Marian apparitions are supernatural appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary with messages for the World. Marian apparitions had led to conversions to Catholicism, a spread of devotions to Mary and Worldwide trips by millions of Pilgrims to holy sites.
1. OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE. (1531 A.D. Mexico City, Mexico)
Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to a Native American man, St Juan Diego in December 1531. She requested that an Altar be built at the spot of her apparition on the outskirts of Mexico. Willing to obey, Juan Diego went to the local Bishop. Meanwhile the Bishop didn't believe him and requested for a sign to know if the apparition was real.
Upon his return, Mary told Juan Diego to gather the flowers at the top of the hill and take them to the Bishop. He did as instructed by our Lady. Returning to the Bishop, he released the flowers to the floor, revealing a beautiful image of Mary impressed upon his tilma.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is both the patroness of Mexico and all of the Americas. Her intercession continues to power the Catholic faith in Latin America and beyond. Before a crowd of twelve million, St John Paul II canonized Juan Diego as a Saint in 2002.
2. OUR LADY OF LAUS. (1664-1718 A.D. Laus, France)
Our Lady of Laus first appeared to a poor, uneducated shepherdess named Benoite Rencurel in May 1664. For the next four months this mysterious Lady educated Benoite about Catholicism, strengthening her spiritual life.
Finally, on August 29th, the Lady revealed her identity: “MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD”. After an absence for a month, Mary appeared to her once more. She asked Benoite to go to the neighbouring village of Laus to find a chapel with a sweet odour. After she found the chapel at Bon-Rencontre in Laus the next day, Mary appeared on the altar asking that a church be built there for the conversion of sinners.
Between 1666 and 1669, the new church was built on top of the chapel. From 1665 onwards, tens of thousands of Pilgrims flocked to Laus. The new altar led to numerous healings and conversions. Mary continued to appear to Benoite for the next 54 years.
In addition, she saw angels
, saints and even visions of Jesus crucified on the cross. She was declared venerable in 2009 by pope Benedict XVI, a step towards canonized sainthood. The apparitions were approved by the Catholic Church in 2008.