Monsignor Count Franciscus von Campos Barreto, Bishop of the Diocese of Campinas, established the Institute with Sister Amalia's help as a cofoundress. Sister was also one of the first eight women to dedicate their lives to the service of God there.

As Saint Francis, Padre Pio and Theresa Neumann, Sister Amalia was privileged to bear the stigmata of Christ. By this mark alone, it is apparent her destiny was to be a victim soul for the needy. This certainly was befitting her generous and sacrificial nature.

On December 8 -- the Feast of the Immaculate Conception -- 1927, Sister Amalia made her temporary vows and received her habit. Exactly four years later, on December 8, 1931, she professed her perpetual vows, and became a nun consecrated to the Church and God.

Sister's Tearful Relation

One day in the Fall of 1929, one of Sister Amalia's male relatives called on her at the convent. He was in great need. His wife was seriously ill, and he was -- understandably and sadly -- greatly distressed. He relayed to sister, that according to the diagnosis of several doctors, his spouse's affliction was incurable, and he did not know what to do or what God expected of him. She was his last hope.

Grief-stricken and teary-eyed, her relation cried despairingly aloud, "What will happen with the children?"

Sister Amalia's heart also grieved at the sight of her relative's sorrow, and the hardship facing both him and his dependent offspring. Her innate inclinations compelled her to desire to help in any way possible, so while this tale of woe was being told, she turned interiorly towards our Divine Savior in deep reflection and prayer, seeking intently what she could offer or do.

Simultaneously listening and soul-searching, Sister Amalia felt an inner impulse urging her to visit Jesus in church. When their meeting had ended, she faithfully and swiftly responded to this calling.

Seeking Help: To Jesus in Chapel

Upon entering the house of God, Sister Amalia reverently genuflected and proceeded to the steps just before the altar. Here she knelt down and extended her arms towards Jesus in the tabernacle. (By her own account and example, we see Sister Amalia as a highly-perfected soul, with the sweet and tender grace of recognizing -- and responding to -- the Divine Presence of our Lord and Savior in the Most Blessed Sacrament.)

In this devout disposition and posture -- humbly submissive to our Eucharistic King -- she spoke to Jesus, "If there is no hope for the wife of T. . ., then I am ready to offer my life for the mother of the family. What do you want me to do?"

Jesus answered,

"If you want to receive these favors, ask me for the sake of My Mother's tears."

Sister Amalia asked further, "How must I pray?"

In answering, Jesus gave her the following invocations:

"Oh Jesus, listen to our prayers for the sake of the tears of Your most holy Mother!

Oh Jesus, look upon the tears of the one who loved You most on earth and loves You most ardently in heaven!"

Finally, Jesus added,

"My daughter, whatever people will beg Me for the sake of the tears of My Mother, I shall lovingly grant them.

Later, My Mother will hand over this treasure to our beloved Institute as a Magnet of mercy."

This took place on November 8, 1929.

God's Prophecy Fulfilled

Jesus fulfilled this promise to Sister Amalia exactly four months later, in the Spring of the following year. At the divinely appointed time, the Blessed Virgin Mary gave this treasure to heaven's beloved Institute. The following are Sister Amalia's own recollections of what took place.

"It was March 8, 1930. I was in the chapel kneeling on the steps of the altar, as I suddenly felt myself being lifted up.

Then I saw a woman of unspeakable beauty approaching me. She wore a violet robe, blue mantle, and a white veil draped over her shoulders. Smiling, she floated in the air towards me, holding a rosary in her hands, which she herself called "corona" [i.e. circle and means rosary]. Its beads shined like the sun and were as white as snow. Handing me this rosary she said to me,

'This is the rosary of my tears, which is being entrusted by my Son to His beloved Institute as a portion of His inheritance.

The invocations were already given by my Son.

My Son wants to honor me in a special way through these invocations, and so, He will grant all graces that are begged for the sake of my tears.

This rosary will provide for the conversion of many sinners, especially those possessed by the devil.

To the Institute of the Crucified Jesus is reserved a special honor, that is the conversion of many members of a wicked sect to the blooming tree of the Church.

Through this rosary the devil will be conquered and the power of hell will be destroyed.

Get ready for this great battle.'

When our Blessed Mother Mary had finished speaking, she disappeared."

Documentation

In 1934 -- just a few years after the apparitions -- His Excellency Bishop Franciscus von Campinas traveled from Rome to Germany to visit Theresa Neumann in Konnersreuth. He also went to see the Oberammergau Passion Play on May 27th.

Through documentation secured from a contemplative order in Germany and recorded in a pamphlet entitled "Our Dear Lady of Tears," we relay all the particulars and public announcements regarding the apparitions in Campinas and about Sister Amalia -- as given first hand by the Bishop.

His Excellency assured that not only in Brazil, but also in other countries, that after wearing the medal of our dear Lady of Tears -- revealed to Sister Amalia in another apparition by the Mother of God -- innumerable conversions had taken place.

"Innnumerable graces have been received through the praying of the rosary to honor the tears of our dear Lady. The reason lies in the promise of the holy Savior, 'no favor will be refused, when asked of Him for the sake of the tears of His most holy Mother.'

It is well known, that the holy Savior rewards in a special way the sincere reverence for the sorrows of His most holy Mother, which alone are the cause of her tears. Also from Germany, Holland, and Belgium many report of extraordinary favors and graces. They prayed the rosary of our Lady of the Tears daily for nine days, received the holy sacraments and performed works of mercy.

