Beneath the veil of reality, mysteries of the extraordinary and the supernatural have captivated humanity for millennia. 

Tales of spectral visitations, demonic entities, and unseen dimensions fuel our fascination with the unknown. For Catholics, this unseen realm intertwines with faith, weaving miracles and the supernatural into the very fabric of their religion.

Imagine a church absent of miracles. No saints bathed in celestial light, no Virgin defying the laws of nature. The ministry of Jesus Christ himself hinges on the miraculous: the healing touch, the defiance of mortality, his resurrection. Without these divine interventions, the Catholic Church as we know it ceases to exist.

The profound importance of the supernatural is underscored by the Vatican’s recent creation: In April 2023, the International Observatory on Marian Apparitions and Mystical Phenomena (OISA) was established  as part of the Pontifical International Marian Academy.

This enigmatic new entity transcends bureaucracy, transforming it into an observatory peering into the very fabric of the unseen. Its gaze falls upon the mysterious cases of Marian apparitions, the inexplicable weeping of statues, eucharistic miracles, and the stigmata that mark the wounds of Christ appearing on chosen souls.

This new Roman sentinel stands poised to dissect phenomena yet to be officially acknowledged by the Church. Its purpose – to illuminate, authenticate, and unveil these occurrences – is shrouded in a veil of both intrigue and a promise of deeper understanding. 

Here, pronouncements on authenticity are meticulously weighed, ensuring harmony with Church doctrine, the watchful eyes of authority, and the very norms that govern the Holy See itself. With a focus on alleged visitations from the Virgin Mary, weeping statues imbued with an otherworldly sorrow, and the enigmatic phenomenon of divinely inscribed wounds, the Marian Academy delves into the enigmatic mysteries that blur the line between faith and the extraordinary.

Prepare to confront the unseen. This documentary dares to breach the veil that separates our world from the extraordinary.  Are there whispers of miracles just beyond our grasp? Do glimpses  of the divine linger in the unseen corners of reality?

Join us as we embark on a fascinating  exploration into the unexplainable.

Our odyssey begins in Lakeridge, Virginia, a seemingly ordinary town nestled a mere 20 miles south of Washington D.C.’s bustling heart. But beneath the veneer of normalcy lies a secret, a supernatural phenomenon unlike any other in recorded history.

Brace yourselves, for what you’re about to witness transcends mere legend.  This is a tale etched not in dusty scrolls, but in the memories of countless credible witnesses – journalists hardened by skepticism, doctors accustomed to the tangible, even government officials unshaken by everyday occurrences.  They all bear testament to an event that defied explanation, a spectacle that shattered the boundaries between the known and the unknown.  Weeping statues. Tears flowing not from crafted stone, but from a source shrouded in mystery. 

But sadly this is also the story of how this great miracle was silenced by a secret underworld of depraved priests and of the failed leadership of the Arlington diocese to do right by God, Jesus, and all the angels and saints of the Catholic Church.   The diocese chose to slam the door shut and ignore the cries of the Mother of Christ.  The Virgin Mary wept silently in front of the world like never before and yet the Arlington Diocese coldly ignored her tears and dismissed the anguished pleas of  thousands of eye witnesses and parishioners.

But First, The Smoke of Satan Enters the fissures of the Vatican:

In a  suburb of Washington, DC in Virginia., a chilling spectacle unfolded: statues of the Virgin Mary wept tears of an unknown substance.  These “miraculous” tears, hailed by some as a sign from above, ignited a fervor that masked a far more complicated  truth lurking beneath the surface.  Were these weeping statues a mere anomaly, or a harbinger of a darkness within the Church not yet revealed?

Agostino Bono, a respected voice within the Church, wrote with unsettling clarity: “Tears from a holy icon are not merely a curiosity. They are a portent, a glimpse into the cosmic tapestry, reflecting both past transgressions and shadows yet to fall.”  

His words echoed the chilling pronouncements of Fr. Malachi Martin, a priest and scholar with unparalleled access to the Vatican’s inner sanctum.  

In his bestselling exposé, “The Keys of Blood,” Martin painted a picture of a Church infiltrated by a “superforce,” a malevolent entity wreaking havoc from within.  

Smoke and hushed tones followed this entity, murmurs of dark rituals and a horrifying truth: the insidious cancer of Satanic abuse had burrowed deep into the very heart of the Church.  

These acts, Martin grimly asserted, were not mere aberrations, but the culmination of a deliberate, calculated evil.  

The tears of the Virgin Mary, once seen as a sign of divine favor, now, it seemed, a desperate plea for a reckoning before the encroaching darkness.

THE SMOKE OF SATAN

A tremor of unease had coursed through the Church for years. Whispers of a looming evil, the “Smoke of Satan,” manifested itself through hushed conversations, its tendrils reaching for “certain chanceries,” those administrative hearts of dioceses. Then, on a sweltering August day, a stark clue materialized.

