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Lightning damages Jesus statue
by Jennifer Brown, Denver Post
Reposted from:
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_5944929?source%3Dpoll.3AC27EC5B8BA9A6FF6D40C6A78375503.html
A bolt broke off an arm and a hand and damaged a foot at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden. The sisters hope the 22-foot piece can be repaired.
Don't look for any religious symbolism here - it was only a freak act of Mother Nature, says Sister Ilaria.
The nuns at Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden were thanking God on Sunday that no one was hurt when a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky and struck their 33-foot statue of Jesus.
The lightning bolt broke off one of Jesus' arms and a hand and damaged one of his feet, sending marble plummeting to the ground during a Saturday afternoon storm.
"There were pilgrims up there on the hill," Sister Ilaria said. "The biggest miracle is no one got hit with the falling debris."
The statue of Jesus, which had one hand pointing to his "sacred heart" and the other outstretched, sits atop a mountain near the shrine in the foothills of Golden. Drivers on Interstate 70 can see the statue in the hills, and at night, light illuminates the white marble.
Jesus, wearing a robe and glancing down, is 22 feet tall with an 11-foot base.
Sister Bernadette was doing paperwork in her office when she heard the crackle of lightning.
"We did hear a bang, but we didn't realize it was the statue," she said.
The sisters hoped to have a structural engineer inspect the broken statue this week to determine whether it is fixable. The historic piece is irreplaceable - it was sent from Italy in five stackable sections in 1954.
"We run on donations here, so we really have to look at the cost and see what will happen," Sister Bernadette said.
The sisters were thankful the falling marble did not break through a plexiglass shield that covers a heart made by Mother Cabrini.
Thousands of people visit the shrine each year to pray and pay homage to Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. In the 1930s, she established the shrine as a summer camp for orphaned children.
Visitors climb the 373 stairs to the sacred heart statue, "praying as they go," Sister Bernadette said.
The damaged statue of Jesus Christ is surrounded by chunks of stone blasted by lightning. (Post / Brian Brainerd)
Staff writer Jennifer Brown can be reached at 303-954-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_5944929?source%3Dpoll.3AC27EC5B8BA9A6FF6D40C6A78375503.html
A bolt broke off an arm and a hand and damaged a foot at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden. The sisters hope the 22-foot piece can be repaired.Don't look for any religious symbolism here - it was only a freak act of Mother Nature, says Sister Ilaria.
The nuns at Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden were thanking God on Sunday that no one was hurt when a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky and struck their 33-foot statue of Jesus.
The lightning bolt broke off one of Jesus' arms and a hand and damaged one of his feet, sending marble plummeting to the ground during a Saturday afternoon storm.
"There were pilgrims up there on the hill," Sister Ilaria said. "The biggest miracle is no one got hit with the falling debris."
The statue of Jesus, which had one hand pointing to his "sacred heart" and the other outstretched, sits atop a mountain near the shrine in the foothills of Golden. Drivers on Interstate 70 can see the statue in the hills, and at night, light illuminates the white marble.
Jesus, wearing a robe and glancing down, is 22 feet tall with an 11-foot base.
Sister Bernadette was doing paperwork in her office when she heard the crackle of lightning.
"We did hear a bang, but we didn't realize it was the statue," she said.
The sisters hoped to have a structural engineer inspect the broken statue this week to determine whether it is fixable. The historic piece is irreplaceable - it was sent from Italy in five stackable sections in 1954.
"We run on donations here, so we really have to look at the cost and see what will happen," Sister Bernadette said.
The sisters were thankful the falling marble did not break through a plexiglass shield that covers a heart made by Mother Cabrini.
Thousands of people visit the shrine each year to pray and pay homage to Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. In the 1930s, she established the shrine as a summer camp for orphaned children.
Visitors climb the 373 stairs to the sacred heart statue, "praying as they go," Sister Bernadette said.
