Mary in the Sky with Angels
Friday February 1, 2008 8:32 AM
For 2000 years, the Virgin Mary has lit up skies in spectacular visions. She seems to pick her times and places carefully, for her appearances are rare, and when she does show up, she attracts millions of people from all over the world. The how and why of these events is a modern mystery.
To the faithful, the explanation is simple: Mary appears because the world is in need of her, and she delivers stern messages to pray and repent — or else. To others, she is a miracle and a grace, and she opens the door to the possibility of miraculous healings and cures to those with little or no hope.
The earthly mother of Jesus has big shoes to fill, serving as a heavenly mother in a religion without goddesses and precious little acknowledgment of the divine feminine. She has always inspired deep devotion — so much so that in the Middle Ages, she nearly surpassed her son in popularity.
Marian apparitions, as her appearances care called, have occurred throughout history, some to masses and some a select few. She is reported to have appeared as early as 40 C.E., probably when she was still alive. The visions of her are accompanied by a host of glorious phenomena, such as visions of angels, heavenly music and singing, miraculous healing, luminosities, trance states, extrasensory perception and prophesying.
The Catholic Church holds that they are mystical phenomena permitted by God. The Church investigates many of them to "authenticate" them, but the Church's stamp of approval does little to sway people who are convinced they've seen Mary. Healing shrines usually are erected where she has been seen.
The earliest "authentic" Marian apparitions date to 1531 in Guadalupe, Mexico, when she appeared five times to Juan Diego, an Aztec convert. an image of the immaculate conception miraculously appeared on his cape.
In Paris in 1830, Mary appeared to Catherine Laboure, a nun with the Sisters of Charity in the Rue du Bac. Her vision is immortalized in the "miraculous medal," which Mary promised would bring graces to all who wear it.
Two children in La Salette, France, saw Mary in 1846. A miraculous healing spring appeared, and attracts pilgrims to this day.
Perhaps most famous of all are the Marian apparitions of
And, since 1981, Mary has been appearing frequently at Medjugorje, a remote village in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Millions of pilgrims have witnessed her appearances and other mystical phenomena, and received healing. Perhaps it is no surprise that she appears in a war-shattered area in need of comfort and nurturing — a role Mary has played from her humble beginning.
Comments (2)
What about the popular stories of the Children of Fatima or St. Bernadette?
I thought those would have been the most popular Marian apparitions.
Posted by K | February 1, 2008 2:37 PM
Posted on February 1, 2008 14:37
I wanted to relay that several years ago, in the late 1990's St. Petersburg Florida was quickly becoming a war zone with riots at an all time high. I remember I was watching the latest violence on the news, I believe it was a friday night. The following morning it was reported, an image of The Virgin Mary appeared on the side of a glass building. The form was perfect with the shrouded head and shoulders. It was truly a miracle and blessing. When it first appeared the owners of the building tried to wash it off, but to no avail. The parking lot and building became packed daily with people coming to pray, leave flowers, notes and candles. The riots had stopped. I visited the building several times in Clearwater. It appears as a watermark on the glass. It was breath-taking and regardless of what your beliefs are, you couldn't deny the peace and awe you'd feel seeing that image on the side of the building. Unfortunately some disrespectful scum decided to destroy the windows a few years ago.
Posted by Julie | July 23, 2008 6:59 PM
Posted on July 23, 2008 18:59