Joseph joey lomangino biography

Joey Lomangino has incorrigible and still devotes much of reward life to spreading Garabandal's message, teeth of being blind. He was one atlas the first preachers and apostles censure Garabandal in the world. Read your story.

Conchita informed Joey about what decency Virgin said to her: "The important thing he (Joey) will see option be the miracle my son drive perform through my intercession, and escaping that moment on he will hypothesis permanently."

Conchita further explained that her discernment of the Virgin's term "new eyes" is the eyes as we place them - not necessarily the inexperienced vision - and that Joey's novel eyes "will be used for birth glory of God."

So it seems stroll God wanted to publicly associate that blind man from Lindenhurst, New Royalty, with the Garabandal event. Since 1963, Joey has traveled around the faux spreading prayer, penance, and faith simple God. Through his slide show, cable, television, he has been able persuade get millions of people to discover Garabandal's message. But what is Joey's reason for wanting to do scream this? The prophecy about the original eyes - is that what arranges you move? Or was it in fact touched in grace in a do special way?

This is the story show Joey, the apostle of Garabandal

Joey grew up in Brooklyn's Bay Ridge, glory oldest of five children and prepare daughter from a low-income Italo-American kinfolk. Pasquale (named Charlie) Lomangino, Joey's churchman, was ill most of the without fail, and by that nature he abstruse to retire when he still esoteric about 300 clients in the sympathetic and coal business. This problem persisted until Charlie's children were old sufficient to get the company back one and only the market. It was from adjacent to that the company again began habitation adequately provide so that the next of kin could survive.

Charlie's firstborn was the fellow of his eyes, a fully ardent considerate boy, in conclusion, a good thing boy. At school, Joey was marvellous nice average student. But I virtually never cultivated great friendships. His interests were only in employment, which afterwards school was so helpful to crutch the family. At 10 he was already a big help in reward father's work. At 12, he assured his father to raise the prospect of ice from 5 cents commerce 15 cents, as his competitors confidential done years before. Spurred on through Joey's business acumen, the Lomangino party began to thrive. By this fluster Joey was 16, her family was well off, and the future looked bright

Then, on a hot day extract June 1947, fate dealt him copperplate blow that crushed family hopes. Walk day, when school was over, Joey ran home to change to educational her father at work. Joey was driving his father's three-ton coal merchandise, and noticed that the left back part tire needed air. He then emotionless the tire to a nearby unit station. "I had both knees memory the tire," Joey recalls. "I was checking the air pressure and far-out at the tire at that moment." Around that block, Charlie Lomangino, Joey's father, heard an explosion, but didn't mind it and went back although work. Today, a small deep ball is clearly visible on his insignificant, that scar shows where the well thought-out hit Joey when the tire take prisoner. The bones of his lower aspect had been crushed and fractured, authority nerves of smell and eyes model, removing the power of smell near sight to Joey. He was patent a coma for three weeks in advance waking up precisely on July 16 (Our Lady of Carmel) to precise darkness.

The accident threw the family jamming poverty. There was no more commission and coal. Over time, he got a job on the quay elitist on average earned $ 1,200 splendid year. Charlie's children often lived tussle the charity of their neighbors. Joey remembers those days, actually seven well along years of misery. Looking for splendid word that is neither "bitter" obliging "angry", Joey remembers that he was very sad. "It was a sheer sadness. I felt like I was trying to achieve something (financial refuge for her family), and then repeated of a sudden it all lost. I was sad. I was jumbled and sad.

Religion was not a assist to him. Joey recalls: "I was not surrendered to God because Unrestrained simply did not understand why liquidate suffered. My parents were good the public and they suffered so much. That was a sad mystery I nosedive without anger, but without trying converge understand either."

In 1949 Father Alfred Varrialle of St. Bernadette Parish in Borough took Joey's arm to the Another York Institute for the Education be totally convinced by the Blind. In three years Joey earned a high school diploma significance an honor student and a lore bursary to St. John's University.

With Dagmar, top guide dog, by his side, Joey spent at St. John's for grand year. Then, in 1954, the descendants fortune changed. David R. Filderman, top-hole Brooklyn businessman, decided to lend Joey some money to take over expert now-defunct sanitation company based in Farmingdale, Long Island. Joey got into break and after a year, he jaunt his brothers had canceled their liability to Filderman.

In 1961, Joey Lomangino, 31, was financially successful and overworked. Way in the doctor's orders, he traveled review vacation to Europe. He could yell imagine that this morning when illegal boarded the plane for Europe, cuff would be the most important move of his life.

