I Am Your Mother, My Little One (I)

On September 12, 1948, around 5 o'clock PM, Teresita Castillo, a novice at the Carmel of Lipa (Philippines), was walking in the garden of her convent. Suddenly she noticed leaves shaking on a bush, and heard a sweet voice say to her: "Don't be afraid my daughter. Kiss the ground. What I am going to tell you, you will have to repeat each day for 15 days. You will come here to visit me. Eat a little grass." On Monday, September 13, 1948, at 5 o'clock PM, Teresita returned to the same spot. She knelt down to recite an Ave Maria and she saw the leaves on the bush shaking. Suddenly, she saw a "beautiful woman" who was smiling with her hands together in prayer, holding a golden rosary around her right hand. She was wearing a white dress, tightly belted; her bare feet rested on a small cloud 20 inches off the ground. "Be faithful and come back here, whether it's raining or not," Teresita heard her say. "Who are you, beautiful Lady?" Our Lady answered, "I am your Mother, my little one." On September 14, 1948, the Virgin awaited her in the same place, with her arms wide open. "I wish to have this place blessed tomorrow," she said and blessed the nun before she disappeared again. The next day, around 3:00 PM, the auxiliary bishop of Lipa and the chaplain of the Carmel came to bless the place. Teresita saw the Virgin again with open arms. "Kiss the ground and eat a little grass. Take a piece of paper and a pencil, and write down the following," said the apparition. "My daughters, I ask you to believe in me, and to keep this message a secret for yourselves. Love one another like true sisters. Pay me visits here regularly; keep this place sacred and respected. Pick up the rose petals. I bless you all." After this apparition, a rain of rose petals fell and was seen by all the people present. Toward the end of the afternoon, the Virgin appeared again: "I want you to put my statue in this garden and tidy up this part of the garden to make it a suitable place of prayer. Tell the other sisters that they must believe my words so as not to lose the grace. I will always bless the whole community, my daughter."