Mary’s image ‘moves, sheds tears of blood’

CEBU, Philippines - Hundreds of people are flocking to a small chapel in Carcar City, Cebu where an image of the Virgin Mary of Fatima has reportedly shed tears of blood.  Changes in the form of the statue were allegedly also noted.

Soñia Regis, 44, who owns the small chapel in Lagang, Barangay Ocaña, said that it was her five-year-old son who saw the tears of blood in the porcelain statue.

John Patrick, Soñia said, was playing Sunday morning last week when he saw the image with blood. He said he ran to tell his father what he saw.

Both Nelson and Sonia they did not immediately believe their son. It was only last Monday morning when Nelson decided to take a look and saw the “miracle.”

Sonia said that the next day, Tuesday, she allegedly also witnessed fresh blood that flowed from the melancholic eyes of the Virgin Mary.

She also alleged that the praying hands of the image was extended to the left, left foot was slightly forward, and the cape of Virgin Mary was slightly uncovered.

Sonia said she called her neighbors to also see what she saw. It was her neighbors’ suggestion to open the chapel to the public so others could also witness what they now claim as a “miracle.”

Interpreting what she said she saw, Soñia said maybe the Virgin Mary got mad at her because she failed to bring the image, which she bought from Simala, in going to church for three consecutive Sundays already.

“Mura’g nangluod lagi ni siya kay na-busy ko sa akong apo gud unya wala napod ko kasimba (Maybe the Virgin Mary got slighted because I got so focused with my grandson and that I failed to go to church also),” she said.

Sought for his reaction, Monsignor Esteban Binghay, episcopal vicar of Cebu’s south parishes, told The FREEMAN that he already heard about the occurrence, adding that the “strange phenomenon” must undergo deep investigation first.

He instructed Father Marlito T. Binondo, the parish priest of Lourdes Parish Church in Ocaña, to investigate the situation and submit a report to him as soon as possible.

“Daghan naman pod ko’g nakit-an nga naghimo-himo ra sa tao gud (We have had many such occurrences that turned out to be just orchestrated by people),” Binghay said, adding that w.

He said three things must be considered first before declaring a certain occurrence as miracle –persistence, conversion of people, and the message of the miracle.

“Dapat mo-persevere gyod ang usa ka miracle, dili kay usa ra ka buwan or tuig. Dapat makita pod nga nag-usab ang mga tao ug maipakita pod ang mensahe sa imahen (The so-called miracle should persist and not just there for a month, or a year.  We should also be able to see that the people were changed for the better, and that the message of the occurrence is revealed),” he said.

Binghay urged thee people not to be convinced easily with claims of a miracle, reminding the faithful that not all miracles come from God.

The devil, he said, can also do supernatural occurrences and that some “miracles” are even just staged by men.

“Kaning mga tawo (The people) should wait for the announcement sa (from the) Archdiocese (of Cebu) nga tinuod gyod na nga miracle, kay kaning mga Filipino man gud, ma-attract dayon og mga ingon ana (that it is indeed a miracle; because Filipinos easily gravitate towards believing in them),” he said.

“Maayo man gyod na ang mga milagro pero dapat i-verify usa nato (Miracles are nice, but they must be established as such first),” he added.

While many flocked to the Regis’s chapel and believed, there are also those who scoffed at the “miracle.”

Luisa Largo, 45, who lives nearby the chapel, said she cried after hearing someone shouting “Ayaw mo’g tuo ana, pangwarta rana nila (Don’t believe that, that is a money-making scheme).”

Soñia said Nelson wanted to close the chapel after hearing the negative comments, but many people also insisted that they do not.

“Wala koy mahimo kon dili sila motuo. Basta mismo ako, wala ko katuo at first, pero kinsa man sad tawhana ang mobutang-butang ana? (I cannot do anything for those who do not believe. Even I did not believe, at first, but who would try to pull off something like that?” she said.

Sonia said many sick devotees are flocking to the chapel.

Ocaña Barangay Captain Dario Ramos provided a tent to the chapel but advised the family not to accept donations, only flowers and candles.

Sonia, however, said the people still continue to leave money on the altar. She was thinking to use whatever money they find for the 11thfeast anniversary of the Virgin Mary of Fatima on August 11.

“Sa pagkangalan nga Katoliko ko, motuo ko kay kapila gyod nako gi-compare sa ubang images ang katong imahe ug naa gyod nausab, iyang kamot nahiwi, na walis iyang kapa. Pero ang dugo, kaduhaduhaan pa (As a Catholic, I would believe in the miracle because when compared to other images, this one really showed its hands to have moved and the cloak shifted) ,” he said.

Ramos said that it does not need a miracle to come back to God, adding that everyone should pray every day for continued guidance and blessings from above.—/RHM (FREEMAN)