Beauraing, Belgium is a small farming village that lies about sixty miles southeast of Brussels.  In 1932, the community population was a mere 2000; and in this part of Belgium the people spoke French.  A great depression had hit most of the world.  Unemployment, poverty, and hunger were moving through Europe.  Anti-Christian powers such as the Communists, Fascists, and Nazis were gaining strongholds in governments, as Christians were being led away from the Church.  Before the Marxist Labor Party arrived in Beauraing, it was a strong Catholic community.  But, in 1932, the churches were almost empty.  Some Catholics, however, desired that at least one or a few of their children would receive Catholic education.  Such was the case for the Voisin family, in which only Gilberte (age 13) attended an academy operated by the Sisters of Christian Doctrine.

On November 29, 1932, Gilberte’s older sister, Fernande (age 15) and younger brother, Albert (age 11) went to meet their sister at the academy after school.  This was nothing unusual – they would often walk Gilberte home.  On the way to the academy two other girls joined them:  Andree Degeimbre (age 14) and Gilberte Degeimbre (age 9).  All the children were friends. 

Arriving at the convent and school, the children entered the gate and hastened to a garden on the grounds.  It was a favorite place to wait for Gilberte, since the garden displayed a small Lourdes grotto.  Beyond the garden, was a street and above it, a small bridge that crossed over the neighborhood below.  Albert glanced up to notice that above the bridge stood a luminous lady all dressed in white.  He shouted to the other children for their attention as the Lady began walking – in mid-air – she was moving toward the treetops within the garden.  Albert exclaimed, “It’s the Virgin walking above the bridge!”  All were surprised and curious, but thought Albert was joking at first. Upon closer observation, they all marveled that ‘she could be the Blessed Virgin Mary!’

As Sister Valeria opened the door for Gilberte to leave, the children flocked to tell them of the heavenly vision.  But Sister Valeria saw nothing and dismissed it simply as child’s play.  Gilberte, on the other hand, saw the beautiful lady.  Our Lady wore a long, white gown, as well as a long, silk veil that flowed down to a small cloud that engulfed her feet. She seemed to emanate light as she drew closer to them. They could see her hands were folded, as in prayer; and she smiled at them, but said nothing.  Later, they all remembered her deep blue eyes and how beautiful she was.

This night and others, the Sisters at the school assumed the children were imagining it and warned them not to share such foolish stories with anyone.  Nevertheless, as soon as the children returned to their homes, they shared every detail with their families.  At first, the children were scolded for making up a story.  But, soon their parents’ advised them to ask the Lady who she was.  So, on December 2, Albert was the first to speak to Mary, asking her pointedly, “Are you the Immaculate Virgin?”  Mary sweetly smiled and nodded her head.  Then, she said, “Always be good.”  She disappeared at that moment, but returned three more times that day.

Our Lady usually appeared to them above a hawthorn (wild rose) tree in the garden; and she continuously asked the children to be present with her on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8.  Word of this spread rapidly throughout Beauraing and far beyond.  On December 8 approximately 15,000 people arrived in Beauraing to visit the garden.  There was not enough room for the crowds of people, so the Sisters locked the gate; and most stood watching from the other side of the Academy fence.  A number of doctors, however, made it a point to examine and test the children during the apparition.  Although they tried pinching, slapping, pricking, . . . and shining flashlights into the children’s eyes – there was no response from any of them during Our Lady’s visit.  And afterward, not one had a mark or a sign indicating they had been injured or harmed in any way.

The Blessed Virgin continued her visits during the month of December.  In subsequent apparitions she related the following:

          ·  she requested that a chapel be built (December 17)

          ·  she clearly stated, “I am the Immaculate Virgin.” (December 21)

          ·  she desired for people to come on a pilgrimage (December 23)

          ·  she urged the children (and everyone) to “pray, pray, pray” (end of Dec.)

          ·  she revealed her “Immaculate Heart” (December 29 and following)

As she opened her arms bidding them ‘farewell,’ the older girl, Fernande Voisin, saw Mary reveal her Heart of Gold.  Thereafter, each time before Mary departed she showed all the children her Golden Heart, which is believed to be her “Immaculte Heart”.

Our Blessed Mother made her final appearance in Beauraing on January 3, 1933.  She spoke to each child individually and told them each a “secret.”  And to each one she revealed her Golden Heart, but not to Fernande Voisin.  Then, she said, “Good bye”.

Fernande moved away from the others and found a place to cry.  She was weeping because this time Our Lady had not shown her Her Golden Heart, and Fernande believed she would never see Her again.  Suddenly, all heard a loud noise like thunder and witnessed a huge luminous circle appear above Fernande.  Only Fernande saw that it was Our Lady with the Golden Heart appearing to her once more.  Revealing an open heart, Her Immaculate Heart, Mary ask Fernande, “Do you love My Son?”  ‘Yes,’ Fernande answered.  “Do you love Me?” asked the Lady.  ‘Yes’ Fernande replied.  “Then sacrifice yourself for me.”  Before Fernande could finish asking what sacrifices she should make, the Lady with the Golden Heart extended her arms in gesture of farewell and said one last time, “good-bye”. 

The Voisin and Degeimbre children never revealed their secrets to anyone.  After the apparitions ended the children and others continued to pray the rosary in the garden grotto every day.  Numerous healings and blessings were reported.  An investigation of the apparitions was appointed in 1935; and early in 1943, the Bishop authorized public devotion to Our Lady of Beauraing.  Later, in 1949, he released a document throughout the diocese that the Queen of Heaven had, indeed, appeared to the children.  A chapel was built in honor of Our Lady of Beauraing and consecrated on August 21, 1954.  Our Lady of Beauraing has always been known as Our Lady with the Golden Heart.

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