Lithuania marks its own vision of Mary

SILUVA, Lithuania - As Pope Benedict visited Lourdes in France yesterday for the 150th anniversary of the vision of the Virgin Mary, Lithuania was preparing to mark its own, earlier apparition of Christ's mother.

Though little known outside the Baltic state, the shrine at the village of Siluva attracts about 100,000 visitors a year and the Church is expecting about 15,000 to 20,000 pilgrims for a special anniversary Mass today.

The Siluva apparition occurred in 1608, unusually before non-Catholics including a Calvinist pastor. The vision's appearance is credited by some religious scholars with helping restore Catholicism to the region, which had turned away from the Church during the Protestant Reformation.

Now nearly 80 percent of Lithuanians consider themselves Roman Catholics and the faithful have been arriving in the last few days at Siluva dressed in national costume and waving flags.

Some pilgrims have walked tens of miles in groups, praying and singing religious songs along the way. Some come to be healed, others want to pray.

"This is one of the main sites to give thanks to Mary in Lithuania. People come here also because they have different problems, sufferings, and we know this is a miraculous place," said Angele Brazdziute, who traveled from the capital Vilnius.

As in Lourdes, Siluva in central Lithuania has had events leading up to the anniversary Mass today and the site has been busy in recent days.