Virgin Mary’s ‘Messenger’ Draws Huge Crowd for Final Sermon

CONYERS, Ga. â€”  More than 100,000 people descended on Nancy Fowler’s farm Tuesday to hear the last of the annual messages the homemaker said she relays from the Virgin Mary.

Fowler, 47, said Mary had visited her earlier in the day inside her small farmhouse about 30 miles east of Atlanta.

“My dear children, I have come to be with you today as your loving mother to instruct you. Children, please live your life in full union with God. It is most pleasing to God when you imitate him,� she said in a message that also urged followers to “pray against the evils of this day� and shun materialism.

From October 1990 to May 1994, Fowler delivered the messages on the 13th of each month. Then she announced that the Virgin Mary would appear with a public message only once a year on Oct. 13.

The crowd has steadily increased over the years. Fowler announced last October that this year’s public message would be the last.

Fowler, whose visions have not been endorsed by the local Catholic hierarchy, told the crowd that Mary said she would not be permitted to visit again in the way she has since 1990.

The crowd responded to the message Tuesday with occasional gasps and scattered applause. But for the most part, people were quiet and attentive while Fowler read for 30 minutes.

People fell to their knees, gasped and clapped when Fowler said a multitude of souls accompanied Mary in her vision.

She said the souls are in purgatory but are being released into heaven in honor of Mary. Fowler attracts many visitors from Mexico, and most in the crowd Tuesday were women.

“We in Mexico and Latin America believe in the power of Maria and that’s the only thing that can unify us,� said Christina Peschard, who traveled to Conyers with her sister and mother from Zacatecas, Mexico.

Rockdale County Sheriff spokesman Lance Carter said Tuesday’s crowd was the biggest since Fowler began delivering the message.