On August 11th, 1992, a long shadow fell upon the Virginia diocese of Arlington. Monsignor William Reinecke, the Chancellor of the diocese, walked into a desolate cornfield near a monastery and ended his life with a shotgun blast. His suicide reverberated with the weight of unspoken secrets, a tangled web of good and evil whose true depths, even two decades later, remained shrouded. 

In the chilling six months leading up to his death, Reinecke would find himself at a bizarre crossroads, confronting both the divine and the damned.

Five months prior to his suicide, on a seemingly unremarkable March 6th, 1992, a local CBS affiliate aired a story that would shatter the tranquility of Lake Ridge, Virginia, a quiet suburb south of Washington, D.C. 

The report detailed a series of inexplicable events unfolding at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church: statues of the Virgin Mary were inexplicably weeping. After the report a  media frenzy exploded. Never had the world seen mainstream media frantically cover a story of a supernatural mysterious event, an event evolving weeping statues of the Virgin Mary. CNN, The Washington Post, local news affiliates, mainstream media from around the world, for an instant made the weeping statues of Northern Visrginia the biggest story in the world. 

Weeping statues of the Virgin Mary,  it was reported, seemed to flow only in the presence of a local priest, Father Jim Bruse. News of the crying statues was first reported in the local news in March of 1992, but the occurrences of the weeping statues began in Father Bruse’s room on the grounds of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton church over Thanksgiving weekend in 1991. Before the explosion of news reports many parishioners were witnessing the miracles that were taking place in the presence of the humble priest.  

After local TV stations aired stories of the weeping statues , the Washington Post sent reporter Paul Hendrickson down to  Lakeridge Virginia to investigate the sensational reports of the miraculous. Mr. Hendrickson secured an interview with Father Buse and the Pastor to Saint Elizabeth Anne Seton, Father Dan Hamilton.  After the interview Paul Hendrickson filed a lengthy report that was picked up by news wires across the globe.

The  Washington Post reporter  personally witnessed a crying statue while interviewing Bruse. He wrote:  “There’s gotta be a trick here. It’s as if the water is just appearing right out of the plaster and then rolling downward. Proof positive you can be seeing something and still not believe you’re seeing it.”

The following narrative of the meeting between Father Bruse and Paul Hendrickson has been developed from content in the Washington Post article as well as James Carney’s book “The Seton Miracles” 

“The air in the cramped office hung thick with a stifling silence, broken only by the rustle of papers scattering across Father Jim Bruse’s cluttered desk. His face, etched with worry lines, betrayed the exhaustion that gnawed at him. 

Three pairs of eyes, a mix of skepticism and curiosity, stared back at him from across the desk: a hardened print reporter, a TV reporter with a cameraman poised like a hunting dog, and a representative from the esteemed Washington Post.

 “That one’s crying now, right there, you can see the tears.” 

Father Jim muttered, his voice barely a whisper, as he gestured toward a statue perched on a bookshelf in the corner.

A scoff escaped the lips of the print reporter. “Right,” he scoffed, “Let’s move on with the interview, Father Jim.”

Undeterred, Father Jim turned his weary gaze towards a small statue of the Virgin Mary resting on the desk. “This one,” he whispered again, extending a hand towards it. “Go ahead, take a closer look.”

Intrigued, the print reporter pushed back from the desk and approached the statue, the others following in his wake.

The print reporter scrutinized the statue, his eyes searching for any hint of manipulation. No wires, no hidden water source, nothing out of the ordinary. Then, it happened. A tiny bead of water welled up at the corner of Mary’s eye, glistening like a teardrop before tracing a glistening path down her cheek.

“Get a load of this! This… this can’t be real,” the cameraman exclaimed, his voice laced with a mixture of excitement and disbelief as he zoomed in for a close-up. More droplets formed, trickling down the statue’s face like miniature waterfalls.

Father Jim observed them with a hint of resignation in his eyes. “It happens sometimes,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Not always.”

But could it all be an elaborate prank? A cynical reporter, muscles coiled with skepticism, decides to confront the source of these whispers – the parish priest himself.  He throws out a barrage of mocking questions, each designed to chip away at the priest’s credibility. “Just a party trick, Padre? Multiplying bread and fishes next? Did you learn this from a magician?” The reporter’s words hang heavy in the air, laced with bitter amusement.

An unsettling silence descends upon the room. The priest’s weary eyes, clouded with exhaustion, meet the reporter’s cynical gaze.  

The interview, granted on a whim, had now stretched into an agonizing hour.  His voice, barely a rasp now, cut through the tension. “Normally, I wouldn’t believe a word of it myself. Mass hysteria, sweating plaster – those are the typical explanations. But I understand the skepticism, I truly do. This isn’t about me. This is about something far greater. This is the work of Christ himself, manifesting through me. And Mary, oh Mary plays a crucial role in this. Her intercession, it’s undeniable.”