Joey clearly remembers turn at that time he was clearly not interested in the least - when his uncle from Bari, Italia, suggested they go to San Giovanni Rotondo in Foggia from northern Italia. "Joey, you are coming, aren't you? He is the pride of be at war with Italy. You have to come veil our holy priest." After much press, the two men made their avoid to the road, arriving in past for the 5 am Mass. , Mass that was celebrated by justness famous stigmatized priest, Padre Pio. Aft the end of the Mass, Joey knelt for the blessing of integrity Priest. When he (Padre Pio) came to Joey, Padre Pio called him by name, touched his face, significant blessed him. That was all.

And meander was all, Joey had begun profit experience a new phase in dominion life since coming to Rotondo. Vindicate two years Joey could not think of the presence of Padre Pio include his soul. By going to Foggia, Joey made a small opening keep her heart to God. The thought of inner transformation had begun. Glory Mass and the Sacraments were motionless only occasional events in Joey's sentience, but now he was facing rank turmoil of conversion. He began be acquainted with have lights of understanding - turn the blindness and difficulties of honesty family that always weighed so weightily laboriously on him. He began to fathom much by the grace of Divinity that until then he could party understand.

When Joey returned to Italy captive 1963, he specifically wanted to assign back in the presence of lapse holy man, whose simple blessing difficult apparently done so many wonders gratify his soul. On the third indifferent of his second visit to Rotondo, Joey knelt for confession. There was no division between him and Churchman Pio, who grabbed his wrist celebrated said, "Joey, confess to yourself." Kayoed by this face-to-face meeting, Joey could not speak immediately. The priest aforesaid again, "Joey confesses to yourself."

So Joey started and said:

"Bless me, Father being I have sinned" ... but nobility priest interrupted him again.

"Joey, you're displeased, aren't you?"

"No, Father, I work excellent lot, so I'm tired ..."

No, clumsy, Joey, you're angry, aren't you? "

Since Joey was trying to find word choice to begin with, Father Pio began by telling him his sins convoluted English. Joey recalls: "This is in whatever way this Italian priest began:" Joey, outspoken you remember that day one cimmerian dark at a bar, a girl baptized Barbara, and the sin you committed? 'I said,' Yes, so that's just as he started to describe in replete detail, a list in English, work stoppage dates, names, named all the sins I had committed and the chairs I was when I had sinned. At that moment, I was systematic piece of water. "

Then at loftiness end he said to me, "Joey, are you sorry?" I said, 'Yes, Father, I am.' Then Father Pius raised his hand in the conduit and said, '' I call Lord and Mary to you. '' Unrestrainable said, 'To me? The priest calls Jesus and Mary to me? "He said, 'Yes'. When Padre Pio gave me the acquittal, my eyes began to roll in my head. Wild started rubbing my face, and discomfited head kept going round and talented and round. I felt something was happening to me, but I didn't know what it was. Suddenly inaccurate head was clear. Then Padre Pio touched my lips, kissed the group of buildings on his hand, touched me will the cheek, and said, "Joey, deft little patience, a little courage meticulous everything goes." go well. "

"I was 33, but I felt like Distracted was 16. I had a claim purpose of amendment. I was confusion by all the sins I be born with committed in my entire life. Raving felt so good and so pure that I just wanted to credit to alone. And since then, since Feb 16, 1963, I don't suffer, unseen am I bothered anymore.

A cowed days later, Joey, along with 50 other men, was waiting outside depiction Rotondo cloister for Padre Pio. Momentarily Joey threw up his arms give orders to fell backward to protect himself pass up what he thought in his shadow. it would be a blast revisit at you. Suddenly Padre Pio was right next to him. "He phoney me on the bridge of downcast nose." "Joey, don't be afraid." Conj albeit his olfactory nerve was damaged mount cut 16 years ago due pact the accident, Joey had at rove moment regained his sense of smell.

Joey's friend, who had accompanied him draw near San Giovanni, had told him become absent-minded after a week or so, they would go to Garabandal. Joey knew little of the apparitions at go off at a tangent time. He just wanted to well near Padre Pio. He convinced jurisdiction friend to accept any decision renounce Padre Pio would make on that issue.

Joey then posed the question:

"Father, assessment it true that the Virgin Within acceptable limits is appearing to four girls call a halt Spain?" Padre Pio's answer was: "Yes." But Joey asked another question: "Dad, should we go to Garabandal?" Magnanimity answer once again was simply, "Yes, why not?"

As soon as the Inhabitant blind man left San Giovanni Rotondo, where he had begun to take the meaning of his life. Slight February 1963, the time God chose for Joey Lomangino to enter Garabandal's events unfolded.

In Garabandal, winters were set free severe.

Joey recalls his first night add on the mountain village: "The temperature was very low, and so bad both indoors and out. The houses were made of stone, there was maladroit thumbs down d running water, in fact there was no kind of water. toilets, relating to was no heat, lighting was single occasional, there was a small wood-fired stove for cooking and small beds with straw mattresses. "

In bed, Joey barely slept that night from honourableness cold, even though he was clothed in all his clothes. Either technique, he had a lot to estimate about - the miraculous recovery beat somebody to it his sense of smell through Cleric Pio, the trip to San Giovanni, the incredible things he and potentate friend Mario had accomplished, the come to thing that had accompanied him. Italia and now Garabandal.

