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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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1 posted on 08/21/2003 11:47:57 AM PDT by UnklGene
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To: UnklGene
"Lions, tigers and bears, oh my!"
2 posted on 08/21/2003 11:49:04 AM PDT by UnklGene
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To: UnklGene; mhking
Just dang ping for ya, King.
3 posted on 08/21/2003 11:51:14 AM PDT by BSunday (Why can't it be just dam instead?)
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To: UnklGene
You'd be amazed at the things one can see in the toilet after a night of Jim Beam and White Castles.
4 posted on 08/21/2003 11:51:52 AM PDT by Spruce
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To: UnklGene
This happened to me once, after a long night of serious drinking.

I remember passing out while praying to the porceline princess, and when I woke up, all I could see was a pale white. Everywhere I looked, it was just white.

I started hollering something about going blind from cheap rotgut when someone came over and pulled my head out of the bowl.

5 posted on 08/21/2003 11:52:18 AM PDT by Cyber Liberty (© 2003, Ravin' Lunatic since 4/98)
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To: UnklGene

6 posted on 08/21/2003 11:52:23 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: UnklGene
"Whatever happened that day

It's called a HALLUCINATION

7 posted on 08/21/2003 11:52:24 AM PDT by BSunday
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To: Howlin; Ed_NYC; MonroeDNA; widgysoft; Springman; Timesink; dubyaismypresident; Grani; coug97; ...
Praying at the porcelain altar?

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

8 posted on 08/21/2003 11:52:36 AM PDT by mhking
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To: UnklGene


Holy Crap!!!
9 posted on 08/21/2003 11:52:40 AM PDT by SouthernFreebird
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To: UnklGene
St. Padre Pio or was it the Tidy Bowl man?
10 posted on 08/21/2003 11:53:04 AM PDT by Hodar (With Rights, comes Responsibilities. Don't assume one, without assuming the other.)
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To: Constitution Day
You canNOT miss this one...

(no mention of hair color, btw)

11 posted on 08/21/2003 11:54:02 AM PDT by ZinGirl
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To: Cyber Liberty
all I could see was a pale white

You're lucky, then! LOL

12 posted on 08/21/2003 11:54:02 AM PDT by BSunday
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To: UnklGene
Lost her husband. Lost her mother. Should lose her job. A teacher's aide worth her beans doesn't commit suicide at school. Another thing, she was in the restroom for an hour and no one noticed she was missing from the classroom? Sniff, something smells with this story.
13 posted on 08/21/2003 11:54:28 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn
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To: BSunday
Still, it saved her life, though.
14 posted on 08/21/2003 11:54:33 AM PDT by It's me
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To: dfwgator
HIIIIDEEE-HOOOO!
15 posted on 08/21/2003 11:54:51 AM PDT by ZinGirl
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To: dfwgator
Hi-Dee Ho!
16 posted on 08/21/2003 11:55:05 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (Willie Green for President...)
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To: Sweet_Sunflower29
Come on over, the water's fine! BTW how did she know it was him?
17 posted on 08/21/2003 11:55:17 AM PDT by BSunday
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To: UnklGene
I didn't read the entire article... did she read something swirling in the commode? kinda like reading tea leafs
18 posted on 08/21/2003 11:55:20 AM PDT by bedolido (My wife is a sex object - every time I ask for sex, she objects.)
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To: It's me
If it did happen and it saved her life that's wonderful. I hate to say it but to me it sounds like fiction, funny fication at that. Even the name Ethel Farbinger cracks me up.
19 posted on 08/21/2003 11:56:05 AM PDT by cjshapi
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To: UnklGene
Holy moley.
20 posted on 08/21/2003 11:56:17 AM PDT by maxwell (Well I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation...)
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