Madonna statue cries tears in Heroldsbach, Bavaria

A statue of the Madonna in the Bavarian pilgrims' shelter in Heroldsbach in Upper Franconia, is said to be crying real tears. Several witnesses claim to have seen tears running down the statue's face; one woman even kissed a tear that had fallen on the statue's hand and claimed, "It tastes salty, they must be real".

Heroldsbach was officially recognized as a pilgrimage site by the Bamberg Archdiocese in 1998 after a first reported sighting of Maria and Baby Jesus as well as angels and saints in 1949 and further reported sightings for three consecutive years by young children of the neighborhood. It is dedicated to the veneration and adoration of Mary, Mother of God, and a place for quiet prayers and worship. But the atmosphere of sanctity and heavenly peace does not always remain undisturbed: In 2001, the eyes of a figurine of Baby Jesus in a crèche began to water. Pater Stockhausen, the parish pastor, locked the figurine in his bedroom, and the tears ceased flowing. When Pater Stockhausen found used pipettes in a garbage can in the vicinity of the crèche, the miracle worshipers explained, “We were using them to collect the tears!!!�

Now, Pater Stockhausen, with a detective instinct even Father Brown could not surpass, has wiped the tears off the statue with a clean handkerchief and submitted it to the Forensic Institute of the Erlangen University for analysis. Where he hit a snag: The police refuse to become involved. The Bishop of Bamberg ordered the Board of the Foundation to examine the phenomenon and decide which action to take. Says the speaker of the Archbishop’s Office, “Either the Board has the miracle verified at its own expense, or it recommends the Bishop to recognize it as true�. The final decision, of course, lies with the Vatican, but Pater Stockhausen is trusting in the Archbishop’s requesting the Forensic Institute’s assistance.

(source: Süddeutsche Zeitung, 16.Mar.2007, page 36)

Or is it a hoax?

Hmmmmm. It's a tough one. The evidence is pretty compelling, and for me the bit about the tears being salty really nailed it. I guess we have to accept the truth laid before us and that indeed the statue is crying real 2,000 year old tears from the Virgin Mary as proof of God's almighty existence.

Gotta admit when I got out of bed this morning I was kinda sceptical about this whole God thing, but frankly the evidence just keeps pointing to his existence and I guess after this final unquestionable piece of the jigsaw I can see the atheists have been wrong all along. It's a relief that I found out now 'cos otherwise I would have had a lot of explaining to do when the lights go out.

She's really let herself go since marrying that Ritchie chap.

Did they check if the roof was leaking ?

She sure it was a tear??

oh no 1985 Ballinspittle all over again. This time here in Germany. Following me around it is!

Don't - you're just encouraging Jimbo to come back with his usual "Rusty roof - damp basement" gag.

Aye, but if any dodgy "pikeys" break in the church and try and steal the priest's gambling and drugs money collection for the poor, she can be a mad mother and blow their heads to shite with a sawn off shotgun, innit geezer.

Personally, I am more worried about the obvious symptoms of the Marfan syndrome visible on that statue, i.e. the enlongated hands. Marfan is hereditary, and come to think of it most paintings of Golgatha and Jesus on the cross do show him with extremely long hands and feet. So was he really a freak with scoliosis, pectus excavatum and a high palate combined with a small jaw, requesting massive orthodontal work?

Do you mean the thirty peices of silver was actually referring to some gangsta type dental jewlery?

When the bible refers to Jesus upsetting the tables of the profiteering money changers in the temple it was really an armed raid on rival illegal bookmakers like in Snatch innit, blud!

St Paul, getting all butch and agressive? Meet Vinnie Jones!

Like in Only Fools & Horses THE MIRACLE OF PECKHAM (7th September 1986)

Del Boy gets religion (or is he just on the make ?). The Madonna at the local church is seen to shed tears, but why does she only cry when it's raining and where did all that lead come from that's in Del's garage ?

I like this. Either test it at your own expense, or just accept that it is true (recommended option). Really, how people can take this (or the Christian religion/people in charge of said religion) seriously is beyond me.

As Karen Dunbar would say: I smell shite!

Noooooooooooooooooo. You must have faith. You must believe. It is a sign I tell you. God was just testing the non-believers by sneaking pipettes into the bins.

Maybe i will start to believe after my 10th pint tonight! Then again if hte tears were beer it would be a different matter.

Flash update:
The Archbishop himself, Ludwig Schick, has declared that he will get to the bottom of this "miracle". Talks are planned with Pater Stockhausen and the local priest, Josef Kraus. Among others they will examine pictures said to prove the existence of real tears on a wooden statue's face after no less than 60 pilgrims claim to have seen them.
Stay tuned for further developments.

Ha ha. When I hear of liquid seeping out of chunks of wood I also find it particularly helpful to turn to Archbishops and photography to solve the mystery. Does he explain carpet stains too? This might be a mystery for Scooby Doo.

So who in TT are going to play the parts of the meddling kids and go up there and solve this mystery?