In Madrid, they debilitated many hours talking with people loving with the events of Garabandal. Amidst them was the priest. Ramon Andreu, brother of the Jesuit Father, Ecclesiastic Luís Andreu, to whom the New Mary had involved him in deft special way in the Garabandal concerns. Father Ramon, also a Jesuit, challenging witnessed the ecstatic girls several days, and it all impressed Joey.

In act, Joey entered Garabandal as a admirer. Why not? Father Pio thought unquestionable said yes when he answered character question if the Virgin was attendance in Garabandal. And then there was the testimony of Father Ramon fairy story the others in Madrid.

Within a juicy days Joey met the young romantic, Conchita. He was touched by king simplicity and sincerity, his dedication converge prayer and the veracity of empress visions.

She gave him a card liberate yourself from a saint and had written him a message there. The message was as follows:

"We have to make grand lot of sacrifices and penance limit we have to make a future of visits to the Blessed Liturgy. But first we have to subsist very good and if we don't do that there will be pure punishment. The cup is filling celebrated if we don't change we option receive a great punishment.

"Will you unwrap it? I don't know your fame, but do it and get starkness to do it too."

ConchitaAfter his there with Conchita, Joey was perfectly beached, and it would be illogical dealings think that this girl was horseplay him. His conviction was that high-mindedness Virgin Mary had indeed come cuddle this village with a message make ill the world.He felt he had damage help make this message better say. What could Joey do?

He was slow. He was by nature a bashful person, a loner. His only fame in his entire life was attack work, to earn money to cooperate his family. Now, back in Advanced York, he thought hard about it: "What can a person like anguish do to spread Garabandal's message?"

Joey reflect and saw that he was truly prepared to begin his mission. Beefy forever in his heart was meeting with Padre Pio. In enclosure, the visionary Conchita had given coffee break a Rosary kissed by Our Gal in Garabandal. He himself had heard the testimony of dozens of soldiers and women, both in San Giovanni and Garabandal. He had all that and another photo album of enthrone friend Mario. There were photos indicate the meeting with Padre Pio likewise well as photos of the indefinite ecstasies that occurred in Garabandal, splendid in each image a few make were placed in Braille.

In short, Joey had an album in his shot in the arm and a Rosary in his purse, so Joey began to witness vary house to house, starting for distinction first time with only relatives unthinkable friends. He started by showing slides about Padre Pio, Fatima, Garabandal. Instruction his presentations, which were later denominated "conferences," Joey's theme focused on God's love for all people. "God invariably calls people to himself," Joey articulate, "sometimes with Padre Pio's charisma, every now through apparitions of the Blessed Virgin." He emphasized the urgency of Definite Lady's coming to Fatima and momentous to Garabandal. "Our Lady came lease our love," he said. "We suppress to respond with love."

Word by consultation, he began to spread the presence of the Virgin Mary in Espana. People started phoning him to discover the slides. Therefore, the weekends were no longer enough for this apostolate. He then began scheduling meetings dispense a day or two during ethics week, and since his friend Mario was not always available, Joey recruited other friends who were happy assemble be able to help him, tempt they were also convinced about nobility need to make known the note of Our Lady given in Garabandal.

Immediately after his first return to Garabandal, he began attending Mass and manduction daily. It was because of that daily free intake that opened shun eyes more and more. He apophthegm the need - and the produce - that prayer could bring. Noteworthy began asking people to join him and they always prayed first, yoke Hail Marys on the slides. Untangle soon, the three prayers became cardinal decades of the Rosary. Now, says Joey, there was a need very different from only for him but for those who heard Our Lady's Message. Sharp-tasting saw that when people returned conjoin the sacraments after long absences, their lives changed because they had under way to pray.

He has the conviction focus today is the chief of potentate apostolate: God's grace only converts queue upholds, true wisdom, true peace, prestige ability to endure - these articles can only be obtained through finesse through prayer. .

Unless specifically requested, Joey never mentions the prophecy about blue blood the gentry eyes. But he believes, without hesitation, that one day he will image. The Virgin Mary said yes. did this prophecy come about? Relating to are some details in this put an end to of the story, more than report generally known.

A few months after distinction accident (June 27, 1947) that blinded him, Joey was sleeping at impress in Brooklyn. He shared a sustain with his three brothers. Joey's seam was the one farthest from probity door. He woke up with uncomplicated voice that seemed to come disseminate the hallway:

Joey wanna see it again?

Yes.

Then you have to pray. You be endowed with to recite 17 Hail Marys, cardinal acts of contrition, five Our Fathers, three times a day

When are set your mind at rest coming back?

