Weeping statue 1888612 225907157 2008-07-15T23:25:56Z 88.203.29.122 /* List of weeping statues */ A '''weeping statue''' is a [[statue]] which has been observed to be shedding [[tears]] or weeping. Statues weeping tears of a substance which appears to be [[human being|human]] [[blood]], oil, and scented liquids have all been reported. The phenomenon of weeping statues is very similar to that of the rarer [[weeping painting]]s. Other phenomena are sometimes associated with weeping statues such as miraculous healing, the formation of figures in the tear lines, and the scent of roses. These events are generally observed by [[Christians]]. Reported weeping statues are almost exclusively of the [[Virgin Mary]]. ==Spiritual significance== Despite their apparent contradiction to natural laws, many accept weeping statues as a legitimate occurrence. They are described as spiritual events, a form of [[revelation]] or [[apparition]]. The Catholic Church has been very careful in their approach and treatment of miraculous events and apparitions. Validating a forgery could be detrimental to the church's image, but renouncing something that is revered by many could also cause offense. This is particularly true of weeping statues, due to the uncertainty of the phenomenon. ==Attempts at scientific explanation== Weeping statues have been dismissed by [[rationalism|rationalists]] as a purely psychological and/or [[fraud|fraudulent]] phenomenon. The witnesses are said to be deluded by their own state of mind or strong group suggestion. In this altered state of mind, they believe they see something that isn't really there. Another possible explanation attributes the so-called tears to condensation. The tears that statues appear to weep are said to actually be beads of condensation from microscopic cracks on the surface of the statues. Unpublished reports of the testing have supposedly been able to verify this theory, but peer reviewed scientific research is rarely, if ever, carried out into the phenomenon. Also, some examples of weeping statues have accused of simply being [[hoax]]es[http://www.randi.org/jr/042304seven.html]. ==References in popular culture== The movie ''[[Stigmata (film)|Stigmata]]'' opens with the investigation of a weeping statue. The TV film ''[[Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula]]'' depicts a statue weeping blood at the birth of [[Vlad III the Impaler|Vlad Dracula]]. In his novel ''[[Lucky You (novel)|Lucky You]]'', [[Carl Hiaasen]] pokes fun at residents of [[Florida]] who used fake weeping [[Madonna (art)|Madonna]]s to swindle tourists. A weeping statue in the [[BBC]] comedy ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' turned out to be due to [[Del Boy]] having stolen the lead from the church roof, letting the rain in. A weeping [[Madonna (art)|Madonna]] statue figures heavily into the 1989 comedy ''[[We're No Angels]]'', in which [[Robert DeNiro]] and [[Sean Penn]] portray convicts on the run who hide out as priests in a border town. They eventually plan on crossing the border in the annual parade devoted to the icon. In the [[South Park]] episode "[[Bloody Mary (South Park)|Bloody Mary]]", a statue of the Virgin Mary is seen as a blessing by the citizens of South Park when it begins bleeding out the rear. ==List of weeping statues== This is a list of more notable claims. The veracity of these claims is difficult to establish. {| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" !Date !Location !Claims !Reference |- | 1945 || [[Syracuse, Italy]] || tears of oil || |- | 1949 || Syracuse, New York || human tears || [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,856210,00.html] |- | 1975-1981 || [[Akita, Japan]] ||human tears, bleeding on the right hand of the statue || |- | June 1985 || [[Naju]], [[South Korea]] || tears of human blood followed by oil in later years || |- | 1992 || [[Virginia]], [[United States]] || tears or blood seen by priest and reporter || |- | 1994 || [[Rooty Hill, New South Wales|Rooty Hill]], [[Australia]] || || |- | 1994 || [[Grangecon]], [[Ireland]] || Alleged blood later discovered to be adhesive in the statue becoming dissolved and dripping out. || |- | 1995 || [[Italy]] || || [http://www.luigigarlaschelli.it/Press/guardian2000.htm] |- | 1996 || [[Diego Martin]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]] || shed tears of human blood || |- | 1997 || [[Platina]], [[Brazil]] || shed a red liquid || |- | March 2002 || [[Messina]], [[Sicily]] || statue of [[Pio of Pietrelcina]] shed a red liquid || [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1858430.stm] |- | September 2002 || [[Rockingham, Western Australia|Rockingham]], [[Australia]] || wept scented tears, apparitions || [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2255713.stm] [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17659402-1245,00.html] [http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,21646985-2761,00.html] |- | January 2003 || [[Musetesti]], [[Romania]] || seen by two unnamed workers || |- | February 2003 || [[Chittagong]], [[Bangladesh]] || || [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2775461.stm] |- | September 2004 || [[Baalbek]], [[Lebanon]] || appearance of scented oil, blinked and cured a cripple || [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=8130] |- | January 2005 || [[Nizhankovichi, Ukraine|Nizhankovichi]], [[Ukraine]] || human tears shed every month on the 13th day, accompanied by the scent of [[roses]] |- | November 2005 || [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], [[California]] || tears of blood || [http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_326014939.html] |- | March 2006 onwards || [[Kerala, India|Kerala]], [[India]] || tears of blood, appearance of oil, honey, milk || [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4625058001623228874] <!-- | (date) || Cochabamba, Bolivia || tears of blood || ( reference - WP or web) --> |- | January 2006 till present || [[Borg in-Nadur - Birzebbuga, Malta]], || tears of blood, appearance of oil, salt || [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_Apparitions_at_Borg_in-Nadur] |} ==See also== * [[Marian apparition]] * [[Perceptions of religious imagery in natural phenomena]] * [[Weeping painting]] * [[Rosa Mystica]] ==External links== *[http://www.cicap.org/en/ Italian Committee for the Investigation of Claims on the Paranormal] *[http://www.visionsofjesuschrist.com/weepingstatuesandicons.htm Photographs of statues claimed to be weeping] *James Randi, ''Investigating Miracles, Italian-Style'' Scientific American, February 1996 [http://www.luigigarlaschelli.it/Press/sciam.htm] *[http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/04-07-30.html Church Says Weeping Statues Fake] *[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_3_30/ai_n16418734/pg_1 "The 'new' idolatry"] Joe Nickell investigates and exposes numerous weeping statue hoaxes. [[Category:Sculptures|*]] [[Category:Sacramentals]] [[Category:Religious behaviour and experience]] [[fr:Statues qui pleurent]]