The weight of the priest’s words hangs heavy in the air, a stark counterpoint to the reporter’s flippant mockery.  Then something else, in the room,  a small statue of Our Lady of Fatima, once a pristine ivory white, now suddenly bore hues of pink and blue – a disturbing testament to the inexplicable phenomena. According to Father Jim, this particular statue had wept more than any other, its tears unpredictable and unsettling. It sat on the desk calendar before him, a silent sentinel to his ordeal. 

Throughout the interview, Father Jim’s hand hovered near the Lady of Fatima, a subconscious need for comfort perhaps. Then a puddle of water slowly grew at the base of the statue, a testament to the inexplicable phenomenon. The reporters exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting the same confusion that gnawed at them.

“There’s been a lot of interest lately,” Father Jim added quietly, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his own heart.

The back story: Unexplained Tears in the Suburbs

According to parish officials and church parishioners, many times during, before, or after a church service, hundreds in attendance saw the church’s statue of the Virgin Mary cry. Other statues on the parish grounds also wept as well. After Fr. Bruse celebrated Mass at a nearby church, water reportedly began dripping from the church’s wooden statue of the Virgin Mary as well. The statues wept irregularly but always in the presence of Father Bruse.

The tranquility of a Catholic priest’s life in the Washington D.C. suburbs shattered not with a bang, but with a single, inexplicable tear. Father James Bruse, a seemingly unremarkable 37-year-old reverend, found himself at the heart of a bizarre occurrence. 

The parish statues, stoic observers of countless prayers and confessions, began to weep in his presence. Tiny, crystal-clear droplets welled within their eyes, tracing glistening paths down their noses, clinging desperately to their chins, and finally pooling at their plaster, bronze, wood, or fiberglass feet.

The intensity mirrored the inconsistency. Sometimes, a solitary tear would escape, a lone sentinel of the strange. Other times, a torrent flowed, mimicking a sudden, inexplicable downpour. 

Cynical explanations swirled like autumn leaves: trickery involving mirrors and smoke, manipulation by unseen computers, even a malfunctioning HVAC system gone rogue. Some even cast suspicion on Father Bruse himself, whispering of a magician with hidden devices concealed beneath his somber priestly garb.

But the mystery deepened, its roots burrowing deeper than any explanation could reach. Direct contact wasn’t always necessary. Merely being in the vicinity, whether at the altar during mass or engrossed in paperwork within his office, triggered the statues’ watery response. The liquid, confirmed by touch and taste, was undeniably ordinary – water, H2O, the very essence of life itself. Yet, its origin remained shrouded in an unsettling mystery.

The Unpredictable Tears

There’s no rhyme or reason to it. It happens at its own whim, a testament to the very essence of the otherworldly. But perhaps it’s more than that. This isn’t the work of a high-ranking church official, a cardinal or a bishop. This phenomenon centers on an unassuming associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Lake Ridge – a man with a quiet presence even within his own diocese. It makes one wonder: if a divine hand is at play, it chooses its instruments with an inscrutable logic, selecting the least expected corners.

One of the most prolific “weepers” is a three-foot-tall olive-skinned statue of the Virgin Mary. Affixed to a wooden base on the main altar, she stands flanked by a statue of Saint Joseph and bathed in the constant flicker of votive candles, lit by a growing tide of believers. 

Over the past six to seven weeks, parishioners have witnessed this Mary statue “welling up” on numerous occasions – during, before, and after services. Sometimes a single tear, sometimes a torrent, all observed with a mixture of bewilderment, awe, and a touch of fear. The curious, no longer confined to the local congregation, are starting to arrive, drawn by reports of the miraculous.

Beyond the Weeping Virgin

The phenomenon wasn’t confined to a single statue. Reports  trickled through the parish of other figures succumbing to the inexplicable weeping. These weren’t solely confined to the church itself. 

Some, scattered across the grounds, resided within the rectory – the living quarters for the clergy – a hundred yards away, nestled beyond a small, wooded hill. Notably, most, but not all, were depictions of the Virgin Mary.

After the news reports from The Washington Post and local TV news programs, the once quiet parish was now a beacon, drawing curious pilgrims from far and wide. Pennsylvania, Florida, Newport News – they all sent representatives seeking a glimpse of the miraculous. Television crews descended, capturing the bewildered and raptured faces of the curious and the devout 

In the hushed annals of the unexplained, no event has garnered such a multitude of credible witnesses.  Journalists, lawyers, television reporters, doctors, even federal government employees – all stood transfixed as statues and icons defied the laws of nature, weeping profusely in a spectacle unlike any ever seen.Hundreds, perhaps thousands, became impromptu acolytes to the astonising  miracles. 