The damaged statue of Jesus Christ is surrounded by chunks of stone blasted by lightning. (Post / Brian Brainerd)
Staff writer Jennifer Brown can be reached at 303-954-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com.
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Posted: Thursday, May 24, 2007 | PermalinkComments 1 - 50 of 52 |
Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers2. Comment #44324 by bluebird on May 24, 2007 at 11:09 am
They'd say that a potato chip that resembles Richard Nixon is a random act of nature, but, a grilled cheese sandwich with the alleged face of Mary is something to flock to, cry over, then sell on e-bay to the highest bidder.If we drive past this statue on I-70 during our next camping trip, we'll all give it the evil eye.
Other Comments by bluebird
3. Comment #44325 by Mark R on May 24, 2007 at 11:11 am
"There were pilgrims up there on the hill," Sister Ilaria said. "The biggest miracle is no one got hit with the falling debris."That just about sums it all up.
Rumours have it a man with a cape and the Letter 'S' on the front of his shirt was seen flying close by at the time of the incident.
Other Comments by Mark R
4. Comment #44327 by TIKI AL on May 24, 2007 at 11:13 am
Lightning hitting Jesus statue = random act of nature.Lightning hitting AK-47 armed sicko on the way into a school = divine act of intervention by a truly merciful and loving God.
Don't take my word for it, just ask any Godbot.
Other Comments by TIKI AL
5. Comment #44333 by lt_zippy2 on May 24, 2007 at 11:20 am
TIKI AL - You took the words right out of my mouth.......and stole my thunder 'arf 'arf
But as usual it shows the conincidence and hypocrasy that those of us that are rational see all the time from the theists, but when we point that out to them all you get are their fingers in their ears
Other Comments by lt_zippy2
6. Comment #44335 by Stuart Paul Wood on May 24, 2007 at 11:27 am
Looks as if we can scrub Yaweh as a potential God then!Other Comments by Stuart Paul Wood
7. Comment #44338 by lt_zippy2 on May 24, 2007 at 11:36 am
I think Thor the bringer of Thunder is becoming more plausible!!!!!Other Comments by lt_zippy2
8. Comment #44340 by bluebird on May 24, 2007 at 11:39 am
Will somebody put a statue of Rachel Carson, Carl Sagan, et al next to this one, please!?! Other Comments by bluebird
9. Comment #44342 by Sam94720 on May 24, 2007 at 11:41 am
It's funny that they thank God that no one was hurt, but don't ask themselves why he didn't just dispense with the whole exercise altogether. They should wonder why he decided to damage that statue or at least let it happen...Reminds me of all those instances where an earthquake/tsunami/hurricane/bomb/etc. kills dozens or even thousands of people, but leaves a few unharmed. "Thank God that kid survived! It's a miracle!"
Other Comments by Sam94720
10. Comment #44345 by MAS2007 on May 24, 2007 at 11:49 am
Now thats entertainment, so where is the video of natures power??? Other Comments by MAS2007
11. Comment #44349 by cassdenata on May 24, 2007 at 11:55 am
What criteria did they use to determine if it was an act of god? If they did determine it was an act of god, then how should it be interpreted, what should be done? Does that mean god doesn't like the statue, or some of the particulars of the church? Maybe the pastor is speaking the wrong message? Or maybe nothing needs to change, it was just a reminder from god that he is still here. There is absolutely no way to determine what god's will is. The bible sure doesn't help. What an intellectually and emotionally depauperate way to live your life religion is.Other Comments by cassdenata
12. Comment #44356 by blueollie on May 24, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I think that Laurence was close to beging correct; what happened is that some from that dreaded Alfredo Sauce sect (the Reformed Church of the FSM) were around, living in sin (by wearing ninja costumes instead of pirate ones).Other Comments by blueollie
13. Comment #44359 by En0Nomi on May 24, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Funny, I've driven by in Interstate 70 many times and always thought the statue at the Mother Cabrini Shrine was Mother Cabrini. With their clothes on all those white marble people look alike to me.Other Comments by En0Nomi
14. Comment #44360 by scottishgeologist on May 24, 2007 at 12:29 pm
All this thanks to God for his mercy style of BS reminds me of this highly irritating cartoon:http://www.answersingenesis.org/aftereden/view.aspx?id=198
If you really want to feel irritated, check out the rest of these 'toons. They are ALMOST as bad as the Chick tracts.
