Thank you, oh Vague and Random Visual Stimulus, for taking such a shape as to lead to the formation of this particular church of Collective Religious Hysteria, and for not being at all responsible for their getting ahold of my physical address. In spite of the creepy localness, I appreciate the content you have given me.
Anyway….
This appears to have to do with this ministry that promised to send me a Rose Petal of Paredolia, or something. I don’t think I ever got one, but website content is good enough….
You know how this goes.
Your Letters
CURE, CONVERSION & MORE
Oh good. Letters. Personal testimony. This should be fun!
I KNOW WHAT I SAW
July 30, 2004Dear Michael,
Here is my testimony as a witness to the miracle at Bayside on June 9, 2004.
Not just any testimony, but testimony from four years ago. More yay.
I was sitting in my chair saying the Rosary, with riends sitting on both sides of me, when suddenly I saw many people to the right of us separate. My good friend, Marie Hartigen, nudged me and said we should go over to where the people were standing and see what was going on.
We made our way over to where they were standing and leaned forward to see what they might be looking at. There in the sky, maybe 30 or 40 feet above the ground, was the Blessed Mother holding the Baby Jesus in Her left arm. She appeared as a statue made of stone but the color of concrete.At first I turned from the statue. I felt unworthy to view this holy statue of the Blessed Mother of God and the Baby Jesus, but I was drawn to see this miracle. And as my fears of unworthiness left and I gazed longingly at the Mother and Child, I could see the folds in Her gown. The Baby was sitting on Her arm, not reclining, and the Blessed Mother was wearing a crown.
The crown was not like the crown we have for the Blessed mother at Bayside. This crown had points on it. I could not take my eyes off the apparition or move away.
As I continued to stand there the statue of the Blessed Mother and Jesus disappeared from the sky.
I never looked at my watch. I no longer saw the apparition in the sky but saw only the branches blowing; it was about 10 or 15 minutes.
I know what I saw. I also know when I only saw the trees blowing in the breeze and there was no longer a statue in the sky. I was glad I remained standing there to see the difference.
I thank Heaven that I was allowed to see this. It was a great miracle that was manifested at the Shrine that evening.
I have always believed that all the messages and miracles of Our Lady of the Roses, Mary Help of Mothers is true. This beautiful miracle confirms what I already believed.
I hope this miracle is a confirmation for many other souls whether they were there to view it or not. For as Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said to the apostle, Thomas, “Blessed are those who believe and do not see.”
In truth and love,
Mary Lorraine Dranchak
Trumbul, CT
Oh good. A statue. Made of stone, but with the colour of concrete. So that’d be grey, right? And it was 30 or 40 feet above the ground. With a baby sitting on its arm, and a pointy crown. Just, y’know, making notes.
[Image Caption]
Pilgrims reacting to a phenomenon above the sacred grounds on June 19, 2004, the 34th Anniversary of Our Lady at Bayside. Unfortunately, we never got a good picture of the supernatural image.
Funny how that always seems to happen.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS
July 7, 2004I was helping at the religious gifts service area on June 19, 2004, at the 34th Anniversary Vigil, when Mary Bauer came over and told me to come and look up into the trees above Our Lady’s statue. She said that people were seeing Our Lady there. I went over and immediately saw what she was talking about. In the pines to the left of the statue, I saw two bright white figures, Our Lady with Jesus in Her left arm. Both of them were wearing crowns. Even though I knew that it was the lights shining on the pine needles, both figures were clearly defined and shining.
I have been coming to the Shrine since 1973, and I have never seen anything like this. I saw Our Lady and Jesus without a doubt and so did many other people with me. I believe it was a gift from Our Lady because of the difficult times so many of us are experiencing.Marian A. Morris
Stanford, CT
It’s a good thing someone went over and told this person what people were seeing, so she? could see something different. White, not concrete. Definitely the lights from a statue [on the ground] shining on the trees, and no mention of the amazing height. Both wearing crowns, and the baby’s being held, not ‘just sitting there’.
[Image Caption]At the Anniversary Vigil in June, some of the 1000 plus pilgrims look up in awe at the pines in what many later testified was a clear and living image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. For the full story look for our next issue of “Golden Warrior” (inset} Some of the good Fathers imparting their priestly blessing to the faithful at the end of the Anniversary Vigil.
Clear. Uh huh. It’s really not looking that way based on your cherry-picked letters.
AS PLAIN AS DAY
June 28, 2004During some time late in the evening, I went over to where the pilgrims were praying. I believe Francis Harrington was leading the Rosary at the time. I noticed something was up because of the crowd looking up at the sky.
Then Mary Bauer, Michael Mangan’s twin sister, told me to look up toward the light on the tree. That is when I saw an image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Our Lady with Baby Jesus both were wearing a gold crown with a lot of gold-coloring all around. I saw this image as plain as day.
I have seen white doves over the years but I have never seen the flesh, as it were, the image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
I have good eyesight and I know what I saw and it was Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and to me this was a spectacular image.
Peter Frank
Lay Order of St Michael
Flushing, NY
Oh, it’s Mary Bauer telling people to look again. I wonder how many people saw it just because she told them what to see.
