Who's planning to go, and planning ahead

I am a newcomer to the whole Garabandal experience, but I have been radically converted by it to such a degree that I am planning to travel there once the date of the Miracle has been announced by Conchita. I have a disabled son, and plan to bring him with me. This is a somewhat drastic thing for me to consider as I have never before traveled to Europe. I am interested in hearing how many of you are in the same frame of mind (planning to go).

I don't have a passport, so that's a big to-do item on my list of things to accomplish. (Plus one for my son.) They say it takes six weeks or so to get one, plus all the hoops the government has people jump through in terms of presenting the proper identification, photos, etc. I believe a passport is good for ten years, so if you're planning to go and don't have one, now might be the time to start working on that. Don't put it off until later.

Today at Mass, I was inspired to begin praying for the grace to be able to go. For those of us who want to be there for the Miracle, I think it behooves us to start preparing now, even though we don't know how long until the Miracle comes.

Blessings to all in this month of the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady.

 

Valuable thoughts

 

My desire is to go. It depends on the responsibilities at hand when the news breaks!

 

I have been waiting for the miracle since I was eight years old. I am going to go with my family, God willing. We need miracles.

 

Honestly...

I feel as if I have already received my miracle. Decades in mortal sin, the chains broken by Our Lady's intercession. Praised be Jesus Christ!

 

Well hopefully I will be there. My new home in Spain will not be very far away and hopefully I will get there in a couple of hours so it will be no big deal.

For those far further away I hope that if the true desire if the heart is to see things that Gid will permit you to see them even if far away.

For anyone whi does come you are welcome to stay in my home and we can maybe drive up together

 

People have the most wonderful faith discussing these things. Admirable.

It always delights me that there are many millions of good Catholics from all over the World who still believe in Garabandal and other Marian sites

 

I’m going to start praying that everyone who wants to go can

We do indeed!

 

Thank God for what the Lord has done in your life! What is necessary and essential you are doing!

Any pilgrimages I intend to do or ultimately do are tangible means of saying thank you to the Two Hearts!

O, and please pray for me as I am slowly integrating St. Teresa of Avila's practical steps for a conversation with Christ into my daily routine.

It is interesting that what exteriorly appears to be "my piling it on" is in reality answering a call from the Two Hearts to draw closer: a simplification.

 

I was just thinking yesterday how I wish I could visit Avila when we go to Spain (or one of St. Teresa’s other foundations.) But just getting to Garabandal will be enough excitement for me!

 

Thank you!

 

That is a very generous offer, Padraig!

 

I will probably end up with a hundred people sleeping in the garden.

But that would be cool .

 

So glad to hear.
Perhaps a secondary vocational call to a Carmelite vocation Deacon?
Those not formally Carmelite who live the Carmelite spirit with true vigor and abandonment are more Carmelite then some who are formally associated Carmelites.
St Teresa recommends detachment, humility and love of neighbor as the way to grow in the spiritual life.

 

I really hope I can go. I would also love to bring my non-Catholic relatives, but, unless the Warning has already happened, I can’t see them even entertaining that thought.

 

I will not go too much into the messages themselves, it is up to each of us to decide whether to believe or not...

However, what I read a little bit that then things will be very bad for the Church, generally like communism again before the miracle.

I know that the majority here have never lived in a communist country, but you lived through the lockdown. Now multiply that by 100 and you get your freedom of movement in such conditions.

I don't want to break anyone's hopes, so I want everyone to be present if Garambandal is really fulfilled. In the end, everything is possible for God and if He wants you, then you will be present....

However, if things are going to be that bad, and the message says to be, then getting a passport and getting on the plane will be the least of the problems.

You know, such situations usually mean persecutions, closure of the Church, imprisonment of priests and monks (murders), persecution of the faithful, bans on processions, etc.

 

Sadly, you may be right.

 

Obstacles may also just come from the Spanish government. Recently I have been seeing videos talking about how the Spanish are wanting to restrict the number of tourists because their beaches are so crowded they can’t enjoy them anymore.

 

The present Spanish Government is Socialist. They have been making all kind of crazy laws restricting religious freedom. For instance I think one insane recent one was to ban the public recitation of the rosary.

Yes they are that nuts. Barking mad nuts.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/...r-mom-of-four-challenges-country-s-rosary-ban

 

The Spanish government is like the government in California, more or less. It means ultra-left, progressive.
If they could, they would ban religion, gatherings, prayers and pilgrimages...

As for tourists and overcrowding, I even agree with them. I come from Croatia, a country with 4 million inhabitants, a very long coastline with maybe one and a half million inhabitants. Over 23 million tourists will visit this area this year. We have these ancient cities, almost all of them are from the time of Rome, tourists come half-naked to old churches, urinate in fountains, drugged at numerous festivals, natural, historical and cultural heritage is being destroyed... Big cruise ships that discharge faeces near our very clean sea , not to mention the construction of hotels that disrupt the urban image of the place, the impact on nature and the sea, garbage and crowds...

Dubrovnik (you can Google it yourself) if you don't know, one of the most beautiful cities in the world is literally bursting under the weight of the number of tourists.

Venice did a similar thing with charging for certain holidays to prevent crowds (although the goal is always to make money).

Our politicians and people would destroy everything out of greed just to earn a few more euros.

Americans are normally one of the better tourists, everything delights them and they are in a very good mood (cheerful). Germans and Poles are also great, very cultured and orderly, as are Canadians and New Zealanders...

Older Australians and Britons are ok, younger ones just let them get drunk and drugged..

Anyone who loved to travel, especially young people, can envy "you" older people, especially now that I see you on the forum from Australia, Canada, USA, Ireland...
There in the 80s, given the standard, you could travel for very little money, visit half of Europe, especially various cities rich in history, culture and natural sights in a very safe Europe without migration, fairly clean and morally normal.
There were very few tourists compared to today and you could feel the touch of local culture.