There is only a small number of Marian apparitions that are approved by the Vatican. Today, we celebrate the only approved Marian apparition that took place in the continent of Africa, Our Lady of Kibeho in the country of Rwanda, which started on November 28, 1981 when she appeared to three school girls. The Kibeho apparition foretold of an apocalyptic vision of Rwanda descending into violence and hatred, possibly foretelling the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The last public apparition appeared to one of the girls on September 15, 1982, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. During his 1990 visit to Rwanda, Pope John Paul II visited the three visionaries. He encourage the faithful of Rwanda to turn to Mary as a "simple and sure guide" and to pray for greater commitment against division that exist in their society. The apparition included messages for an urgent call to sincere repentance and conversion of hearts, the power of suffering to renew us and convert us, and the importance of praying unceasingly with a sincere heart.
As we commemorate the Marian apparition of Kibeho today, we hear in our first reading from the book of Daniel of a vision of four great beasts. This vision conveys a prophetic message of hope to people who were living under oppression and persecution. Indeed, God can send messengers to us in different shapes and forms. As we come to the end of ordinary time this weekend and start the new liturgical year and the holy season of Advent, may our hearts be open to God’s prophetic message.
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