* January 15 – First apparition at Banneux of Our Lady of the Poor (Belgium, 1933)  * “I come to relieve suffering” --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association January 15 – First apparition at Banneux of Our Lady of the Poor (Belgium, 1933)  “I come to relieve suffering” Our Lady of Banneux The miraculous spring of Our Lady of Banneux, in Belgium (Wikipedia) In early 1933, the Virgin Mary appeared eight different times to an 11-year-old girl called Mariette Beco, in the town of Banneux, Belgium. The apparitions took place between January 15th and March 2nd, at the same time, around 7 pm, usually in cold and rainy weather. Weather conditions did not deter Mariette from leaving her house and heading towards the beautiful Lady. On January 18th, the Virgin led her to a place on the edge of the road, and invited her to dig. A spring of water gushed out: "Put your hands in the water ..." On January 19th, the beautiful Lady introduced herself as the ‘Virgin of the Poor.’ On several occasions the Virgin walked to the spring, leading Mariette. She said "I come to relieve suffering." On February 6th and 7th, she said: "Pray so very much. Goodbye." On March 2, 1933, by imposing her hands and blessing Mariette she said: "I am the Mother of the Savior, the Mother of God. Pray so very much. Farewell." Mariette understood that this was the last of the 8 apparitions. Today, as she did to Mariette, the Virgin of the Poor leads each pilgrim in Banneux on his journey of life. She invites him to "put his hands in the water" of the spring, to discover Jesus, the true Life. Adapted from www.banneux-nd.be Mariette Beco, age twelve, at the time of the apparitions. Belgium: Land of the Golden-Hearted Virgin Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.