Prado Nuevo · «Aparitions of El Escorial»

Ash tree of the Apparitions next to a spring. Prado Nuevo,
El Escorial, Madrid. (Click on the picture to expand it)

On June 14th 1981, Trinity Sunday, The so-called «Aparitions of El Escorial» started; Luz Amparo was granted this Marian gift at a property named Prado Nuevo, in El Escorial ( Madrid). This remarkable date had been preceded by several manifestations of the Lord and the Virgin since November 1980.

That day ( June 14th 1981) Luz Amparo says she saw Our Lady of Sorrows on an ash tree; from that moment on, it would be the place where thousands of people met together to pray with devotion, especially Mary's favorite prayer: the Rosary.

Our Lady asked her to build a chapel in her honor to meditate her Son's Passion «which men have completely forgotten». And she added, «If they do what I say, there will be healings. This water will heal (She referred to the spring that is next to the ash tree). I will bless all those who come to say the holy rosary daily. Lots of you will be sealed with a cross on your foreheads. Make penance. Pray».

These extraordinary events spread quickly even abroad because lots of people felt touched by something special they could not express when they came to visit Prado Nuevo (the place where the faithful meet daily to pray, especially on the first Saturdays of the month).

With respect to the «supposed» apparitions of the Virgin a Prado Nuevo of El Escorial, the hierarchy of the Church has not stopped studying these events. On April 12th1985, the Archbishop of Madrid- Alcalá, D. Ángel Suquía y Goicoechea, released a note where he said, «There is no evidence of the supernatural character of the assumed «Apparitions and revelations» that take place in Prado Nuevo…» These words led to a great confusion from the beginning; however, if we analyse the accurate meaning, there is no place for doubt.

The previous Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid , D. Ángel Suquía y Goicoechea visited The Foundation of the Virgin of El Escorial on December 27th 1993 (Click on the picture to expand it).

When D. angel Suquía used the expression" there is no evidence" he used a typical form the Church uses when referring to a possible private revelation. This expression neither confirms nor denies its supernaturality but reflects the reality. The apparitions had started only a few years ago and they had not finished yet so he had not enough proof to give a final judgment.
Due to the wrong interpretation that the Church had prohibited the apparitions, the pilgrimages and any kind of religious acts, D. Ángel Suquía had to explain its content several times, in letters as well as orally. When it was suggested that there was no evidence that they were not supernatural he answered, «If that were evident, I would have prohibited everything». He added, «there is no evidence" does not mean "there will never be any evidence"». He also explained that those words were not a prohibition but a first measure of ecclesiastical prudence, a «practice that is common in these cases». He finally said, «Everything will come, be patient» .

Afterwards, D. Ángel Suquía answered a letter where he was asked to explain the content of the said note:

«Be faithful to the Lady and imitate her life. The Church has only said this: there is still no evidence. Wait in peace. Pray. Follow the holy counsels". March 10th 1986 Signed by the Cardinal D. Ángel Suquía. »
10th 1986 Signed by the Cardinal D. Ángel Suquía.

The adverb «Still» leaves open the path for a new note at the proper moment. Indeed, the current Commission set in the Archdiocese of Madrid keeps on working on the Apparitions and the messages of Prado Nuevo to give a definite judgment.

Later, on January 7th 1987, D. Ángel Suquía explained the real meaning of his note and invited us to ask Father Alfonso María López, O. C., spiritual director of Luz Amparo in case of doubt: .

«I have received your letter of December 15th; a few days later I talked to F. Alfonso López, O. Carm. You should not be confused by the strange interpretations of the document (…) It is you who have to spread and explain properly these documents. Do it with love and patience. You should ask F. Alfonso for he will surely guide you.»
Signed by Cardinal D. Ángel Suquía.

There is a valuable document that can help us to understand the meaning of the expression «there is no evidence». In Amsterdam, (Holland) Our Lady appeared from 1945 to 1959. In 1961, the Bishop of the diocese of Haarlem (Holland) declared that he «found no evidence of the supernatural nature of the apparitions»; however, on May 31st 2002 the Bishop, J.M. Punt, after a scrupulous investigation declared" I have come to the conclusion that the apparitions of the Lady of All Nations in Amsterdam «have a supernatural origin» and he approved those apparitions in an official document.

