15 November 2023 , 08:54
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Churchgoers in Mexico were left stunned after apparently witnessing a statue of the Virgin Mary shedding tears.
The alleged miracle is said to have happened at a church in El Canal in the state of Colima. Following reports of the incident, hundreds of curious believers and skeptics made their way to the place of worship to see for themselves. Footage taken and uploaded to social media showed what looked like small drops of transparent liquid falling from Mary's eyes and down her face. For some of those living in the area, the 'weeping Virgin Mary' is considered a genuine miracle.
Resident Víctor Ramos said: "Similarly, when we cry, and our eyes become red, the same happens to the image. So a couple of tears started flowing. This is the event, the phenomenon that is happening here in the church," reports The Sun.
The statue seems to be crying real tears (CEN)
People are flocking from miles around (CEN)While others in the area have associated the Virgin Mary's tears with the ongoing violence in Colima. Víctor added: "We can associate it with... the violence rates that are being experienced here in the state of Colima, also here in the community."
At least 702 confirmed intentional homicides have been recorded by the Colima Prosecutor's Office up to October of this year. Maria Mercedes Hernandez, a visitor, hoped that the Virgin Mary would provide a return to "peace" for Colima as well as the rest of the world.
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The so-called miracle may have impressed some believers in the area but others are more convinced that there is a scientific explanation behind it. Professor Luigi Garlaschelli said that some statues are able to absorb water due to the porous materials they are made from.
He noted that if even a small scratch then happened to the protective glaze near the tear duct area then any such absorbed water will fall out, tear-like. Earlier this year further south in Ecuador, churchgoers also experienced a similar event as another Virgin Mary statue appeared to cry.
A worshipper filmed the statue seemingly weeping during the Good Friday service at the Our Lady of Hope parish church in La Libertad Canton on April 7. The statue is reported to have 'cried' for three minutes, with many faithful flocking to the church after news of the 'miracle' spread to pass handkerchiefs over the statue's face to keep as sacred mementos.