Mariette Beco

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Belgian mystic, who claimed that she witnessed visitations from the Virgin Mary on several occasions with the first coming to her as she sat looking out the window of her home on January 15, 1933 at about 7 PM. The oldest daughter of seven children who grew up in poverty,. Mariette was a normal child, robust and outdoorsy by nature, and noted for her strong will. She often helped her mother with the younger children, and on 1/15/1933, she grew concerned about her brother Julien’s welfare when he was late returning home for supper. Kneeling on a bench by the front window to watch for him, she suddenly saw a lovely lady with a motherly smile, surrounded in light. Her mother, responding to her daughter’s calls, reported also seeing the apparition, although not as clearly. Three days later, Our Lady once again appeared. Saying she was the "Virgin of the Poor," she led the young girl away from her home. Falling into a ditch, Mariette discovered a previously unknown spring, which Our Lady said was to relieve the sick of all nations. In total, she had 11 visitations from Our Lady. Mariette told the story of the visits to a friend and then to her parish priest, who dismissed the story. Although previously an irregular participant at Mass and catechism, she now began to attend both faithfully. Her classmates taunted her about her visions, even striking her in the face on occasion, but Mariette faithfully prayed the rosary in the garden, hoping to see Our Lady again. She reportedly was given a special message that she never revealed, and she avoided all publicity regarding her visions, considering herself as only an instrument of Our Lady. Mariette married and raised a family. Link to Wikipedia biography