Other Comments by scottishgeologist
15. Comment #44365 by pissinintothewind on May 24, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Well f**k me people not being hurt, more evidence of miracles! No doubt if they cannot afford the repair job the faithful will cough up the cash for it. Maybe then, by their gods all loving grace another miracle will occour and they will send the money to Africa, to buy condoms and stop more people being hurt.Other Comments by pissinintothewind
16. Comment #44367 by pissinintothewind on May 24, 2007 at 12:46 pm
mispelt occur, I`m tired and in no mood for this nonsense.Other Comments by pissinintothewind
17. Comment #44369 by ridelo on May 24, 2007 at 12:48 pm
After the reconstruction I recommend the good sisters a lightning rod. Some science can do miracles! A metal thorny crown makes a hell of a Faraday cage!Other Comments by ridelo
18. Comment #44371 by Duff on May 24, 2007 at 12:49 pm
It was "only a random act of nature," but if the lightning had harmlessly hit the ground nearby, you bet they wouldn't have called that a random act of nature. That would have been a sure sign that god had performed a miracle and cause the bolt from the blue to hit the ground harmlessly. Mindless ninnys.Other Comments by Duff
19. Comment #44372 by maton100 on May 24, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Ha ha! Ha ha!For more recent news and entertainment for atheists:
http://thestubborncurmudgeon.blogspot.com/
Other Comments by maton100
20. Comment #44373 by errm... on May 24, 2007 at 12:52 pm
"Surely this was Jesus intervening to save his followers?" If no one's tried this one yet then they soon will. "If you believe that then you'll believe anything" (1st Duke of Wellington).Other Comments by errm...
21. Comment #44375 by scottishgeologist on May 24, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Hey, maybe they could get a "fake (sorry, faith) healer" to heal the statue and put the arm back.Oh dear, silly me, God doesnt heal amputees.....
www.whydoesgodhateamputees.com
Excellent site by the way.
Other Comments by scottishgeologist
22. Comment #44380 by padster1976 on May 24, 2007 at 1:04 pm
i really hate this type of hypocritcal shit'Don't look for any religious symbolism here - it was only a freak act of Mother Nature, says Sister Ilaria.'
According to tellybigots like Pat Robertson who tributes Katrina as gods way punishing america for abortion and homosexuality!
Is that any different. This is exactly the sort of evasive apologistic stance that should exclude anyone of a religious persuasion from any serious debate.
Intolerant? As I would anyone with this miniscule amount of sense.
Like Asimov said, the lightning conductor on churches is science's biggest victory.
Other Comments by padster1976
23. Comment #44381 by Duff on May 24, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Good one, scottishgeo.. I should have thought of that one, and that is a very good site. Its my first question now when a JW corners me somewhere. Why doesn't God heal....?Other Comments by Duff
24. Comment #44385 by konquererz on May 24, 2007 at 1:14 pm
You will all burn in hell for this blasphemy! Thor, mighty god of thunder, shows his mighty power by blasting fake god jesus's arm off, and yet you refuse to give worship to him! He shows his great mercy by sparing the pathetic bystanders and still you don't believe! You will all be punished by storms and bad weather that can be interpreted as nature!! Other Comments by konquererz
25. Comment #44386 by troodon on May 24, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Good aim, god!Other Comments by troodon
26. Comment #44398 by USA_Limey on May 24, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Piss poor shot, sorry.- I was aiming for his bollocks.
(Re-calibrates fiendishly evil weather machine)
Other Comments by USA_Limey
27. Comment #44399 by posiedon on May 24, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Don't look for any religious symbolism here - it was only a freak act of Mother Nature, says Sister Ilaria.
