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1608Holy See Approved
Our Lady of Siluva
Siluva, Lithuania
Visionaries: Shepherd children, later adults including a blind man
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Overview
Our Lady appeared weeping on a large rock to shepherd children near the town of Siluva, Lithuania. She held the infant Jesus in her arms and wept because the land, once Catholic, had been taken over by Calvinists and the people had abandoned the true faith. The apparitions led to the restoration of Catholicism in the region and the recovery of a buried miraculous painting of the Virgin Mary.
History
In 1608, shepherd children tending their flocks near Siluva saw a beautiful young woman standing on a rock, weeping and holding a baby. When asked why she wept, she replied that formerly her Son was worshipped on this spot but now the people had given the land to plowmen. A Calvinist minister attempted to investigate but was struck by the vision himself. The apparitions led to a legal battle that resulted in the return of Catholic church properties. A buried iron chest containing a miraculous painting of the Virgin Mary was discovered, guided by the testimony of a blind man whose sight was restored. The apparitions are considered the first approved Marian apparitions in Europe.
Pilgrim ExperienceVisited March 2025
My visit to Our Lady of Siluva
My pilgrimage to Our Lady of Siluva in Siluva was a turning point in my spiritual life. I went expecting a nice trip and came home with a renewed faith. The other pilgrims I met there became friends, and we still keep in touch.
November 10, 2025