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67 years the after bless mother appear to a nun in a convint in LipaCity,Batangas,

archbishop ramon C. arguelles has officially confirmed the apparitions as of

“supernatural character” and “worthy of belief.”

The apparitions gave rise to the title Mary Mediatrix of All Grace.

In a four-page document, Arguelles said, “the events and apparition in 1948, also known

as the Marian phenomenon of Lipa and its aftermath even in recent times, do exhibit

supernatural character and is worthy of belief. Thus, I encourage devotion to the Most

Holy Mother Mary under her revered and worthy title Mediatrix of All Grace.”

This is the first approval by the local Church of the Marian apparition.

Arguelles made the declaration last September 12 on the Feast of the Most Holy Name

of Mary and declared the date as the Feast of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace. His

declaration was met with a resounding “Praise be to God” by Mary Mediatrix devotees

at a Carmelite Monastery.

Arguelles said Filipinos can rely on the intercession of Mary Mediatrix for a “true and

lasting transformation. Whereas, the Philippines, called to be the humble instrument and

eager companion of the star of third millennium evangelization, Mary Mediatrix of All

Grace, needs her to combat all kinds of corruption, eradicate all kinds of addictions,

erase all forms of self-centeredness, and oppose the culture of greed,” he said in an

archdiocesan decree.

Based on the old Council of Trent (1545-63), the local diocese is the primary and main

authority to judge and declare the authenticity of Marian apparitions, on which the

Vatican may later release a statement.

SHOWER OF ROSE PETALS

In 1948, the Blessed Mother was said to have appeared to a nun named Teresita

Castillo about 19 times at a monastery owned by the Carmelite nuns and asked for the

country’s renewal of faith. A shower of rose petals was also reported in the monastery,

some petals bearing Mary’s image.

According to the Filipino Connection, a local paper in Batangas, the reported apparitions

started August, 1948, but in November of that same year, Mary Mediatrix appeared in

the cloistered halls of the Carmelite Monastery and introduced herself to Castillo. The

Blessed Mother reportedly asked for the whole country’s renewal of faith.

From September 12 to 26, 1948, the nun reportedly had conversations with the Holy

Mother at a vine inside the monastery. The shower of rose petals began on September

14, 1948. It is not known when the petal shower ended. The Filipino Connection added

that in November 1948, Castillo had “supernatural experiences” related to the Lord’s

passion.

The Virgin Mary reportedly asked Castillo to make an image of her likeness and to place

it at the vine inside the monastery, the spot where she appeared. The white statue of

Mary Mediatrix is now housed inside the Carmelite convent, surrounded by vines

reminiscent of the events that took place in 1948.

Church leaders who have expressed devotion to Mary Mediatrix of All Grace include

Digos Bishop Guillermo Afable, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Jaro

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Batanes Bishop Camilo

Gregorio, Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, and retired Cebu Auxiliary

Bishop Antonio Rañola.