Bleeding' Christ attracts thousands in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Thousands of Mumbaikars queued up outside the St Michael's Church in Mahim on Saturday to catch a glimpse of the framed picture of Jesus Christ with a red stain on his heart, being considered by devotees a miracle. On Friday, reports of a portion of the picture around the heart of Jesus darkening had crowds flocking in till about 1am. The Catholic Church, however, said it is not regarding this as a miracle. While on Friday, church authorities had a tough time handling the crowd that thronged the church, on Saturday the devotees were only allowed in single file into the church compound. Some touched the picture, others kissed it and said brief prayers. A spokesperson for the Catholic Bishop of Mumbai said they had not declared the incident a miracle. Fr Antony Charanghat said, "People are drawn to God in different ways and this could be one of them. The Catholic Church has a lengthy and vigorous process of inquiry before it declares any incident a miracle." Fr Donat D'Souza of St Michael parish said the darkening of the stain was noticed soon after the last service in the Church on Friday at around 8.45 pm. "It could be caused by moisture," he said. Several people, acting as ushers at the church, were convinced it was a miracle. Sandeep Piedade said "I think it is a miracle, what else can it be," he said. P Moses another usher exclaimed," Can it be anything except a miracle."