Carol Nole
and Barbara Matthias, Santa Maria,
California, USA 1988 and 1990 respectively (Our Lady of the Immaculate Heart
and Queen of the Universe)
Status: Currently being investigated.
Episcopal Remarks: (a) Carol Nole N/A. (b) Barbara Matthias: “I am satisfied with the
sincerity of Barbara Matthias. I am satisfied that her state of ecstasy has
been verified by medical science. Based on the medical and psychiatric
evaluations, I am satisfied she is not faking or pretending the experience;
that she is not psychotic; and that no organic eitiology accounts for her
experience” (Msgr. Rohde, Vicar of Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, Preliminary
findings of the Scientific Investigation of Barbara Matthias, February 10,
1992)
Corroboration by
Other Seers:
Biographical Information:
(a) Carol Nole: There are reports of a tradition of
prophecy relating to the future of the Santa Maria Valley. Earlier prophecies
declared that “Many will come from the north and the south to find refuge and
solace here” Furthermore the people of this region were to be a beacon and
light for all in help; that is a “light on a mountaintop” There was also a
reported history of active prayer groups and small “Faith communites” meeting
and praying together in their homes and churches along this entire Central
coast from Monterey to Santa Barbara. Reportedly some of the prayer group
participants began receiving locutions and prophetic messages from Jesus and
from Our Lady, as early as 1985. One such prayer group receiving messages was
the Montford Prayer Group of which Charlie and Carol Nole (the first seer)
became members. It was in this atmosphere that Carol was to receive her first
interior locution from Our Lady on March 24, 1988. Carol Nole was in her
forties when she received her first message from Our Lady. She is described as
an attractive and caring person who gives priority to helping the sick and the
afflicted. She has three children from a prior marriage and is now married to
Charlie Nole who has five children also from a previous marriage. Both of their
prior marriages have been annulled by the Church. Interestingly enough on June
7, 1988 the Santa Maria City Council formally declared Santa Maria to be “The
City of Peace” by Resolution duly and officially adopted. Carol received a
total of 28 reported messages from March 24, 1988 through September 2, 1988. It
is reported that the messages have stopped as of this later date. A model of a
cross was built and set up for public display and comment. Meanwhile the owners of the land on which
the Cross is to be erected were contacted in order to negotiate for the
purchase of the land. This was met with a cool response, later to become ice
cold, from the landowner Newhall Land and Farming Company. The Land has never
been acquired. Meanwhile the prayer groups, the Cross Committee, as well as
other interested groups, began to experience division and conflict within their
own ranks. During the next 1 ½ years,
people gathered along the Highway #166 across from the selected hill to pray
and plan for the acquisition of the land and for the erection of the Cross.
Local clergy continued to suppress all activities while the landowners placed
“No trespassing” signs on the land and prohibited all entry onto the land. Yet
people kept coming to the roadside to pray, to be healed and to be converted. 1
(b) Barbara Matthias: One such pilgrim who had come to
pray along the side of the road, near the “Hill of the Cross” site was Barbara
Matthias. Described as “the most scientifically tested visionary in Church
history” Barbara was born on January 20, 1947 in Brazil and was baptized when
she was six years old. She is described as a humble and pious person. Of slight
stature, the result of Turner’s Syndrome. It is reported that she made two
unsuccessful attempts at religious life and that she had two unfortunate
marriages. On March 24, 1990, Barbara made a pilgrimage to Santa Maria . It was
at the side of the road near the site of the hill., that the seer received her first apparition of Our Lady. This date
was the Feast of the Annunciation as well as the second anniversary of the
“cross messages” given to the seer Carol Nole. Our Lady appeared to Barbara
again on March 28, 1990 and has continued to appear and give daily messages to
Barbara, which are ongoing to this day. The first person Barbara told of her
apparitions was Charlie Nole. It should be noted that he is the husband of the
seer Carol Nole as well as the co-ordinator of the Cross Project. Charlie
promptly took Barbara into his own home for discernment and for Barbara’s own
protection. It wasn’t long before serious conflicts arose. It is reported that
Barbara was moved to Southern California against her own free will; however
threee days later she returned to Santa Maria and continued to receive daily apparitions. During the apparitions
Barbara is [reportedly] in a state of ecstasy.
