The Virgin of Egypt – Father François Brune

Original Book Title: La Vierge de L’Egypte
François Brune, born on August 18, 1931, in Vernon (Eure), and died on January 16, 2019, was a former French Catholic priest who converted to Orthodoxy at the end of his life.
He was the author of numerous works on theology, spirituality, life after death, and the paranormal, in connection with the Catholic faith.”
Author Name: Fr. François Brune
Publisher Name: Le Jardin des Livres – Paris, France
Publication Year: 2 November 2004
Book Language: French
ISBN: 2914569335

Since 1968, the Virgin has appeared regularly in Egypt, and millions of Muslims and Christians alike have truly rubbed their eyes when they discovered the Mother of Christ floating above the churches of Zeitoun, Shubra, and Assiut. Thus, the Virgin appeared for almost three years in Zeitoun and was seen every evening by more than 100,000 believers and atheists, including the then Egyptian president, Nasser. Even more incredible, she resumed her spectacular apparitions in 2000 in Assiut. But in Europe, these apparitions were passed over in silence. Yet, for the first time in history, these Marian apparitions were photographed, and some even filmed. Father François Brune conducted research in Egypt with countless witnesses and, in this quasi-supernatural book, presents the results of his investigation. (Back cover note by author)

Introduction:

These are certainly the most fantastic apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the entire history of the Church, throughout the world and across the centuries. Indeed, during all other apparitions, only a few privileged people could see her, if at all.

In Egypt, since 1968, entire crowds have seen the Virgin Mary for hours, several times a week and over periods of several years. Add to that the fact that the vast majority of those who saw the Virgin Mary were not even Christians, but Muslims, and many of them nevertheless benefited from miraculous healings. These “Mariophanies” have been the subject of investigations, official recognition, and countless newspaper and magazine articles in the country for years.

So, how is it that almost no one in the West has ever heard of them? Even someone as knowledgeable as Father Laurentin seems to be unaware of them, since he presents the apparitions in Rwanda as the first on the entire African continent.

The systematic reluctance toward the supernatural, typical of the West, is not enough to explain it. San Damiano and Medjugorje have attracted thousands of pilgrims, young and old, in search of spirituality. A crucial factor certainly played a role: these apparitions only occurred in Coptic churches.

The Copts are part of a small group of five Christian churches, separated from all others since the Council of Chalcedon in 451, and which have continued their development throughout the centuries in complete independence.

But, precisely, they are independent of Rome, which considers them dissident churches. However, in Egypt, the Virgin never appeared in synagogues or mosques, which is normal, but never in Protestant churches or Catholic churches either. Yet, Catholic churches are everywhere, wherever there are Copts.

Another characteristic aspect of these apparitions may also have worked against their dissemination: the Virgin did not utter a single word. She delivered no message, neither by speech nor by the appearance of some inscription in the sky. This silence gives them a somewhat mysterious character. It is up to us to guess what the Mother of Christ wanted to tell us through her gestures, her attitude, and her simple presence. This is precisely the purpose of this book: to try to understand.

But, through this investigation in Egypt, it is also the mystery of the greatness of Mary, Mother of Christ and Mother of God, that we will be able to better glimpse and contemplate.

I know that the fashion today, among Western theologians, is to reduce her to the rank of a simple housekeeper and mother.

Small minds cannot tolerate the proximity of great people. They want to bring them down to their level.