O Mary bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life: Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life.
The beautiful miniature stained glass window can be seen inside of Saint Jude's Catholic Church, located on 40 Maxim Drive in Hopatcong, NJ, USA.
The photographs and video, including the following excerpt is from Morgan Hill Times which reported a story about a cross that continues to appear in a window of home in Watsonville, CA.
Sylvia Torres recalls being skeptical when she traveled to a home in Watsonville a couple of weeks ago to see a cross in the house's window that was purported to be a miracle.
Then crosses of refracted light began appearing in the front window of her family's own house on Swaner Drive last week.
Now, she is a believer.
"I've been here eight years, and this has never happened," she said.
At least 200 people have stopped by the home at 1288 Swaner Drive since Friday, when a young boy first spotted the image.
Neighbor Jesus Gonzalez, 10, was the first person to see the image while hanging out with the Torres children last week.
"I was right here waiting for my friend, and I said hey, 'Doesn't that look like a cross?'" Jesus recalled.
Sylvia said she did not know what to think when she first heard about it. The Torreses have used various light sources since that time, including light bulbs, candles and flashlights. The result is always the same: a luminous cross of refracted light with a diamond-like aura behind it. The usual light bulb the Torreses use inside the house creates an image that's nearly three feet tall, while the candles create smaller crosses of light that are only several inches.
The Torreses said they are Christians, but they are not "practicing," and they do not attend church anywhere in town.
"We're gonna start," Torres said with a laugh.
Photo by Lora Schraft
People gradually have been finding out about the cross through word of mouth, she said. They come from all walks of life - different ethnicities, different faith backgrounds, even different towns, Torres said. Some people have traveled from Morgan Hill and Watsonville to see the apparition.
People generally come en masse about 5 or 6 p.m., after they finish work, said Horacio Torres, Sylvia Torres' husband. In addition, about 10 people show up per hour throughout the day.
"It's like their coming like ants," Horacio said with a laugh.
It's even gotten to the point that the family is planning to set up visiting hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
A priest from the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Jose stopped by this week to see the cross, and told the family that it was a blessing, Sylvia said.
One man, who was passing out Christian literature in front of Arteaga's Super Save market on First Street, stopped by and also told the family it was a sign from God.
"He said, 'You have a great responsibility'," Sylvia said. "'It's to tell people to repent of their sins.'"
Practicing Roman Catholics tend to believe the cross' veracity right away, but some people who are logically minded are more skeptical, Sylvia said.
Yet, even some of the skeptics said they have been convinced.
Kern Avenue resident Jackie Velazquez was among the throngs of people who were amazed at the image.
"It's incredible!" Velazquez said. "We went inside the house, and it's not a trick. I'm not even a believer, and it made me cry."
Family members say it has become a bit wearisome to contend with all the onlookers.
"It takes privacy away from my home," Sylvia said.
Still, she and Horacio said they have felt a sense of peace come over their house since crosses began appearing in the window.
Their young daughter, Lucila, said she is not sure what to think of it all.
"I'm kind of scared," she said.
The family plans to have a recital of a rosary at the house at 5 p.m. Monday.
They said they are not trying to attract attention from outsiders, but they are also not refusing those who want to take a look.
"It's a blessing," Sylvia Torres said. "God said, 'If you don't come to visit me, we're going to visit you.'"
