Flora Cantábrica

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FIRST APPEARANCE

 (February 11) On February 11, 1858 Bernardita went with her sister Toñita and her friend Juana Abadie to look for firewood in the forest and to collect bones to sell them. Juana Abadie declared: We arrived in front of the grotto. The canal carried water up to its knees… I saw a bone in the opposite part of the channel, in the crack of the rock and in the same place some branches that the water had dragged

To get to the grotto you had to cross the channel bed. Toñita and Juana threw their clogs to the opposite side and went through the water, which was very cold due to the melting snow. Bernardita thought not to follow them, because the water, which was very cold, could hurt her. On the other hand, I didn’t want the two of them to walk away alone

And he asked his sister to put some fat stones in the water to pass over. Toñita didn’t want to. He then asked Joan (who was tall and strong), if he could carry her on his shoulders, but she replied: You could do like us; if not, stay there. And Toñita and Juana started looking for bones and firewood and moved away from the place. Bernardita was alone and knew it was twelve o’clock at noon, because she had heard the twelve chimes in the church tower

He decided to pass the channel and refers: I had hardly gotten to take off a stocking when I heard a windy sound, like when a storm is approaching. I turned to look all over the prairie and saw that the trees were almost not moving. I glimpsed, but without stopping the view, an agitation in the branches and in the brambles of the part of the grotto

I kept barefoot and, as I was about to put my foot in the water, I heard the same noise in front of me. I raised my eyes and saw a bunch of branches and brambles coming and going agitated, below the highest mouth of the grotto, while nothing moved around

Behind the branches, inside the opening, I immediately saw a young woman all white, no taller than me, who greeted me with a slight tilt of the head, while taking a little away from the body the outstretched arms, opening her hands, like the holy Virgins. A rosary hung from his right arm. I was scared and backed off. I wanted to call my companions, but I didn’t feel capable. I rubbed my eyes several times, I thought I was cheating

As I lifted my eyes, I saw a young woman who smiled at me with great grace and who seemed to invite me to approach her. But I was still afraid. However it was not a fear like the one I had felt other times, because I would have always looked at that one (Aquéro), and when you feel afraid one flees immediately

Then came the idea of praying. I put my hand in my pocket, took the rosary I usually wear, kneeled and tried to sanctize myself. But I couldn’t get my hand on my forehead: it fell off. Meanwhile, the young woman stood aside and turned to me. This time he had the big rosary in his hand. He sanctified himself as if to begin praying. My hand was shaking. I tried to sanctize myself again and was able to do it. From that moment I was no more afraid

I prayed with my rosary. The young woman slipped the beads of hers, but did not move her lips. As I prayed the rosary, I looked as much as I could. She wore a white dress, which lowered her to her feet, of which only the tip could be seen. The dress was closed very high, around the neck. A white veil, which covered his head, descended down his shoulders and arms to the ground. On each foot I saw that it had a yellow rose. The sash of the dress was blue and fell a little below her knees. The chain of the rosary was yellow, the beads white, thick and far apart from one another. The young woman was full of life, she was very young and she was surrounded by light. When I had finished the rosary, he greeted me smiling. He retreated into the hole and suddenly disappeared

Bernardita will say: I was amazed, when I entered the water, I found it hotter than cold. And Toñita adds: Bernardita put on her stockings sitting on a stone and not being cold. Then he asked us, «Have you seen anything?» «No, what have you seen?» «Nothing.» Friend Juana went home, because she was in a hurry. And Toñita adds: Before passing the old bridge he told me: «I saw a lady dressed in white with a blue sash and a yellow rose on each foot

Upon arriving home, Toñita told her mother, who, thinking they were tales of girls, gave them a few blows with a rod. Toñita complained, telling Bernardita: You are the cause of mom hitting me. The mother told them that perhaps it was a soul of our ancestors who was in purgatory, and it was necessary to pray for her. The dad, upon learning, was more direct and scolded Bernardita, thinking it might be a bad thing. Therefore, he forbade him to return to the grotto

On Saturday the thirteenth of February, Bernardita went to confess and told father Pomian, parochial vicar, everything. He said, «I have seen a white thing that had the shape of a lady.» The confessor asked for permission to discuss it with the parish priest. Warned the parish priest, who was unaware of everything, solemnly said: «We have to wait.