Our Lady of Banneux

Our Lady of Banneux, also know as the Virgin of the Poor; refers to the Marian apparitions reported in Banneux, Belgium, in 1933, to an eleven-year-old girl named Mariette Beco. Between January 15 and March 2 of that year, Mariette said the Virgin Mary appeared to her eight times near her home, presenting herself as “the Virgin of the Poor.” These apparitions took place during a time of deep economic hardship in Europe, which strongly shaped their message and meaning.

During the apparitions, Mary emphasized care for the poor, the sick, and the suffering. She pointed to a small spring, telling Mariette, “This spring is reserved for me,” and later, “for all nations, to relieve the sick.” The spring soon became a place of prayer and hope, associated by pilgrims with spiritual comfort and, in some cases, physical healing. The messages of Banneux were simple, focusing on compassion, trust in God, and perseverance in prayer rather than dramatic prophecies.

As with all reported Marian apparitions, the Catholic Church carried out a careful investigation. After years of study of the messages, the seer’s life, and the spiritual fruits associated with the devotion, the local bishop officially approved the apparitions in 1949, declaring them worthy of belief. This approval does not require Catholics to believe in the apparitions, but it affirms that devotion to Our Lady of Banneux is consistent with Catholic faith and morals.

Today, Banneux is an international pilgrimage site, especially for the sick and those experiencing poverty or suffering. Devotion to Our Lady of Banneux highlights Mary’s maternal concern for humanity’s most vulnerable members and reinforces a core Christian teaching: that God’s grace is especially close to those who suffer. Her title, “Virgin of the Poor,” continues to inspire works of charity, humility, and trust in God across the world.