Our Lady of Soufanieh

Our Lady of Soufanieh refers to Marian apparitions reported to have occurred in Soufanieh, a suburb of Damascus in Syria starting in 1982.

Flow of oil from an image of the Virgin Mary

History

The apparitions reportedly occurred in December 1982, and January, February and March 1983. A flow of oil from an image of the Virgin Mary (described as miraculous), as well as oozing of oil from the face and hands of Myrna Nazzour, is said by observers to have accompanied the apparitions.[1]

Reporter Brigid Keenan wrote that the oil ostensibly produced by Nazzour has been analyzed as "100 per cent olive oil", and that hundreds of people, including some doctors and psychiatrists, have witnessed Nazzour's secretions and failed to find evidence of trickery. According to her reports, Nazzour developed stigmata wounds in the "forehead, hands, feet and side", and the Virgin appeared to her outside her own home. Nazzour said the Virgin told her that "Christians should pray for peace, love one another and pray for the unity of the Christian churches."[2]

Skepticism Regarding Nazzour's Stigmata

Since all wounds on Nazzour's hands, feet, and side (at the exception of her face) manifested under an opaque blanket, there is no clear evidence for supporting the claim that her stigmata occurred from divine intervention.

Documented footage and images of Nazzour show how she was continuously moving under her blanket before her wounds were revealed. It is believed that Nazzour used her crucifix pendant to create the scratches on her body while she was under her blanket. This is a reasonable explanation for three reasons. First, her pendant is long enough to reach the desired loci of stigmata on her body as it remains on her neck. Second, the shape of her crucifix's sharp edges match the width of her scratches. Third, upon the showing of the alleged stigmata, Nazzour's crucifix is seen at the place of the wound.

Authority Bias

The inability for doctors and psychiatrists to detect trickery on Nazzour's part is not sufficient evidence to suggest the occurrence of miracles, it is authority bias. The reliability and validity of these doctors and psychiatrists' measurements or observations of Nazzour's stigmata are not mentioned. Therefore, trickery must still be assumed.

References

Nicholas J. Santoro (12 August 2011). Mary in Our Life: Atlas of the Names and Titles of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and Their Place in Marian Devotion. iUniverse. pp. 507–. ISBN 978-1-4620-4021-6. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
Keenan, Brigid (11 August 1994). "Myrna and the oil: an everyday miracle: How does a woman become a modern saint? In Damascus Brigid Keenan met Myrna Nazzour and saw for herself . . ". The Independent (UK). Retrieved 8 November 2011.

External links

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[Santoro2011-1] Nicholas J. Santoro (12 August 2011). Mary in Our Life: Atlas of the Names and Titles of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and Their Place in Marian Devotion. iUniverse. pp. 507–. ISBN 978-1-4620-4021-6. Retrieved 8 November 2011.

[Keenan-2] Keenan, Brigid (11 August 1994). "Myrna and the oil: an everyday miracle: How does a woman become a modern saint? In Damascus Brigid Keenan met Myrna Nazzour and saw for herself . . ". The Independent (UK). Retrieved 8 November 2011.