Sims, Margaret Catherine, Sister. Apparitions in Betania, Venezuela. Medugorje, 1993. 

Venezuela

Our Lady of Betania comes from Maria Esperanza of Betania, Venezuela. The name “Betania” means Bethany in English. Maria Esperanza witnessed 31 apparitions of The Virgin Mary between March 25, 1976 and January 5, 1990. Maria was also reported to have healing and levitation powers. The messages that Maria Esperanza got from Our Lady of Betania had to do with reunion and love and warnings of impending war and suffering. For example, she was reported to have said “...Forgive one another. Love one another. Serve one another... All of you are children of God. All are loved." The Virgin called herself the "Reconciler of People and Nations.” Maria’s apparitions were reported and soon after a small chapel was built. People gathered together in Faith and on one occasion in 1984, 108 people claimed to have witnessed a public apparition of the Virgin where she first appears to the children at a waterfall and then to the adults of the group at Mass. The local bishop, Bishop Pio Bello Ricardo, approved the authenticity of this apparition in 1987.

Sims, Margaret Catherine, Sister. Apparitions in Betania, Venezuela. Medugorje, 1993. 

https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/a/apparitions-approved.php

Researched by Mariah Allen

People of Faith gather at the grotto site where 108 people witnessed apparitions of The Virgin Mary. At the grotto there is a statue of Mary surrounded by flowers. Mass is held here and it is also a very common site for people to pray and worship.