Our Lady of Syracuse

Our Lady of Tears

Syracuse is a Provence of Italy, and it was in the year 734 BC that a group of Greek citizens settled there to raise their families and make a living. But as always the unexpected can happen, and Syracuse was no exception, for it was overtaken by a group of corrupt tyrants who tried to rule the people there in 211 BC with an iron fist.

Syracuse was to face war with the Greeks, Carthage and many other foes including a Muslim invasion which lasted several centuries.

But let us turn our attention to the year 1953 when a miraculous event happened to the Jannuso family, when upon marrying both Antonina and Angelo were given an image of our Lady as part of their wedding gifts.

This image was to prove integral to the health of Antonina when she discovered she was pregnant, both Antnonina and Angelo were ecstatic to become parents and longed for their much loved baby with all their hearts.

But Antonina Jannuso was to have a problematic pregnancy which brought both wife and husband closer as they struggled to maintain her health so as to save their beloved baby within the mother’s womb.

For Antonina was diagnosed with Toxaemia, which can imperil the health of both mother and baby, so Angelo was extremely worried and very anxious for his lovely wife and baby.

The couple as Antonina's condition worsened turned to prayer to console and strengthen them but also to heal Antonina from this critical condition and spare both Mother and child.

It was during prayer that much to Antonina's amazement, she looked at the image of our Lady upon her bedroom wall and noticed that it seemed to be shedding tears, Antonina leaned forward to see if her eyes could be playing tricks but to her astonishment it did indeed look as if the image was weeping profusely! Antonina called out to her relative to come and see this miraculous sign, when her sister in law arrived she found Antnonina trembling at such a sight of the weeping picture of our Lady.

Her sister in law could barely contain her shock and called out to her Mother to also come and witness this miraculous occurance. Antoninia started to fret thinking that maybe this event was to warn her of her babies health, both her relatives were also a little frightened at such a sight and took the plaster image of our Lady out to their neighbours who also confirmed that they too could see it.

The whole Jannuso family was in shock and disarray wondering what this meant and for the future of both Antonina and her baby, the whole family took to praying with great fervour for the protection of Antonina, Angelo and their beloved baby.

It was prayer that brought tranquillity back to Antonina and she took pity upon this blessed image and tried to soak up the tears with her kerchief and also some cotton wool. For Antonina did not like to see our Lady so upset and wished to comfort her.

This image of our Lady would weep continuously for a 4 day period, and during these four days many Priests also visited the family to witness this miraculous occurrence. These Priests also alerted Church authorities who took samples of these tears for scientific study. The Jannuso family needed no proof for they knew that these tears truly came from a Mothers heart and the Blessed Mother at that! They were in awe at such a wonder and perturbed to see our Lady weep so much, their hearts were wrung as they too wept alongside this image.

After examining the tears the scientists concluded that the tears were indeed of human origin. But the family and many of the Priests had never doubted that these tears shed were those of our Holy Mother, who wept for her children.

It was also through this miraculous event that Antonina found herself healed from her critical condition and she praised our Lady and Lord for healing her of this illness and keeping her baby safe within her womb.

The tears that were gathered up by many of the visiting Priests were also sent to other countries where miraculous healings would take place.

This miraculous occurrence led to both Antonina and Angelo embracing their Faith with greater fervour and also the conversion of many neighbours and relatives who had strayed from the Faith.

Upon reporting this even to Pope Pius Xll, the Bishops of the area made a statement approving this miraculous event as valid.

I would encourage you all to read more about the miracle of our Lady of Syracuse.

Peace of Christ to you ALL

Copyright © 2005 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.