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HOLY VISION IN TOILET SAVES GAL FROM SUICIDE -
Yahoo.com ^
| August 20, 2003
Posted on 08/21/2003 11:47:57 AM PDT by UnklGene
HOLY VISION IN TOILET SAVES GAL FROM SUICIDE Wednesday August 20, 2003
AN INCREDIBLE vision of St. Padre Pio appeared in a toilet bowl -- and persuaded a grieving widow to put down the kitchen knife she was about to plunge into her heart.
Says Ethel Farbinger: "In one month, my husband died of emphysema and then my mother passed away. Somehow I just couldn't cope with the loss of the two people who were dearest to me in the whole world. Suicide seemed like the only way out."
Overwhelmed by despair, Farbinger, a 28-year-old teacher's aide from Detroit, planned to stab herself in the heart and bring it all to an end.
But then a miracle happened.
"I locked myself in the bathroom at my school and I had the knife in my hand," she recalls. "But before I could actually commit the act, a brilliant light suddenly filled the room and I saw the image of St. Padre Pio in my toilet.
"He smiled up at me and gently explained how taking my life would cause more problems that it would solve. 'Many people will be greatly saddened by your death," he said. 'You must think of them and the good work you still have to do here on Earth.' He then told me that embracing God's love would help get me through this terrible period.
"When the image disappeared, I sat down on the floor and sobbed for almost an hour. But when the tears stopped, I felt a tremendous sense of relief. It was as if God had removed the weight of the world from my shoulders."
Farbinger's best friend, cab driver Kathy D'Amiccio, noticed the difference the next day.
"I knew Ethel had been going through a terrible, terrible time," D'Amiccio says. "Losing Frank devastated her, then her mother died. I did everything I could to cheer her up, but nothing worked. I didn't know what to think when she told me about the visit from St. Padre Pio. The story sounded so surreal. But there was no denying Ethel was a changed person.
"Whatever happened that day, real or imagined, it saved her life."
Farbinger has since turned her home into a shrine to St. Padre Pio, complete with framed pictures and worship candles.
"I wouldn't be alive if St. Padre Pio hadn't come to me in my darkest moment," she says. "I owe him everything I have today. I can never repay him for his remarkable kindness, so I honor him every chance I get.
"Some people think I'm crazy, but I don't care. A miracle happened in my life and I want the whole world to know about it."
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To: It's me
I guess hallucinations can do that, as well as save one from jail time.
21
posted on
08/21/2003 11:56:41 AM PDT
by
BSunday
To: ZinGirl
Good grief!
She's pretty lucky.
It could have been the Ty-D-Bol Man instead of St. Padre Pio!
To: UnklGene; dighton; hellinahandcart; aculeus; BlueLancer; chance33_98
"I locked myself in the bathroom at my school and I had the knife in my hand," she recalls. "But before I could actually commit the act, a brilliant light suddenly filled the room and I saw the image of St. Padre Pio in my toilet. Yahoo scoops The Onion.
Witness spoke directly to the vision exclaiming, "Padre, you look like sh**!"
To: Cathryn Crawford
Cathryn Crawford said: "Holy crap!"
24
posted on
08/21/2003 12:01:15 PM PDT
by
UnklGene
To: UnklGene
I once saw woodgrain in a door, it changed my life.
25
posted on
08/21/2003 12:01:40 PM PDT
by
Conspiracy Guy
(If John Kerry was a bobble head doll, he'd need a smaller head.)
To: UnklGene
Who is Padre Pee-o?
26
posted on
08/21/2003 12:03:33 PM PDT
by
Dog Gone
To: dfwgator
That has got to be one of the most disgusting GIFs I have ever seen. Too funny.
27
posted on
08/21/2003 12:05:10 PM PDT
by
jjm2111
To: UnklGene
She's 28 and her husband died of emphyzema? I wonder how old her husband was. Just curious. I know it has nothing to do with the story, just found it strange!
God sure works in Mysterious ways. Who'd a thought - a vision in a toilet? Well, whatever works.
To: UnklGene
As my ex-boss the psychiatrist once said, "This vision is nothing a little Haldol won't cure."
I'm glad it saved her life but really, take it as a sign that you need to seek some help.
29
posted on
08/21/2003 12:09:07 PM PDT
by
netmilsmom
(God Bless our President, those with him & our troops)
To: California74
Don't you mean "whatever floats your boat"? sorry
Prairie :^)
30
posted on
08/21/2003 12:10:23 PM PDT
by
prairiebreeze
(Hillary utilized the blackout for broom riding and to practice scaring small animals.)
To: Constitution Day
It could have been the Ty-D-Bol Man instead of St. Padre Pio! and how do we know it wasn't? Can we get a side-by-side shot of the two to compare? You know, kind of like we NEVER saw Clark Kent AND Superman at the same time? Or, we could check St. Padre's W-2 to see where he's been working lately.
31
posted on
08/21/2003 12:13:12 PM PDT
by
ZinGirl
To: UnklGene
Oooooo. You've been moved to chat. You're not important. Nobody loves you. You're beneath the notice of other FReepers, and might as well give up...what's that you say? You saw Jim Robinson in the bathroom telling you not to give up, and besides, you have no power to delete your own posts no matter HOW humiliated you are?
32
posted on
08/21/2003 12:15:20 PM PDT
by
ChemistCat
(It's National I'm Being Discriminated Against By Someone Day.)
To: ChemistCat; Jim Robinson
Thou shalt always ping the FReeper you are talking about, even if you know they don't really CARE. ;-)
33
posted on
08/21/2003 12:16:22 PM PDT
by
ChemistCat
(It's National I'm Being Discriminated Against By Someone Day.)
To: BSunday
17 posts and nobody has commented on "Padre Pee-o? Maybe he introduced himself.
34
posted on
08/21/2003 12:37:14 PM PDT
by
sweetliberty
("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
To: UnklGene
I think her real problem is that she's only 28 and is saddled with the superbly unattractive name Ethel.
35
posted on
08/21/2003 12:47:15 PM PDT
by
Xenalyte
(I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
To: Thinkin' Gal; Budge; maxplunder; DCBryan1; pulaskibush; TheBattman; wirestripper
"Witness spoke directly to the vision exclaiming, "Padre, you look like sh**!" ROTFL!
Ping!
36
posted on
08/21/2003 12:51:18 PM PDT
by
sweetliberty
("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
To: UnklGene
If I saw a vision in my bowl.. I'd flush.
37
posted on
08/21/2003 12:53:11 PM PDT
by
Darksheare
("I sense something dark." No you don't!)
To: sweetliberty
A great line. :)
38
posted on
08/21/2003 12:58:35 PM PDT
by
Budge
(God Bless FReepers!)
To: UnklGene
Weekly World News story.
39
posted on
08/21/2003 1:10:59 PM PDT
by
TheAngryClam
(TOM McCLINTOCK is my choice for governor. He should be yours too.)
To: dfwgator
It's Christmas Poo! He does brighten my day. :-)
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