Mystery of angelic apparition (at Vatican)

Cambs Times ^ | March 30, 2007

[NYer]

The Vatican picture with the ‘angel’ clearly visible

FORMER policeman Andy Key has his very own guardian angel. He also has the photograph to prove it.

During a visit to the Vatican City he snapped some pictures as the Pope spoke to the crowds. It was only when he returned home to March and processed the pictures on his laptop that he saw what looked like an angel in one of them.

"I just snapped away because it was heaving with people," he said. "I didn't see anything but when I looked at the picture it looks just like an angel above the Pope's head.

"It can't be a trick of the light because I can't see what the light could bounce off. You don't even have to squint to make it out - it looks just like an angel."

Andy Key with the camera that produced the ‘angel’ picture

Mr Key, of Gresley Way, was enjoying a weekend break in Rome with his wife Susan when he took the remarkable photograph with his Kodak Easyshare camera.

He said: "The family have all looked at it and all think it looks like an angel. There is no logical explanation and it almost looks like a hologram. I certainly didn't see it when I was taking the picture and I cannot explain it."

Mr Key says he has never had any previous encounters with angels and said: "I can't actually say what an angel is but this certainly looks like one."

Cambs Times photographer Brian Purdy examined the picture and also says he has no logical explanation for the mystery image.

He said: "I have seen several tricks of the light on photographs but nothing comes close to this. Pin cushion and barrel flare produce symmetrical images but this is a one off."

[NYer]

above the Pope's head.

Not surprised at all :-)

[theDentist]

Looks like smoke (from incense).

[pgkdan]

looks like glare from the sun to me...

[trisham]

Me either. :)

[RightWhale]

it looks just like an angel

As if we should know what an angel looks like.

[NYer]

Neat!

[livius]

That may have been what it was, but I am sure this Pope is regularly accompanied by angels. (Otherwise the French bishops would have done him in long ago.)

[NYer]

As if we should know what an angel looks like.

[fortunecookie]

It's quite amazing, isn't it? And you're right, not a surprise at all!

[trisham]

Beautiful.

[AliVeritas]

[NYer]

I am sure this Pope is regularly accompanied by angels. (Otherwise the French bishops would have done him in long ago.)

What about his trip to Turkey!! Prime target for a Muslim assassin.

Benedict XVI is one extremely holy man who is being guided by the Holy Spirit. No surprise that he would be protected by one, if not an entire legion of angels.

[NYer]

Looks like he is glowing.

[happygrl]

I believe.

[Frank Sheed]

That classic picture is available as a framed print from Leaflet Missal if I am not mistaken. One of my favorites, I might add.

[Grut]

Somebody in the foreground crowd was smoking.

[trisham]

Benedict XVI is one extremely holy man who is being guided by the Holy Spirit. No surprise that he would be protected by one, if not an entire legion of angels.

***********

I'd be surprised if it were otherwise. :)

[trisham]

Thanks! For anyone else who is interested:

http://www.leafletonline.com/

[Tax-chick]

Nah. Looks like an Area-51 "alien" with wings. I've no doubt that the place was full of angels, but why would one show up looking like that? (In the Bible, angels have an appearance indistinct from humans.)

Optical effects.

[Deo volente]

It looks like a piece from a jigsaw puzzle.

[spunkets]

" As if we should know what an angel looks like."

I posted my pic on the home page. Never been to Rome though. :o)

[diamond6]

BEAUTIFUL!!!

[diamond6]

Would you mind sharing some of your experiences? If they are too personal, please disregard my request.

[NYer]

Somebody in the foreground crowd was smoking.

Yeah ... inside a basillica!!

[NYer]

That classic picture is available as a framed print from Leaflet Missal if I am not mistaken. One of my favorites, I might add.

The artist is William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905)

[Dog Gone]

I find it weird that only Catholics see apparaitions in photographs, trees, window panes, tortillas, etc.

It's either that God, Mary, Jesus, or angels appear only to Catholics, or its some psychological predesposition of Cathonlics to imagine this stuff.

I can't think of another explanation.

[spunkets]

Photoshop.

[Jaded]

Other Christians don't believe in angels or apparitions. (what about the 40-70k people who were at Fatima? Not all of them were Catholic)

But God does speak in their heads. Couldn't tell you the number of times I've heard a non-Catholic Christian say "I had a word from God" or "Got a word from the Lord" or "the Lord spoke to me last night".

