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."

[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.