Marian Apparitions: Cuapa
Cuapa, Nicaragua; 1980
Witness
Bernardo Martinez
Summary
On April 15, church sacristan Bernardo Martinez entered an old chapel and observed a supernatural light illuminating from a
statue of the Blessed Virgin. Those few he told did not keep the secret and he began to experience ridicule. In early May, the Virgin appeared clothed in white (similar to the statue in the church) and asked for the daily
Rosary with Biblical citations and have the First Saturday Devotions renewed. She also warned of future sufferings for Nicaragua if the people didn't change. Not wanting further problems, he ignored the Virgin's request to
spread the message, and when he avoided the location of the apparition, the Virgin appeared to him a few days later
in a pasture promising him help. The next morning, an inner peace filled his soul which allowed him to tell what happened with no fear of ridicule.
In June the Virgin gave him a nighttime vision (a 'movie in the sky') which moved from the early church to men in white (likely Dominicans) praying the Rosary, then Franciscans, and finally ordinary people with Rosaries whose example he was told to follow. On July 8, an Angel appeared and told him
and foretold several events which shortly took place (including the death of a cousin which could have been prevented had he listened to Bernardo's warnings).
A third appearance in September was seen and heard only by Bernardo, not his few companions. The Virgin told him to not raise funds for a new Church. On October, fifty of the faithful witnessed supernatural light, but only Bernardo and a little girl could see the Lady and the light that radiated from her. She wept at the hardness of the
hearts of some of those in attendance. Her words summarized her earlier messages and announced the end of the apparitions. Today, Bernardo is Father Bernardo.
Messages/Prophecies
"I want it (the Rosary) to be prayed permanently, within the family ... including the children old enough to understand ... at a set hour when there are no problems with the work in the home."
The reverent praying of the Rosary was the cornerstone of the Virgin's messages in Cuapa.
"Go and tell the prisoner's sister to go and console him on Sunday as he is very sad; to advise him not to sign a document... take 1,000 cordobas because they are charging a fine."
These events and others occurred exactly as the Angel told Bernardo
including the amount of the fine.
"No. The Lord does not want material churches. He wants living temples which are yourselves."
(Fourth Vision)
"Even by their secular activity they must aid one another to greater holiness of life, so that the world may be filled with the spirit of Christ..." (DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH
LUMEN GENTIUM, Chapter IV, 1964)
"They ask of me things that are unimportant. Ask for faith in order to have the strength so that each can carry his own cross. The sufferings of this world cannot be removed. Sufferings are the cross which you must carry. That is the way life is. There are problems with the husband, with the wife, with the children, with the brothers. Talk, converse so that problems will be resolved in peace. Do not turn to violence. Never turn to violence. Pray for faith in order that you will have patience."
The Blessed Virgin's response to the many requests for healings and favors given Bernardo to relate to her.
"Do not be grieved. I am with all of you even though you do not see me.
I am the Mother of all of you, sinners.
Love one another.
Forgive each other.
Make peace, because if you don't make it
there will be no peace.
Do not turn to violence.
Never turn to violence.
*** Nicaragua has suffered a great deal since the earthquake and will continue to suffer if all of you don't change.
If you don't change you will hasten the coming of the Third World War.
Pray, pray, my son, for all the world.
A mother never forgets her children.
And I have not forgotten what you suffer.
I am the Mother of all of you, sinners.
(Fifth Vision)
***The election by the people of communist Sandinista Daniel Ortega in 1984 led to a US-led economic boycott and support for armed Contra insurgents, wrecking the
nation's economy and fulfilling the prophecy of continued suffering.
Additional Online Resources
Bernardo's Complete Account of the Visions
Books About other Apparitions
(After entering the site, click on 'Subject Listing' and then 'Apparitions')
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