Thousands ofCatholic faithfuls and onlookers yesterday thronged the St PaulCatholic Church, located along the busy Airport Road in Benin City toview the appearance of a strange image believed to be that of JesusChrist in a "Monstrance" at the church's sanctuary.
The massive crowd halted vehicular traffic on the road for several hours, causing discomfort for travellers and road users.
When the reporter found his way into the main auditorium of the church, a faint imagecould still be observed on a gold plated circular object on the alterplaced on a table, with two linings of coloured lighting on both sidesof the gold plated object.
It was a tough job trying to get information from members of the church as they describedthe "mysterious appearance" as a spiritual happening. They alsohelpfully added that it may be difficult for a layman and non-Catholicto decipher.
A worker in the church's sanctuary said the image was an "expression of the blessedsacrament, but when sacrament is exposed, we usually see the whitebackground in the gold plated object placed on the alter. But sinceyesterday afternoon (Wednesday), we have been seeing Jesus' form in thebackground which is supposed to be white and it has been there tillnow, but it is beginning to go faint now." The assistant priest of thechurch, Chima Okosisi refused to make any official pronouncement on thesighting. "This is a strange development here, unusual here, similarthings have happened before in other places, we revered it," he said.
Hour of mercy
A member of the church, Bernedette Idalo said the image appeared at about 3 pm onWednesday, which she said was the hour of divine mercy; the exact timeJesus was said to have died when he was crucified. She however, saidthat it was totally strange to the church as similar images haveappeared on the wall and other places before now.
"This apparition can stay for days and weeks, it is meant to strengthen our faith. Awoman was in a trance when the thing happened and she said our Lordsaid we should praise Him more," she said.
As at the time of filing this report, hundreds of persons were still waiting at the church while some were praying to see if a bolderimage of Jesus would appear later.
