THE BVM APPEARED TO THREE GIRLS, ALPHONSINE , NATHALIE AND MARY CLAIRE, WHO WERE ENROLLED IN KIBEHO HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1981 THROUGH 1989. WHEN ALPHONSINE ASKED WHO SHE WAS, THE LADY REPLIED, “I AM NYINA WA JAMBO” WHICH MEANS “THE MOTHER OF THE WORD”.
THESE ARE THE LAST APPARITIONS APPROVED BY THE CHURCH (IN 2003) UP TO TODAY, AND THEY ARE THE FIRST APPROVED APPARITIONS IN AFRICA. CRITERIA FOR AUTHENTICATION OF MARIAN APPARITIONS INCLUDE; TWO REPORTS, 1 MEDICAL, 1 THEOLOGICAL (IN THIS CASE STUDIED FOR 20 YEARS); EXPLANATION OF FACTS AND HISTORICAL REFERENCE POINTS; ELEMENTS OF MESSAGE; HOW APPARITION HAS GIVEN GOOD FRUIT. RECONIZED APPARITIONS : • STRENGTHEN THE LIFE OF FAITH AND PRAYER; unites us with Jesus • ARE ; A GREAT HELP FOR SHEPHERDS OF SOULS and exceptional graces • HELP THE FAITHFUL AS WAYS OF RECALLING THE ORDINARY TEACHING OF THE CHURCH, WHICH HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN • Have often been an alarm signal • No one obliged to believe; is not dogma LIST OF APPROVED MARIAN APPARITIONS
• Our Lady of Guadalupe with St. Juan Diego – conversion of 9 million - 1531 • Mary appeared to St. Catherine Laboure – Miraculous Medal – 1830 • La Salette, France – appeared to 2 children – major revival of Catholicism - 1846 • Our Lady of Lourdes to St. Bernadette – “I am the Immaculate Conception”; miraculous healings – 1858 • Our Lady of Pontmain, France – spared invasion during Franco-Prussian war- 1871 • Our Lady of Fatima – urging prayer/rosary, penance for conversion of sinners & consecration of Russia – 1917 • Beauraing, Belgium – appeared 33 times to group of children – prayer for conversion of sinners – 1932 • Banneux, Belgium–appeared 8 times to Mariette Beco–promised to intercede for the poor/sick/suffering-1933 • Pellevoisin, France – appeared to Estelle Faguette – scapular – 1876 • Knock, Ireland – during the potato famine – favors granted - 1879 • Syracuse, Sicily – Our Lady of Tears – plaque of BVM produced tears - 1953 ALPHONSINE MUMUREKE – 16 YEARS OLD; FIRST TO BE HONORED BY VISITS OF THE BVM ON NOVEMBER 28, 1981 AFTER SHE FINISHED SERVING LUNCH (NOON) AS A STUDENT AT KIBEHO HIGH SCHOOL AND LASTED ABOUT 15 MINS. HER APPARITIONS WENT ON UNTIL NOV. 28, 1989. SHE IS IN A CLARISSE SISTERS MONASTERY ON THE IVORY COAST.
ALPHONSINE BEING TESTED BY ONLOOKERS ALPHONSINE STILL IN ECSTASY AFTER THE DURING AN APPARITION – PART OF MEDICAL APPARITION. SHE SAYS OUR LADY; SPEAKS HER REPORT FOR AUTHENTICATION. HER BODY LANGUAGE, SEEMED CARRIED BY SOFT WIND, DOES NOT RESPOND TO STIMULI. IS A YOUNG BEAUTIFUL LADY AND COMES IN TENDERNESS AND JOY. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ALPHONSINE
• Was from Kibungo an area where voodoo and black magic was practiced. • Raised by her mother and they were extremely poor. • Last name means; leave her alone; she speaks the truth. • BVM said to Alphonsine, “never be afraid of me. In fact PLAY with me! It shows me your love and trust.” • Apparition of Aug 15th, 1985 (Feast of the Assumption) saw river of blood and savage murders. “GRACE AND PEACE FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, HIS INCARNATED WORD.” 1COR. 1,3 Spiritual fruit: the apparitions have promoted Mary came for the sake of our spiritual actual conversions at all levels, and an renewal and salvation. To awaken us, to undeniable spiritual renewal, which the surprising increase in vocations to the priesthood shake our consciences, to warn us, to and religious life throughout the country was a remind us of our responsibilities of visible sign of. A place of reconciliation and children of God, to lead us onto the right reparation of sin. path, and to motivate us to correct our From declaration of Augustin Misago-Bishop of lives. We are her children and she will not Gikongoro abandon us. ANATHALIE (NATALIE) MUKAMAZIMPAKA – 18 YEARS OLD; 1ST APPARITION JAN. 12, 1982 WHILE A STUDENT AT KIBEHO H.S. AND AFTER ALPHONSINE ASKED THE BVM TO APPEAR TO OTHERS TO MAKE HER STORY CREDIBLE. SHE LIVES IN KIBEHO WHERE SHE DEVOTES HERSELF TO WELCOMING PILGRIMS AND OFTEN JOINS THEM IN PRAYERS.