On October 25th 2002, the Comission in charge of the study of those apparitions explained that there are three canonical expressions Bishops can use when referring to supposed apparitions:

«Constat de supernaturalitate», which means that there is a definite supernatural origin.
«Não consta a sobrenaturalidade», which means that a supernatural origin has not been defined.
«Consta a não sobrenaturalidade», which means that there is definitely no supernatural origin.

As we can see numbers 1 and 3 are definite in a positive or negative way: 1.- the supernatural character has been proved; 3.- it has been proved it has not a supernatural origin. However, the second expression is not definite but leaves a path open to the study and investigation so that in the future the Church can release a definite document. This second formula was used by Cardinal Suquía: «There is no evidence of the supernatural character»; for this reason, the messages and apparitions are still being studied and awaiting a final document from the Archbishop of Madrid.

As in some other Marian apparitions such as in Amsterdam (Holland, May 31st 2002) or Laus (France, May 4th 2008), The absence of official support at the beginning does not imply rejection on the Church's part but a time of waiting in God while the Church completes the study of the events to give a final statement. Only the Church has the authority to declare the supernatural origin of what happened at Prado Nuevo.

In conclusion, the Archbishop D. Ángel Suquía :

Did not deny the supernatural origin of the alleged apparitions and revelations.

Did not deny the right and freedom of the faithful to organise religious acts ( the holy rosary, via crucis, etc) at Prado Nuevo of El Escorial or anywhere else if they respect the ecclesiastical and civil laws.

The “warm request” - never prohibition- to abstain from participation in the pious acts of Prado Nuevo, was referred to priests, monks and nuns, in order to avoid the idea that the apparitions and revelations enjoyed the official approval of the Church.

From March 1985 onwards, following the recommendations of Cardinal D. Suquía Angel, Luz Amparo, with exemplary obedience, would not come to Prado Nuevo again at the hours of meeting of the pilgrims although the messages would continue until May 4th 2002.

Mass celebrated by D. Ángel Suquía during his visit to the Foundation of the Virgin of El Escorial. Above, another moment of his visit.
(Click on each of the pictures to expand them).

The same fidelity to the ecclesiastical authorities has characterized «the people directly involved in these facts»; thus, the recommendations that were directed to them in private by D. Suquía Angel have been their rules of behaviour.

The evolution of the archbishop of Madrid at that time, D. Suquía Angel, in relation to this religious phenomenon, was very positive and favorable. Following the evangelical criterion of Jesus «You will know them by their fruits» (Mt 7, 16), he recognized these fruits and the official acceptance of the Public Association of the Faithful «Repairers of Our Lady the Virgin of Sorrows« and the Pious Foundation «Virgin of Sorrows» was granted, which we talk about in this website.

A significant moment for the Apparitions of El Escorial, even outside Spain, was the 22nd International Mariological and Marian Congress , organized by the Pontifical International Marian Academy in Rome, celebrated in the Sanctuary of Lourdes (France), from the 4th to the 8th of September 2008, where there was a conference on the Apparitions of El Escorial, entitled: «The Apparition's Phenomena in El Escorial: reality and message», presented in a completely favorable way by an eminent theologian and specialist in Mariology.

Ash tree of the Apparitions. Prado Nuevo, El Escorial, Madrid.. (Click on each of the pictures to expand them).

Prado Nuevo has become a centre of spontaneous pilgrimages from the beginning, attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims along the years. The faithful who attended Prado Nuevo every first Saturday of month were so numerous and the atmosphere of devotion was so deep that a good number of them arrived even on the previous day or at dawn, defying the cold, rain or the snow.

In the Eighties, on first Saturdays, the pilgrims sometimes numbered forty thousand people. In the borders of the road of Valdemorillo and in the streets of the town, the cars were crowded together. By the surroundings of Prado Nuevo, more than a thousand vehicles from all Spanish provinces were sometimes counted, and hundreds of buses, lots of them came from other countries. Also, a great number of pilgrims approached walking from the train station. On the paths, many pilgrims advanced determinedly, with folding chairs, water bottles, rosaries, pious images, old etc. Men, women, young people, children and disabled people, in wheelchairs, on crutches, or in arms of some person. Others simply came moved by curiosity, but the majority with great faith, looking for the love that the Virgin offered to them in this place.

Air Picture of Prado Nuevo ( El Escorial. Madrid) taken a first Saturday of month .

Pilgrims going to Prado Nuevo at the beginning of 80s.
(Click on the picture to expand it).