These periods of ecstasy lengthened from minutes to three hours and
later progressed to nearly six hours. Presently the time this seer remains in
ecstasy has decreased to one or two hours.
It is reported that Barbara had mystical experiences earlier in her
life. The first occurred when she was six years old when a voice told her that
her father would die the next day. This did occur as predicted. In 1974 she heard a voice while at Mission
San Luis Rey. The voice directed her to hold the hands of Our Lady’s statue.
When she did the hands became like flesh and Our Lady spoke to the seer. She
was directed by Our Lady to a certain place in the Mission Rose Garden where
Barbara saw the two dimensional face of Jesus surrounded by a bright light.
Jesus asked Barbara to tell people that He waits for their love and that He
would see her in two years. In 1976 two years later, Barbara saw Jesus inside
St. Francis Church in Vista, California. He was walking in front of the altar.
He again spoke to Barbara. Signs and
wonders are reported during the apparitions such as the “Miracle of the Sun”
witnessed by many. Rosary links turn to gold colour, extraordinary photos are
taken. Instant cures and conversions are reported. In addition many good fruits
are evidenced by an explosion of prayer groups and a more active faith
demonstrated by the parishioners. Other conflicts and confusion developed. An
issue arose regarding pledges and money being pledged for the Cross Project
without the clergy’s approval. Also there was some conflicts which arose
through an alleged lack of obedience on the part of Barbara. This was later
rectified. At one point Barbara was
publicly scandalized and persecuted. She suffered much not only from her
physical condition, but also from lack of employment and decent housing for
herself. This has apparently been partially elleviated in that the seer now has
suitable housing and support. Carole Nole’s messages are primarily concerned
with the Cross Project. On the ther hand, Barbara Matthias’s primary messages
are pleas for prayer, especially the rosary, for fasting and reparation for the
sins of mankind and for conversion of heart.2
References
1. Peter
Heintz A Guide to Apparitions of Our Blessed Virgin Mary (Gabriel Press,
Sacramento, California 1995) p. 589-591
2. ibid
The Messages
(a) Carol Nole
Our Lady, April 9, 1988: She received a request for the Cross to be built “on
the north side of town on the hill directly in line with the back of Scolari’s
market. It will be 75 feet in height and will have golden stained glass where
the nail holes were. It must radiate love and peace over your valley.” On April
28th she was given directions to find the exact location of the hill
where the cross was to be built.
(b) Barbara Matthias
Our Lady, March 24, 1990: “Pray the rosary often, very often, I your Mother,
hold the world and all my children’s needs in My Immaculate Heart. Love My Son
unconditionally…I love you so very much. Have patience, the cross will be
erected here in My Son’s time” Our Lady
appears bearfooted on a cloud in a brilliant white light. Usually Our Lady is
dressed in all white with gold trim on Her mantle and a gold belt around Her
waist. Her hair is chestnut brown. She has rosy cheeks and a delicate mouth.
Her eyes are a beautiful penetrating gray-blue and Her voice is the most gentle
loving voice this seer has ever heard. On special occasions or Feast days (such
as the Queenship of Mary, August 22nd) Our Lady appears crowned with
12 golden stars and wearing a jewelled gown. She appears to be about 20 years
of age.
