John Paul II – Letter on Banneux (1999): 50th Anniversary of the Recognition of the Apparitions of the Virgin to the Poor

Apostolic Letter of Saint John Paul II to Bishop Albert Houssiau of Liège (Belgium)

On the Apparitions of Our Lady of the Poor in Banneux

Date: July 31, 1999Excelentíssimo Senhor Bispo Albert Houssiau,Fifty years ago, on August 22, 1949, his predecessor in the See of Liège, Dom Louis-Joseph Kerkhofs, officially recognized the reality of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Banneux. As I recall with emotion the Eucharist that I had the joy of celebrating during my apostolic visit to Belgium in May 1985, in this sanctuary whose influence is significant, I sign this letter joining in prayer with the pilgrims who seek comfort and strength at Our Lady of Banneux, invoked as Our Lady of the Poor, Health of the Sick.I express my gratitude to the Lord for the sublime mission fulfilled by the Mother of the Savior and for the example of faith that she represents for the entire Christian Church, called to follow in Christ’s footsteps, repeating daily her “yes,” her “fiat.”1. Fifty years ago, on August 22, 1949, His Excellency Bishop Louis-Joseph Kerkhofs, your predecessor in the See of Liège, definitively recognized the reality of the apparitions of Our Lady of the Poor in Banneux. Recalling with emotion the Eucharist I had the joy to celebrate during my apostolic visit to Belgium in May 1985, at this sanctuary whose radiation is significant, I voluntarily associate myself through prayer to the pilgrims who go there seeking comfort and strength from Our Lady of Banneux, invoked under the title of Our Lady of the Poor, Health of the Sick.I offer my communion with the whole Church to the Lord for the noble mission accomplished by the Mother of the Savior and for the example of faith she represents for the entire Christian people, called like her to follow Christ, repeating each day their yes, their fiat.n. 1346: The Message of Peace and SolidarityIt was a few years before the Second World War, in 1933, that Mary appeared at Banneux as a messenger of peace. She called upon the protagonists of society to become artisans of peace and educators of peoples, inviting every man to care for his brothers, the smallest, the most despised, and those who suffer, who are all beloved by God.It was some years before the Second World War, in 1933, that Mary appeared in Banneux as a messenger of peace. She appealed in a certain way to the protagonists of society to become artisans of peace and educators of peoples, inviting every man to care for his brothers, for the smallest, for the most despised, and for those who suffer, who are all the favorites of God.“Virgen des pobres,” Our Lady of the PoorUnlike Lourdes or Fátima, Banneux is the Marian sanctuary that explicitly identifies itself as the sanctuary of the Virgin of the Poor. The characteristics:– Identification with the poor: “I am the Virgin of the Poor,” direct identification of Mary with the condition of poverty – Universal source: “This spring is reserved for all nations,” universalist, ecumenical dimension – Healing of the sick: “To ease the sick,” special therapeutic mention – Reciprocity of faith: “Believe in me, and I will believe in you,” partnership between Mary and the faithfulConnection with Other ApparitionsBanneux is part of a series of 20th-century apparitions:– 1917 Fátima (Portugal): A prophetic message for humanity at war – 1932-1933 Beauraing (Belgium, near Banneux): Mary with the Golden Heart – 1933 Banneux (Belgium): Virgin of the Poor – 1973 Akita (Japan): A prophetic message of prayer and penance – 1981-1989 Kibeho (Rwanda, approved in 2001): A premonitory warning about genocideJohn Paul II and Local ShrinesPope John Paul II was the pontiff who most valued local Marian shrines. He visited Banneux during his apostolic journey to Belgium in May 1985, and his 1999 letter demonstrates the ongoing attention of the Magisterium to local shrines as legitimate expressions of popular faith, within the framework established by the 1974 CDF Declaration on criteria for discernment.Complementary Reading:– Marian Apparitions in the Magisterium – Message from Fatima 2000 – Amsterdam 1974: Alleged Apparitions – Lourdes, 150 Years (Penitential Apostolic Indulgence 2008)