Tears, copious and unrelenting, streamed down the visages of the holy figures.  Among the awestruck throng was James Carney, a pillar of the legal community. A Harvard law graduate, Carney’s credentials were as impeccable as his shock was profound.

Driven by an insatiable need to document the extraordinary, Carney meticulously chronicled the events in a day-by-day account titled, “The Seton Miracles: Weeping Statues and Other Wonders.”  

In his powerful introduction to his important book Jim Carney writes:“I have seen approximately two dozen religious icons composed variously of plastic, metal, ceramic, plaster, porcelain and fiberglass weep in the same way.I have held small Madonna statues in my hands and watched their eyes fill with tears which then rolled down their cheeks and puddled at the bases of the figures. I have seen as many as six of these little statues weeping simultaneously.

Icons were seen weeping in the rectory, at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic church, in our home when Father Bruse came to dinner (even inside a glass-enclosed cabinet), and at numerous other locations.

Stained and etched glass images of the Blessed Virgin Mary have shed tears, meaning as before that a clear liquid that certainly seemed to be water flowed from the eyes of the figures. 

Before it was over, dozens if not hundreds of statues and images, most of them representing the  Virgin Mary, wept under the scrutiny of thousands of observers. The weeping has been captured on film by professional and amateur photographers alike, even showing up on the first television broadcast about it on March 6,1992.

Other strange occurrences took place, too, such as statues and rosaries changing colors. In one mystifying case, a small Fatima statue of Our Lady rotated its colors for nearly half an hour inside the church before 20-30 witnesses. This occurred at least twice more on successive Saturdays and had happened many times before that. 

Several parishioners reported seeing the “miracle of the sun,” as has occurred at Medjugorje and other apparition sites, describing it in much the same way. Other parishioners saw strange, sometimes rotating, colors in the sky.

There have been whispered rumors of dramatic physical healings, at least two of which have been well documented.

It seems safe to say that the quantity, variety and duration of weeping statues and other inexplicable phenomena which were associated with Father James Bruse were not only incomparably greater than any other similar display in history, but may actually have exceeded all of the others put together.

This unprecedented record stands as a testament to the most extensive display of weeping religious figures in the history of the Catholic Church.  From 1991 to 1993, on the very outskirts of our nation’s capital, hundreds of statues, crucifixes, even images rendered in fragile glass defied earthly constraints, weeping tears and blood before the astonished eyes of a captivated multitude. 

But the weeping was just the prelude. There was a deeper mystery brewing. The unassuming Father Bruse, the man with the shy demeanor and a pompadour hairstyle more suited to a state trooper than a priest, was experiencing something far more unsettling. Tiny red welts appeared on his wrists, palms, and even his side – mirroring the wounds inflicted upon Christ during the crucifixion.

These wounds weren’t merely visual. They bled. Suddenly, inexplicably. The parishioners described it as a “seepage,” a chilling ooze of blood. He offered his hands to the reporters readily for inspection – small, red burls like the gnarled roots of an ancient tree.  He spoke of the bleeding, a horrifying progression that started from his wrists and spread to his feet and side. The bleeding was accompanied by pain, a constant reminder etched in his flesh. “Like a stabbing, a jabbing,” 

The pain would often jolt him awake in the dead of night, sending him scrambling for solace in prayer

What did it mean? Father Jim offered an interpretation, his voice trembling with a mixture of conviction and fear. “Christ,” he whispered, “a message. He’s saying, ‘I’m here. This is real.'”

In the language of the Church, these wounds mimicking Christ’s suffering on the cross were known as “stigmata.” They typically graced mystics and revered saints – figures like Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Teresa of Avila. Throughout history, countless documents chronicled the existence of stigmata, yet offered no satisfying explanation.

Father Jim, as everyone called him, claimed the bleeding was real and a pain always lingered as a  constant reminder of his new reality. The implication hung heavy in the air: the inexplicable had not only touched the statues, it had chosen Father Jim as its vessel.

At the suggestion of his superiors, Father Jim had undergone a thorough evaluation by a local psychiatrist. The report’s details remained confidential, but  hinted at a clean bill of health. More unsettling, however, was the report of a statue inexplicably weeping in the doctor’s office during the  lengthy interview. The psychiatrist himself witnessed the phenomenon, adding another layer to the bewildering mystery.

A family doctor had also examined him, Father Jim confirmed, though he refused to reveal the doctor’s identity or share any medical reports. He simply reiterated – like the head doctor – that no known medical or psychological explanation existed for the events unfolding around him. This resolute refusal to provide details only fueled the growing suspicion: was Father Jim hiding something, or was he simply a pawn in a game beyond human comprehension?  This unassuming priest with his mustache, biker boots, and vintage Bonneville – the very man who’d never even heard of the stigmaata before this – now found himself at the center of a phenomenon defying explanation.

