on a cloud. (...)

In this way, the Virgin Mary appeared. I saw her as a child. Magnificent ! But small!

She was dressed in a pale cream tunic, without veil, crown, coat, ornament, or embroidery. The dress and the sleeves were long, surrounded by a pink cord. Her brown hair fell on her shoulders.

The eyes were a light brown, almost the color of honey, while She radiated light. She looked like the Lady, but She was a child.

I looked at her astonished, without saying a word, then I heard her voice which seemed to be that of a child (…). In a very beautiful voice, she gave the message, completely identical. First of all, I thought, since it was a child, that it would be easier to see her for those who accompany me. It was my concern. I thought, “The others should also see Her!”

I tell her, 'Let yourself be seen, so that everyone will believe You. These people who are gathered here, want to meet You.” People could hear me, but they couldn't hear Her.

I spoke to her trying to persuade her to show up, but after listening to me She said:

“No, you just have to give them the message; for the one who believes, it will be enough, and for the one who does not believe, even if he saw me, he would not believe with any advantage.”

Her words were fulfilled. I can now see an individual's disbelief or faith.

The people who came do not try to see a sign, the message is enough for them, they receive it. Some have great needs, they do not ask for a miracle, they do not ask for healing, they prefer to trust the Lord. There are others who by signs have come to believe.

I knew a man, who filled with joy, said to me ,“Bernardo, I now believe that the Virgin appeared. You're very lucky ! I see her too.” And he indicated the place.

It is in the old chapel, where the altar was before. A few meters away there was another man who, when he saw me pass nearby, said to me full of indifference: “It is true that She is there. But it is nothing more than the beings of other planets. Who are they?”

This happened on May 7, 1981, the day before the first anniversary of the first appearance.

I no longer insisted that She show herself, but rather told her about the church that people wanted to build in her honor. Father Domingo told us that it was a decision he could not make and that we had to tell the Blessed Virgin. (...)

She replied, “No! The Lord does not want material churches, He wants living temples that are yourselves. Restore the sacred temple of the Lord. (i.e be in the state of grace and live your faith) The Lord takes pleasure in being present in you. Love each other. Forgive each other.

Make peace. Don't just ask for it, do it ''

(...)

At that moment, the shadow of a doubt came to my mind. I decided to entrust Her with this doubt: I did not know whether or not I should continue the catechumenate. I wanted Her to advise me.

She said to me, '' Always continue firmly in the catechumenate. Little by little, you will understand everything that the catechumenate means. As a community group, meditate on the Beatitudes in silence.”

Later she added, “I will not be back on October 8, but on October 13.”

Then the clouds rose as for each apparition.

:::::::::::::::::::

“On the 13th which was Monday (…) we were about fifty people towards the place of the apparitions. (…) Everyone prays and sings the rosary, when suddenly a luminous circle forms on the ground. The light came from above.

It was like a fire which, falling on the ground, dispersed. Seeing that this light fell on the heads of those who were there, I turned to see what was happening and saw that a circle had also formed in the sky. We say to ourselves " his kingdom is in heaven as on earth.” This circle gave colored lights that did not appear on the ground. Nothing like this is known here. A young girl, holding her mother by the hand, tried to get away from her, saying that the Lady was calling her. The mom held her even harder and didn't let her go. The mother told me about it after the apparitions were over.

It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

We could feel a little breeze that was sweet like a cool wind that didn't offend us. During this phenomenon, we remained silent and continued to look at this circle on the ground like a midday sun.

Suddenly, a light similar to the other apparitions appeared to me.

I looked up and saw the Lady. The cloud was above the flowers we had placed, and above the feet of the beautiful Madonna. She stretched out her hands and sent rays of light to all of us.

Seeing her with her arms outstretched, I say to people, “Look at her, She is here!”

And no one contested me. I then asked the Lady to let herself be seen, that the people who were here wanted to see her. She replied “No, not everyone can see me”.

And I tell people again that She was on the pile of stones above the flowers. I heard a few people cry. Some mumbled alone.

