Our Lady of Betania

Our Lady of Betania refers to a title of the Virgin Mary associated with a series of Marian apparitions that took place at Finca Betania in Venezuela beginning in the mid‑1970s. According to Catholic devotion, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a woman named Maria Esperanza Medrano de Bianchini on March 25, 1976, identifying herself as “Mary, Virgin and Mother Reconciler of All Peoples and Nations.” Witnesses, including large groups of people from diverse backgrounds, reported seeing Mary clearly in later apparitions, and these events became known collectively as the Marian apparitions of Betania. The local bishop conducted an investigation and issued a pastoral letter in 1987 recognising the supernatural character of the events and declaring the site a sacred place for prayer and pilgrimage.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Betania now stands near the village of Betania in Miranda State, Venezuela, drawing pilgrims who come to pray, seek reconciliation, and participate in liturgical celebrations. The devotion emphasises Mary’s call to peace, conversion, and unity among peoples and nations, often encouraging prayer of the Rosary and reconciliation as central spiritual practices. Many devotees view Betania as a special place of grace and pilgrimage comparable in spiritual significance to other Marian sites in the world.

Images and statues of Our Lady of Betania often reflect the descriptions given by witnesses—typically Mary in radiant light, sometimes holding the Child Jesus and a rosary—symbolising her maternal role and message of reconciliation. The devotion has grown beyond Venezuela, with communities in other countries embracing the title and its message of peace and spiritual unity, including efforts to spread the devotion through prayer groups and statues in places such as Africa and Europe.