…and now their lady and baby are…gold, instead of white or of the colour of concrete.
I STUDIED IT INTENTLY
July 2004This is my testimony.
I had left my seat and went walking on the street when I heard someone say that there is an image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the trees.
On my return to my seat I looked up at the light reflecting in the trees and sure enough there was a clear unmistaken image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel–Our Lady in a light beige gown with the crown on Her head and the Infant Jesus in Her arms with the crown on His head. I gazed at this image for a long time and studied it intently and there is no mistake that it was an image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
Charlotte Williams
Bronx, NY
Light beige! That’s almost like gold, and white! All at once.
A PHENOMENON
July 15, 2004Dear Michael and James,
On July 19th, 2004, I was at the 34th Anniversary Vigil of Our Lady’s Apparitions at Bayside. When I was sitting and praying the Rosary on the sacred grounds, I suddenly heard a commotion. The pilgrims were standing and pointing at the pine trees and were quite in awe.
I’m thinking it was about doves, so, I’m looking around to see the doves. Then my daughter told me that she saw Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The light shining on Our Lady’s vigil statue was reflecting on the branches of the pine trees above the statue. I saw Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the branches of the pine trees.
This was quite a phenomenon.
Gladys Zietkowski
Palmer, MA
I have to wonder why they picked this letter — the child element, maybe?
Of course, I can’t figure out why they didn’t just carefully select letters with properly matching testimony….
A BEAUTIFUL VISION
July 2004Dear Michael,
On June 19th, the 34th Anniversary Vigil, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel came to the holy grounds after the 9 p.m. blessings. Our Lady was in the habit of the Carmelite Order with the Child Jesus in Her hands and the crown on Her head. Our Lady was on top of the high tree behind the excedra of the Vatican Pavilion Site. It was a beautiful supernatural vision reminding us of the importance of the brown Scapular.
Elisa Rasmussen
Astoria, NY
Carmelite habit? Why do I get the feeling that we’re on our fifth version of the ‘vision’?
IT WAS VERY AGLOW
July 29, 2004Dear SMWA,
In honor of the 34th Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparitions at Bayside, I attended the vigil on the holy grounds on June 19th, 2004.
I had been on the holy grounds since 3 p.m. and sometime after 9 p.m. a small group of people, a little to the left of the excedra, were pointing above the statue. A gentleman pointed to the trees and told me Our Lady was holding Jesus. I looked very closely but could not see the vision and went back to my prayers.
About ten minutes later, I moved over to the left so that I would have a better view. The spotlight that illuminates the statue of Our Lady also shines above on the trees. This light is what I initially noticed but it suddenly got very bright and appeared to move closer.
At this moment, I saw Our Lady of Mt. Carmel holding the Child Jesus. They both wore a gold crown. Our Lady was dressed in the brown habit and Jesus wore a long light-colored gown. I could not see Their faces clearly.
At times, they seemed to move forward and downward. The vision was very aglow and appeared to be very solid rather than abstract or transparent. I was able to experience this for about ten minutes.
I attest that these facts are true and as accurate as I can recall.
Carol A. Hemphill
Spokane, WA
Gotta love the ‘it was very aglow’….
Also, brown. That’s six.
A VERY FRUITFUL WEEKEND
June 28, 2004Dear Michael,
My friend, Carolyn Donovan of Portland, Me., was granted many graces at the Anniversary Vigil and holy hour for priests. She saw Christ the King on Saturday evening and I saw Our Lady of mt. Carmel. On Sunday we both saw the Sacred Heart of Jesus in full body on the excedra wall.Thank you again for a very fruitful weekend.
In Jesus and Mary,
Rosemary Sibley
Eagleville, PA
…and here we have a completely unrelated set of visions, which I think might be here just to make me think that they were all unrelated. Except that these people were all claiming to have seen their own version of the thing that their friend told them to see….
On to the letter….
April 15, 2008
[address]
Dear Friends of Our Lady of the Roses, Mary Help of Mothers,
Since our last Pilgrimage to the Shrine in 2006, we have gone through some major medical complications. My dear husband Bill has had his hips replaced twice. Diabetes has caused an amputated toe; blood clots formed which later caused an amputation below the knee. He had a pace maker put in due to a heart attack from two years ago. He had an operation on his hand some weeks ago. He is home and recuperating very well. We will be offering all of his medical illnesses up to Our Lady on this year’s Pilgrimage.
Sounds like someone’s relying a little too much on prayer, and not nearly enough on medicine.
On our 2006 pilgrimage, many had experienced miracles. One family had rosaries turned to gold. Some saw Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Bill and I saw Our Lady’s oval shaped light. Miracle cures were granted to a family on their return to Colorado. I have had eight rosaries turn to gold at other past pilgrimages.
Oh good. Things turning to gold. It’s Our Lady of Rumpelstiltskin, and her Blessed Son, Midas.
I am extending our invitation to join us this year for the 38th Anniversary Pilgrimage. We are hoping to form a group from Denver. If we get at least 10 persons we can get an airline group rate. This is an estimate of how much it would cost:
Hotel (1-4)persons – $139.00 per night. Persons in room would divide amount equally.
