GROTTO AND PILGRIMS, 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL, WARDEH JIRJIS MANSOUR WHO CLAIMS SHE SAW THE VIRGIN. CROWDS AT THE GROTTO WITH HER, IN PRAYER.




Initials JRG/V/MGT/JG



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Background: A GROTTO IN THE SOUTH OF LEBANON HAS BECOME A SHRINE OVERNIGHT WITH THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS FLOCKING TO IT FROM MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY TO SEE THE SPOT WHERE A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL HAS CLAIMED TO HAVE SEEN THE VIRGIN MARY SEVERAL TIMES IN A VISION.

THE GIRL, WARDEH JIRJIS MANSOUR, A CHRISTIAN, SAID SHE OFTEN SAW THE VIRGIN IN DREAMS AND RECENTLY THE VIRGIN APPEARED AND TOUCHED HER IN A GROTTO ON A HILL OUTSIDE HER VILLAGE OF EIN-EL-DELB.

NEWS OF THE APPARITION BROUGHT NUNS AND WHOLE FAMILIES HURRYING TO THE VILLAGE AND SOON A CROWD ACCOMPANIED HER TO THE GROTTO AND KNELT IN PRAYER BEFORE A SIMPLE ALTAR SHE HAD SET UP. THEY TOUCHED HER, AND THEN TOUCHED THEIR OWN CHILDREN IN TURN.

SHE TOLD THEM THE VIRGIN MARY HAD ASKED HER IN THE VISION TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR BUILDING A CHURCH IN THE SPOT.

THE GIRL IS ONE OF A FAMILY OF EIGHT GIRLS AND A BOY. HER FATHER IS A POLICEMAN. "I SAW A DENSE FOG ENVELOP THE GROTTO," SHE TOLD HIM. "AT FIRST I STOOD THERE SCARED AND THEN SUDDENLY THE FOG DISPERSED AND STANDING THERE WAS THE VIRGIN, CLAD IN A WHITE ROBE AND ON HER HEAD WAS A CROWN."