Sylvia Torres recalls being skeptical when she traveled to a
home in Watsonville a couple of weeks ago to see a cross in the
house’s window that was purported to be a miracle. Watch the
video
Sylvia Torres recalls being skeptical when she traveled to a home in Watsonville a couple of weeks ago to see a cross in the house’s window that was purported to be a miracle.
Then crosses of refracted light began appearing in the front window of her family’s own house on Swaner Drive last week.
Now, she is a believer.
“I’ve been here eight years, and this has never happened,” she said.
At least 200 people have stopped by the home at 1288 Swaner Drive since Friday, when a young boy first spotted the image.
Neighbor Jesus Gonzalez, 10, was the first person to see the image while hanging out with the Torres children last week.
“I was right here waiting for my friend, and I said hey, ‘Doesn’t that look like a cross?'” Jesus recalled.
Sylvia said she did not know what to think when she first heard about it. The Torreses have used various light sources since that time, including light bulbs, candles and flashlights. The result is always the same: a luminous cross of refracted light with a diamond-like aura behind it. The usual light bulb the Torreses use inside the house creates an image that’s nearly three feet tall, while the candles create smaller crosses of light that are only several inches.
The Torreses said they are Christians, but they are not “practicing,” and they do not attend church anywhere in town.
“We’re gonna start,” Torres said with a laugh.
People gradually have been finding out about the cross through word of mouth, she said. They come from all walks of life – different ethnicities, different faith backgrounds, even different towns, Torres said. Some people have traveled from Morgan Hill and Watsonville to see the apparition.
People generally come en masse about 5 or 6 p.m., after they finish work, said Horacio Torres, Sylvia Torres’ husband. In addition, about 10 people show up per hour throughout the day.
“It’s like their coming like ants,” Horacio said with a laugh.
It’s even gotten to the point that the family is planning to set up visiting hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
A priest from the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Jose stopped by this week to see the cross, and told the family that it was a blessing, Sylvia said.
One man, who was passing out Christian literature in front of Arteaga’s Super Save market on First Street, stopped by and also told the family it was a sign from God.
“He said, ‘You have a great responsibility’,” Sylvia said. “‘It’s to tell people to repent of their sins.'”
Practicing Roman Catholics tend to believe the cross’ veracity right away, but some people who are logically minded are more skeptical, Sylvia said.
Yet, even some of the skeptics said they have been convinced.
Kern Avenue resident Jackie Velazquez was among the throngs of people who were amazed at the image.
“It’s incredible!” Velazquez said. “We went inside the house, and it’s not a trick. I’m not even a believer, and it made me cry.”
Another woman who stopped by Thursday entered the bathroom and gingerly examined the window. Someone shone a light source from outside the window, and it appeared as a cross from inside the bathroom.
“I want to disprove this,” she said, although she said she could not immediately do so.
Family members say it has become a bit wearisome to contend with all the onlookers.
“It takes privacy away from my home,” Sylvia said.
Still, she and Horacio said they have felt a sense of peace come over their house since crosses began appearing in the window.
Their young daughter, Lucila, said she is not sure what to think of it all.
“I’m kind of scared,” she said.
The family plans to have a recital of a rosary at the house at 5 p.m. Monday.
They said they are not trying to attract attention from outsiders, but they are also not refusing those who want to take a look.
“It’s a blessing,” Sylvia Torres said. “God said, ‘If you don’t come to visit me, we’re going to visit you.'”
