There is a little neighbourhood known as “Tal-Mirakli,” or “The Miraculous Neighbourhood,” in the centre of Malta. The church in Lija, built in 1664 in the place of a previous church, is now surrounded by a quiet residential area. However, locals in the area were initially drawn in by an occurrence that took place within the church in 1743. Those in attendance claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary wiping away a tear. Unbelievably, the island had a strong earthquake the next day, but no fatalities were reported, which was viewed as a miraculous occurrence. The locals immediately connected these two occurrences, giving the church the name of “Tal-Mirakli,” which is still in use today. Legends frequently mention the Madonna crying, however a plaque that goes with the artwork gives a different narrative, claiming that the Madonna started sweating instead of crying.