Our Lady of Beauraing, Immaculate Virgin, bring to Jesus, your Son, all the intentions that we entrust to you today. Mother of the Golden Heart, a reflection of the Father’s tenderness, look upon the men and women of our time with love and fill them with the joy of your presence. You, who promised to convert sinners, help us discover the infinite mercy of our God. Awaken within us the grace of conversion so that our lives may be a reflection of that mercy. Make every moment of our existence “a yes” to the question you ask today: “Do you love my Son? Do you love me?” Then the kingdom of Jesus will come to the world. Amen.
By Marilyn Nash for Mystic Post
The Town
Beauraing, Belgium is a humble town approximately three miles from the French border. In 1932, its population was about 2,000. Today it is slightly over 8,000.
The Children
Fernande Voisin, age 15, Andree Degeimbre age 14, Gilberte Voisin age 13 Albert Voisin age 11 and Gilberte Degeimbre age 9.
The First Apparition
On an evening in late November 1932, four children walked to a school directed by the Sisters of Christian Doctrine to meet Gilberte Voisin so that they would walk home together. As they entered the grounds of the convent academy, they saw a bright light moving toward a railroad overpass. Eleven-year-old Albert was the first to see the light and recognize it as the Blessed Virgin. He described her as dressed in white and wearing a crown. Initially, the other children did not believe him but soon they, too, saw her as a gentle light walking in midair above the bridge. Unafraid, Albert asked, “Are you the Immaculate Virgin and what do you want?”
She nodded and replied, “Always be good.”
Our Lady of the Golden Heart
Over the next months, Our Lady appeared to the children thirty-two times, each time telling them to always be good. The children said that the lady, identifying herself as the Immaculate Virgin, requested that a chapel is built at the site. She also wanted pilgrims to come to the site and asked the children to “pray, pray, pray.” The last apparition occurred on January 3, 1933. One month after the first apparition, she revealed her heart of gold, first to Albert, later to the other children. This brought her the titles, “Our Lady of the Golden Heart” and “Our Lady of Beauraing.” The Virgin continued to tell the children to always be good and again instructed that a chapel should be built. She indicated that pilgrimages were to be made to Beauraing.
The children asked that she give proof that she was the Immaculate Virgin and Our Lady said, “Yes” adding to that, “Pray. Pray very much and Pray always.”
The Last Apparition
On January 3, 1933, the Virgin appeared to the children for the last time. She lovingly said good-bye and that told them that she had a secret for each of them. Not one of the secrets has been or probably will ever be revealed. During this apparition, Our Lady said, “I will convert sinners. I am the Mother of God, the Queen of heaven.” Twenty thousand people were present that day.
The Messages
The message of Beauraing is one of prayer (especially the Rosary), living an upright Christian life, sacrifice, and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Many miracles have occurred at Beauraing, both physical healings, and more importantly miraculous conversions.
The messages were:
December 2, 1932
“Always be good.”
December 21, 1932
“I am the Immaculate Virgin”
December 23, 1932
[Why do you come?]
“That people might come here on pilgrimages.”
“Pray always.”
“Do you love my Son? Do you love me? Then sacrifice yourself for me.”
January 3, 1933
“I will convert sinners.”
The Decree
In 1935, the Bishop of Namur, Thomas-Louis Heylen, appointed an Episcopal Commission to investigate these events. After his death, the work continued under his successor, Bishop André-Marie Charge. On 2 February 1943, he published a decree authorizing public devotions to Our Lady of Beauraing. The apparition was approved by the Holy See in 1949, during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII.
Prayer to Our Lady of Beauraing
Our Lady of Beauraing, Immaculate Virgin, bring to Jesus, your Son, all the intentions that we entrust to you today. Mother of the Golden Heart, a reflection of the Father’s tenderness, look upon the men and women of our time with love and fill them with the joy of your presence. You, who promised to convert sinners, help us discover the infinite mercy of our God. Awaken within us the grace of conversion so that our lives may be a reflection of that mercy. Make every moment of our existence “a yes” to the question you ask today: “Do you love my Son? Do you love me?” Then the kingdom of Jesus will come to the world.
