For Mary's faithful, a shattering loss

[KG]

By CHRIS TISCH, Times Staff Writer
Published March 2, 2004

CLEARWATER - Nearly every day for the last eight years, Sam and Jean Meo have sat beneath the image of the Virgin Mary that adorned the glass windows of a Clearwater office building.

The iridescent figure became an international religious icon that drew hundreds of thousands of people after it was first noticed in 1996. Some, like the Meos, find a miraculous healing power beneath it.

Jean, 80, was expected to die after lung cancer surgery. Sam, 81, has endured three open-heart surgeries.

"I pray for her, she prays for me," said Sam. "Prayer has been keeping me alive."

But on Monday morning, the Meos looked up at their sacred Virgin to see she had been beheaded. The three windows that once held her face and veil had been knocked out. >>>MORE http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2004/03/02/Tampabay/For_Mary_s_faithful__.shtml

i normally run from religion threads, but this is in my 'hood. i think worshipping a stain is a little creepy.

[teach1st]

1. My area too..

I agree with you, but I was surprised today to hear how many people around here felt strongly about this.

[WilliamPitt]

2. Aaaaaaaveeee Mariiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaahhhh *SMASH*

[brendan120678]

3. I agree. And what's more...

Many of the people over at that "bad forum" (sorry i can't find the exact post) on the other side of the aisle happen to agree that it is silly to get upset over...of course they blame the liberals for breaking the windows, but still...

[kskiska]

5. Here's a link

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1088392/posts

[brendan120678]

6. Yes!

Yep, that's exactly the one I was thinking of. Thanks!

[teach1st]

4. It's pretty easy to draw a parallel

It's pretty easy to draw a parallel between believing a window stain is a sign from God and believing GWB is a worthy leader.

[Skittles]

7. idiots

f***ing idiots

[slackmaster]

8. So, who broke the windows?

Was it Scientologists or just kids?

[Az]

9. Hope is tricky

Without it when faced with daunting situations all can seem bleak. But false hope can lead people down dangerous paths than can cost them everything. There are those the create deliberate charades of hope and then there are aberations that occurr that people flock to for hope. Hope is something people crave and whether man made or imaginary there will be ever a source that can lead people astray.

[Ganja Ninja]

10. I saw the "miracle" when it was being created.

And I could recreate it for a nominal service charge.

It all came about when someone broke a sprinkler head next to the building. I was driving by and saw the water spraying up in a stream striking the glass right where the face of the image was. After that the the image was there. Many places here use either recycled water or surface water for their sprinklers and they contain chemicals, salts, iron and other minerals that reacted with the bronze tint. So all they have to do is replace the glass and bust off the same sprinkler head and the "miracle" will be restored.