Tree stump Virgin Mary draws faithful

CNN ^ | 10/23/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

PASSAIC, New Jersey (Reuters) -- Believers are flocking to a rundown street in New Jersey to see a tree stump they say has the form of the Virgin Mary and is a divine sign of hope for the impoverished neighborhood.

[bedolido]

When I was 8 years old, There was a tree in a neighbors yard a few doors down that looked like Godzilla. I still wake up screaming.

[Quilla]

Pretty wimpy reporting on such a visual without including a picture. I guess that's CNN for you.

Watch out for that Boogie Man under your bed.

[Mears]

We went through this last year with a window with a broken seal in a hospital in Massachusetts.

If you look at anything long enough you can see anything you want to see. We used to call it an optical illusion,now it's a miracle.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Who can blame these folks for wanting to believe in a miracle? Hell, if I had to live in Passaic, NJ, I would probably be down prayinng at that tree stump right now! (Or just about ANYWHERE in New Jersey!)

[shadowman99]

Passaic, New Jersey

But as always, the one in California is nicer :)

[aardvark1]

Oh, please!!!

[smokinleroy]

I see Tammy Wynette

[Quilla]

Thank you, but I'm still LOL from post #4 I can't see for the tears.

[reagan_fanatic]

Sorry, but it looks like an unmentionable female body part to me...

[LurkedLongEnough]

Earlier this week, papers reported "Passaic priest sacrifices two roosters in religious ceremony"

(10/21/03) PASSAIC - A priest in Passaic performed an animal sacrifice in front of a crowd of onlookers and media Monday...etc.

Putting together these two events, what do you think now?

[Constitution Day]

What rolls down stairs, alone or in pairs,
Rolls over your neighbor's dog?
What's great for a snack and fits on your back?
It's LOG, LOG, LOG!
It's lo-og, lo-og, it's big, it's heavy, it's wood
It's lo-og, lo-og, it's better than bad, it's good!
Everyone wants a LOG,
You're gonna love it, LOG,
Come on and get your LOG,
Everyone needs a LOG!

[arkady_renko]

Doubt he was a Catholic Priest.

[AppyPappy]

I have two of these.

[ChemistCat]

These things really give me the creeps. I don't like it when Christians start flocking to worship an object because their minds can see a female face in it. It doesn't just smack of idolatry--it IS idolatry. If you try, you can see a face in just about anything because that's what our brains do best with random shapes. Sometimes the face you can see looks like a religious figure. Sometimes it's really a stretch--as it is in this case.

Of course, if this face looked more like a woman's, maybe we'd have an aggressive space program again, as people demanded to be able to go worship in person:

[mcg1969]

A comedian once said, "Catholics see Mary everywhere... and Protestants see Satan everywhere" :)

[jmc813]

But as always, the one in California is nicer :)

Jersey tomatoes kick California tomatoes' butt.

[LizardQueen]

When I was 8 years old, There was a tree in a neighbors yard a few doors down that looked like Godzilla. I still wake up screaming

There's a tree outside my bedroom window (birch) that has some scars on it that make it look like a howling ghost (white, with eyes and black screaming mouth).

It freaks me out even today - I have to move to one side in bed so I can't see it.

LQ, 39 yrs old and still a big baby.

[XRdsRev]

Per capita income 2002

California - $ 32,996.00

New Jersey - $ 39,453.00

I think the folks in New Jersey will let you have the nicer tree while they laugh all the way to the bank.

[NYCVirago]

Passaic is my hometown. It's been a wacky week for Passaic, that's for sure!