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Mathew Schmalz, Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross

What's going on when the Virgin Mary appears and statues weep? The answers aren't just about science or the supernatural

Mary is often depicted weeping, a reminder of the 'Seven Sorrows' the Bible recounts her suffering. pratan ounpitipong/Moment via Getty Images

Claims of appearances of the Virgin Mary and weeping statues have been common in Catholicism. And now they’re going to get a closer look – but on a worldwide scale.

The Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis, or PAMI, recently announced an “observatory” to investigate claims of appearances of the Virgin Mary and reports of statues of her weeping oil and blood.

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