Civitavecchia "Weeping" Statue

Q: Is the Civitavecchia Weeping Statue a miracle?

A: The Information Service in Honor of the Immaculate Virgin Mary reported in their September 4, 1996 issue that ca. eight-thousand people gathered recently for a "healing Mass" before the weeping statue of Mary in Pantano near Civitavecchia, Italy. The four-hour Mass was celebrated by the Canadian charismatic, Fr. Emiliano Tardif, currently a resident of the Dominican Republic. The bishop of the area had given Fr. Tardif permission to celebrate Mass.

The "weeping" statue originally stood in the garden of an electrician of the village, and has now been removed to the residence of the bishop. Scientific tests confirm that the red brown fluid streaming from the eyes of the statue is a man's blood. The Church does not comment on the occurrence. According to the Vatican, it takes many years for "miracles" and places of pilgrimage to be recognized.