Bishop
has not found ‘natural causes’ for weeping Mary statue
Investigators found no natural
explanation for the oil being emitted from the statue's eyes
A New Mexico bishop has given an update on an apparently
weeping statue of the Blessed Mother, saying a diocesan investigation will begin
to analyze the apparent miracle’s spiritual fruits.
Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces said the phenomenon taking
place at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Hobbs, N.M., does not seem to have a
natural cause.
“The first phase of the investigation is to determine if the
phenomenon can be explained by natural causes. So far, we have not discerned
natural causes for the statue’s emitting of liquid,” he said in an August
statement.
“If the cause of the phenomenon is supernatural, we must
discern if it is from God or from the devil. I remind you that the Church
believes in the existence of fallen angels, who at times try to trick us,” he
added.
A bronze statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe began weeping May
20, the Solemnity of Pentecost, and has wept twice since then – the day after
Pentecost, on the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church and again on the Feast of
the Immaculate Heart of Mary, June 9th.
Reportedly, the substance found on the statue is a
rose-scented olive oil, which has been found to closely resemble the oil of
sacred chrism. Nothing on the inside of the hollow statue was found that could
have created liquid. There were a few cobwebs in the interior.
The diocesan investigation process has also involved
interviewing the Mexican manufacturer who created the statue. According to
Bishop Cantu, the owners said the production process involves high heat, which
melts completely the wax molds around which the statues are formed, leaving no
residue of wax that might have contributed to the phenomenon.
Father Jose Segura, pastor of the parish, reported the
incident immediately to Bishop Cantu. The investigation was then initiated by
diocesan chancellor Fr. Enrique Lopez and vice-chancellor Deacon Jim Winder,
who gathered samples of the tears and testimonies of eye-witnesses.
Having given a public update of the investigation on July
15, Bishop Cantu said the weeping statue is not the product of any natural
cause for which they have tested. In a recent statement, the bishop said it
will take longer to determine the supernatural origin of the tears.
“The discernment of whether it is a phenomenon from God or
from the Evil One is a longer process. The devil can sometimes imitate holy
things in order to confuse us. So, we must be prudent and vigilant.”
Bishop Cantu said this discernment process will be based on
the weeping statue’s spiritual fruits. He repeated the Fruits of the Holy
Spirit mentioned in the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians: charity, joy,
peace, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty,
self-control, and chastity.
He reminded Catholics that the Church distinguishes between
public and private revelations. Public revelation, which closed after the death
of the last apostle, he said, differs from private revelation in that it does
not provide any new knowledge on salvation.
“No new information regarding our salvation is to be gained
from private revelations. The messages of private revelations only reaffirm and
highlight what Christ has already revealed in Scripture and Tradition,” he
said.
“Thus, Mary and the saints always lead us back to Jesus and
to the Church. This is why Mary instructed St. Juan Diego, ‘go to the bishop,’
and ‘build a temple.’”
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