Many pilgrims were advancing determinedly by the paths , with deckchairs, bottles of still water, rosaries, religious images, etc. Men, women, youngsters, children and elder people, some of them disabled, on wheelchairs, on crutches, or aided by other people. Others were there just by curiosity, but most of them with a strong faith, looking for the love the Virgin was offering them in this place.

Nowadays, the pilgrims persevere in their attendance to Prado Nuevo, where - like children- they ask for the intercession and protection of their Mother; sometimes, they pray for the healing of a seriously ill dear friend, the spiritual conversion of a relative, or special graces that will lead them to the Church and the sacraments, to love God and the neighbour, to grow in the love for Mary, our Mother. They are not few who, when being in front of the ash tree of the apparitions, have felt a supernatural peace inside, as if it were a soft touch in their souls given by the Virgin to calm and to console his or her spirit.

Thousands of people, coming from different parts of the world, visit this place still, especially on the first Saturdays of the month, to lift their prayers to the Mother of Our Lord, and to receive abundant graces.

Pilgrims around Prado Nuevo.
(Click on the picture to expand it).

Pilgrims praying at Prado Nuevo.
(Click on the picture to expand it).

Prado Nuevo is a privileged place for prayer and retreat where peace, joy and spiritual strength are given. Lots have seen how their lives have changed after coming to this place. The fruits born here are countless: thousands of conversions (all of them have in common the approach to the Church); perseverance in the Christian and sacramental life; lots of vocations either sacerdotal or religious or married; recovery of the apostolate of the lay; and even, according to different documented testimonies, possible healings. In addition, the Work of the Virgin of El Escorial was approved by the Church on June 14th 1994 at the request of Luz Amparo Cuevas.

Something that we cannot forget is that the pilgrims have accepted all the dispositions of the Church, represented in the Archdiocese of Madrid by Cardinal D. Antonio Mª Rouco Varela, because in this place of graces and blessings they have learnt “to love the Church, to love God, and everything that makes up the straight and safe way to get to Heaven” (the Virgin, 1-5-1999). .

Prado Nuevo is a privileged place for prayer and retreat where peace, joy and spiritual strength are given. It is open all day long for those who wish to go and pray there.

- THE PIOUS ACTS AT PRADO NUEVO ARE THE FOLLOWING:

	WINTER	SUMMER


HOLY ROSARY (Every day next to the ash tree of the apparitions)	From Monday to Thursday: 5 p.m.. Friday: after the Via Crucis that starts at 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and: 5 p.m. First Saturday: 5 p.m.	From Monday to Thursday: 7 p.m. Friday: after the Via Crucis that starts at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sundays: 5 p.m. First Saturday: at 5 p.m.


Via-CRUCIS	Friday: 5 p.m.	Friday: 6 p.m.

- ACTS IN THE BUILDING AVE MARIA (Next to Prado Nuevo):

Missa		At first Saturdays: 4 p.m.

Catechesis (about current topics related to the Church and its doctrine)		First Saturdays: 3.30 pm. Third Saturdays: 3.30 pm. Other Saturdays: 6.15 pm. (except in July and August)..

EVES		Saturdays: After the catechesis. (except on first Saturdays). Sunday following the first Saturday: After the Rosary and blessing.

RETREATS		Third Saturdays: 3.30 pm, until the Rosary. (Retreats do not take place during the summer period July, August and September).

Statue of Our Lady of Sorrows on first Saturdays of Month, during the procession to Prado Nuevo.

Prado Nuevo is located in the municipal town of El Escorial, in Madrid. The following plan shows its location within the Comunidad de Madrid:

El Escorial in the map of Comunidad de Madrid. (Click on the picture to expand it).

One of the ways to arrive at Prado Nuevo from Madrid is by a-6 highway, direction: Coruña. Exit 47 (Guadarrama-El Escorial). When arriving at the roundabout, take the M-600 towards El Escorial.

Keep on this motorway until you get to El Escorial. You will find Prado Nuevo between two roundabouts;The first one is next to a Renault concessionaire, and the other one before the denominated building “Ave Maria”, where there is a wide parking area.

The following plan shows the location of Prado Nuevo and the building “Ave Maria” in the map of El Escorial as well as the ways you can take to get there:

Prado Nuevo`s position on the map of El Escorial with access roads.
(Click on the picture to expand it).

The GPS location-data of the building “Ave Maria”, located about 200 M.s from Prado Nuevo, are:

N 40,5758692°
O 4,1247246°

To contact the Work of the Virgin of El Escorial, send an email to info@pradonuevo.es.

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