Weeping Madonna of Syracuse
The only time the Church approved a weeping madonna image
A goal of this ongoing project in Catholic saints and miracles is to better observe real miracles from false. A way to determine this is to observe miracle phenomena we know to be real. The questionable is then to be compared to the authentic. Out of all the claims of weeping statues and images of Mary, only one has the Church deemed to be likely authentic. That is the Weeping Madonna of Syracuse.
A husband/wife couple were gifted a plaster bust of a sacred heart Mary. Angelo was a laborer who had taken his bride to live in the home of his brother on Via Degli Orti 11, Syracuse, Sicily. When Antonina discovered she was with child, she was unfortunately afflicted with toxemia that caused her to convulse at times and experience some blindness. At three in the morning on Saturday, August 29, 1953, Antonina suffered a seizure that left her blind. By 8:30 that morning her sight was restored; when she was able to see, her eyes were on the Madonna, which, to Antonina's amazement was weeping effusive tears. At first the others thought she was hallucinating due to her illness, but Antonina insisted she wasn't. her family looked again and they could see the tears run down the Madonna's cheeks and onto the bed. The neighbors were brought in and they confirmed the tears.
This began the miracle of the tears. Crowds came to see the tears and gather them. Miracles happened. Catholic authorities studied the statue and collected the tears for study. No source for the tears were found, and the tears were confirmed to be human tears. Thus, it became the only Maria Lacrimarum to be approved by local bishops.
Saturn rules sadness, depression, and “secretions.” Thus, Saturn is the planet to look at for a case of weeping images and statues. In all the resulting sentences I write for these aspects, I am restraining myself from writing “Weeping (Saturn)” or “Crying.” I wish to adhere only to the words Johndro gives in his astrological dictionary. To do otherwise opens up my own interpretations, which I do not wish to do. Johndro did not asign any planet to “tears” or “crying” or “weeping.” But, it does look like that planet is Saturn since he assigned it both sadness and secretions. Since we are talking about a painting with liquid dripping from it, “secretions” is sufficient.
Another word that I always wish to use is “holy.” However, Johndro does not have that word in his book. The closest is “Godly.” I use this to stick to my rule of not adding new words. It is an odd word, when “holy” is better, but I do not want to be adding to Johndro’s book. This ensures I am adhering to his planetary associations.
The Sun is at 5 Virgo: “Immortal (Sun) Virgin (Jupiter) statuary (Venus) doing (Mars) secretions (Saturn).” The Sun also aspects Uranus (miracle) and Neptune (Catholic).
Moon/Saturn 165 quindecile Johndro aspect. “Observe (Moon) Secretions (Saturn).” This can also be “Sad (Saturn) Woman (Moon).”
Moon/Venus parallel. Sees (Moon) Statuary (Venus). Venus is at 29 Cancer. “Mysterious (Pluto) Statue (Venus) Doing (Mars) the Incomprehensible (Pluto).”
Saturn/Uranus square “Miracle (Uranus) Secretions (Saturn).”
Saturn/Neptune conjunct at 21-23 Libra. Those degrees are ruled by Saturn and subruled by Uranus. “Catholic (Neptune) Miracle (Uranus) Secretions (Saturn).”
Saturn/Jupiter trine. “Sad (Saturn) Virgin (Jupiter).” This aspect I wish to say “Weeping Virgin,” but, I’m working with what I got. 23 Gemini is Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune. “Miraculous (Uranus) Statuary (Venus) of Godly (Jupiter) Virgin (Jupiter) Sad/Secretions (Saturn).”
