Bishop Del Val


Bishop Del Val, former Bishop of Garabandal's diocese. Bishop Del Val Gallo Interviewed Former Santander Bishop Juan Antonio Del Val Gallo speaks candidly about the Garabandal events in which he confirms that Garabandal has never been condemned. This June 1992 interview first appeared in a special 1992 edition of THE VIGIL. The questions were prepared by publisher, Maria Saraco of St. Michael’s Garabandal Centre, Pasadena, California, and translated into Spanish by visionary, Mari Loli, Loli’s sister, Sari, asked the questions during the interview which was video taped by New Zealand press photographer, Michael Tubberty. It is reprinted here by kind permission. Q. Where were you born and raised? A. Something happened in the family and as a result, I was born in Burgos, but when I was fifteen days old I was taken to Santander, and have lived here ever since. Q. What made you decide to become a priest? A. When I was four years old, the pastor of my church asked me if I wanted to become a priest. I said "yes" in a way that such a small child would answer. But then, when I was nine years old, an aunt who was my father’s sister and a nun in the order of The Daughters of Charity, died in the odor of sanctity. There had been an epidemic of a very contagious disease among the children and in spite of it she was taking care of the sick. She was told to be very careful because she could become contaminated and die, but she said, "My whole life has been consecrated to God by serving the poor and I’m not going to stop now when they need me the most, and that is what I will continue to do." She eventually became sick during the epidemic and died.	Home
	About the Centre
	The Garabandal Story
	Garabandal in India
	The Call of Garabandal
	Position of the Church
	Questions & Answers
	Picture Gallery
	Scientific View
	The Garabandal Messages
	Three Popes
	Father Padre Pio
	Joey's Story
	Bishop De Val
	Prophecies
	Miraculous Cures
	News Update
	GARABANDAL MATERIALS
	Print Media (Books, Leaflets, etc)
	Audio Visual Media (Cassettes, Slides, etc)
	Religious articles
	Lectures
	Apologetics (Learn about your faith) The Holy Rosary Divine Mercy The Scapular Mary, Mother of God The Holy Bible
	More Catholic Links

	Contact us
	Feedback

This was being discussed and talked about in my home when I was nine years old and it made an impression on me. This heroic action that my father’s sister did as a Daughter of Charity made me think, "Could I, myself, do this if I was a priest?". That’s when I made my decision that I wanted to be a priest. I was nine years old. Then when I was twelve years old, I entered the Pontifical University of Comillas until I became a priest in 1944.

Q. How old were you when you were ordained? By whom and where?

A. I was twenty-eight years old when I was ordained by Archbishop Parrado of Granada. He died many years ago. The place where I was ordained was the church belonging to Pontifical University of Comillas.

Q. When did you first go to Garabandal village and why?

A. I went eight days after the first apparition. I went there because Bishop Doroteo Fernandez called me. He was actually the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese. Since I was a priest whom he trusted, he wanted me to go there as an observer and to report back to him my impressions of everything that I had seen. So I went there about eight days after the first apparition because the Bishop told me to go.

Q. How many times did you visit the village during the years of the reported apparitions?

A. I went only twice after that by order of the same Bishop.

Q. Did you witness any of the four girls in ecstasy? If so, please describe what you saw and heard. What were your impressions?

A. Yes. Yes, I saw them in ecstasy. That is what they were calling a psychological trance. I believe it was a trance but not as deep as one’s first impression because they were going in and out of ecstasy. I said that I believe that it was a trance and this is what astonished the people and made them believe it was supernatural. My impressions were that of a spectator. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens because this type of thing cannot be rushed.

Q. When were you assigned to the Santander diocese? Was this your first diocese as Bishop?

A. I was given the diocese on December 4, 1971, and came hereon January 16, 1972. This was the first and last diocese that I had as a resident bishop. I was here for 20 years. Before that I was in Jerez de la Frontera in the area of Cadiz which belonged to the diocese of Sevilla, performing my duties as would any other bishop. Today it is it's own diocese.

Q. Since the beginning of the reported apparitions, how many Bishops preceded you?

A. Many. There were many if we consider that some were Bishops and some were Apostolic Administrators because during those years, there was a lot of movement in the diocese of Santander. There was Doroteo Fenandez, Eugenio Beitia, Vicente Puchol, Enrique de Cabo, acting Bishop but titular vicariate, and then came Jose Maria Cirada who at the time was taking care of the diocese of Bilbao as Auxiliary Bishop and Apostolic Administrator. Another Bishop came called Rafael Torrija de la Fuente, and then I came in 1972.

Q. Isn’t it true that out of all those Bishops, you are the only one who actually witnesses the girls in ecstasy?

A. I think so. I think I am the only one. I have heard it said that Conchita fell into ecstasy in front of Bishop Puchol but I am not sure. Yes, I think that I was the only one who saw the ecstasies.

Q. Did you ever imagine that God would place you in such a unique situation?

A. I have always tried to be in the hands of God. I always try regardless of whether it is a difficult situation or a joyful one, and this one (Garabandal) is both hard and joyful at same time.

- - -