# Virgin Mary image in Chicago underpass **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 19, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998 "2005-04-19T03:46:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/1 "2005-04-19T03:46:14Z")
Perhaps you have heard about this vital bit of news. The thread title pretty much says it all but for those who want to read more: [http://www.nbc5.com/news/4388177/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news](http://www.nbc5.com/news/4388177/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news) I am not very religious (no surprise there). However, if there are “higher powers”, I sure hope they would be doing better things than appearing in underpasses or in rust stains on water tanks in New Jersey. Right here in Boston, there has been a “Virgin Mary” appearance in a hospital window. Figured I’d start this in the Pit as opposed to Great Debates. I was just wondering what other SDMB folks thought about this. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/2 "2005-04-19T03:55:09Z")
Am I the only one who read “underpants” in the title? ---
**Author:** ![Floyd13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@Floyd13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floyd13)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/3 "2005-04-19T03:58:03Z")
I think it’s time I head down to the city and sell these idiots some holy water from my toilet. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/4 "2005-04-19T04:00:03Z")
It looks more like a phallus with a vagina in the middle to me. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/5 "2005-04-19T04:14:08Z")
> [@Floyd13](#): > > I think it’s time I head down to the city and sell these idiots some holy water from my toilet. There was a thread a while back about an auction on ebay for a shower door with a soap scum stain in the likeness of Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![dare\_devil007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@dare\_devil007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dare_devil007)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/6 "2005-04-19T04:16:55Z")
> [@Floyd13](#): > > I think it’s time I head down to the city and sell these idiots some holy water from my toilet. I’ll join you. I’ve got some holy grails people might be interested in. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/7 "2005-04-19T04:20:01Z")
Looks more like the evil chick from The Ring. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/8 "2005-04-19T04:27:11Z")
**Gazpacho** _There was a thread a while back about an auction on ebay for a shower door with a soap scum stain in the likeness of Jesus._ … and _nobody_ told me about that auction? Damn!!! _That’s_ the kind of thing I’d want to bid on. ::Harumph:: Guess I’ll just have to be happy with my Virgin Mary image on toast. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/9 "2005-04-19T05:16:29Z")
This led to some major traffic slowdown, I’m told. > [@FilmGeek](#): > > It looks more like a phallus with a vagina in the middle to me. We decided it was a vagina at work. The labia seem pretty clear. Although from some angles in that piece, it’s more obvious what the religious people are seeing, I still have to ask WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THESE MANIACS? IS THERE NO LEVEL OF SELF-PARODY TO WHICH THEY WILL NOT STOOP? > [@](#): > > I asked her, ‘Please help me with school because I’m having my finals,’ but I felt like she was like, ‘If you can come to me, I’m going to go to you,’" Delgado said. Because studying would surely not be as good a use of your time as praying to an underpass wall and asking god’s mom to cheat for you. ---
**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 19, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/10 "2005-04-19T05:16:51Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > It looks more like a phallus with a vagina in the middle to me. Or vulva. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/11 "2005-04-19T05:23:34Z")
It looks like a vulva to me as well. What does that say about us? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/12 "2005-04-19T05:29:30Z")
It looks like a vulva to me as well. What does that say about us? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/13 "2005-04-19T05:39:07Z")
Hey folks! It’s in Chicago! Now who is the icon of the Windy City, if not the world? Sheesh! Get with the program! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/14 "2005-04-19T06:04:21Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Am I the only one who read “underpants” in the title? No. No, you are not. And I was frightened. Gotta cut down on the caffeine. ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/15 "2005-04-19T06:29:07Z")
Another vote for vulva. Unless it’s the Virgin Mary Maidenhead we are supposed to be seeing here? Anyone see a hymen there? Proof she’s a virgin and all? [sub] Hell, handbasket, etc.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/16 "2005-04-19T08:49:53Z")
I used to have a girlfriend who said that all Mary images were intentionally vulvic, and that cruciform images were phallic. She was sex-mad, but it made sense at the time, especially as I was very high and the kiddy euphemisms my parents used for male and female genitalia were “peter” and “mary” respectively. (Peter was crucified, too, natch.) Here’s [another Mary sighting](http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20050324102231404C178791) that’s been getting a bit of attention: > [@](#): > > The Daily Mail reports that an image of Virgin Mary has apparently appeared in an Australian bedsheet. > Believers say they can clearly see an image of the mother of Christ imprinted on the material. > > Others point out that it looks like nothing more than a large stain on a sheet which has seen better days. Wouldn’t be the first time a virgin has soiled a bedsheet beyond any hope of laundering, of course. ---
**Author:** ![robotic\_panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed8c4c/32.png) [@robotic\_panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robotic_panda)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/17 "2005-04-19T10:01:03Z")
> [@Mac Guffin](#): > > Another vote for vulva. Unless it’s the Virgin Mary Maidenhead we are supposed to be seeing here? Anyone see a hymen there? Proof she’s a virgin and all? /Henny Youngman Oh my! God must have drawn it from memory! /HY [sub]also going to hell[/sub] ---
**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 19, 2005, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/18 "2005-04-19T11:33:13Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Hey folks! It’s in Chicago! > > Now who is the icon of the Windy City, if not the world? Oprah? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/19 "2005-04-19T12:45:34Z")
Oh, come now, people. Show some respect. The salt stain is clearly the image of a 1st century person in robes, and therefore a clear sign that good Catholics must pray in a subterranian freeway. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998/20 "2005-04-19T14:09:49Z")
Saw the photo for the first time in the Trib this morning, and, to me, it looks like a fucking salt water stain. You can see where the crack in the concrete is, and towards the bottom, there appears to be more water damage to the concrete. So now it looks like I’m going to have to worship stains. I guess that means Shout! Tide and All are the minions of the devil. The other thing I liked about the picture is you can see what people have written there. In addition to the marking by the person who first “found” the Virgin Mary there, there is a pentagram, with 666 and “Satan Loves U” right next to it. Equal time I guess. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virgin-mary-image-in-chicago-underpass/299998.md?page=2)