MILTON, Mass. -- Since an image that some interpret as the Virgin Mary appeared in a Milton Hospital window last week, the crowds have become overwhelming.

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Newscenter 5's Jim Boyd reported that hospital officials felt that they needed to take some measures to try to reduce the numbers and to keep the traffic flowing in and out of the facility.

At mid-afternoon a tarp hung over the window covering, what many say, was the image of the Virgin Mary.

Some left money, some flowers, some simply prayed or stood below the covered image.

"I think they feel if the lady is present, they would get a type of healing they needed -- physically, spiritually and mentally," said one visitor.

Milton Hospital has been inundated with visitors to view the window. An estimated 25,000 people jammed the parking lot over the weekend and hospital official tried posting signs restricting viewing hours to 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., but still people came throughout the day to see the miracle. So on Thursday, they began covering the window during non-viewing times.

"I'm very disappointed. I should be able to see it. It is a gift from God -- the vision of the Virgin Mary. It is very frustrating," said a visitor.

As the 5:30 p.m. viewing time approached, the crowds began to gather to see the miracle image.

"I bring my kids here -- hopefully it will bring some inner peace to them and to me ," said another visitor.

"The lord is trying to give us all a message, to mankind, to repent and change our ways," another visitor said.

Many of the people who were here throughout the afternoon said they were disappointed that the window was covered. But clearly, given the crowds that continue to flock to the parking lot, the hospital had to do something to moderate the crowds and the people who need to come in and out of the hospital during the day.