You know,

compared to most other photos I've seen of things supposedly looking like someone or something, this cloud formation really does look like an angel.

'Angel cloud' spotted in South Florida sky this morning, send in your photos

That's really pretty neat!

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I still don't know

what to think of Medjugorje.

Marija takes the apparitions to Assisi

There's just too much to comment on here.

Until Rome makes a definite statement (or as definite as they can without declaring dogma) then I'll just watch the whole thing, and smile indulgently at the folks who seem to spend more time thinking of, talking about, and praying to, Mary than Jesus.

Jesus may well have a word for us, but if His Mother is repeating it over and over then once we've heard it is it correct to continue to hang on every word that purports to be the continued apparition? The danger, of course, is then to place these words above scripture and then, ultimately, above the words of Christ. Then there's the danger for those who look for signs and wonders, who seek to know the future, who want to touch the fantastic, the other-worldly, the eternal.

I've heard some Medjugorje conversations that make me very nervous...

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An amazing

and inspirinng story.

Daniel Baumann: Imprisoned in Iran

Did it happen just like that? I don't know, but I have no reason to disbelieve him. A very similar thing happened in the book of Acts, so why not?

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It's a rock



Woman Says She Found Virgin Mary on Rock

But, as long as it builds her own faith, and she doesn't try to sell it on eBay to profit off of it, who am I to criticize?

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OK

Oklahoma couple find image of Virgin Mary in shower tile

"An image of the Virgin Mary is in Carol Burrell's bathroom. A remodeling project included new tiles; one shows the figure of the Virgin Mary."

I have no problem with private faith and signs (as long as they aren't pushed on the public as miraculous) as things to build personal faith and piety, but why on earth would the Blessed Mother (or Jesus, or any of the saints) choose to show their image on a shower tile? THAT is what makes me go 'yeah, sure'...

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O.K.

Couple Sees Jesus In Walmart Receipt

"Anderson County Couple Says Image On Receipt Is Jesus"

A Walmart receipt? R-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ght...

Personal faith-building perhaps. It does look like a face. Miraculous? You decide...

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Once again

Take a Good Hard Look at the Evidence

You know, unlike Mr. Shea, my mind isn't made up that it's a fraud. But unlike tens, or hundreds, of thousands of adherents, my mind isn't made up that it's legitimate either. There are quite a few things about it that bother me quite a bit, that I can't reconcile with Church teaching or proper behaviour under authority, so I can't come down on its side.

Fortunately, I don't feel that I need to be part of the argument, either. One can have a deep love and devotion to the Blessed Mother (within the bounds of reason, that is. God is still God, and Jesus His son. People often forget about from whence salvation comes.) and still not believe in Medjugorje...

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Well, it would certainly be rude...

Update: Does kudzu look like Jesus on cross?

""I glanced at it, and it looks like Jesus," Hardison said. "I thought, 'You can't spray Jesus with Roundup.'""

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Call it what you will

more than anything else its a sign of people's need to see hope, to see love, to see that more exists than just what we see every day.

Blessed backyard? Sighting of ‘Mary’ draws thousands

For some it's a need to connect with the holy, and the desire to see that the holy really wants to connect with them. I see more likelihood of faith-building in this interpretation of light and shadow than an image on a toasted cheese sandwich or a shower floor...

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Sometimes a bishop

will take a formal stand on a supposed 'apparition'...

Apparitions in Argentina are not authentic, declares archbishop

This is a supposed apparition site that I was unaware of (though there are likely hundreds that I knnow nothing of). It hasn't been in the news up here in Canada at least. If I tried an in-depth search on the 'net I may find more, but a light search just comes up with the Archbishop's statement. It doesn't matter. I don't need to read more about inauthentic apparitions of our Lady...

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Being unfamiliar

with this website until recently, after reading more articles I'm beginning to get a sense of their critical nature toward Catholicism, and religion in general...

Our Lady of Good Hope and Excellent Behavior: Why this Apparition and Why Now?

In this case, even her choice of words expresses that. Instead of calling someone who is examining the various aspects of the individual reporting an apparition an 'investigator' or something similar, she calls them a 'spy'.

(Just personal comments as I have nothing of real value to add...)

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A pretty much unknown apparition

First U.S. Visit of the Virgin Mary Confirmed in Wisconsin

"A small-town shrine is on the verge of becoming a mass attraction."

The author of the article is a bit snarky, though, from the headline on down to his comments about the current bishop being 'not far removed from scandal himself' though he only came into a diocese that had had issues, not being involved himself despite what the sentence implies, and down to extremes of the Middle Ages...

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The more I read what he writes

the more I like what he writes, and how he writes it. I suppose that that's the way with people one agrees with...

Despise Not Prophesying

Approved apparitions and messages are one thing and, I think, we do well to listen to them. If they do not have Church approval, however, I think we do well to listen to the ones that do have Church approval. We aren't missing anything by not paying attention to the ones that don't have the Church's approval. We continue to pray...

Thanks, Mr. Shea.

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Due care and diligence

Medugorje: The Red Flags Keep Flying

What I suppose is new about these purported apparitions is that they have gone on for so many years and have attracted such a following, with the apparitions continuing, that it has become an industry of its own.

I'm on the fence about Medugorje. I have some serious concerns about it, and, thank goodness, the Church hasn't ruled on it, and even if it had they never make it an article of faith that one has to believe in them. One would think that after going on for so long that the situation would have proven true or not, but the Church works in terms of centuries and not years, so there's often long waits. Medugorje benefited from a particular time in Church history that contains many things - a body of folk, somewhat organized (think Charismatic Renewal) who believe in and look for the miraculous in daily life, instantaneous communications, easy travel and a truly global village. Without those things it may not have reached the heights it has.

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I suppose

if it remains low profile and no one tries to make money off of it, the comment at the end of the article might be the most important thing...

Visitors to Reading shop say Virgin Mary statue is crying

"Whatever is causing the tears, it's bringing smiles to many peoples' faces."

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Sigh...

Myrrh Weeping Icon Comes To Bakersfield

Even some of its copies weep myrrh? Have they all been tested by Church authorities? For myself, I'm afraid I'll have to reserve judgement until I hear the Church make a pronouncement on them...

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The Vatican

is really down-playing the whole incident, and, truly, it probably was an innocuous event...

Maltese causes commotion at Vatican

The people sitting in front of him don't look too disturbed.

The website linked to appears to be completely in Maltese, so don't expect to learn much about him or his followers...

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Apparitions approved

by the Catholic Church.

Apparitions Approved

From 'Catholic Doors'...

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Interesting



Did You See the 'God Cloud'?

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In this case


the Church has ruled in favour of the apparition.

Virgin Mary apparitions put Wis. town on pilgrimage map

But only 150 years later. This sort of thing is terribly difficult for the Church to investigate and finally approve...

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