Friday, December 12, 2008

Our Lady of Kibeho I


The Blessed Virgin Mother of God appeared in Kibeho Rwanda as Our Lady of Sorrows. The next several postings will be a series on this apparition and Our Lady's message. This apparition has the official approval from the Roman Catholic Church.

On July 2, 2001, the Holy See released the declaration of Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro, on the Apparitions that took place in 1982-83 in Kibeho. Here are some excerpts:
“Two study commissions, one of doctors and one of theologians, were immediately set up by the local Bishop; they have been at work since April 1982... The advanced state of the study commissions' work now offers sufficient elements to allow competent ecclesiastical authorities to pronounce definitively on this question.
“As a result, Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro, who represents this authority, has published his declaration concerning the definitive judgement on the Apparitions of Kibeho, Rwanda. This important event in the history of the Diocese of Gikongoro, as in the life of the Church in Rwanda, took place on 29 June 2001, on the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, during a solemn Mass concelebrated in the cathedral of Gikongoro. All the Catholic bishops of Rwanda, with the Apostolic Nuncio of Kigali, were present...
“The Bishop declared: Yes, the Virgin Mary appeared at Kibeho on November 28, 1981, and in the months that followed. There are more reasons to believe in the Apparitions than to deny them... The Apparitions of Kibeho are now officially recognized... The name given to the Marian sanctuary at Kibeho is "Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows". (emphasis added)
“That Kibeho become a place of pilgrimage and of encounter for all who seek Christ and who come there to pray, a fundamental centre of conversion, of reparation for the sins of the world and of reconciliation, a point of meeting for all who were dispersed, as for those who aspire to the values of compassion and fraternity without borders, a fundamental centre that recalls the Gospel of the Cross.
“This Declaration makes it possible to respond to the expectations of the People of God and to bring new enthusiasm to the public devotion recognized already for 13 years”. (Taken from “L'Osservatore Romano”, weekly edition in English, July 11, 2001, page 8.)
In 1988, without officially approving of the Apparitions, Bishop Jean Baptiste Gahamanyi, of the Diocese of Butare, of which Kibeho was a part at that time, authorized public devotion at the site of the Apparitions. Today, Kinbeho is part of the Diocese of Gikongoro, led by Bishop Augustin Misago.

8 comments:

Jackie Parkes MJ said...

I find Kibeho fascinating..but disturbing..

Jackie Parkes MJ said...

St Bridget of Sweden..click on my link opening the door to the Bridgettine sisters!

irene said...

Disturbing? I don't understand... why?

irene said...

Disturbing? I don't understand... why?

Anonymous said...

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them."
Ephesians 2:8-10

Think about it. God bless you. :)

Chris said...

Sanctus Belle-Hi, I haven't commented in awhile, but I was hoping you might be able to help me out! :)
We will be visiting my husband's family in Morgan next weekend and I am wondering about finding a good, solidly Catholic church in the area to attend Sunday. Do you know anything about the Cathedral in New Ulm? I think their house is about 25 miles from there.
I always get nervous when I have to go to Mass "somewhere else".....you never know what you're going to get! ;D
Any suggestions? I would really appreciate it- thanks!

Sanctus Belle said...

Anonymous: I'm assuming you are of a Protestant faith. This is not an apologetics blog but rather a Catholic faith and devotion blog. I would refer you to the Black Cordelias blog on my sidebar links. May God bless you.

Chris: New Ulm is about 30 minutes north of me and in a different diocese. I honestly cannot say what masses there are like - wish I could help you more. I've only driven through that town a few times! I can tell you my husband speaks annually at one of that diocesan priest retreats and he tells me how holy and prayerful they are if that helps.

Chris said...

oh DUH- it says right in your sidebar you're in the DOW (like me!) Sorry about that.
I just always think of the 2 towns as being so close because we go through them on the way to his parents'.
Maybe I'll just have to roll the dice ;D
Thanks anyway!