Sunday, April 19, 2015

The niche is empty but … - A Moment with Mary

* April 19 – Our Lady of the Countryside (Italy, 1559)  * The niche is empty but … ----- A Moment with Mary --

Une Minute avec Marie
An initiative of the Association Mary of Nazareth 

April 19 – Our Lady of the Countryside (Italy, 1559) 


The niche is empty but …


Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Lourdes app...
Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Lourdes apparitions occurred four years after the definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The following story may sound unbelievable, but it is true. Although there is no statue of Our Lady in the niche above the altar of the chapel of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Alta Gracia (Argentina), we can see her image—even though the niche in question is actually empty.

Both the Christians and non-Christians who flock to the shrine claim they see the image. It appears even on photographs and it is distinctly visible from the front entrance. Then, strangely, it gradually disappears as we approach the altar.


This chapel, built and blessed in 1927, used to have a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in a niche above the altar. In August 2011, the statue was removed from the niche to be restored.

The Discalced Carmelites brothers subsequently issued a press release stating that "the apparition of the image of the Blessed Virgin does not have, to date, a logical explanation. We interpret it as a sign to increase and deepen the Christian faith of God’s people."

MDN Team

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