The nuns at Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden were thanking God on Sunday that no one was hurt when a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky and struck their 33-foot statue of Jesus.
Yeh, Yeh, Must have been a freak of nature.........God doesn't work Sundays.
Other Comments by posiedon
28. Comment #44401 by ricey on May 24, 2007 at 2:22 pm
If a statue of Charles Darwin (or Richard Dawkins) was struck by lightning every holy crackpot in the world would point knowingly skywards.It strikes a Jesus statue (what did he look like anyway?) and its an act of nature.
Other Comments by ricey
29. Comment #44402 by hopeful on May 24, 2007 at 2:23 pm
and "The sisters were thankful the falling marble did not break through a plexiglass shield that covers..."Plexiglass? - More beautiful irony here.
Priceless (the comedy not the statue).
Other Comments by hopeful
30. Comment #44407 by Bonzai on May 24, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Zeus was known as the god of the lightning bolt. This event proves that Zeus is the real deal, right before our eyes! The Christians should stop worshiping idols if they don't want to end up being eaten by fire breathing dog headed monsters in Hade.Other Comments by Bonzai
31. Comment #44408 by Roy_H on May 24, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I heard a strange story ( I am told it is true but to me it sounds straight out of "Father Ted" actually)A vicarage got stuck by lightening but the insurance company would not pay up because they said "It was an act of God" and the property had not been insured for such claims! Anyway, after the not inconsiderable damage to the roof was repaired, the priest felt like going on holiday (and who can blame him ) so he and 2 other priests decided to go skiing the Swiss Alps.While they were there, they got caught in a thunderstorm, lightening struck, the priest who had his house damaged got away unhurt but his 2 companions were killed!
Other Comments by Roy_H
32. Comment #44410 by Azven on May 24, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Where was the lightning conductor? They probably decided not to attach one so as not to stain that lovely white stone with the green stains of copper. Other Comments by Azven
33. Comment #44414 by BaronOchs on May 24, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Hey has anyone tried using this to chat?http://www.gabbly.com/www.richarddawkins.net/home
Other Comments by BaronOchs
34. Comment #44416 by Janus on May 24, 2007 at 3:17 pm
And so, once again, we are forced to ponder The Question: "Why are people so fscking stupid?" Other Comments by Janus
35. Comment #44417 by micronut on May 24, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Zeus, the one true god, is back in Town. All you non-believers better take cover.Http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3044178.stm
Check this out, you can actually see the image of Zeus in the cloud formation.
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=171907&fr=
Other Comments by micronut
36. Comment #44425 by Rtambree on May 24, 2007 at 4:49 pm
This is obviously proof that there is no God but Allah.Other Comments by Rtambree
37. Comment #44426 by Satanburiedfossils on May 24, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Churches in Germany shunned [Benjamin] Franklin's new invention [the lightning rod] for three decades, during which time some 400 church towers were damaged by lightning and 120 bell ringers killed. In one church a bolt of lightning struck the tower and melted the bell, electrocuted the priest, deprived a parishioner of her sensibilities and destroyed a painting of the Savior. Church towers, being the highest structures in a village, are commonly struck by lightning, while brothels and saloons next door escape untouched.-- William Deitz, Creation/Evolution Satiricon
As late as 1770 many religious Americans still felt that, since thunder and lightning were tokens of the divine displeasure, it was impiety to prevent their doing their full work. It took a few decades for the devout to abandon their religious prejudices regarding the use of the lightning rod, but eventually it was demonstrated to all but the most dense that both the "vengeance of God" and the "Prince of the Power of the Air" were forced to retreat before the lightning-rod of a heretic.
-- A. D. White, A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology & E.T.B.
http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/skepticism/franklin.html
Other Comments by Satanburiedfossils
38. Comment #44431 by Russell Blackford on May 24, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Uh-oh, looking at the posts above I can see a war brewing between the Thorians and the Zeusites (I mean, it's obvious that one of those gods did this).*scared*
Other Comments by Russell Blackford
39. Comment #44438 by foxfire on May 24, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Don't look for any religious symbolism here - it was only a freak act of Mother Nature, says Sister Ilaria.
