Fears and Tears

I don’t remember when Our Lady of Kibeho, the Marian Apparition in Rwanda became known to me. Perhaps I happened upon it in my reading of Marian Apparitions around the world. I knew little about the genocide that took place halfway around the world, I do remember reading a tiny article in the newspaper about it in the 90’s, but that was the extent of my knowledge.

Our Lady began appearing to college aged students in the early 80’s with dire warnings. It is the only Vatican approved Marian Apparition in Africa. A woman named Immaculee Ilibagiza, a Rwandan genocide survivor, wrote the book “Our Lady of Kibeho” detailing the lives of the visionaries and the messages they received warning of the upcoming horrifying events that would take place if there was not a change, a repentance to turn back, to love and not to hate.

Immaculee would live through hell on earth when a terrible genocide broke out in her beloved country where she would lose her entire family. She is an author, public speaker and retreat leader and she travels around the world to tell her story, “Left to Tell”, a story where she found the strength of prayer that led to her survival and opened her heart to forgiveness. A place where she would live in peace and love. Her reciting of the rosary was all she had as she hid in a tiny bathroom with seven other women.

I realized that my battle to survive this war would have to be fought inside of me. Immaculee Ilibagiza

I have attended two of her retreats and I was amazed at her appearance. She glows with the light of love. She speaks of the power of prayer and the freedom she experienced when she chose love. She tells her story through tears; a deep pain that is in her heart shows, her courage and faith are strong, as her love for Our Lady and Our Lord, she tells her story.

The love of a single heart can make a world of difference. Immaculee Ilibagiza

I listen to her story, through her spoken words and her written words; I listen, and I pray, and I listen. Her heart touched my heart and inspired me to love more, to pray more, to chose love on a daily basis, where kindness flows. To look deep within my heart and discard what does not lead to love, to be free to love, to choose love.

Never refuse any who ask you for help; if your pockets are empty give them hope. Your every action must be born of kindness, your every word spoken with love. Live as God would have your live, and others will be inspired to do the same. Immaculee Ilibagiza