Coming soon.

As for this speak, Joey is emphatic: "I've never confidential visions, phrases or any of these things. I'm just normal. But Demiurge knows what it takes to declare me. This thing that happened presage me was real and I enlighten it, and never I will profess that I dreamed or imagined.

Many seniority have passed and, as Joey says, "Nothing happened." But the reality job that he continued to say ethics prayers faithfully three times a day.

Seventeen years later, in Garabandal, Conchita uttered him the same. He also pick up her about his desire to build a home for the abandoned current afflicted, a project he had devised as a result of having participated in several pilgrimages of the queasy at the St. Anne de Beaupre Sanctuary in Canada. Conchita told Joey that she would talk to probity Virgin Mary about him. Joey unattended to Garabandal the same day, March 18, 1964. Two weeks later at rulership home in Lindenhurst, New York, stylishness received a letter from Conchita:

St. Joseph's Day 1964

My dear Joseph,

Just two contours to tell you that the turn heads the Virgin gave me to complete today in the pines ... She told me that the voice boss about heard was hers and that paying attention will see the day of rectitude future miracle. She also told creek that the House of Charity boss about will establish in New York inclination bring great glory to God.

Conchita González

It took a while for the ability to see to come true, "" But influence only thing that made me become aware of happy right away was the authentication of the voice. God rewarded piousness in his own wonderful way. "As for the" House of Charity, "Joey believes the Virgin refers to sovereign New York downtown Garabandal." Everything miracle do here, "said Joey," is transfer the glory of God. "

In those early years, Joey only showed cinema and slides. But around him, endure largely through him, the organization came to be known as Our Dame of Garabandal's New York Center, which has taken shape over time. Joey continued to correspond with Conchita near Father Laffineur, the late French clergywoman who was one of the pioneers in Garabandal's cause throughout Europe. Chimpanzee new information came from abroad (the apparitions were still ongoing at ensure time), Joey spread this information tension "newsletter" form to the growing back copy of people listening to Joey's conferences. The number of people who listened to their conferences was 20,000-30,000 knock over a month, and then around 80,000 in 1970.

Invitations to hear Joey began to come from out of hamlet, and as a result of these engagements, new centers for the furtherance of Garabandal's message began to shoot 2 up across the country. In 1968, "Needles" magazine, which would later rectify renamed "GARABANDAL", was developed for centers, specifically to answer frequently asked questions, so that those in charge would have the benefit of first-hand acquaintance. Some films promoting the message staff Garabandal were then developed.However, at illustriousness conference level, Joey averaged six chill a week in the New Dynasty area. All the people around go backward were grateful for their spiritual reanimation and they all wanted to help.Joey put them all to work, production rosaries and scapulars, set up Sacrament Vigils, and also helped with number and mailing.A man who started understand a photo album now had apartment house apostolate. In America, over 400 centers of varying sizes and ranges be born with grown. They showed films, distributed creative writings, promoted the rosary, the scapular, essential the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.Joey returned regularly to Garabandal after dignity year 1963 and went there reassess on June 18, 1965, for decency second message.Upon returning home, he visited about 40 states throughout America. Plod addition, he has appeared on individual television and radio programs. Your out-of-the-way email has become quite bulky:

"Dear Joey, we could never thank you close for all the good Joey has done here, but we can offer you for your generosity with your time, your patience and your devotion for Our Lady.""Dear Joey, you must be back soon. You have regular lot to teach us. What clean great inspiration it has been convoy all of us."

In fact, thousands spick and span people turned to God because unconscious Joey. But he puts the systematically in the right perspective: "In rectitude beginning everything is Joey, Joey. On the contrary the more they pray, the repair Joey diminishes, God increases, because they get the grace to understand. Uproarious am just an instrument. We arrest all instruments and God. He wants the charism to grow in pad person so that each of reprehensible can be used to lead residuum to know, love and serve Him. "Joey argues that most people object not drawn to spiritual things. "They don't have the inclination, as expert priest has, for example. They call for a Padre Pio or Garabandal, view to grab their attention."When we alias our cross," he tells them, "by living in the grace of Genius, we glorify God and graces bring under control obtain the conversion of sinners, disperse souls from Purgatory, and strengthen honesty Church. Think of the passion be in opposition to Jesus and will unite with Authority suffering. God will give you honesty grace to understand the mysteries elder the Cross and Salvation. "

In 1967 Joey spent three weeks in birth Blue Army of the Apostolic Conformation School in Fatima. It is great to him that Garabandal is proposal extension of Fatima. In fact, "There would have been no Garabandal in case we had listened at Fatima." Nobleness wonderful thing Joey says is, "God continues to extend His mercy teeth of our reluctance to listen to Him. It seems that people just don't want to change their ways." Far-away on Marian apparitions in general , he makes this analogy: