# Hail Maria, Full of . . . WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 21, 2005, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391 "2005-04-21T11:46:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/1 "2005-04-21T11:46:30Z")
From [Yahoo News](http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050421/ts_afp/usreligionapparition_050421073752): > [@](#): > > The faithful have flocked to a freeway underpass in Chicago to kneel at the foot of a water stain many say is an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Peope are praying to a trickle of salts on a concrete underpass. To me, the image looks more like a Shiva lingam than the Blessed Virgin. . somebody call the Hindus, the Catholics are bogarting their shrine! It’s incidents such as this that make me feel just a bit smarter than the idiots kneeling and praying to a water stain that they have converted in their minds into a Sign From Above. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/2 "2005-04-21T11:48:21Z")
I’m not smart enough, however, to close tags in my links. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/3 "2005-04-21T12:11:48Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > It’s incidents such as this that make me feel just a bit smarter than the idiots kneeling and praying to a water stain that they have converted in their minds into a Sign From Above. Didn’t we just have a thread about a guy that paid $1000 for a dorito that looked like the popes hat? I must jump on this bandwagon. I know I have something around here I can turn into big bucks… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/4 "2005-04-21T12:12:06Z")
Here in Cleveland, all the tv journalists have become televangelists, and we’re subjected to crap like this day and night. And ongoing stories about faith healing. And people who’ve survived cutting-edge surgery, yet thank the Lord rather than the medical staff. If I were theistic, I’d be mighty insulted by all this. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/5 "2005-04-21T12:22:07Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > I’m not smart enough, however, to close tags in my links. I is, though. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/6 "2005-04-21T13:03:20Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I is, though. Thank you for the assist, **Czarcasm**. On **Today** this morning, I watched one blowzy blonde, who looked like she stepped straight out of _Studs Lonigan_\*, say, “I’m scared. Why would this happen at this time, at this place?” Because gullibility knows no season or place, perhaps? It just floors me that people can be so superstitious that they look for signs and wonders even on the wall of an underpass. Heck, there’s mineral stains on the walls of the DC Metro; maybe I could get in on the rosary and candle concession business early! ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/7 "2005-04-21T13:16:44Z")
Sorry, but you’re [a few days late.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=312589) ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/8 "2005-04-21T14:59:11Z")
Shit. The Pope’s been gone only a few weeks, and these fools are already bowing before the graven images. Its only a matter of time before [this becomes reality](http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4116&n=1) . I sure hope Ratzie XVI can keep these savages in line. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/9 "2005-04-21T15:40:36Z")
Dude…I’m gonna be vulgar: it looks like a vagina. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/10 "2005-04-21T15:42:23Z")
I can’t even see anything except a smudge that looks vaguely like two hands folded in prayer–and that’s after it was pointed out to me. Y’all have very, very good imaginations. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/11 "2005-04-21T15:54:49Z")
Well, when I first saw it, I thought, “Cool–it DOES look like a woman folding her hands in prayer!” I did not, however, experience a religious epiphany. Had I thought, “Cool–it DOES look like a man with the head of a jackal!” I would not have converted to Anubis worship. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/12 "2005-04-21T16:14:19Z")
Wouldn’t it be funny if a contingent of Satanists converged on the next Marian-image sighting and claimed it to be their beloved Whore of Babylon? ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/13 "2005-04-21T16:38:02Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Dude…I’m gonna be vulgar: it looks like a vagina. And not even a virgin vagina at that. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/14 "2005-04-21T17:15:17Z")
As an ordained member of the Glurgy, I must link to [a photo](http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ejjaniak/detail?.dir=/cc4d&.dnm=ad39.jpg&.src=ph) that I just took out the window behind my computer. See the image of Jesus (or Mary, take your pick) in the birch bark? Huh? Do ya? See it bleeding? Huh? I expect the flood of worshippers to begin arriving within hours. $10 admission. For another ten-spot, I’ll ordain you as a Glurgyman. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/15 "2005-04-21T17:17:55Z")
Looks like the chick from _The Ring_ to me… OMG WE’RE ALL DAED IN SEVEN DAYS ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/16 "2005-04-21T17:25:09Z")
> [@](#): > > See the image of Jesus (or Mary, take your pick) in the birch bark? It actually looks more like a bleeding penguin. Not sure thats worth $10, perhaps $5? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/17 "2005-04-21T17:26:31Z")
> [@Dob](#): > > It actually looks more like a bleeding penguin. Not sure thats worth $10, perhaps $5? More, if you’re anti-Linux… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/18 "2005-04-21T17:30:53Z")
> [@Dob](#): > > It actually looks more like a bleeding penguin. Not sure thats worth $10, perhaps $5? Oddly enough, I’m running a special today… ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/19 "2005-04-21T20:26:02Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > As an ordained member of the Glurgy, I must link to [a photo](http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ejjaniak/detail?.dir=/cc4d&.dnm=ad39.jpg&.src=ph) that I just took out the window behind my computer. See the image of Jesus (or Mary, take your pick) in the birch bark? Huh? Do ya? See it bleeding? Huh? Hate to burst your bubble, but that looks way more like the view under my horse’s tail after he’s had too much bran mash. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391/20 "2005-04-21T20:58:36Z")
If you listen real close, you can hear the Virgin Mary speaking: “Get…a…life…” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hail-maria-full-of-wtf/300391.md?page=2)