San Sebastian de Garabandal is a small hamlet of some eighty humble dwellings tucked away in the beautiful Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain.
On the evening of June 18, 1961, four young girls, eleven and twelve years old, were playing together at the southern extremity of the village when they heard a noise that sounded like thunder.
Suddenly, there stood before them a dazzling Angel. He said nothing and quickly vanished from their sight. The children, awe-struck and frightened, instinctively ran towards the village church. Their pale faces aroused the questions of others and the apparitions became known. Over the next twelve days, the Angel appeared eight more times and then on July 1st., he spoke to them for the first time. “Do you know why I have come” ? he asked. ” It is to announce to you that tomorrow, Sunday, the Virgin Mary will appear to you as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Angel had thus prepared the children for Our Lady`s coming.