James Bruse. Jimmy to some attended Mary Washington university,  an all-female college in Fredericksburg Virginia, drawn inwards, then upwards – the call to serve resonating within him.  In 1984 Father Jim was ordained at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, followed by pastoral work at a string of unremarkable parishes.  Father Jim was highly regarded for his youth work, yet strangely forgettable – a man who blended seamlessly into the background.  Steady Eddie.  The very definition of unassuming.

And now the Weeping statues.  A bewildered priest at the epicenter of a potential miracle. Father Jim quietly asked himself constantly, “Why here? “Why me?”  The answer, shrouded in the same mystery as the weeping icons. Was this a divine intervention or was something more sinister at work?  

The occurrences of the weeping statues were  attributed to Fr. Jim,  putting a spotlight on him, nevertheless obedience to one’s superior remains a solemn vow for all ordained priests in the Catholic Church. This obedience to the Church hierarchy, with the Pope as the ultimate authority, is a fundamental pillar of the Church’s structure.”

Father Jim’s superior was Reverend Daniel Hamilton.  A weathered priest of 20 years, with a gruff affability, Father Dan, as everyone called him, exuded an air of intolerance for earthly and or spiritual foolishness. His faith had never relied on spectacles. Yet after Father Dan had witnessed the blood oozing from the underside of Father Jim’s wrists and had seen numerous statues weep, at times profusely even he was shaken.

The image of the crimson liquid flowing from the priest’s flesh dripping onto the pristine rectory carpet still sent shivers down his spine. 

“Skeptical? You bet I am,” Father Dan rumbled, his voice betraying a tremor of unease. “But I saw it. There’s no mistaking it. Visions aren’t my forte.”

The physical manifestations, however, were undeniable. According to Father Dan, a staggering number – “probably seven or eight hundred people by now” – had witnessed the weeping statue of Mary in the church. The once peaceful parish was now a crucible of the bizarre, and even the most grounded believers were starting to question their reality.

New Year’s Eve 1991 marked a turning point for Father Dan. It was that night, within the confines of the parish house, that he witnessed the unsettling truth firsthand. Father Jim, his curate, had sought him out earlier, a tremor of disquiet hanging in the air. He confided in Father Dan, revealing the strange occurrences he’d desperately tried to keep hidden.

Later that same night, Father Dan ventured into Father Jim’s room, with his own statue of the Virgin Mary and an encyclopedia clutched in his hands. Its pages contained chilling descriptions of a phenomenon known as stigmata. Father Jim, however, was absent. Undeterred, Father Dan placed his statute and the book on the desk, a specific page left conspicuously open.

As his gaze slowly swept across the room, a fresh wave of astonishment  washed over him. As his gaze returned to Fr. Bruse’s desk, the statue – not just any statue, but his own – was defaced in a way that sent chills down his spine.  Now, blood – or something that mimicked it perfectly – dripped in crimson droplets from the Virgin’s  cheeks. The weight of the revelation sent a tremor through Father Dan. 

Dan then, quickly,  took one of Fr. Bruse’s statue and retreated to his room, seeking solace in solitude. Deep breaths failed to calm the storm brewing within him. His gaze then fell upon his chest of drawers where he had placed the statue and a new wave of terror washed over him again. The Mary statue, the one exchanged with Father Jim, was now weeping – profusely. Tears streamed down her face, pooling in the drawers below, a chilling testament to the escalating phenomenon.

The gravity of the situation sunk in. And phenomena  wasn’t confined to the church; it had followed Father Jim, seeping into the very heart of the rectory. The act of exchanging the statues, intended as a test, now felt like a grim pact sealed in blood. “I saw it,” Father Dan insisted, his voice tight with conviction. He hadn’t tasted the crimson droplets, no. But while cleaning the statue, everything within him screamed that it was blood.

“It wouldn’t stop,” Father Dan muttered, brow furrowed in a deep crease. “A puddle. Just… endless tears.” The statue had sobbed throughout the night, offering no respite.  “It’s real, That’s all I can tell you. It’s real.”

Then on March 2, 1992, on a date shrouded in mystery,  in the hushed halls of the Chancery, – a most peculiar gathering took place. Father Hamilton, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s flock, and Father Bruse, arrived at the Bishop’s office escorting their own entourage of  statues of the Virgin Mary. 

Bishop William Keating, the esteemed leader of the Arlington Diocese, and Chancellor to the diocese  Fr. William Rienecke  awaited them.  

Bishop Keating’s office was graced with his own two statues of the Blessed Mother.   Also in the room was Monsignor Reinecke, the doomed priest with the secret past, who would end his life with a shotgun in a desolate cornfield five months later. Monsignor Reinecke brought forth his own Madonna. As these men convened,  an event unfolded that would forever alter the course of their lives.

For within the confines of that hallowed room, amidst the murmur of hushed prayers and the weight of history, a miracle transpired. All the statues, each a vessel of divine grace, wept. Tears, glistening and unexplained, flowed freely from their stoic expressions. This unprecedented event, a tapestry woven with the threads of faith and the inexplicable, left an indelible mark on Bishop Keating. 