"There were pilgrims up there on the hill," Sister Ilaria said. "The biggest miracle is no one got hit with the falling debris."
I am
Other Comments by foxfire
40. Comment #44441 by k1mgy on May 24, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I should think the Holy Sisters would learn a lesson from this experience and, as in a dashboard ornament, replace the stone Jesus with a plastic one. Other Comments by k1mgy
41. Comment #44447 by Yaweh on May 24, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Stuart Paul Wood:Looks as if we can scrub Yaweh as a potential God then!Potential yo mama!
Other Comments by Yaweh
42. Comment #44449 by Jolly Wally on May 24, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Wow, how ironic. Perhaps it's a sign?Other Comments by Jolly Wally
43. Comment #44466 by Shuggy on May 24, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Maybe God just doesn't like kitsch. Other Comments by Shuggy
44. Comment #44467 by Luded on May 24, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Bhudda Statue UnscathedHow ever will we interpret this message from God without his mouthpiece, Jerry Falwell?
Other Comments by Luded
45. Comment #44483 by Quetzalcoatl on May 25, 2007 at 12:42 am
This was a warning to the Christians. They should reject their false Messiah and worship the Aztec pantheon. Specifically, me, Quetzalcoatl. Other Comments by Quetzalcoatl
46. Comment #44491 by posiedon on May 25, 2007 at 1:36 am
Comment #44408 by Roy_H on May 24, 2007 at 2:44 pmThis church fire was attributed to a lightening strike, and called an act of god by the insurers.
I heard a strange story ( I am told it is true but to me it sounds straight out of "Father Ted" actually)
A vicarage got stuck by lightening but the insurance company would not pay up because they said "It was an act of God"
http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/chw4f.htm
http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/chw4.htm
And this IS a true story, I was there.
Other Comments by posiedon
47. Comment #44492 by bamboospitfire on May 25, 2007 at 1:38 am
Bonzai beat me to it on the Zeus thing. All this idolatry of false gods is clearly winding him up.Has anyone else voted on the Denver Post poll? ("Do you think there is any religious symbolism in the lightning that struck and be-handed the 22' marble Jesus statue in Golden?") At present, the figures look like this:-
No 52.48%
Not really 4.251%
Maybe 4.604%
Yes, a little 3.526%
Yes 30.52%
I don't know 4.604%
Seems to me that both atheists and Christians are likely to say no, whilst the people saying yes are likely to be non-Christian theists.
Finally, is it just me or does that "white marble" look more like painted concrete? White elephant, more like...
Other Comments by bamboospitfire
48. Comment #44493 by posiedon on May 25, 2007 at 1:53 am
Comment #44408 by Roy_H on May 24, 2007 at 2:44 pmThis church fire was attributed to a lightening strike, and called an act of god by the insurers.
I heard a strange story ( I am told it is true but to me it sounds straight out of "Father Ted" actually)
A vicarage got stuck by lightening but the insurance company would not pay up because they said "It was an act of God"
http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/chw4f.htm
http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/chw4.htm
Other Comments by posiedon
49. Comment #44559 by leodavinci on May 25, 2007 at 4:30 am
A structural engineer?Why not just pray over it for a while?
Silly old women
Other Comments by leodavinci
50. Comment #44915 by Nails on May 25, 2007 at 2:59 pm
OMG, have you seen this cartoon?www.answersingenesis.org
It's animated, give it a few seconds....
Blind leading the blind.
Other Comments by Nails
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1. Comment #44321 by Laurence Winch-Furness on May 24, 2007 at 10:54 am
Foolish unbeliever, can ye not see that a noodly apendage clearly guided the lightning bolt?!!!!!
Other Comments by Laurence Winch-Furness