From religious, we understand, that the praying of this rosary is a very dear habit to which they attribute extraordinary graces. For that reason, they pray it daily often to ask graces for themselves and others, the conversion of sinners, heretics, and atheists, to obtain graces for priests and missionaries, to help the dying, and to free the poor souls from Purgatory.

A believing, pious soul, for whom the good of the holy Church, and the honor of God is close at heart, knows without special guidance, what it can and will obtain from our gracious Redeemer through the tears of His most holy Mother.

When sorrow and suffering fill our heart, we direct our thoughts to God. Through the tears of Mary, His most holy Mother, we soften the heart of God, even though it is ever ready to grant us kindness, graces and blessings.

At the present, so it seems to us, the blessed tears of the Mother of Jesus are especially powerful to win the heart of God." -- Msgr. Count Franciscus von Campos Barreto, Bishop of Campinas

Mary's Tears

In this vale of tears world we live in, the apparition of our Blessed Mother to Sister Amalia was not the first or only time that Holy Mary bore her sorrow before one of her children.

In the approved account of Mélanie Calvat -- the shepherdess of La Salette -- we witness Our Lady of La Salette's deep sadness, when she appeared in the French Alps on September 19, 1846:

"The Holy Virgin was crying nearly the whole time she spoke to me. Her tears flowed gently, one by one, down to her knees, then, like sparks of light, they disappeared. They were glittering and full of love. I would have liked to comfort Her and stop Her tears. But it seemed to me that She needed the tears to show better Her love forgotten by men. I would have liked to throw myself into Her arms and say to Her: 'My kind Mother, do not cry! I want to love you for all men on earth.' But she seemed to be saying to me: There are so many who know me not!

I was in between life and death, and on one side, I saw so much desire by this Mother to be loved, and on another side, so much cold and indifference . . . Oh! my Mother, most beautiful and lovable Mother, my love, heart of my heart!

The tears of our sweet Mother, far from lessening her air of majesty, of a Queen and a Mistress, seemed, on the contrary, to embellish Her, to make Her more beautiful, more powerful, more filled with love, more maternal, more ravishing, and I could have wiped away her tears which made my heart leap with compassion and love. To see a Mother cry, and such a M other, without doing everything possible to comfort her and change her grief into joy, is that possible? Oh! Mother, who is more than good, you have been formed with all the prerogatives God is able to make; you have married the power of God, so to speak; you are good, and more, you are good with the goodness of God Himself. God has extended Himself by making you his terrestrial and celestial masterpiece."

This is a deeply moving account.

Another visit from our Lady -- in tears -- occurred over the course of five days, from August 29 to September 2, 1953 in Syracuse, Sicily. Then and there, the image of Mary cried incessantly from a common terra-cotta plaque.

Thousands of people came to witness this miracle of Mary's tears in the simple home of a poor Sicilian laborer. A thorough investigation of the event was conducted by the Church, and confirmed -- through the bishops of Sicily -- that the communication was divinely ordained.

Pope Pius XII, the angelic pastor, was most exclamatory on the Vatican radio, when he proclaimed, "O the tears of Mary!"

Mediatrix of All Grace

A sound and reverent appreciation for the efficacy of the Blessed Virgin Mary's tears should proceed directly from the most simple of meditations on the Passion of Christ.

As we reflect on Jesus' unimaginable agony along the way to Golgotha or nailed to the wood of the Cross, our contemplations are only complete and accurate when they recall and commiserate Mary's sufferings aside her divine Son.

Immediately after meeting Mary on the way to His execution, Jesus was assisted by both Simon the Cyrenean and Saint Veronica. Did not our Lady's motherly tears and prayers effectively intercede for, and obtain these consolations?

Assuredly, her tears of love have obtained -- and continue to -- many consolations for us also, as we ascend our little calvaries. Who can discount the co-redemptive power and force of Mary's immaculate tears? Who also does not want to kiss them away by offering sweet Mother Mary their entire beings.

As Jesus died on the Cross, Mary died interiorly, perfectly -- prayerfully -- offering the sacrifice of her divine Son (with Him) to the Father, for the salvation of all us poor sinners.

As Jesus has given us His Sacred Heart, Mary has given us her Immaculate Heart.

As Jesus has given us His Most Precious Blood, Mary has given us her Most Precious Tears.

In today's perilous times, as we are besieged with seemingly endless and evermore ferocious attacks on the Church and our own salvation, from those who "don't know Mary" -- and those who don't care to -- let the prudent among us seek the support of the tears of Mary, that they may evermore keep us in the Blood of Christ.

Let us "Get ready for this great battle."

The Seven Sorrows of Mary

Another popular devotion to honor and appease the tears of our Lady is to meditate on her seven sorrows. They are Mary's sorrow:

1. At the Presentation and Simeon's prophecy

2. During the flight into Egypt

3. Having lost Jesus for three days

4. Meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa

5. Seeing Jesus crucified and die

6. Seeing Jesus' Sacred Heart pierced

7. Having to bury Jesus

The rosary of Our Lady of Tears may be used to pray the chaplet in honor of Mary's seven sorrows. Simply meditate on her sorrows, and pray on the beads as you would pray the rosary, i.e. Our Fathers followed by Hail Marys.