Shrine damaged by fire overnight; inscription in English left on pedestal
Authorities in Bosnia on Tuesday investigated the desecration of a Virgin Mary statue in the southern village of Medjugorje, a popular destination for Roman Catholic pilgrims. A shrine at the site was also damaged by fire overnight, according to the Associated Press.
Photographs from the site published in local media showed the statue of Our Lady with her face and hands painted black. An inscription in English on the pedestal read “Devil in a skirt,” the AP reported.
Medjugorje, located in the wine-making region of southern Bosnia, became a focus of global Catholic attention in 1981, when six children and teenagers reported seeing visions of the Madonna on a hill. Some of the original seers have said the visions have continued regularly since then, at times daily, and that Mary sends them messages.
Two years ago, the Vatican gave the green light for Catholics to continue flocking to Medjugorje, offering its approval for devotion at the site.