Mariette Beco

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A series of articles on Roman Catholic Mariology
General articles Mariology • Veneration of the Blessed Virgin • History of Mariology • Papal teachings • Mariology of the saints
Devotions Rosary • Immaculate Heart • 7 Sorrows • Acts of Reparation
Dogmas and Doctrines Doctrines • Mother of God • Perpetual virginity • Immaculate Conception • Assumption • Mediatrix • Co-Redemptrix
Artistic forms Art • Music • Architecture
Marian apparitions (approved or worthy of belief) Guadalupe • Lourdes • Banneux • Laus • Fatima

Mariette Beco was a native of Banneux, Belgium in the 1930s. She is best known for being associated with the Roman Catholic Marian apparitions called the Virgin of the Poor.^[1]

She reported eight visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary between January 15th and March 2nd 1933. She reported seeing a Lady in White who declared herself to be the Virgin of the Poor and told her: "believe in me and I will believe in you". In one vision, the Lady reportedly asked Mariette to drink from a small spring and later said that the spring was for healing. Over time the site drew pilgrims. Today, the small spring yields about 2,000 gallons of water a day with many reports of miraculous healings.^[2]

Her claims were subject to an official investigation from 1935 to 1937 by an Episcopal commission. The evidence collected was submitted to Rome for further analysis. In May 1942 Bishop Kerkhofs of Liege, Belgium announced his approval of the Virgin of the Poor. Preliminary approval for the apparitions was provided in 1947 by the Holy See and it was declared definite in 1949.^[3]

After the apparitions, Beco decided to remain a private person, married and had a quiet family life. A small chapel stands where the Virgin of the Poor requested it to be built.

[edit] References

^ Michael Freze, 1993, Voices, Visions, and Apparitions, OSV Publishing ISBN 087973454X
^ Memorare http://www.memorare.com/mary/app1933.html
^ van Houtryve, La Vierge des Pauvres, Banneux, 1947