Despite Bishop Keating’s initial enthusiasm after witnessing the miracle, he would suddenly and coldly begin to lower the curtain on the seemingly miraculous  events. His abrupt change of mind has never been revealed. Bishop Keating  died alone, suddenly of a heart attack in  Rome after meeting with the Pope in 1998 at the age of 68. 

Following the bishop’s office meeting, the diocese, in a frantic and ill-conceived attempt to quell the escalating media frenzy and circus-like atmosphere surrounding the church grounds, issued a proclamation that would forever seal the fate of the alleged Miracles on the Potomac. The hastily drafted proclamation, a testament to the diocese’s incompetence and irresponsibility, marked a new low in the execution of their duties. The Arlington Diocese needed only to look to the renowned miracle of “Our Lady of Tears” in Sicily for guidance on how to handle such supernatural claims. In Sicily, a magnificent 300-foot sanctuary stands as a tribute to a statue of the Blessed Mother that miraculously wept for four days.

Instead of an investigation, the Arlington Diocese chose to silence the matter all together with the following statement.The diocese’s official statement on the matter of the weeping statues of the Virgin Mary came from the Chancery’s office headed up by Monsignor William Rienecke. Here is the official statement:

“Staff at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Lake Ridge have notified the Diocesan Chancery of various physical phenomena involving parish statues and crucifixes. It is important to note that the Church does not rule on physical events alone, but rather on any purported message or spiritual significance attached to them. Because no specific message has been identified in this case, there is no official ecclesial declaration at this time. The Church advises great caution and discourages speculation regarding the causes or meaning of these events.”

RECEIVED MARCH 5, 1992

 Importantly the proclamation came from the Chancery’s office headed up by the Monsignor Reinecke, the priest with the shocking secret past who would end up committing suicide five months later as the statues still wept. 

Despite the diocese’s official statement, interest in the weeping statues continued to surge. On March 6th, the local CBS news station, Channel 9, aired a segment during the eleven o’clock news. This report sparked a media frenzy, with reporters flocking to Lakeridge, Virginia. The diocesan office and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church were inundated with calls from the public and the press.”

With the rising crescendo of interest from the news media, the diocese was forced to act. Bishop Keating  announced he would grant the clamoring heard of news reporters one news conference – one and only one. 

March 12, 1992: The  Press Conference:

Nearly a hundred journalists descended upon St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, a swarm of cameras and microphones poised to capture every detail. The throng of reporters included the 3  local television new stations, the Washington Post and journalists from around the globe including Australia. Motorcycle cops jostled for position, a stark contrast to the usual serenity of the place. A throng of believers gathered outside, clutching statues, their faces etched with fervent hope. Even the Virgin Mary statue had been repositioned, strategically placed for maximum photographic impact, a velvet rope holding back the eager press. The air crackled with anticipation – a miracle waiting to be captured, or a desperate hope on the verge of being exposed?

Father Jim’s press conference unfolded like a tightly scripted play, his voice barely a whisper above a nervous tremor as he read a pre-prepared statement. A small figure radiating a palpable fear, he spoke of a divine calling thrust upon him, a “gift” he neither understood nor solicited.  “If it strengthens people’s faith… “then perhaps it’s a good thing.”  With that, he retreated back into his shell, leaving the bewildered journalists to grapple with his cryptic pronouncements.

Pastor and Jim’s boss, Father Dan Hamilton, stepped forward to field questions.  The air crackled with a mix of anticipation and skepticism.  Someone dared to ask about a scientific analysis of the tears, a plea for a shred of rational explanation.  Father Dan’s response was swift and almost defensive: “There are no plans for that. It’s a matter of faith, not a science experiment. Believe it, or don’t.”

A particularly bold reporter pressed further, suggesting Father Jim touch the statue, perhaps to induce another tearful episode.  The room held its breath.  Father Dan, his voice firm but laced with a hint of exasperation, shut down the request.  “This isn’t a circus sideshow,” he declared.  The underlying message was clear – either accept this phenomenon on faith, or leave.  But was this a divine miracle or a carefully orchestrated performance?  The answer, like the weeping statues themselves, remained shrouded in an unsettling mystery.

Then Came the Silence 

Soon after the press conference, in a sudden and dramatic fashion, the Chancery Office to the diocese of Arlington, headed by Monsignor Reinecke, concerned about the “circus atmosphere” at the Lake Ridge parish and with the blessing of the Bishop, John R. Keating reiterated that the diocese would not be conducting an investigation and coldly shut everything down. 

A voice of officialdom, Monsignor Bill Reinecke, the Chancellor of the Arlington Diocese, dryly remarked: “To be honest, we’re simply monitoring the developments. We have no plan, no course of action for what comes next. We’re forced to wait. Who has expertise in such matters? I’m as bewildered as anyone. The Church doesn’t rush into pronouncements. History shows most of these claims fizzle out.”

