Moving statues
Encyclopedia
The moving statues phenomenon occurred during the summer of 1985 in Ireland
, where statues of the Virgin Mary were reported to move spontaneously.
In Ballinspittle
, County Cork
in July 1985, an observer claimed to have seen a roadside statue of the Virgin Mary move spontaneously. Similar occurrences were reported shortly afterward in Mount Melleray
, County Waterford
and at around 30 other locations around the country. They were not all Marian apparitions
. Some involved other divine figures and/or saints who appeared in stains on Church walls etc. Thousands gathered at many of the sites out of curiosity or to gaze in wonder and to pray. Up to 100,000 were said to have visited the Ballinspittle site alone. The Catholic Church remained reticent or highly skeptical and a bishop declared the whole phenomenon 'an illusion'. The Ballinspittle statue was damaged by a gang of hammer-wielding Pentecostalist
protesters against idolatry
(or mariolatry), but it was repaired. In 2002 the BBC
planned a documentary on the phenomenon.
Though the moving statue phenomenon quickly faded a few small 'cults
' persisted for some years after the peak activity of 1985 and one set off by road to convert Russia.
A team of psychologists based in University College Cork recorded 31 apparition
sites and explained the visions
as being optical illusions caused by staring at objects in the evening twilight. Others have argued that the Moving Statues and other extraordinary, international phenomenon like the "flying-saucer" religions and many other new religious and occult
movements are best explained as responses to an existential angst that was exacerbated by the Cold War
and other sources of social stress but with ultimate origins in cultural or religious norms, family dynamics, and personal psychology.
The site is about a mile (1.6 km) along the Ballinspittle to Kinsale
road. In a ravine the life-sized blue-and white paint
ed plaster
statue of a woman stands about 4 metres above the road, fronted by a balustrade of large blue concrete letters reading "The Immaculate Conception
". The head of the statue is surrounded by small electric bulbs in the form of a halo
. Across the ravine is an unfenced grassy slope with some benches. In front is a blue boilerplate box for donations, secured by two large padlocks.
A printed notice beside the "grotto" states that its continual upkeep is designed to keep the people of Ballinspittle focused on their veneration of the Virgin Mary, and also to inspire faith in "mere passers by".
Anthropologist Peter Mulholland argues that the continuing role of Marian apparitions in Irish popular culture reflects family structure and experiences of institutional violence.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, where statues of the Virgin Mary were reported to move spontaneously.
In Ballinspittle
Ballinspittle
Ballinspittle is a village in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. It is in the parish of Courceys and lies about 8km south-west of Kinsale...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in July 1985, an observer claimed to have seen a roadside statue of the Virgin Mary move spontaneously. Similar occurrences were reported shortly afterward in Mount Melleray
Mount Melleray
Mount Melleray is a townland situated in the Knockmealdown Mountains near Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, Ireland.-Abbey:...
, County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
and at around 30 other locations around the country. They were not all Marian apparitions
Marian apparitions
A Marian apparition is an event in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed to have supernaturally appeared to one or more people. They are often given names based on the town in which they were reported, or on the sobriquet which was given to Mary on the occasion of the apparition...
. Some involved other divine figures and/or saints who appeared in stains on Church walls etc. Thousands gathered at many of the sites out of curiosity or to gaze in wonder and to pray. Up to 100,000 were said to have visited the Ballinspittle site alone. The Catholic Church remained reticent or highly skeptical and a bishop declared the whole phenomenon 'an illusion'. The Ballinspittle statue was damaged by a gang of hammer-wielding Pentecostalist
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
protesters against idolatry
Idolatry
Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God. In all the Abrahamic religions idolatry is strongly forbidden, although...
(or mariolatry), but it was repaired. In 2002 the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
planned a documentary on the phenomenon.
Though the moving statue phenomenon quickly faded a few small 'cults
Cults
Cults is a suburb on the western edge of Aberdeen, Scotland. It lies on the banks of the River Dee and marks the eastern boundary of Royal Deeside.Cults, known for its historic granite housing, sits approximately six miles from the coast of the North Sea...
' persisted for some years after the peak activity of 1985 and one set off by road to convert Russia.
A team of psychologists based in University College Cork recorded 31 apparition
Apparition
Generally, an apparition is an instance of something's appearing, i.e. being seen. The term may refer to:- Supernatural :*Apparitional experience, an anomalous, quasi-perceptual experience...
sites and explained the visions
Hallucination
A hallucination, in the broadest sense of the word, is a perception in the absence of a stimulus. In a stricter sense, hallucinations are defined as perceptions in a conscious and awake state in the absence of external stimuli which have qualities of real perception, in that they are vivid,...
as being optical illusions caused by staring at objects in the evening twilight. Others have argued that the Moving Statues and other extraordinary, international phenomenon like the "flying-saucer" religions and many other new religious and occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
movements are best explained as responses to an existential angst that was exacerbated by the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and other sources of social stress but with ultimate origins in cultural or religious norms, family dynamics, and personal psychology.
The site is about a mile (1.6 km) along the Ballinspittle to Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
road. In a ravine the life-sized blue-and white paint
Paint
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...
ed plaster
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
statue of a woman stands about 4 metres above the road, fronted by a balustrade of large blue concrete letters reading "The Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
". The head of the statue is surrounded by small electric bulbs in the form of a halo
Halo (religious iconography)
A halo is a ring of light that surrounds a person in art. They have been used in the iconography of many religions to indicate holy or sacred figures, and have at various periods also been used in images of rulers or heroes...
. Across the ravine is an unfenced grassy slope with some benches. In front is a blue boilerplate box for donations, secured by two large padlocks.
A printed notice beside the "grotto" states that its continual upkeep is designed to keep the people of Ballinspittle focused on their veneration of the Virgin Mary, and also to inspire faith in "mere passers by".
Anthropologist Peter Mulholland argues that the continuing role of Marian apparitions in Irish popular culture reflects family structure and experiences of institutional violence.