The Marian Foundation
The Marian Foundation
While the events which are reported in THE SETON MIRACLES, Weeping Statues and Other Wonders, appear to be some of the most extensive displays of such phenomena in the history of the Catholic Church, to date, they have not been formally investigated and declared miraculous.
Nonetheless, as part of its Jubilee Celebration in 2024, the Arlington Diocesan History "The Love of Christ Impels Us," by the Very Rev. William P. Saunders, Phd., includes a section entitled A Supernatural Occurrence. [p. 199-202] Here, the weeping statues and stigmata of Fr. Bruse are described by the Very Rev. Saunders, (Now Monsignor Saunders), who himself was an eyewitness to the events.
There have been other weepings of Madonna images which have been investigated, declared miraculous and also deemed to carry an important message for humanity. Two such approved events are discussed briefly below and are discussed more fully in THE SETON MIRACLES, Weeping Statues and Other Wonders. These events assist in placing a perspective on the enormity of the physical signs experienced in Lake Ridge and the surrounding areas.
Church Approved Weeping Events
Syracuse, Sicily
In 1953, in Syracuse Sicily a small framed plaster plaque of the Immaculate Heart of Mary wept copiously for four days. Following an investigation by the Bishops of Sicily, which included a finding that the tears from the eyes of the Madonna were of human origin, they
declared, on December 11, 1953, that the weeping was miraculous. A week later, in the Osservatore Romano they declared their “sincere desire that this manifestation of our heavenly Mother may inspire the whole world with a true spirit of penance, and more fervent devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is likewise their wish that a spiritual edifice be erected to commemorate the miracle.”
Church Approved Weeping Events
SHOP
Forty-one years later, on November 6, 1994, the great basilica ~ the Shrine of Our Lady of Tears ~ was dedicated in Syracuse, Sicily by Pope John Paul II. In his dedication, the now Saint declared that:
"[t]he tears of the Madonna belong to the order of signs. She is a mother crying when she sees her children threatened by a spiritual
or physical evil.” He further stated that when the tears of the Madonna are declared miraculous, they contain an important message for humanity. He categorized the tears as tears of sorrow; tears of prayer; and tears of hope."
For more information on this weeping event see:
www.catholictradition.org/Mary/syracuse.htm
Akita, Japan
From 1975 to1981, in Akita Japan, in a convent of nuns, called the Servants of the Eucharist, a wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin wept periodically, for a total of 101 weepings. In addition to the hundreds who witnessed the weeping in person, Japanese television broadcast actual tearing of the statue to millions of people. Sister Agnes Sasagawa was most closely associated with the events of the statue. On September 29th, there was a fragrance of flowers associated with the tearing. Sister Agnes heard the following message:
"….I am weeping because humanity is not accepting my motherly invitation to conversion. The (public) signs of my immense sorrow … are not being believed in. Man is becoming ever more corrupt, godless, wicked, and cruel….I am weeping because, the Church is continuing along the road of division, of the loss of the true faith…I am weeping because, in great numbers, the souls of my children are being lost and are going to hell. Prepare yourselves to receive Christ in the splendor of His glory because the great day of the Lord has even now arrived."
For more information see http://www.divinemysteries.info/our-lady-of-akita-japan-1973-1981
The Marian Foundation logo
The logo portrays the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the foot of the Cross,
where her heart will always be. It is overlaid with a tear, representing her particular manifestation at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, and lies beneath the figure of a dove, the traditional symbol of the Holy Spirit, raising a wing of flame for the Divine Love which encompasses all.