I AM THE VIRGIN OF THE POOR
Our Blessed Lady choose an 11 year old child to be her instrument. Mariėtte Beco was the
eldest child of the seven who had then been born to a family where another six children
would later be born. Their home was just a mile from the church, which was in a swamp
area. Just on the other side of the road the large pine forests start, which reach the
German Eifel.
On the 15th of January, it's snowing and Mariėtte is sitting in the kitchen,looking
through the window to the garden. It's seven p.m. and she is looking for her brother
Julien who should have been home a lot earlier While so doing, she is also looking after
the youngest, who's in the cradle. Theirs is a Catholic family, although they never go to
church or pray. Inspite of this, Mariėtte has religious tendencies. She once found a
Rosary on her way to Tancremont and always carries it with her. While she sat staring into
the darkness, she suddenly, saw just a few meters away from her a young lady who seemed to
be all light and was very beautiful. She called out, "look mother it is Our Blessed
Lady, She is smiling at me". Immediately she took out her Rosary and started to pray,
continuing to stare at the Apparition.
The Lady made it very clear that she wanted Mariėtte to go to her and Mariėtte stood up
to go outside, but her mother who has not seen anything and suspects that it was a witch.
Prevents Mariėtte from opening the door and in fact, puts the lock on firmly. Mariėtte
returns to the window, but the Lady has disappeared.
On 18th of January, in the evening Mariėtte manages to go into the garden. Despite her
fears of dark she goes outside into the front garden and starts to pray her Rosary,
kneeling down in the dark. She suddenly stretches out her arms and Our Blessed Lady
appears in the distance, looking very small above the pinewoods. A few metres away from
the Lady, she stands still praying and she saw the Lady who appears to be praying, gently
moving her lips in silence. Then the Lady ask her to follow. Mariėtte follows the
Lady and comes out on the main road. Obeying the Lady, Mariėtte kneels down three times
on this road and prays for a few moments. Then they arrive at a small stream that was
running slowly out of the high road side. The Lady stands above the edge of the road and
Mariėtte kneels down beside the road. Our Lady said: "Stretch out your hands into
the water". Mariėtte puts her hands into the water, then Our Lady said: "This
stream is especially devoted to me."
Then she said farewell to Mariėtte with the following words: " Good night and we'll
meet again".
On the 19th of January, Mariėtte,
wearing her fathers old overcoat over her head to protect her from the cold, went outside.
She knelt down having walked a few passes through the snow, to pray. After a few minutes,
she stretched out her hands and cried out: "There She is !!" All remained silent
until Mariėtte said, " Who are you beautiful lady?" The Lady answered her by
saying:
"I AM THE VIRGIN OF THE POOR"
The Lady led her along the same path as the on the previous occasion to the stream.
Mariėtte said: " last evening you said, "this stream is especially devoted to
me, why is it devoted to me?" While saying this she pointed towards herself. Our Lady
smiled and said: "This steam is for all nations for the sick!". Mariėtte
repeated these words with a very clear voice and spontaneously, said:" Thank you!
Thank You!!" Then Our Lady said: "I shall pray for you, goodbye for now".
On the 20th of January, Mariėtte is not very well, but this doesn't prevent her from
going outside at 7 p.m. She commences to pray the Rosary and after a few moments calls
out: "there she is" she then says, "beautiful Lady, what are Your
wishes?" and Our Lady answered: "I would like to see a small chapel" The
Blessed Virgin then spread out Her arms horizontally without moving them from Her chest,
and with Her right hand She made the sign of the cross by way of a blessing over Mariėtte
for this task.
Due the sickness and cold Mariėtte lost consciousness. Her father and their neighbour
carried Mariėtte inside where she quickly regained consciousness and went to sleep
peaceful.
From the 21st of January until the 11th of February Mariėtte continued to pray her Rosary
in the garden each evening, despite the cold. Our Blessed Lady did not appear and
Mariėtte is the only person who continues to believe in Our Lady of
the Poor who she wants to meet again, on Saturday the 11th of February in the
garden with a few other people.
It is not until near the end of the second Rosary that the people see her stand up and
kneel down at the familiar place and thus reaching the stream. She puts her hands into the
water and made the sign of the cross. Then Our Lady said: " I have come to relief the
suffering, I shall see you again soon". Then Our Lady disappeared as usual above the
pinewoods.
This is followed by a period of trails and tribulations.
On the 15th of February, Our Lady returns. Mariėtte is delighted and says:
"The Chaplain has instructed me to ask You for a sign". To which Our Lady
answered: " Have Faith in Me: I shall believe in you". She then entrusted
Mariėtte with a secret. Finally She said: " Pray a lot, goodbye for now".
After this even the Chaplain has to 'believe' The older and more important people become,
the more difficult it seems to become to simple believe!!
On the 20th of February was bitter cold, even so Our Blessed Lady appeared at the end of
the second Rosary. She led Mariėtte to the stream and smiling sweetly, She said to
Mariėtte:
"My beloved child pray a lot" Then very seriously, She said: " Goodbye for
now"
Mariėtte now has to wait until the second of March before Our Lady appears during the
third Rosary for the eighth and last time. Our Lady is very serious and She says: " I
am the Mother of The Redeemer, Mother of God"
From the seriousness with which She says this is certain that this is importantly related
to faith!
Mariėtte noticed that Our Lady's face had an expression of sadness as She said:
"Pray a lot, farewell!!"
Then Our Lady, laid Her hands on Mariėtte's head and blessed her once more with the
sign of the cross. In this way, Mariėtte receives her great mission.