 In a nutshell, the declaration said that since there was no overt divine message being delivered, there was nothing to investigate and the parish and the clergy from that point forward were forbidden to talk about the events. This decision, to many parishioners, was not only profoundly sad but seemed to be an odd determination since only physical phenomena can be investigated. Reports of apparitions and locutions cannot be investigated. They can merely be assessed as to whether they are consistent with Catholic faith and morals.

Bishop Keating and Monsignor Reinecke’s  decision to ignore the events did not leave a neutral opinion in its wake. It left a negative implication, some even believe the events have been condemned by the diocese of Arlington. The bishop’s apparent disinterest suggested that he must know something negative about the cause of the phenomena.

The tragedy of this situation is that the Arlington Diocese  has refused to even acknowledge the events, much less investigate them to determine whether they constitute a true sign from God that the faithful could consider as miraculous.

Seeking my own answers to what the Arlington  Diocese officially had on file regarding the Weeping Statues of Northern Virginia, I called the diocese  on June 25, 2023. The diocese was extremely difficult to communicate with and were very reluctant to say anything about the matter.  There were many unreturned phone calls and emails. Finally, after a  relentless effort to reach someone at the diocese who could speak with some official authority, chancellor of the diocese Father Robert Rippy and director of communications , Billy Atwell returned my phone calls.  Additionally I spoke with  Father Jim Bruse in February of 2017.

They confirmed the following:

1. The Arlington Diocese possesses no files or records related to the weeping statues case and conducted no formal investigation. The only public statements regarding the case were issued in a proclamation declaring that there was nothing to investigate.

2. Following an internal investigation, it was determined that Chancellor William Reineke  had been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.

3. Fr. Jim Bruse informed me via phone that most of his official interactions with the Diocese were with Fr. William Reinecke. Their conversations were largely limited to vague statements like “Let’s wait and see what happens.”

The Smoke of Satan and the Secrets of the Arlington Diocese 

Internationally known Father Gabriele Amorth, the one time Chief Exorcist in Rome, wrote in his book, Memoirs of an Exorcist: My Life fighting against Satan, that there are active Satanic sects within the Vatican “where participants reach all the way to the College of Cardinals.”  He asserts that the devil is inside  the Vatican. Sex abuse scandals in the Roman Catholic Church are proof  that “the Devil is at work inside the Vatican”,  The exorcist said that  the consequences of satanic infiltration included power struggles at the Vatican as well as “cardinals who do not believe in Jesus, and bishops who are linked to the Demon”.

The exorcist added: “When one speaks of ‘the smoke of Satan’ in the holy rooms, it is all true – including these latest stories of the abuse of minors.”

A Clarion Call Unheeded?

Beginning in the fall of 1991, events that took place near the Potomac River in Lake Ridge Virginia, became a crucible of mystery as statues of the Virgin Mary wept and Father James Bruse bore stigmata—events so extraordinary they seemed a divine summons. What message did these tears convey? The question lingers, unanswered, beneath a shadow cast by the Diocese of Arlington’s silence.

Bishop John R. Keating’s refusal to investigate, despite thousands witnessing weeping statues, crucifixes, and rosaries shifting colors, baffled the faithful. On March 11, 1992, the Chancery declared no investigation was needed, citing the absence of a clear divine message. This stance, relayed to Father Daniel Hamilton, dismissed the physical phenomena—tears, wounds, transformations—that defied explanation, phenomena that, as at Lourdes or Fatima, often validate divine signs. Fathers Hamilton and Bruse were instructed to hold a single press conference on March 12 and thereafter remain silent, stifling discussion as the miracles persisted.

Canon law expert Father Michael Smith Foster, JCD, emphasizes that bishops must discern the miraculous, ensuring the faithful are not deceived. Yet, no inquiry followed, leaving parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church to grapple alone with what they saw. The secular press published stories and photos, but the diocese’s stonewalling fueled speculation. Bishop Keating’s inaction implied condemnation, suggesting the events were false or unworthy of scrutiny.

 The head of the Arlington Diocese in Virginia, Bishop Keating, was keenly aware that statues of the Virgin Mary were weeping in his diocese, in fact,  a statue wept in his office before his disbelieving eyes. Despite his own eye-witness account he nevertheless chose to pursue a strategy of silence for unknown reasons.  The Bishop stonewalled all inquiries from the media and for many parishioners this left the impression that the Bishop had perhaps condemned the phenomena.  

Why the silence? Was it adherence to protocol, or fear of a truth too disruptive? The faithful expected investigation, as Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia later argued, decrying the dismissal of miracles without inquiry. “The wise do not investigate such silliness,” he noted, questioning why the church wasn’t filled with diocesan officials seeking answers.

