Mexico City: A massive 7.1 earthquake rocked Mexico City and its surrounding areas on September 19, causing devastation and killing at least 217 people. But in the midst of this tragedy, a viral post on social media has given people hope.

Right after the earthquake, some Catholics who were nearby Toluca Cathedral decided the best thing to do was to head inside and pray before the Blessed Sacrament for God’s mercy and help.

According to a viral post on Facebook, that’s when something amazing happened:

“At the moment we were praying to the Blessed Sacrament, those who were present saw how the monstrance turned red and we could see on the cross the blood of Christ,” Lili Orozco Días wrote on Facebook.

She described the incident as “an awesome experience” and posted photos that she had taken. “Glory to God for such a miracle,” she added.

The person claimed the monstrance turned blood red. Hundreds of thousands of people have shared the pictures since then.

The same post included this video of people singing before the Eucharist:

It’s impossible to know for certain what these people saw.

Some people say that the border of the monstrance, originally gold, miraculously turned red. And indeed, in some of the pictures, the border sort of looks red. But that might be due to the poor lighting and the poor quality of the pictures.

The frightening tragedy struck Mexico City on the anniversary of a devastating 1985 earthquake that killed thousands in and around the same city.

The US Geological Survey reported a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter some 160 km away from the Mexican capital, near Puebla.

Among the victims: at least 21 children and four adults who were inside a school that collapsed.

Thirty-two buildings collapsed in the city.

Images and video from on the ground in Mexico City show buildings crumbling, thousands of people in the streets, and search and rescue efforts beginning in the immediate aftermath.

On September 20, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto declared three days of national mourning for the victims.

The same day, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the people of Mexico and sought the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe for all those who have died or lost loved ones.

“In this moment of sorrow I want to express my closeness and prayer to all the beloved Mexican population. Let us all raise our prayers together to God so that he may welcome into his bosom those who have lost their lives, comfort the wounded, their families and all those affected,” the pontiff said after the General Audience.

He also asked for prayers for all military personnel and others who are helping those affected, and prayed for “our mother,” Our Lady of Guadalupe, to be “close to the beloved Mexican nation.”