Faith takes root; people spot Mary

Ashtabula Star Beacon ^ | November 21, 2003 | Bill West

[Aliska]

ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Holding her child, she gazes off to her left, just past the office at Ridgeview Burial Park. An apparent image of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child in the side of a tree has captivated a neighborhood often distracted by funeral processions, mourners, township workers and lawn mowers.

But in the shade of the tree, where autumn leaves rest, there is calm and peace. For a few, there is faith. “It’s very hard to describe it, but I feel she’s there,” said Shirley Mauro of Ashtabula Township, who along with her husband, Pete, took photographs of the apparition. “I can see her, and I’m glad she came around to meet the caretaker and trustees.”

[Aliska]

Heard it on the radio and managed to find it on the net. These things interest me, but I try to find alternate explanations such as coincidence.

[Jeff Chandler]

Arbor Vita?

[Aliska]

Tree of life? Not sure what you mean.

[Dajjal]

http://www.insidethex.co.uk/transcrp/scrp304.htm

SCULLY: Mulder, the human mind naturally seeks meaningful patterns and configurations in things that don't inherently have any. Given the suggestion of a particular image, you can't help but see that shape somewhere. If that tank weren't there, you'd see it in a, in a rock or in a tree.

[Jeff Chandler]

The tree grew into a configuration roughly resembling the Virgin Mary, who is sometimes called The Forthbringer of the Tree of Life.