Our Lady, March 28, 1990: “You must pray, fast and make reparation for
sin…Believe that this project will be a source of holiness for all who desire
to love Me with their heart and allow My graces to transform their lives…”
Our Lady, March 31, 1990: “Keep praying, fasting and turning your hearts to my
Son and Me…You must keep your hearts open like little children who love and
depend on their Mother”
Our Lady, April 1, 1990: “Pray the rosary. Each bead of the rosary, said with
a sincere and loving heart, is a flower of love for me….The Cross will be a
symbol of faith, love and peace”
Our Lady, April 2, 1990: “Do not give lip service to your prayers. Mean what
you are saying in each word of each prayer you pray…”
Our Lady, April 4, 1990: “This ladder (to heaven) is composed of prayer,
penance, sacrifices, fasting and love…You are modern day apostles who must live
the Gospel life by following the example of My Son on earth”
Our Lady, April 7, 1990: “I desire
that you fast, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays…” The infant Jesus appeared
with Our Lady
Our Lady, April 6, 1990: “My Children I want the Hill of Peace to be
consecrated to My Immaculate Heart.” Our Lady held up Her beautiful rosary and
said “My children, this is to be your major weapon against Satan and the evils
of the world”
Our Lady, April 12, 1990: “Each of you must spend a great deal of time in
prayer” The infant Jesus appeared with Our Lady
Our Lady, April 16, 1990: “Now is the time of Mercy; tell people who are away
from Jesus and Me to turn their hearts back to us immediately . We want all to
be saved; woe to souls who have abandoned Us deliberately and remain in this
state. Warn them. Concern yourselves with living each moment as if were the
last momenebt you have here to do Our Will….When you realize the seriousness of
the end times and realize the fate of those against Us is eternal…In the end
times there will be family dissensions. Members of families will hate each
other, quarrel and plan evil for each other. This will be the work of Satan.
You My children must not let dissensions arise in your families. You just avoid
the work of Satan who wishes to enter your hearts and homes. I will protect
you. Ask for My graces to overshadow you and your request will be granted. I
have accounted the seriousness of the end times, so that it will be a time of
victory for you, if you are faithful”
Our Lady, April 17, 1990: “Our Lady said “Through your prayers, sacrifices and
fasting the project of the Cross will be completed”
Our Lady, April 19, 1990: “Pray much for world peace. Peace must be in your
hearts before it can be extended to people of other nations” The infant Jesus
appeared with Our Lady
Our Lady, April 20, 1990: “Wear the St. Benedict Medal. This medal has the
power of exorcism attached to it”
Our Lady, April 23, 1990: “I have been preparing you in so many ways for when
the Cross will be erected. The Cross is a symbol of courage and life for all
the world”
Our Lady, April 25, 1990: “The world is in turmoil now because in many places
Jesus and I have been forgotten. Pray, because these souls must awaken quickly
before it is too late. They must turn their hearts back to Jesus and Me. Time
is shorter than they realize” St. Michael appeared with Our Lady.
Our Lady, April 26, 1990: “I would like you to say fifteen decades of the
rosary daily so My plans for peace will go smoothly”
Our Lady, April 27, 1990: “I don’t want anyone to be deprived of the graces
received from the prayer of the rosary. For those who teach others how to pray
the rosary, I have promised to come for them at the hour of their death and
that there will be many conversions in their families”
Our Lady, April 30, 1990: “My children I desire you to make St. Joseph your
patron of Our Cross Project just as Your Mother of the Immaculate Heart is Your
patroness…the faith of the people of Santa Maria will always be strong” St.
Joseph appeared with Our Lady…I would like a chapel to be built on the Hill of
peace. I want all to come and worship My Son and to venerate Me your Mother”
Our Lady, May 1, 1990: “My children, when the cross is erected on the hill
and Our Holy project is completed, I desire that once a year on the Feast of
St. Francis that you bring your animals to the hill to be blessed…”
Our Lady, May 8, 1990: “There are things to keep the devil away: the Holy
name of Jesus, the rosary and the Brown scapular of Mount Carmel…Wear the brown
scapular. I promise that whoever wears the Brown scapular will receive Eternal
Life in Heaven” Our Lady also gave secrets to Barbara
Our Lady, May 10, 1990: “My children, your life is what you make of it. You
were given free will because My Son desires you to love and follow Him freely
in love. Since you have control over your free will you can make your life a
“little Heaven upon Earth” by following Jesus and Me or a “little Hell upon
Earth” by choosing evil. What will you choose for your life?
Our Lady, undated: “My Heart is filled with pure love for the people of
Santa Maria and for the great project you have undertaken for Me…The Cross will
be a symbol of faith, love and peace…when I look down on Santa Maria and your
valley, I see a city of peace and hope” Our Lady also requested that a chapel
be erected on the “Hill of Peace” as well as Stations of the Cross. Our Lady
also requested daily and frequent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
References
1. Messages taken from Peter Heintz A Guide to Apparitions of Our Blessed Virgin Mary
(Gabriel Press, Sacramento, California 1995) p. 588-599)