Jesus is a Vine

KINSTON, N.C. (AP) — The Gospel of John quotes Jesus as saying "I am the true vine," and some folks in eastern North Carolina think they may have witnessed a literal demonstration.
A utility pole about a mile south of Kinston has attracted attention in the last week or so from people who say the kudzu clinging to it resembles the image of Jesus on the cross.

Holy Kudzu! Vine in NC Town Said to Resemble Jesus - NYTimes.com

Philip Coppens: The Lourdes of America

Philip Coppens on a "The Lourdes of America," a sacred spot in Chimayo, New Mexico. Native Amercian history and sacred beliefs, and a "veneer of Christianity" intermingle to add strange and powerful energies at this place. Interesting aspects are the physical ones, reminding me of the deserts where contactees met UFO occupants. Even though, according to Coppens, no Marian apparitions have taken place at Chimayo, it is nonetheless considered holy and magical because of the red sand, or clay, that is believed to be infused with healing properties:

The tiny town of Chimayo was founded in 1740 as a type of penal colony for Hispanic troublemakers. In Tewa, the word “tsimayo” means “good flaking stone”, and it was indeed an obsidian quarry used by the Native Americans that gave the town its name. But today, it is not its quarry that for which Chimayo is famous. Chimayo is a place of miracles – which is why it is known as the Lourdes of America, for the number of miracles that have been witnessed here. However, the origins of the miracles are not linked to any apparition of the Virgin Mary, but to a left-over of the Native American religion: the so-called sacred dirt.

The earth itself is a tool or instrument of power.

Pilgrims Flock To Medjugorje For Anniversary

It's been thirty years since the first apparitions at Medjugorie took place, and the site is still active. As this article notes, the Vatican has not recognized Medjugorie as legit, though just last year they began an official exploration into the apparitions. More here, with pics:Pilgrims Flock To Medjugorje For Anniversary
UFO-Mary related posts:
Trickster-Mary-Devil in the Mysterious Valley?
Vatican to Officially Investigate Medjugorje
Researcher Mike Dash: "The Marian Apparitions at Marpingen, Germany #1"
Medjugjore Mary: How Tall is She?

Man Builds Noah's Ark

Extremely impressive; they say it's sea worthy too:
Two by two: A real-life Noah’s Ark | The Upshot Yahoo! News

St. Anthony's Religious Relic Stolen

LOS ANGELES -- A 780-year-old religious relic of St. Anthony of Padua has been stolen, and parishioners at a Southern California Catholic church are praying to the patron saint of lost items and missing persons for its speedy return.

The relic was stolen from inside a cabinet beside the altar at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Long Beach on Monday, the feast day of the church's namesake.

The Rev. Jose Magana said he decided to bring out the relic this year, on the 780th anniversary of the death of St. Anthony, because many of his parishioners have lost hope in the rough economy.

St. Anthony's Religious Relic Stolen

Alfred Lehmberg: Paraphrasing Yeats' Wink And Nod...

If you're not familiar with Alfred Lehmberg you should be of course. Alfred writes about UFOs, knows about UFOs, ...he writes a column for UFO Magazine, and oh, so much more. Google him. In the meantime, here's a recent piece from Alfred that fits in with UFO Mary: alienviews: ...Paraphrasing Yeats' Wink And Nod... where Alfred writes of aliens, UFOs, faux Christians, and the attempts of a power structure to control.

