Our Lady of Banneux, Virgin of the Poor:

“I am the Virgin of the Poor” Our Lady of Banneux, Belgium

Our Lady of Banneux, Virgin of the Poor is the title given to the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Mariette Beco, a young twelve year old girl in Banneux, Belgium in the year 1933. The apparition had a total of eight visions beginning on 15 January 1933 to March 2, 1933 in which Our Lady gave several messages to Mariette. The little chapel requested by Our Lady was built and inaugurated during the same year of the apparition and several miraculous healings were reported that very year. In 1935, the Episcopal Commission began its investigations of the apparitions and submitted its report in 1937 to Rome. The final approval of the visitations was received on 22 August 1949 and the statue of Our Lady was solemnly crowned in 1956. Every year, thousands of people visit the Shrine. The water from the Shrine is known to have miraculous healing powers.

The Apparitions:

First vision:

Mariette Beco was the eldest of her siblings and was twelve years of age when she saw the visions. On January 15, 1933, at around seven in the evening, as she looked out of the window she noticed a glowing oval light in front of the house. In the light a young, beautiful Lady smiling graciously stood in her front yard. She described the Lady as wearing a dazzling white gown which was spotless and closed at the collar and fell in broad pleats. The sash was sky blue color and was loosely fastened around the waist and ended in two parts at the knees. Covering the Lady’s head, shoulders and arms was a veil as white as her gown but transparent. The Lady leaned to the left with the hem of her dress slightly lifted, exposing her right foot which was crowned with a golden rose. On her right arm hung a rosary that shined like diamonds on a golden chain with a cross.

Mariette called out to her mother to see the vision. Her mother looked outside and saw a mysterious light in the form of a woman and exclaimed “it is a witch” and closed the curtain. Mariette again looked out and on seeing the reassuring smile on the Lady’s face she began to pray the rosary. After several prayers, the Lady placed her left hand on her heart and lifted her right hand and beckoned Mariette with her index finger asking her to join her. When Mariette tried to open the door, her mother locked it and the vision ended. The next day, on hearing about the incident, her father who was sceptical about the incident dismissed it. But they informed the local parish priest Rev. Fr. Jamin who also dismissed is as an attempt to imitate the visions at Beauraing which had occurred just twelve days before. But he was surprised to see a change in Mariette who began attending Holy Mass and her Catechism classes.

Second vision:

The next vision appeared on January 18 at seven in the night. Mariette was waiting outside in the cold, praying the rosary and hoping to see the vision. As she knelt and prayed, her father kept persuading her to come inside the house. Just then she raised her arms and saw Our Lady. The vision stood on a grey cloud and seemed to join Mariette in praying the rosary. She then beckoned Mariette to follow her. The Lady then floated down the road and stopped three times. Mariette fell on her knees each time she stopped. Her father and her two siblings followed them at a distance. Our Lady led her to a previously unknown spring and asked her to place her hands in the water. As Mariette’s hands splashed the water, she repeated the words of the Lady, “This stream is reserved for me. Au revoir” The Lady then disappeared and Mariette woke from a trance-like state.

Third vision:

The third vision occurred the next day on January 19 when Mariette knelt on the ground in her front yard and prayed. Just as she began praying she exclaimed “Oh she is here”. She then asked “Who are you, lovely Lady?” and the Lady replied “I am the Virgin of the Poor.” Once again she led Mariette to the spring of water. Mariette asked her “Beautiful Lady, you said yesterday, “This spring is reserved for me”. Why for me?” Our Lady was amused and declared” “This spring is reserved for all nations- to relieve the sick.” Our Lady then said, “I shall pray for you. Au revoir.” She then disappeared.

Fourth vision:

Soon people in the village also heard about the visions. The next day on January 20, the fourth vision appeared. Mariette was joined by thirty villagers who came to witness the vision. When the Lady appeared, Mariette asked, “What do you wish, my beautiful Lady?” The Virgin of the Poor answered, “I would like a small chapel.” She then placed her hands on Mariette and blessed her with the Sign of the Cross. Mariette fainted.

Fifth vision:

Whilst some of the villagers believed in the visions, there were many who criticised Mariette and her family. But her father who was a fallen away Catholic had a conversion of heart and began to attend Church. The next vision appeared on February 11 in the evening as Mariette prayed the rosary. Again she fell into a trance and walked to the spring praying Hail Mary. She knelt near the spring and blessed herself with the water and appeared to be talking to Our Lady saying “Thank you, Thank you.”

Sixth vision:

The next vision appeared on February 15 during which Mariette asked Our Lady, “Blessed Virgin, the chaplain told me to ask you for a sign.” Mariette listened carefully as she was being given a heavenly secret by Our Lady. Later she told the people gathered “The Virgin said, “Believe in me, I will believe in you. Pray much. Au revoir”

Seventh vision:

During the seventh vision on February 20, Our Lady asked Mariette “My dear child, pray much. Au revoir.”

Eight and last vision:

The final apparition took place on March 2. After the recitation of the Rosary, Our Lady appeared. She then revealed “I am the Mother of the Saviour, Mother of God. Pray much.” She then placed her hands on Mariette and blessed her and disappeared.

Approval of the apparition and the Chapel:

The chapel Our Lady requested was built in the same year. The spring of water is known to have miraculous healings and in the first three years there were 25 serious medical cures that were certified as miraculous. The visions were approved on August 22, 1949 and the statue of Our Lady was solemnly crowned in 1956. Mariette later married and lived a private life. She died on December 2, 2011 at the age of 90.