BRIEF HISTORICAL FACTS OF

OUR LADY OF BANNEUX , ALSO

KNOWN AS THE
“VIRGIN OF THE POOR”
In a garden behind the Beco family's cottage, the
Blessed Mother is said to have appeared
to Mariette Beco (age 11) eight times. Calling
herself the "Virgin of the Poor," Mary promised to
intercede for the poor, the sick and the suffering.
• On March 25, 1921, Mariette Beco was born the eldest of a family of
seven children in a Catholic working family, who, however, did not
practice their religion. She dwelt in a house isolated on the plateau of the
Ardennes, along the route of Pepinster. Her household was not a pious
one. Her father Julian Beco was an unemployed wiremaker who hadn't
been to Mass in many years and her mother Louise was not very devout
either. Because of her family circumstances, for two months Mariette had
not gone to church, she was doing very poorly in catechism class, and she
had stopped going to her instructions for Holy Communion.
 The apparitions of the "The Virgin with the
Golden Heart" to the five children of Beauraing,
Jan 3,
Belgium which is 50 miles to the northeast away
1933
from the poor farm village of Banneux-Notre
Dame.
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF EVENTS OF THE
APPARITION OF THE blessed VIRGIN MARY
IN BANNEUX, BELGIUM
 Mariette saw something out her window but thought it was perhaps a
Jan
reflection of her oil lamp. She moved the lamp to another room and
15, looked harder. Mariette sees through the window of her house a
1933 beautiful and luminous lady with a Rosary in her hands . She wore a
long white gown with a blue sash and was barefoot in the snow but
did not appear cold. She called her mother who caught a faint
glimpse of something, but told her she was crazy, locked the door
and forbade the girl to look at the vision.
 At school the next day, Mariette and a friend go to see the
parish priest Fr Louis Jamin who dismisses her as trying to copy
Jan
the Beauraing apparitions. For the next two days the Virgin did
16,
not appear again but Mariette became pious and restarted her
1933
catechism. She learned her lessons perfectly and this surprised
Fr Jamin who encouraged her to pray to Our Lady for guidance.
 At 7:00 pm, Mariette ran around to her back yard and fell to her knees in silent
prayer. Her father thought this was a strange sight and came out to see what was
going on. Mariette saw a bright ball of light increasing in size and passing through
the pine trees and finally changed into a "woman's silhouette". The Virgin
appeared a yard away from her on a "luminous cloud". Her father and 2 neighbors
had gathered to see if they could see anything. Mariette said loudly and with a
Jan 18, clear voice: "She is calling me!" The girl rose and ran in the direction of the main
1933 road, very fast, as if carried by the wind. Suddenly, Mariette stopped in her tracks
and fell to her knees twice, near a spring. Our Lady said: "Put your hands in the
water! This fountain is reserved for Me. Goodnight. Good bye." The Virgin
disappeared a few seconds later - her silhouette became a ball of light and faded
away in the horizon. Around 10:00 pm, Father Jamin went to the Beco's house. He
was surprised by Julian's account of the story and his declaration to convert, make
a general confession and go to Mass.
 At the same time the next day as Mariette prays the Rosary with
17 people around her, The Virgin appears for the third time. When
Jan Mariette asks her identity she says "I am the Virgin of the
19, Poor." They then went to the spring together. Mary
1933 declared: "This spring is reserved for all the nations, to bring
comfort to the sick." Just before leaving in a ball of light, she
said: "I will pray for you; good bye."
 The next day around 6:45 pm, the fourth apparition took place with thirteen
witnesses, including Father Jamin and the first two journalists. During this
apparition, the Virgin made a request: “I would like a small chapel.” Our Lady
imposed her hands on Mariette and traced the sign of the cross over her head. At
Jan 20, the end, Mariette lost consciousness.
1933
However, during the following days until February 11, the apparitions stopped.
Some made fun of Mariette, calling her "Saint Bernadette." Despite the intense
cold, Mariette continued praying and believed that she would see the Virgin of the
Poor again.
 On the anniversary of the Apparitions in Lourdes at 7 pm, The
Virgin appears for the fifth time. Mariette ran with incredible
speed to the spring after the Lady, dropped to her knees and
Feb 11, dipped the tip of her rosary in the water. "I come to alleviate
1933 sufferings," Mary said to her interiorly.

The following day, Mariette received First Communion from

Fr. Jamin.
 The Virgin appears for the sixth time while Mariette
Feb 15, prays the Rosary with her mother and friends. Mariette
1933 asks for a sign but is only encouraged to "Believe in me
and I will believe in you. Pray very much. Goodbye."
Feb 20, The Virgin appears for the seventh time and encourages
1933 her saying: "My dear child, pray, pray very much."
 The Virgin appears for the eighth and final time. "I am the
Mother of the Saviour, the Mother of God. Pray very much.
March 2, " Then she imposed her hands on Mariette's head and blessed
1933 her with the sign of the cross. She said, “Adieu – till we meet
in God.” And Mariette cried as she understood this would be
her final appearance to her.
 The Little Chapel
1933 was built and
inaugurated.
 The apparitions are recognized by
1952
the Vatican.
 Msgr. E. Forni, the Apostolic
Aug 14, Nuncio to Brussels, solemnly
1956 crowned the statue of the Virgin
of the Poor.
 Pope John Paul II went to Banneux and had an
1985
audience with Mariette at the sacristy.
 The Vatican issues a letter to the Bishop
July 31,
of Liege to commemorate the 50th
1999
anniversary of the apparitions.
 Mariette Beco passed
Dec
away in the "Home de la
2,
Vierge des Pauvres" at
2011
Banneux, Belgium
• Words of the Virgin of the Poor to Mariette Beco:
1. “Push your hands into the water. This spring is reserved for me. Good evening. Goodbye.”
(Jan. 18, 1933)

2. “I am the Virgin of the Poor” (Jan. 19, 1933)

3. “This Spring is reserved for all Nations… for the sick. I will pray for you. Goodbye.” (Jan.
19, 1933)

4. “I would like a little chapel.” (Jan. 20, 1933)

5. “I come to relieve suffering,” (Feb. 11, 1933)

6. “Believe in me, I will believe in you. Pray hard. Goodbye.” (Feb. 15,1933)

7. “My dear child, pray hard. Goodbye.” (Feb. 20,1933)

8. “I am the Mother of the Saviour, the Mother of God… Pray hard. Farewell.” (Mar. 2, 1933)
 Invocations of Banneux
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, lead us to Jesus, Source of grace.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, save all Nations.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, relieve the Sick.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, alleviate suffering.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, pray for each one of us.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, we believe in you.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, believe in us.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, we will pray hard.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, bless us (+)
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Mother of the Savior, Mother of God,
we thank You.
THANK YOU!