That's the way it's always been — the way they write the deal. It makes you docile and non-threatening — it makes you glad to scrape and kneel! Too, invented validations fuel an ignorance so pervasive, it obviates the UFO — disclosure's made "evasive"!
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How? "They are piloted by demons; this is found in God's own word! Believers should be stoned in Christ" — Pat Robertson's inferred. This they'll quote from *bibles* mal-translated and... absurd. The resulting machination? Their "Agendas" are inured!
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Too, their total *mode* and *flavor* is so back-woods, and inbred. Are we downwind, green-toothed cowards; is imagination dead? The wheel's uninvented (?), and we drag our shit on sleds? We could orient to light, good folk... but provoke the dark instead! ~ Alfred Lehmberg

Of Angels: Doreen Virtue on Coast to Coast tonight

Doreen Virture, author of angelic things, will be the guest on tonight's Coast to Coast.
Doreen Virtue | official Angel Therapy Web site

Archbishop blasts Ferndale priest's leading of liberal Mass | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

The top Catholic leader in Michigan slammed a big liberal Mass today in Detroit, saying it had significant abuses and he ordered a review of a Ferndale priest who led the services before 1,500 Catholics, a church spokesman said.

Defying Archbishop of Detroit Allen Vigneron, a Catholic priest from Ferndale led a Mass today in Cobo Center that was organized by the American Catholic Council, a controversial umberalla group of liberal Catholics. And dozens of Catholic priests and deacons from metro Detroit attended the Mass, said organizers.

Full article here: Archbishop blasts Ferndale priest's leading of liberal Mass | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Vatican Secrets - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

On Coast to Coast tonight with host Ian Punnett, Jason Berry talks about the Vatican and its oddles of dollars and artifacts...
Vatican Secrets - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

Calls for Magdalene investigation - The Irish Times - Mon, Jun 06, 2011

The Government should set up a statutory investigation into allegations of torture and degrading treatment against women committed to Magdalene Laundries.

It should also punish the perpetrators and provide redress to the women who suffered, the United Nations Committee Against Torture has recommended.

Calls for Magdalene investigation - The Irish Times - Mon, Jun 06, 2011

Fatima Secrets & UFO Demons - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

Tonight's C2C program: Fatima and demons as aliens, or aliens as demons, depending on your point of view:

Fatima Secrets & UFO Demons - Shows - Coast to Coast AM

Saint's Head to be Auctioned

Now this is truly Fortean; the "ancient skull" of St. Vitalis of Assisi is soon to be auctioned off. Very cool photo of said head with article. (thanks to Professor Hex for link.)

Saint's head to be sold at auction in Duleek - News, frontpage - Drogheda-Independent.ie: "THE ancient skull of an Italian saint will be sold at auction in Annesbrook House in Duleek on Sunday.

'We do a fine art sale once a year and when we decided on Annesbrook then the link with St Oliver Plunkett struck me,' stated auctioneer Damien Matthews from Oldcastle.

'I remember visiting his head in Drogheda when I was a young lad so I said why not put the skull of St Vitalis of Assisi into a sale just down the road.'

The skull, which is in a Queen Anne case, is expected to fetch anything up to €1,200.

'We think the skull is about 600 years old' he continued.

'It is said that the saint met a bad end as he was buried alive with stones placed on his head."

New Statue of Pope John Paul II Offends...

Quite a number of the faithful are offended by artist Oliviero Rainaldi's new sculpture of Pope John Paul II; many are saying it looks less like the late Pope, and more like Mussolini. Rainaldi says:

I wasn't thinking about resemblance, but rather a work that was able to synthesize, in the posture of the head and body and in the draping of the cloak, the way the pope went out into the world,"

Others aren't so sure. There's a possibility the statue will be removed. More here:
Sculpture of Pope John Paul II decried as 'ugly' - Wire Entertainment - sacbee.com

Speculative Realms: The Enduring Love of the Woman-Girl: Who Are We to Disregard Her?

Painting by Jusepe de Ribera 1636

Gary Haden at Speculative Realms on Mary Magdalene. Very comprehensive. And addresses the popular myth that Mary was a prostitute, and why that idea, believed still by so many, is a problem...

There is much more to Haden's article than that point, but read it for yourself.

Pope beatifies John Paul II before 1.5M faithful - Yahoo! News

Pope beatifies John Paul II before 1.5M faithful - Yahoo! News