- Mon Apr 28, 2003 3:18 am
#24
THE RISEN CHRIST MIRACLE
by Sean Patrick Bloomfield
It was the summer of 2001, the dawn of my second trip to Medjugorje. This time, however, I was toting video equipment with the intention of making a fresh documentary about the apparitions.
Minutes after our bus arrived in the blessed village, I heard about an alleged supernatural event: just after the 20th Anniversary of the apparitions, a local statue began seeping a watery substance, drawing curiosity seekers from all around the region.
Despite my jet lag, I grabbed my video camera and hiked into town. I could soon see an enormous crowd surrounding the “Risen Christ,” a towering bronze statue located in a field between St. James Church and the cemetery.
As I drew closer I noticed that the onlookers were reaching up to touch the knee area of the statue. Others rubbed handkerchiefs, rosaries and small crosses on the knee, which struck me as peculiar until I was able to maneuver myself into the thick crowd and see for myself: water was dripping from the statue!
During my previous pilgrimage, only a year before, I had spent countless hours praying and pondering next to the Risen Christ statue, often late at night while staring at the stars. I recalled the cold, solid feel of that metal— metal which was now seeping droplets of water right before my eyes!
I stood in the crowd and recorded for nearly an hour. I placed the camera within inches of the statue’s knee, hoping to capture the source of the water, but in reality there was no visible hole in the metal. In fact, the drops were forming on two areas of the statue, almost like tears, which would then fall at the same interval.
That night, I lay awake thinking about the statue. I woke my brother and convinced him to join me on a trek back to town. It was 3:30 a.m. After a long, eerie walk through the dark fields and back roads, we made it. Unlike during the day, we were now the only people present at the statue— and the water was flowing like never before. This time, I was able to film the phenomenon without being jostled by the crowd, and without them constantly wiping the water away. In fact, so much water was pouring out that it had formed a large pool on the ground.
I couldn’t help but think that I was supposed to be in Medjugorje for the sole purpose of recording the water and showing it to the world. But for what reason? What, if any, was the symbolic meaning behind the weeping statue? The following day, I began interviewing witnesses to gather a range of opinions. One such observer, Father Ani Xavier, had traveled all the way from the United Arab Emirates to visit Medjugorje.
“When I seek to interpret the water that comes from the statue,” Father Ani told me, “I see that Jesus does not want to see the blood of others. Water is washing away all of our sins, water is purifying the whole world. By shedding blood Jesus liberated us, and by showing us the water coming from the knee he is calling each of us to purify our life and to promote peace in the world.”
My translator for the video, Maria, happened to be close friends with the visionary Vicka. After the two shared a private meeting, Maria told me that she asked Vicka about her opinion on the Risen Christ statue.
“The water is coming out of the knee,” Vicka reportedly said. “Isn’t that a big sign for us? Like a sign that this is the time to get on your knees, to get ready.”
Strangely enough, this all occurred just a few months before September 11th, 2001. The water still continues to seep from the statue on rare occasions, but never before has it flowed like it did that week.
*Footage of the Risen Christ phenomenon can be seen on my documentary video, “Medjugorje in the New Millennium”. It is available on the Medjugorje-Online.com store.
by Sean Patrick Bloomfield
It was the summer of 2001, the dawn of my second trip to Medjugorje. This time, however, I was toting video equipment with the intention of making a fresh documentary about the apparitions.
Minutes after our bus arrived in the blessed village, I heard about an alleged supernatural event: just after the 20th Anniversary of the apparitions, a local statue began seeping a watery substance, drawing curiosity seekers from all around the region.
Despite my jet lag, I grabbed my video camera and hiked into town. I could soon see an enormous crowd surrounding the “Risen Christ,” a towering bronze statue located in a field between St. James Church and the cemetery.
As I drew closer I noticed that the onlookers were reaching up to touch the knee area of the statue. Others rubbed handkerchiefs, rosaries and small crosses on the knee, which struck me as peculiar until I was able to maneuver myself into the thick crowd and see for myself: water was dripping from the statue!
During my previous pilgrimage, only a year before, I had spent countless hours praying and pondering next to the Risen Christ statue, often late at night while staring at the stars. I recalled the cold, solid feel of that metal— metal which was now seeping droplets of water right before my eyes!
I stood in the crowd and recorded for nearly an hour. I placed the camera within inches of the statue’s knee, hoping to capture the source of the water, but in reality there was no visible hole in the metal. In fact, the drops were forming on two areas of the statue, almost like tears, which would then fall at the same interval.
That night, I lay awake thinking about the statue. I woke my brother and convinced him to join me on a trek back to town. It was 3:30 a.m. After a long, eerie walk through the dark fields and back roads, we made it. Unlike during the day, we were now the only people present at the statue— and the water was flowing like never before. This time, I was able to film the phenomenon without being jostled by the crowd, and without them constantly wiping the water away. In fact, so much water was pouring out that it had formed a large pool on the ground.
I couldn’t help but think that I was supposed to be in Medjugorje for the sole purpose of recording the water and showing it to the world. But for what reason? What, if any, was the symbolic meaning behind the weeping statue? The following day, I began interviewing witnesses to gather a range of opinions. One such observer, Father Ani Xavier, had traveled all the way from the United Arab Emirates to visit Medjugorje.
“When I seek to interpret the water that comes from the statue,” Father Ani told me, “I see that Jesus does not want to see the blood of others. Water is washing away all of our sins, water is purifying the whole world. By shedding blood Jesus liberated us, and by showing us the water coming from the knee he is calling each of us to purify our life and to promote peace in the world.”
My translator for the video, Maria, happened to be close friends with the visionary Vicka. After the two shared a private meeting, Maria told me that she asked Vicka about her opinion on the Risen Christ statue.
“The water is coming out of the knee,” Vicka reportedly said. “Isn’t that a big sign for us? Like a sign that this is the time to get on your knees, to get ready.”
Strangely enough, this all occurred just a few months before September 11th, 2001. The water still continues to seep from the statue on rare occasions, but never before has it flowed like it did that week.
*Footage of the Risen Christ phenomenon can be seen on my documentary video, “Medjugorje in the New Millennium”. It is available on the Medjugorje-Online.com store.
