Our Lady of Benoni
I have always thought that what South Africa needs is a ‘holy’ site, such as Fatima, Lourdes etc. It would be great for a regular, steady flow of tourism. Now it appears that we may just have such a place!
Recently the papers have reported a ‘miracle’ in Benoni. According to the papers Francesca Zackey, a 17-year old girl, claims to have had over 20 visitations from the Virgin Mary in the space of a month.
Apparently thousands of people have been travelling to see the site at the girl’s Alphen Park home. Parts of the garden have been marked with statues, showing where the Virgin allegedly appeared, and one area, marked with a rose on a garden chair, indicates where Mary supposedly sat.
Although her parents have not seen the apparition, they claim to have smelt the smell of roses when she is said to have appeared. It was the smell of roses that drew Francesca to her bedroom on May 7 where she claims to have seen the Virgin Mary for the first time.
“I found her sitting on my bed. She had blue eyes and long brown hair. She was wearing a royal-blue veil and light was coming from her open hands.”
Francesca says she asked: “Is that you, my lady?”
“Yes,” Mary is said to have replied.
Francesca claims to have touched the lady’s “baby soft” hand when Mary cried sadly about “gays, gay marriages and abortions, saying they were not from God”.
Many people who have visited the home have reported to have felt a peace and calm come over them. One person who visited the home, Rajur Parbhoo says: “I feel so humbled. I had much anger and fear in me after being robbed and shot five years ago but now I feel relaxed and peaceful.”
The Zackey’s are apparently devout Catholics which is clearly evident by their pictures and statues of Mary and Jesus around their home. They attend ‘Our Lady of the Cedars Maronite Church’ in Woodmead, Sandton.
Father Barney McAleer has confirmed that the Catholic Church would investigate the claims of Francesca Zackey, but said that would be done in the same manner that other revelations of this nature had been handled by the church.
“This kind of thing can take years,” he said. “The Catholic Church “is used to these sorts of things - they happen all around the world. But the church is cautious. We do not encourage or discourage what is happening”.
“To meet and to pray with others is a good thing. But the church does not make a pronouncement on this specific case and will remain neutral until it is time to make a positive discernment.”
“If it fades away, then it does. We are astounded to have this phenomenon appear in our diocese, but we are watching to see how it all unfolds.”
In regards to the thousands who have been going to see the site of the alleged visitation, he said: “People go out of curiosity. They go, searching to be touched by something spiritual. They want to verify it for themselves, stand on the spot where it happened. Some go for devotional reasons or piety or curiosity. And some go just to ridicule.”
McAleer said the church’s stance was to watch with interest until Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of the Catholic diocese of Johannesburg believed it was appropriate to “take a further step”.
Whether it is true or not, I can only see benefits for people. If people believe and feel this calm and peace, isn’t that a good thing? If people’s lives are changed for the better, is that not a good thing? And boy, won’t this be good for the tourist industry!
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