Our Lady of Kibeho
Encyclopedia
Our Lady of Kibeho is a title of Marian apparitions which appeared to several adolescents, in the 1980s in Kibeho
, in south-western Rwanda
. The apparitions communicated various messages to the schoolchildren, including an apocalyptic vision of Rwanda descending into violence and hatred, foretelling the 1994 Rwandan Genocide
.
In 2001, the Catholic Church officially recognized the visions of three schoolchildren as authentic.
in July 1982, so the bishop did not confirm their authenticity.
The Virgin Mary appeared to the group with the name "Nyina wa Jambo" ("Mother of the Word
") synonymous with "Umubyeyi W'Imana" ("Mother of God").
The longest series of visions were attributed to Alphonsine Mumureke who received the first vision on November 28, 1981 and the last on November 28, 1989. Nathalie Mukamazimpaka's visions began in January 1982 and ended on Dec. 3, 1983. Marie Claire Mukangango had visions for six months, lasting from March 2, 1982 until September 15, 1982. She was later killed in the massacre at the same location in 1995.
of 1994, and particularly in that specific location in 1995, where some of those who had seen the vision died.
The school where the visions occurred became a place of slaughter during the genocide as dozens of children were hacked to death by Hutu
terrorists. Some of the visionaries among the victims.
Augustin Misago of Gikongoro, Rwanda approved public devotion linked to the apparitions on 1988-08-15 and declared their authenticity on 2001-06-29. He was accused in 1999 and acquitted on June 24, 2000 of involvement in the Rwandan genocide.
" in 1992, an anticipatory name in the light of the genocide that followed two years later in 1994. The first stone was laid on 28 November 1992.
Kibeho
Kibeho is a small town in south Rwanda, which became known outside of that country because of reported apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ occurring between 1981 and 1989.- Visions :...
, in south-western Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. The apparitions communicated various messages to the schoolchildren, including an apocalyptic vision of Rwanda descending into violence and hatred, foretelling the 1994 Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
.
In 2001, the Catholic Church officially recognized the visions of three schoolchildren as authentic.
Visions
On August 19, 1982, an exceptionally long vision lasting eight hours, was the most dramatic. The teenagers, six girls and one boy, who saw the visions reported gruesome sights such as rivers of blood and people killing each other. The visions were accompanied by intense reactions: crying, tremors, and comas. The teenagers stated, in 1982 the Virgin Mary asked everyone to pray to prevent a terrible war.Approved sightings
The apparitions began in November 1981, in Kibeho College, but only the visions of the first three (Alphonsine, Nathalie, and Marie Claire aged 17, 20 and 21) received local Bishop Augustin Misago's solemn approval. There were reservations about the others and the supposed visions of JesusJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
in July 1982, so the bishop did not confirm their authenticity.
The Virgin Mary appeared to the group with the name "Nyina wa Jambo" ("Mother of the Word
Titles of Mary
Mary is known by many titles , epithets , invocations and other names ....
") synonymous with "Umubyeyi W'Imana" ("Mother of God").
The longest series of visions were attributed to Alphonsine Mumureke who received the first vision on November 28, 1981 and the last on November 28, 1989. Nathalie Mukamazimpaka's visions began in January 1982 and ended on Dec. 3, 1983. Marie Claire Mukangango had visions for six months, lasting from March 2, 1982 until September 15, 1982. She was later killed in the massacre at the same location in 1995.
Non-approved visionaries
The other visionaries were Stephanie Mukamurenzi, Agnes Kamagaju, Vestine Salima and the boy, Emmanuel Segastashya. who was previously a pagan and became an evangelist. Emmanuel's visions included meeting Jesus in a beanfield.Interpretation
Some today regard the visions as an ominous foreshadowing of the Rwandan GenocideRwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
of 1994, and particularly in that specific location in 1995, where some of those who had seen the vision died.
The school where the visions occurred became a place of slaughter during the genocide as dozens of children were hacked to death by Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
terrorists. Some of the visionaries among the victims.
Approval
Catholic BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Augustin Misago of Gikongoro, Rwanda approved public devotion linked to the apparitions on 1988-08-15 and declared their authenticity on 2001-06-29. He was accused in 1999 and acquitted on June 24, 2000 of involvement in the Rwandan genocide.
Shrine
The Marian sanctuary at Kibeho was named "Shrine of Our Lady of SorrowsOur Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows , the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows , and Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are names by which the Blessed Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to sorrows in her life...
" in 1992, an anticipatory name in the light of the genocide that followed two years later in 1994. The first stone was laid on 28 November 1992.