The tears, as Pope John Paul II observed, are signs of a mother’s sorrow for her children’s spiritual or physical peril. Agostino Bono, writing in the Arlington Catholic Herald, noted that miraculous tears signal cosmic concern, warning of dangers. Yet, without investigation, their divine origin remains unconfirmed, their message obscured.

Father Bruse, now a beloved pastor at Our Lady of the Blue Ridge in Madison, Virginia, has never hinted at fraud. The phenomena, documented with precision, demand scrutiny. An honest investigation could resolve whether natural causes explain the marvels or if, as many believe, they bear God’s seal. Until then, the weeping statues of Lake Ridge remain a haunting riddle, their silent tears a call unanswered.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Justice Scalia’s Faith: Embracing the Supernatural

The late Justice Antonin Scalia, a devout Catholic, openly discussed his personal beliefs on the supernatural during a speech to lawyers and judges. This was a lesser-known aspect of the Justice known for his legal philosophy.

Honoring a Champion of Faith

The St. Thomas More Society recognized Justice Scalia’s contributions to the Catholic Church. In his acceptance speech, he acknowledged the skepticism many hold towards certain Christian doctrines.

Defending Core Beliefs

Justice Scalia addressed central Christian tenets like Christ’s divinity, the Virgin Birth, and the Resurrection, often viewed with derision by secular society. He argued that faithful Christians shouldn’t shy away from these core beliefs.

Faith and Reason

Scalia emphasized that faith doesn’t preclude reason. He argued that eyewitness accounts of miracles merit consideration, not dismissal. However, he didn’t advocate for blind acceptance, suggesting a more nuanced approach.

The Case of the Stigmata

Scalia referenced a case involving a Washington D.C. priest with reported stigmata and weeping statues in his presence. The Washington Post covered the story, but couldn’t explain the phenomena.

A Missed Opportunity?

Scalia expressed surprise that the event didn’t spark more curiosity, particularly among non-believers, to explore the possibility of a religious explanation. He believed many dismiss such occurrences out of hand, missing a chance for genuine investigation.

Faith in Modern Society

Justice Scalia acknowledged the perception of traditional Christian beliefs as outdated or simple-minded within intellectual circles. He pointed out a Washington Post article that stereotyped Christian fundamentalists, and suggested a similar attitude towards Catholics who engage in traditional practices like praying the rosary or pilgrimages.

NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Never in the history of the Catholic Church have so many ordained priests been eyewitness to the miraculous phenomena of weeping statues of the Virgin Mary.

Never in the history of the Catholic Church has a Bishop and his Chancellor been an eye witness to weeping statues in their own office.

Never in the History of the Church has there been an occurrence of miraculous events associated with a stigmatic priest.

Never in the history of the Catholic Church has there been a Harvard trained lawyer who not only was an eye-witness to all the miraculous events but also chronicled the occurrences in a journal in real time.

Never in the history of the Catholic Church have there been so many eye-witnesses to the weeping statues as those associated with the miracles in Virginia – over 1,000 by conservative estimates.

Never in the History of the Church has a weeping statue been captured on television.

Never in the history of the Catholic Church has there been such a spontaneous media frenzy associated with a religious event consisting of unexplained mysterious occurrences.

Never in the history of the Catholic Church has a stigmatic priest not become a Saint – The others St. Francis of Assisi and Saint Padre Pio of Italy. (There are only two other priests in the history of the Church that received the stigmata – the wounds of Christ)

Never in the history of the Catholic Church has a stigmatic priest who was associated with miraculous events undergone psychiatric tests. Most astonishing was the physician’s personal encounter with weeping statue during the examination. The doctor simply said to Father Bruse as the tears were flowing – “Your statue is crying”

Never in the History of the Catholic Church has a stigmatic priest been examined by a physician who witnessed the bleeding and determined it was unexplainable.

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MOre CONTent

Excerpts from the seton miracle

I began this journal at a time when not many people were aware of the weeping statues, stigmata of Fr. Bruse and other phenomena which had begun only two months earlier. At that time, no one was making a formal effort to record the events for accuracy and posterity. It seemed to me that it was vitally important that this be done so that others who were not so fortunate as to be eyewitnesses to the events would at least have a comprehensive summary of what transpired here. Later, the reaction of my high school religious education. students and. friends with “how I shared these stories made me realize that all of us have an obligation to share this news with anyone who may be interested and seeking affirmation of their faith in Gad. Physical miracles are thrilling  to behold, but they are of little value, truly, unless they lead souls to conversion and to God. The most wonderful thing about a miracle  is that this spiritual benefit can be shared by all who learn of it, not merely the direct beneííciary.

      The material presented  in these pages involves so many events and so many people in so many diverse locations  as te be overwhelmingly convincing, Aóding even more stories  and case histories is fascinating and worthwhile, but somewhat redundant also.