The Story of Garabandal

The story opens on Sunday, June 18, 1961 at 8.30 in the evening.
Four simple unsophisticated girls were playing in a sunken lane called the Calleja,
at the southern extremity of the village.
Suddenly, a sound of thunder was heard
and later a brilliant angel appeared,
first to Conchita (Marim Concepcion)
Gonzalez and then almost immediately
afterwards to Maria Loli (Mari Dolores) Mazon, Jacinta Gonzalez and Mari Cruz Gonzalez. The angel did not speak and in a few moments disappeared.

The angel appeared several times more.
The first time he spoke was on July 1, 1961. He said "Do you know why I have come? It is to announce to you that tomorrow, Sunday, the Virgin Mary will appear to you as Our Lady of Mount Carmel." The angel's mission was to prepare the children for Our Lady's coming and to be her messenger.
He returned with her the next day, but came back much less frequently after that. However, the Blessed Virgin began appearing almost every day and occasionally was accompanied by the Infant Jesus whom she carried in her arms. A Mother with Her Children. The four girls talked with the Blessed Virgin with great simplicity. They
talked about their everyday life, about working in the fields, and about getting bronzed by the sun. Our Lady delighted in their talk.

A charming and almost disarming spontaneity marked the apparitions. In her diary, Conchita mentions that the angel and Our Lady often smiled and laughed at their childish remarks. She says several times that the Blessed Virgin kissed them. On a few occasions when Mary came with the Infant Jesus, she allowed them to take Him in their arms. They also did simple little things to amuse and please Him, such as hiding pebbles in their sleeves and in the tresses of their hair. Once, Our Lady took the crown of small. golden stars from their head and permitted the children to hold it in their hands. What is the meaning of this?
Perhaps it teaches us the value of childlike simplicity and unquestioning faith.