Posted on 09/21/2009 8:56:50 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
The supposed vision surprised locals who have come in their hundreds to pray and light candles in the grounds of Holy Mary Parish church.
While some believe the willow should be preserved and covered in glass, others think the believers are just barking up the wrong tree.
Noel White, Rathkeale Community Council Graveyard Committee chairman, said workmen sprucing up the church land saw the image when they cut the tree.
"One of the lads said look, our Blessed Lady in the tree," Mr White said.
"One of the other lads looked over and actually knelt down and blessed himself, he got such a shock.
"It was the perfect shape of the figure of Our Lady holding the baby."
Candles and rosary beads have been draped over the stump by prayerful locals with up to 700 holding a candlelight vigil last night and into the early hours of the morning.
Mr White said people have been travelling from neighbouring Co Kerry as word of the phenomenon spread, while it is believed a local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club from a nearby parish also brought two busloads of people.
"It is just a tree, but it is what it depicts when you look at it," Mr White said.
"It is just phenomenal what's going on. And it's not just Rathkeale, they're coming in from all over the place."
But not all villagers have seen the supposedly divine image with some treating the discovery with scepticism.
Local priest Fr Willie Russell refused to get caught up in the hype but said he was not surprised by the outpouring of interest.
"This is just going to go on and on," he said.
"My impression of it at the moment is that I have no impression of it.
"It doesn't interest me
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
....some believe the willow should be preserved and covered in glass, others think the believers are just barking up the wrong tree....Candles and rosary beads have been draped over the stump by prayerful locals with up to 700 holding a candlelight vigil last night and into the early hours of the morning...."While we do not wish in any way to detract from devotion to Our Lady, we would also wish to avoid anything which might lead to superstition."
Pretzel Madonna
Funyun Madonna
Chocolate Madonna
Agate Stone Madonna
Tree stump Madonna
Madonna in a Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Madonna in a Grilled Cheese Sandwich, part 2
Madonna in a Grill
Madonna in a Steam Iron
Madonna in a Beach Pebble
Madonna the Kudzu vine
Madonna in a Road Overpass Water Stain
Madonna in a Road Overpass Water Stain, part 2
Madonna on a Samoan church wall, promoting safe driving
Madonna and Jesus in Pancake
Cheetos Jesus
Jesus on a Consecrated Wafer, at a Hospital Chapel
Jesus on a Laundry Room Door
Jesus in a Hospital Window
Jesus in an MRI
Jesus on a Hillside
Jesus the Kudzu vine
Jesus in a Seat Cushion
Jesus on a Toilet Seat's Bumper Sticker
Jesus in a Tortilla (THO)
Top five unexpected appearances of Jesus [Christ on a pancake, a Kit-Kat, a dog's bottom, and more!]
Make your own "Holy Toast"
How do people know what Mary looked like?
Sometimes a stump is just a stump.
Second article like this you posted today. What’s your point?
Au contraire - see the "Unexpected Appearances" link in post #2!
I think 'the' point is that more and more, people are looking for a sign.
pingaroo
“Ave Maria, gee it’s good to see ya...”
What’s next, the Virgin Mary in a bar of Irish Spring?
I am glad to see the Irish finally getting back to that old time religion. Nothing gets much more old timey then worshiping a tree. St Patrick and St Bonniface are both looking at each other sighing and shaking their heads.
That looks like the south end of a north bound hound(?).
Would you believe...
Listen A real life Apparition of the Virgin Mary A MIRACLE FROM GOD
YouTube pictures of the same
...and if you don't believe, you can make your own!
Virgin Mary Soap
Don’t post that image again.
it is easier to spot the image of the Virgin Mary in the pig-tailed young lass than in the stump.
Why did they throw trash all over that tree stump?
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