NATALIE HOLDING ROSARIES TOWARDS NATALIE DURING AN APPARITION. THE VIRGIN MARY FOR BLESSING. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ANATALIE • Came from a large devout Catholic family, said the rosary am and pm, never missed Mass, and was a member of the Legion of Mary. • Last name means; person who settles arguments and brings peace. • BVM told her exact words as St. Bernadette, “I can’t promise to make you happy in this world but promise to make you happy in the next world.” MARIE CLAIRE MUKANGANGO – 17 YEARS OLD, MARY APPEARED TO HER MARCH 2, 1982 AND GAVE HER THE MESSAGE OF THE ROSARY OF SEVEN SORROWS OF THE VIRGIN MARY. (IT WAS STARTED IN THE MIDDLE AGES AND WAS LARGELY FORGOTTEN AND IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE THE HOLY ROSARY) LAST APPARITION WAS ON SEPT. 15, 1982, THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS
MARIE CLAIRE DURING AN APPIRITION MARIE CLAIRE MARRIED BUT WAS GETTING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ROSARY KILLED DURING THE GENOCIDE IN 1994. OF SEVEN SORROWS. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MARIE-CLAIRE • She taunted Alphonsine and Anatalie and treated them rudely, was brusque and aggressive in manner toward them. • After her March 2nd, 1982 apparition, she was the perfect example of spiritual conversion the BVM was calling for. • She begged forgiveness and was in a constant state of prayer. • Mary’s nickname for her was; The Cherished of the Blessed Mother. • During an apparition, Mary was with students dancing. Marie Claire said to Mary, “It’s a wonder to watch you PLAY with your children.” MESSAGE; LOVE EACH OTHER, HAVE FAITH IN GOD, PRAY TO HER FOR COMFORT AND ALLOW HER TO LEAD US TO HER SON’S MERCIFUL LOVE
Our Lady of Kibeho; Nyina wa Our Lady of Sorrows Jambo; Mother of the Word Feast Day November 28th Feast Day September 15th ROSARY OF THE SEVENS SORROWS • This devotion goes back to the Middle Ages but has gained new popularity following the Church approved Marian apparitions in Kibeho, Rwanda in the 1980s. In her apparitions, Our Lady of Kibeho recommended that people pray the Chaplet (or Rosary) of the Seven Sorrows to obtain the favor of repentance. • Was known in Rwanda by the Benebikira Sisters who taught at Kibeho HS. Sr. Blandine helped Marie Claire with rosary and BVM taught her. She asked us to pray it every Tuesday and Friday. • It reminds us that Mary plays a key role in our Redemption and that she suffered along with her Son Jesus to save us. It is prayed using a special rosary comprised of seven "decades" containing seven beads each.
It is NOT to replace the Holy Rosary only to COMPLIMENT each. COMPLIMENT to only Rosary Holy the replace to NOT is It •
and keeping us from enjoying the joyous life God intended for us for intended God life joyous the enjoying from us keeping and .
weaknesses of character, or personality faults causing unhappiness unhappiness causing faults personality or character, of weaknesses
wisdom and strength to change or remove any internal flaws, flaws, internal any remove or change to strength and wisdom
understanding of understanding we sin, and that knowledge would give us the the us give would knowledge that and sin, we why
promised that over time, the rosary would develop within us a deep deep a us within develop would rosary the time, over that promised
our sins and free our souls from guilt and remorse. She also also She remorse. and guilt from souls our free and sins our
repentant heart, the rosary would win us the Lord's forgiveness for for forgiveness Lord's the us win would rosary the heart, repentant
She (the Holy Virgin) promised that when prayed with an open and and open an with prayed when that promised Virgin) Holy (the She • . DEVOTIONS TO THE SEVEN SORROWS
Early, in 1232, seven youths in Tuscany founded the Servite Order (also known as the "Servite Friars", or the "Order of the Servants of Mary"). Five years later, they took up the sorrows of Mary, standing under the Cross, as the principal devotion of their order. Over the centuries several devotions, and even orders, arose around meditation on Mary's Sorrows in particular. The Servites developed the three most common devotions to Our Lady's Sorrows, namely the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows, the Black Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary and the Novena to Our Sorrowful Mother. REFERENCES
• Book; The Fascinating Story of Kibeho; Mary’s Prophetic Tears in Rwanda by Casimir Ruzindaza • Book; Our Lady of Kibeho; Mary speaks to the world from the heart of Africa by Immaculee Ilibagiza • Website: kibeho-sanctuary.com