A lady named Mildred said to me “I only see a shadow over the flowers.”

I turned to the Lady to ask again that she lets herself be seen and She said "no " to me .

So I turned back to the people “Look at the flowers on the stones!.”

No one contested. So I say to her, 'Lady, let them look at you to believe because many do not believe; They tell me that it is the devil who appears to me, that the Virgin is dead, like any mortal. But Lady, let them see you ... '' .

She says '' no ''

And raising her hands to the chest, just like the image of the Virgin of Sorrows, these images that we see in the processions, during Holy Week.

Her face became pale like that of the statue, her coat became grey, and then the sad look, and She cried. I cried too. I was trembling to see her like that and said to her “Lady, forgive me for what I said, I am the one who is guilty! You are saddened because of me. Excuse me! Excuse me!”

She replied, “I am not saddened and angry because of you.”

I asked her, "And why are you crying? I see you cry ''

She said to me, “It saddens me to see the hardness of the hearts of these people. But you will have to pray for them to change.” (...) "Pray the Rosary. Meditate on the mysteries. Hear the Word of God communicated in these mysteries. Love each other. Forgive each other. Make peace. Do not ask for peace without making it because if you do not do it there is no point in asking for it. Fulfil your obligations. Practise the Word of God. Look for ways to please God. Serve your neighbour because in this way you will please Him.”

When she finished giving her message, I remembered the request from the people of Cuapa.

I said to her, “Lady, I have a lot of requests, but I forgot. There are many. You, my Lady, know them all.”

Then She said to me, “They ask me things that are unimportant. Ask for Faith so that everyone has the strength to carry their cross. The suffering in this world cannot be removed. Suffering is the Cross that you have to bear. It's life. If there are problems with the husband, wife, children, brothers. Speak, discuss, so that they may be resolved in peace. Do not use violence. Never use violence. Pray for the faith that will give you patience.”

In this way, She allowed me to understand that, if with faith, we ask to be released from suffering, we will only be released if suffering is not the Cross that we have to bear.

But if suffering is a person's Cross, that weight will turn into glory. This is why She tells us to ask for faith to receive strength and patience. Then she said to me, “You will no longer see me in this place.”

I thought I would never see her again and I started to lament:

'”Don't leave us, Mother! Don't leave us, Mother ! Don't leave us, Mother!”

The bishop of Juigalpa, sensitive to Bernardo's transparency and to the messages on the social duties of the faithful, accepted and approved the publication of the book on the apparitions.

In 1982, he published an official letter for this approval, but he did not take a position on the apparitions. However, the bishop authorised him to speak of the apparitions. It was then that Bernardo was subjected to all kinds of blackmail and persecutions and temptations.

Three regime officials came to see him to offer him land and livestock in exchange for his silence.

Television broadcast stories about him explaining that he was crazy or even hysterical. A woman named Sandra started to harass him and whisper in his ear “I want to see you at midnight ...”

Catholics had to protect Bernardo from invading photographers.

One morning, regime police attacked his home and attempted to kidnap him. But pilgrims slept in his house, and they confronted them.

The apparitions were approved in 1983 by the local bishop, Monsignor Vega.

Finally, after many years and after having completed all his classes at the minor and the major seminary, Bernardo was ordained a priest on August 20, 1995 at 64 years of age.

Fr. Bernardo died in 2000 and was buried in the little old chapel of Cuapa where Our Lady first appeared to him.

The last words during the last apparition of the Blessed Virgin to Bernardo:

''Do not be sad. I'm with you all even if you don't see me. I am the Mother of all of you sinners. Love each other. Forgive each other. Make peace, because if you don't, there will be no peace. Do not use violence. Never turn to violence. Nicaragua has suffered greatly since the earthquake, and it will continue to suffer if all of you do not change. If you do not change, you will hasten the arrival of the third world war. Pray, pray, my son, for the whole world. Serious dangers threaten the world. A Mother never forgets Her children. And I have not forgotten that you are suffering. I am the Mother of you all sinners.”

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