[Dog Gone]

It's not Photoshop when they line up for hours to look at some rust stain on a concrete wall that supposedly is Jesus.

This is a uniquely Catholic thing and I'm not sure why. Many Catholics are embarrassed by it, and I think rightly so.

I'm not dissing the Catholic faith, but I am dissing those who get all excited about these apparitions. Your linoleum stain is NOT Mary.

[Scotswife]

"I find it weird that only Catholics see apparaitions in photographs, trees, window panes, tortillas, etc.

It's either that God, Mary, Jesus, or angels appear only to Catholics, or its some psychological predesposition of Cathonlics to imagine this stuff.

I can't think of another explanation."

I know a person who was not a catholic at all when he experienced a "vision".
In fact, I'd say he was leaning towards being anti-catholic at the time.

[Grut]

Yeah ... inside a basillica!!

Why not? Europeans smoke in a lot of places Americans don't. Bad manners are a lot more likely than an angel!

[spunkets]

"This is a uniquely Catholic thing and I'm not sure why."

They use imagery in their stories, which largely come from the imagination, not reality. The same thing occurs with the Coast to Coast type folks, so it's not limited to Catholics. Since ancient times folks have seen animals and people in the night sky and created stories about them. It's the same thing. I said Photoshop on this one, becsuse it is. The whole beam of light and smoke was applied to the photo. Just like the CtoC folks, they like to promote the illusions.

[dsc]

"Just like the CtoC folks, they like to promote the illusions."

I'm not going to call you a vile liar, because it seems you really believe this nonsense. However, you should know that it is as bigoted and offensive as it is false.

[dsc]

"I know a person who was not a catholic at all when he experienced a "vision". In fact, I'd say he was leaning towards being anti-catholic at the time."

Ditto. Further, protestants also have visions and inexplicable encounters with mysterious strangers. Many believe in miracles, and the actual presence of Jesus when they happen. That country-western song about the little girl who says Jesus got down off the cross was written by a protestant, if memory serves.

[Tax-chick]

Yes.

It's true that images in the dryer lint are goofy no matter who's involved. However, anyone who reads and believes the New Testament must believe that we can hear from Jesus, expect miracles, and experience the presence of angels.

[spunkets]

Re: "Just like the CtoC folks, they like to promote the illusions."

"I'm not going to call you a vile liar, because it seems you really believe this nonsense. However, you should know that it is as bigoted and offensive as it is false."

The pic from the article is a Photoshop job. It was purposely created and the imtent was to deceive. I'm not bothered by your insults, or moved by your opinion.

[escapefromboston]

You should be bothered.

[dsc]

"The pic from the article is a Photoshop job."

Perhaps. I'm no expert. I presume you are.

"It was purposely created and the imtent was to deceive."

Even if true, that in no way supports your bigoted, offensive, and false remark about Catholics.

"I'm not bothered by your insults"

Si palman res est, repetitio injuria non est.

"or moved by your opinion."

You ventured an opinion. I made a statement of fact.

[spunkets]

"Even if true, that in no way supports your bigoted, offensive, and false remark about Catholics."

You're seeing things that aren't there. Show me where I attributed the fraud to Catholics. I'll help you, so you don't get too confused. My remarks covered those that see things that aren't really there.

"Si palman res est, repetitio injuria non est."

No comprende, and too busy to translate it.

"You ventured an opinion. I made a statement of fact."

No grasshopper, you erred. I posted facts.

[Iscool]

Demons...

Spend some time in the bible and you will learn about angels...

Angels in the bible appear as human men...Angels do not have wings...

[Nabber]

oh, please, dan, give us all a big old break...

[Iscool]

Benedict XVI is one extremely holy man who is being guided by the Holy Spirit.

If you are a Christian, you are guided by the same Holy Spirit as the pope, if he is a Christian as well...

[mware]

Just heard the hotel with the nude Jesus is taking it down.

[NYer]

Just heard the hotel with the nude Jesus is taking it down.

Taking it down .... as in melting it? Nothing short of that would suffice. It's disgraceful and should be destroyed.

[mware]

I agree with you NY'er. Every Friday during Lent we have had a light supper followed by Stations of the Cross. at our Parish.

The priest and I had quite a discussion about the story.

I also heard that someone associated with this project has resigned. Let me see if I can find the story.