A seven-foot-tall bronze statue of the Virgin Mary in a Catholic church in New Mexico appears to be weeping a substance with the chemical makeup of olive oil treated with perfume. The ‘weeping’ began on Pentecost Sunday on May 20, when parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hobbs noticed that there appeared to be tears streaming from the Virgin Mary’s eyes.
A local priest said there are cameras in the church and no man-made explanation could be determined for the tears. A teaspoonful of the ‘tears’ was collected and analysed showing it had the same chemical fingerprint of olive oil treated with some kind of scent like chrism, but Deacon Jim Winder, the vice chancellor of the Catholic diocese of Las Cruces, added that it was clear – not the brownish colour that is associated with most olive oil.
He and other investigators examined the statue and the surrounding area, including the ceiling, and there were no signs it had been altered in any way. They also spoke to the manufacturer in Mexico, dispelling any theories that the statue – which is cast bronze and hollow – may be leaking or secreting some substance.
“We don’t believe chrism oil was taken from the church and used to adulterate this statue,” Mr Winder said. But he added that church officials have no answers.