For the second time this year, worshippers in the Huila department have discovered what they say is the appearance of the Holy Virgin.
According to local newspaper Diario del Huila, a depiction of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was seen on the water tank of a farm just outside the village of Villavieja.
“My cousin felt that he was told to ‘look over there’ and when he looked the Virgin was there. He took a photo with his cellphone and showed it to an uncle and the went to have a look,” Yenny Olaya told the newspaper.
After the uncle confirmed the image on the water tank was indeed the Virgin, other inhabitants from the rural community came. According to the owner of the house where Rocio Olaya lives, the Virgin appeared as a candle burning and illuminated like “butterfly-like sparks” until there was no doubt the image was of the Mother of God herself.
After the Virgin’s first appearance on December 8, one day after the appearance of another Virgin 70 miles south west of Villavieja, the villagers have come to worship and pray. “The people are still coming to pray and bring candles for the Virgin appearance,” Olaya said.
The local priest told worshipers to light candles and pray at the Virgin appearance, but higher levels of the church have still not appeared the verify whether the Virgin is not a simple rust stain as critics may say.
Virgin appearances are common in Colombia and have in the past been witnessed on palm trees, in coffee cups and pigeon feces.