From extreme weather to scientific advancements
"I am the Immaculate Conception," were the first words professed by the Virgin Mary to the teenage girl. Crowds of people were eventually drawn to the site and witnessed several miracles.
An excerpt reads: "My daughter, one of the misfortunes, which deprive souls of happiness, or at least diminish it, is that they content themselves with performing good works negligently or without fervor, as if they were engaged in things unimportant or merely accidental."
Fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous had a vision of the Virgin Mary in a grotto in Lourdes, France, in 1858.
This Spanish nun is said to have had the Virgin Mary visit her and dictate a book to her. The book is called 'Mystical City of God' and it was published in 1670.
The Virgin Mary appeared more times and told Juan Diego she would give a sign to convince the archbishop. Diego collected roses in his tilma ("cloak") and brought them to the archbishop. When he opened the cloak, the image of the Virgin Mary appeared imprinted on the cloth.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a major Catholic pilgrimage site, visited by millions of people to this day.
Sources: (Grunge)
The founder of the Franciscans originally came from a wealthy background. Francis eventually embraced a pious lifestyle after receiving several visions from God.
Saint Francis of Assisi is said to have heard the voice of Jesus, who told him to rebuild the church of San Damiano. Later in life he had another vision of a supposed angel, where he received stigmata.
In 1531, an indigenous man named Juan Diego encountered a young woman near the Hill of Tepeyac in Mexico. This woman claimed to be the Virgin Mary. Diego told the story to the archbishop of Mexico City, who doubted it.
Jesus gave Catherine a ring made out of his own flesh (some say his foreskin), but only she could see it. Catherine of Siena was canonized in 1461.
Veronica Giuliani had her first vision of Jesus when she was about three or four years old. She saw an infant Jesus gathering flowers in the garden. Jesus then told Veronica: "I am the true flower."
In this vision, Christ told her to "paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You." Sister Faustina Kowalska then instructed artist Eugeniusz Kazimirowski to do so in 1934. The painting became known as the image of the Divine Mercy.
Faustina Kowalska joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in 1926, but soon after she started to get seriously ill. And then Jesus came to her again.
On October 13, 1917, a crowd gathered on the spot of the apparition and witnessed the "Miracle of the Sun," where the sun "danced" and emitted multicolor lights. The sanctuary of Fátima still attracts millions of pilgrims each year.
Our Lady of Fátima is one of the world's most famous apparitions of the Virgin Mary. It took place at Cova da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917.
The Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children, siblings Jacinta and Francisco Marto (left and center), and cousin Lúcia dos Santos (right).
Veronica Giuliani eventually joined the Capuchin order in 1677, where she continued to experience all sorts of visions and phenomena, including receiving stigmata and marrying Christ.
This Polish nun had a vision of Jesus in 1924 while she was at a dance. Christ was in pain and told Faustina to leave Warsaw and join a convent.
Padre Pio was a Capuchin monk who received the stigmata (markings or wounds like those Christ received during the Crucifixion) around 1911. Though he started to have visions while he was still an infant.
Born in Italy in 1347, Catherine of Siena claimed to have had visions of Jesus from a young age. In 1363, she joined the Sisters of Penance of St. Dominic and became a tertiary sister (meaning she could remain at home).
Pio was also known for his miraculous healing and transverberation (a state of religious ecstasy). Pio was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002.
In 1367, Catherine of Siena had her most famous vision, where Christ took her as a spiritual bride. According to Catherine, the mystic marriage included guests such as King David, Saint John the Evangelist, and Saint Paul.
The visions, however continued throughout her life. In one of them, the nun was able to lay her head on Jesus' heart. Christ's heart symbolizes his love for humanity to this day.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque had a vision of Jesus when she was a teenager. Christ showed her his heart, and Margaret Mary Alacoque became a nun after that.
This French nun is best known for her connection and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (which is worshiped in Roman Catholicism).
One of the book's most famous words are: "From the time these things were first revealed I had often wanted to know what was our Lord's meaning. It was more than fifteen years after that I was answered in my spirit's understanding. 'You would know our Lord's meaning in this thing? Know it well. Love was His meaning. Who showed it to you? Love. What did He show you? Love. Why did He show it? For love.' Hold on to this and you will know and understand love more and more. But you will not know or learn anything else–ever."
Julian of Norwich, also known as Juliana of Norwich, was an anchoress (she lived secluded in a cell and dedicated her life to prayer). Julian was the first known woman to write a book in English.
'Revelations of Divine Love' was first published in 1670. It detailed the visions she had of Jesus and all the revelations that came with them. The first apparition happened when Julian was very ill and a priest showed her a cross. After that, she reportedly had 15 more encounters.
The American religious leader is best known for being the founder of Mormonism and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).
In 1820, 14-year-old Joseph Smith claimed to have received a visit from Jesus Christ and God the Father. This event became known as the 'First Vision' and is one of the pillars of the LDS.
Catherine of Siena's head (and other body parts) is actually kept at Saint Dominic's Basilica in Siena, Italy.
The account was first written by Smith in 1832. Joseph Smith was eventually killed by a mob in 1844, but his church lives on to this day.
Visions of Jesus and Mary are among the most popular ones when it comes to religious apparitions. Many of these have in fact shaped the history of Catholicism, and indeed Christianity. For instance, one famous church was founded based on a vison, and numerous pilgrimage sites that are visited annually by millions of people are where these apparitions took place.
Browse through the following gallery and discover the most famous visions of Jesus and Mary.
Famous apparitions of Jesus and Mary seen around the world
Iconic apparitions through the years
LIFESTYLE Religion
Visions of Jesus and Mary are among the most popular ones when it comes to religious apparitions. Many of these have in fact shaped the history of Catholicism, and indeed Christianity. For instance, one famous church was founded based on a vison, and numerous pilgrimage sites that are visited annually by millions of people are where these apparitions took place.
Browse through the following gallery and discover the most famous visions of Jesus and Mary.