3 nights total.
Saturday Bus – $45.00 per person.
Saturday Dinner – $26.00 per person.
Sunday Bus – $35.00 per person.
Sunday Banquet – $45.00 per person.
Airline – $350.00 + taxes (price may change).We would need a $200.00 deposit immediately to confirm by May 1st, and final payment would be May 15th.
We will have an informal meeting to give you the complete itinerary and information. I am enclosing a flyer of the pilgrimage, but I would appreciate it if you make arrangements through me, as I am the Denver organizer. Please call me at [phone number].
Yours In Christ,
[signature]
[name]Page 1
Yeah, um, no. Even if I did want to take some trip to some religious thing, I’m not sure I’d trust someone who just mailed me out of the blue one day with two hundred bucks.
order your Banquet tix today!
THE LOURDES OF AMERICA
Our Lady’s 38th Anniversary Pilgrimage June 21-22, 2008
OUR LADY’S ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND IS quickly approaching. We’re looking forward to seeing you. In light of these troubling times, the world desperately needs your prayers more than ever, which are even more powerful and pleasing on these sacred grounds of Bayside. Indeed, what a joy it is to celebrate the beautiful and hope-filled Message of Our Lady and Jesus.
The 38th Anniversary Vigil will be on Saturday, June 21st and the Anniversary Banquet will be on Sunday, June 22nd. We encourage you to book your weekend package as soon as possible and purchase your Banquet tickets early as well.
With costs increasing each year for the Anniversary celebration, we are asking those attending for a $25 tax-deductible donation to St Michael’s World Apostolate. As you know, priests go free and these costs, too, are increasing. We are counting on your donation to help defray these expenses.
May Our Lady’s grace be with you, once again, as you join in fellowship with companionable spirits from around the globe on these sacred grounds especially chosen by our Father in Heaven to save the world and nourish His children.
The random boldface was in the original letter. I’m not sure why it was there, except that maybe it’s meant to make certain things jump out.
“I was very pleased at the numbers present at the Banquet. It eases My Heart to see so many true souls present.”
Our Lady, June 21, 1992
Wow. The visions talk, too. And they’re pleased with things. That’s convenient. What colour was this one wearing? Taupe?
[Image Caption]With Rosary in hand, pilgrims invoke the blessing of Jesus and Mary at the Shrine during last year’s Anniversary.
Is it a magical metalli-change rosary, though…?
PILGRIMAGE PACKAGE
- Latin Tridentine Mass and confessions offered daily
- LGA Marriott Hotel $139 per night (reg $299 or more)
- Saturday Vigil Bus $45 per person
- Includes stop at Veronca’s grave
- Open House at Our Lady’s workshop 12-4p.m.
- Dinner stop before Vigil at Marriott, $26 per person
- Buses are lavatory-equipped and will remain during entire Vigil for your convenience
- Sunday Holy Hour bus $35-per person
- Venerate Rosary kissed by Our Lady
- Priests go free
- Tax-deductible donation of $25 per person is requested to defray expenses incurred for the Anniversary weekend
If you donate more, are you more likely to get one of the magical metalli-change rosaries? Seriously, I must know.
MESSAGES FROM JESUS AND MARY
“ALL WHO COME TO THESE HALLOWED GROUNDS, MY CHILD WILL RECEIVE GRACES IN ABUNDANCE. GRACES OF CURS AND CONVERSIONS. THE CRIPPLED SHALL WALK, THE BLIND SHALL SEE. THOSE IN DARKNESS SHALL COME FORWARD INTO THE LIGHT”
JESUS, FEBRUARY 1, 1974
…um, what?
“MY SON WILL PERFORM THESE SACRED GROUND A MAJOR MIRACLE THAT WILL BRING ALL TO THE KNOWLEDGE AND REALITY THAT THERE EXISTS A GOD WHO IS THE CREATOR AND RULES HEAVEN AND EARTH.”
OUR LADY, MAY 30, 1973
I should note that these are copied as they were written on the page I got in the mail. You can check the scan yourself. It really doesn’t make much sense….
“HOME SWEET HOME” WE HAVE MADE OUR HOME UPON THESE GROUNDS. THEREFORE, ALL WHO COME HERE TO BE SOLACED, I WILL BE HERE, MY MOTHER AND I SHALL STAY HERE EVEN INTO THE CONFLAGRATION.”
JESUS, JUNE 18, 1991
It’s so nice to know that Jesus will be in their chosen place of worship when the end times come. That’s so wonderful, isn’t it? And hey, everyone loves to be solaced, right? Nothing like a good solacing….
OUR LADY PROMISED PROTECTION TO ALL WHO COME. HOW MUCH SHE LOVES HER CHILDREN, HOW CAN WE REFUSE THE GIFTS!’
SHE IS CALLING YOU.
How’d she get my number? Who’s responsible?
…and something you won’t get from a blog posting is that these pages smell like burning. Like matches, even.
How…sinister.