February 2 - Today is also the 31st Anniversary of the First Lachrymation (Weeping) of the small statue of OUR LADY, QUEEN OF PEACE [VIRGIN OF MEDJUGORJE] in the home of the Gregori Family at CIvitavecchia, Italy 🇮🇹 on February 2, 1995.
On February 2, 1995 during the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord / the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a statuette of the Queen of Peace brought from Medjugorje, Bosnia-Hercegovina began weeping tears of blood in the garden of the Gregori Family in the parish of St. Augustine at Civitavecchia, about 70 km north of Rome. A five (5)-year old girl named Jessica Gregori first noticed the blood streaming from the eyes of the Virgin.
From February 2 to March 15, 1995, the statue allegedly wept blood on 14 separate occasions. These events were witnessed by several people - including lay faithful, local residents, and official witnesses who later gave sworn testimony to a theological commission established by the local bishop.
The phenomenon gained such attention that scientific examinations were carried out. Experts, including teams analysing the statue and blood - reported that there were no hidden devices or mechanical means inside the statue and that the tears were human blood (with reports describing it as predominantly from an adult male).
The local civil authorities even confiscated the statue for investigation at one point before it was returned to ecclesiastical custody.
Initially skeptical, the then-Bishop of Civitavecchia, + Msgr. Girolamo Grillo, reportedly changed his view after witnessing the Marian statue weep blood in his own hands on March 15, 1995 while holding it during prayer. This moment, for him, was decisive and moved him toward acknowledging the event as supernatural.
On 17 June 1995, the statue was placed in a display case in the Church of St. Augustine for public veneration, and pilgrims began coming from all over Italy and abroad to pray before it. Devotees began calling it “La Madonnina di Civitavecchia”.
A second statue - a replica gifted by (Pope) Saint John Paul II is said by some devotees to have exuded a fragrant oil on special occasions.
Reports from followers place further weeping episodes and messages from the Virgin Mary connected to the event beyond 1995, though these are more associated with private devotion.
Today, the statue of the Madonna remains venerated within the parish church of St. Augustine in Civitavecchia, displayed behind protective glass. The site continues to draw pilgrims from various parts of Italy and other countries.
The fruits have been numerous and uninterrupted since 1995: people come to Civitavecchia from all over the world, and the many ex-votos placed there in homage to the Madonnina clearly show that pilgrims come from all walks of life, and that marginalised persons, sick people and former drug addicts are well represented among them.
“Madonna delle Lacrime di CIvitavecchia”,
prega per noi !
Our Lady of the Tears of Civitavecchia,
pray for us!
Rafael Villongco