[Cap'n Crunch]

See post 53 or 57. This is the miraculous tilma. That painting is on a poncho that was worn by Juan Diego, the man who saw Mary. The image miraculously appeared on it after Mary arranged roses in Juan Diegos poncho and presented them to the Bishop.

There have been an untold number of books about the appartion and the tilma, which is still on display in the Church in Mexico. You can go see it if you wish, millions do every year.

It is much like the Shroud of Turin in that scientistst cannot explain its manufacture let alone its existence after nearly 500 years. Nor can they explain the images in the eyes, which have been looked at by at least 16 opthamologists who have testified that looking into the eyes on the image is like looking into the eyes of a human being. There are roughly 6 or 7 people reflected in the eyes of the Virgin on the tilma.

The whole thing is very fascinating.

[Cap'n Crunch]

Just reading some info in the back of one of my books. It says that 20 Million people visit the Basillica in Mexico to see the image every year, the natural life of such a cactus poncho is 20 years, after that they turn to dust. For the first 100 or 200 years it hung in the open air. Socialists tried to destroy it by planting a bomb under it in 1921.

In 1979 it underwent infra red testing that would have revealed overpainting, alterations, the presence of varnish, sizing or preliminary drawings.

Still unexplained.

I suggest getting a few books on the subject because the info and miracles fill volumes.

[Delbert]

i went to the page on post #57...it took me to a web page with a picture of mary and a cherub at the bottom....it didnt look like a poncho or a cactus...