A Marian Apparition

This is an apparent photograph that came to me under curious, if not particularly dramatic circumstances. I had been watching the hang gliders along the coast near San Francisco, but at dusk, when I returned to my motorcycle, it would not start. No big tragedy, but surprising, as it was always in perfect condition. The air was getting cold, and there was no one else left around to help. I had been feeling some loss recently--one of those periods when several life areas were 'in revision,' so this was another straw, that anyone who loves, trusts and depends on their motorcycle or other vehicle will understand.

I was walking across a field to a phone to find a tow company that handled motorcycles, when i saw a white square on the ground. I am in the habit of investigating finds that seem to call to me, having that way once come upon $8000 that my family needed, after experiencing a premonition a month before. So I picked up the paper, turned it over, and looked into the face of Mary.

It immediately struck me that it was Mary, though the image is out of focus and it's not objectively possible for me to tell if this is a picture of a young woman, of a painting, of a statue, or something else. It certainly looks lifelike to me, and I chose to guess that this is a living woman. I suppose an imaging specialist could analyze it and discover whether the subject was flat or three dimensional. In any case, I felt I'd been touched, warmed.

I have read much about Marian apparitions around the world throughout history and in present times, and some of the photos resemble this one. I am not particularly concerned whether or not it's materialization was miraculous--it happens to be printed on Kodak paper, so if it is indeed a miracle, it would make quite an advertisement! I am simply struck by the image itself and the feeling it inspires.

Peace

Since posting this, I have received the following information about the picture from a correspondent:

"This picture that you have found resembles, if not the same, a picture which came out of Medjugorje.

The story that I have heard concerning the picture is that during the apparitions at Medjugorje someone who was in the room of the apparitions had held a camera above their head and snapped a picture of the children receiving the apparition. Upon having the film developed, the picture of Mary was there. At no time did this person see Mary during the apparition.

Also, you may check a book written by Wayne Weible concerning the apparitions of Medjugorje and the photo is on the cover of the book."

And I also received:

"I actually knew the woman who took the photo back in the 80's. She was a teacher of mine named Sister Carole at St. Matthais grade school in Somerset New Jersey. I think my mom was actually the one who took the negatives to the photo place to get prints for all the students in our class. I lost mine a couple years ago, after having lost it for years and finding it again. Which really sucks because there's Sister Carole's handwriting on the back addressed to me telling me to remember Mary. The things of it is, while in a dirt poor rural chapel with no statues or paintings on the walls, it was suggested to her by a man who spoke english that she just snap a shot above the altar. With nothing to aim at she didn't know what would turn out until back in New Jersey the film was processed & the prints developed. Damn I wish I still had my original copy. But it is real, who knows if it's an E.T. or a ghost or what, but she was told to take the shot, and that is what turned out."
ReV. StArBoRn NaZaRiGhT's On SpAcE!!!