The Apparitions to Alphonsine

Alphonsine Mumureke struggled through middle school. She had a hard time fitting in and catching up with all the lessons she had missed in the first few weeks. because of her late arrival. Once there, she had a few fainting episodes and suffered some teasing.

November 28, 1981: "I came to console you"

The first apparition occurred on Saturday Nov. 28, 1981, around 12:35 pm, in the school cafeteria. Her schoolmates said that they saw her get up suddenly, go to the middle of the room and kneel down, fixing her gaze on something in front of her.

Alphonsine explained that she heard a voice calling her tenderly, saying:

"Mwana" (child)

She answered shyly:

"Here I am."

Transported to another, brightly lit place, she saw a pure-white cloud and a mysterious person emerge from it, a lady whom she didn't know but who was very beautiful. Alphonsine asked her:

"Woman, who are you?"

And the Lady replied:

"I am the Mother of the Word."

A dialogue ensued...The Lady asked:

"What do you esteem the most in your life?"

Alphonsine answered something like:

"I love God and his mother who gave birth to the Redeemer."

The Lady continued:

"You do?"

Alphonsine said:

"Yes, it's true."

Then the Lady declared:

"If that is the case, I came to console you, because I heard your prayers. I want your friends to have more faith, because they don't have it enough."

December 1st and 2nd: tenderness, singing and dancing

On December 1st, the apparition occurred on a Tuesday night, in the dormitory. The Virgin gave Alphonsine a white ribbon.

On December 1st and 2nd, the Lady promised Alphonsine to give her in three months a little flower that no one would be able to break or pierce. It seems that the "flower" is an image of the human being, as we can see in the blessing sessions (see further). Maybe the fact that it couldn't be pierced was a consolation related to what happened on December 4th, when, to check the reality of the apparitions, someone pushed a needle deep inside the muscle of her arm. She didn't feel anything during the apparition, only afterwards! These tests eventually stopped.

On December 2nd, the Virgin taught Alphonsine a beautiful song that had never been heard before, and a dancing song. Singing and dancing would slowly become one of the characteristics of the Kibeho phenomenon.

January 16, 1982: the rite of water

Alphonsine had a vision of a field with many different flowers, planted by the Virgin, who invited her to come on a walk with her through that field. Commenting on the wilted or dead flowers, the Virgin declared: "Some could become lush if someone watered them."

The seer replied in a tone of personal commitment: "O Mother, even though right here we need to walk quite a way to fetch water, I will do my best to get water for them!"

Later, a rite of blessings began, with holy water. Holy water chases the Devil away, and especially assists with the growth of the "flowers," signifying the spiritual growth of people.

March 20, 1982 : the mystical journey

On March 20nd, Alphonsine went on a "mystical journey."  It began as if she had fallen into deep sleep. The others had a very hard time moving her, let alone being able to lift her up or loosen her joined hands. Her heavy weight puzzled many. Alphonsine told this story:

"I heard the Blessed Virgin calling me, and I answered her. [...]

We left, and arrived at a really horrible place: there were scary-looking people  everywhere who kept arguing and fighting.

Then we continued going up, until we arrived at a different place. It was not as dark there, but it was still terrible to a certain degree. The people didn't look as frightening as the first ones, yet they seemed to be suffering a lot but with a pious attitude, their eyes looking upward with a sad expression.

Finally, still going up, we came to a magnificent place where the light was excellent, just like the one that comes from our own sun. It is a very beautiful place; it isn't hot or cold there.

So I asked her the name of that place, and she said:

'This is where those who have a luminous heart live. The place where people suffer but look pious with their eyes looking upwards is where "those who will be counted among the Elect" live.

However, where you saw people fighting, they are the ones who will experience eternal torments without the hope of obtaining forgiveness.'

In the meanwhile, I kept hearing delightful voices in the distance singing, but I couldn't see where the sounds were coming from. [...] When I asked why she had taken me there, She told me:

'Since you saw these three categories, it is my hope now that you will do your best to attract people to the right path. Moreover, I showed them to you so you can learn that the best life is to come, after man leaves the earth.

And truly, to live comfortably in this life without caring about the Creator and his will, is a waste of time.'"

Other apparitions followed, especially on August 15, 1982, with the other seers.