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On my way home from work on Sunday night I stopped by a church nearby where I grew up. Next to the parking lot is a small grotto and a statue of Our Lady Of Grace. In fact, that is the name of the Church. I was in my truck and stopped right in front of the grotto to say some prayers. Occaisionally I stop there to pray and meditate while sitting in my pickup truck. Fifty yards from me stands the church on a small hill. In the past I have seen deer on the soccer field below the parking lot but never near the church and wondered if they ever visited the little hill which the church sat on. I continued to pray and out of the corner of my eye I saw what looked like a shooting star. It started small like they always do but this one got bigger and bigger as it fell directly over and behind the grotto. I became amazed as this one lasted about three or four seconds and became quite large before it went out of view or burned up or whatever. In fact, as it descended behind some clouds I could see it through the clouds. It was a white hot light not yellow like fire. Relatively speaking it was huge perhaps 20 times bigger than any shooting star I have ever seen. Then it disappeared behind the grotto.

Could this be a sign? Or is it just the space junk talked about on the news. Is it a prophecy for "Fire from Heaven" as predicted by Our Lady of Akita? The time was 12:12 am. Could that indicated something or am I reaching here? (For the stars?) As I turned to leave, my headlights shined on at least 5 deer sitting on the little grassy knoll next to the church. They had not been there before when I was wondering if they might ever be there, or if they were there all the time I didn't notice them. Comments?

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Pax et Bonum


Schultzz

Many people are given personal "Gifts" from heaven, perhaps this was one for you.

Or maybe it was a falling German Satellite

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Bob C

The latest I have seen says the Rorsat junk came in over norther Siam.

It could be an ordinary meteoroid. They reach ground occasionally and even a small fragment can be quite bright.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

Thank you both for your input. Points to consider.

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Pax et Bonum


Schultzz

Or maybe both.

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David L (CA)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx

Schultzz, greetings....thanks for posting that experience.

My family and I had a very unusual happening a few months ago. We were at the cemetery making arrangements for my husband's burial.

We were talking with the owner of the cemetery when I noticed a huge glittering ball shaped 'something' crossing at the far end of the cemetery. As we were watching it we saw it making a sudden turn and it started coming in our direction.

We were a bit stunned but at the same time, pleased because now we could get a closer look! In a few seconds or so it came directly toward us and passed right 'through' us. We watched it until it was out of sight.

We felt nothing. However we were all really puzzled, especially the owner of the cemetery. He said that in the nearly fifty years of managing there he had never before seen anything whatsoever like that.


Several times I was going to post this but each time for whatever reason, I didn't.

So, is there a name for this type of phenomenon?


Mary

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"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Mary,

It may be a phenomenon called "will-o'-the-wisp". It is not uncommon, most occurrences are in cemeteries, but they also happen in damp areas. Scientists have explained it away as an "oxidation of phosphine and methane, produced by organic decay" -- although this is not conclusive -- and behaves as you described.

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Ian DC
Blessed Ever Virgin Mary -- Sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe

Thanks, Ian...I was just telling my daughter what you said and she thinks it a perfect description.

I do wish we could have filmed it.


Mary

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Thank you Mary for your comment. Great to hear your
(voice) again.

_________________
Pax et Bonum


Schultzz

About a week ago I was at the computer and saw a brilliant orange flash just above the monitor. It was a bit puzzling since there is no light there. Then I heard the garbage truck outside. As best as I can figure the rising sun reflected off his windshield, through the window onto the dresser mirror behind me and onto a brass Christmas ornament hanging from the shelf over the computer.

I don't think I could line up a shot like that however hard I tried.

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- Joe Kelley

Death is only a shadow across the path to Heaven.

Schultzz, my daughter found this and the image looks very similar to our phenomenon.

http://photo.accuweather.com/photogalle ... By+itself+



Mary

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

That was a "snow devil", essentially the same thing as a dust devil - note the rotation. (It could also be caused by a wind gust spinning up a brief lasting vortex.) Did you notice a spinning motion and quickly shifting breeze as it went past?

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Kent Wendler

Yes, when I first saw it heading east in the distance it was spinning at about medium speed. It was in a sense fabulous to watch because none of us had ever seen anything like that.

It suddenly changed direction and headed south towards us. As it got closer it appeared to be much bigger and the 'crystal bits' seemed to be further apart.

It headed straight towards us and we had the impression that the 'bits' passed right through us, though none of us thought to see if it left moisture drops on our clothing.

I gently tried touching them but didn't feel anything.

After our 'encounter' it continued to head on south until it was out of sight.


Mary

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Hi, Schultzz, Mary, and Everyone,

Why can't these experiences be both natural and supernatural at the same time? What I mean is, the thing, itself, could be perfectly natural, such as "space junk" or "will o' the wisp" but supernatural in that it was divinely appointed that we be there to witness it so we could marvel and praise God, be renewed in our sense of wonder, beauty, and imagination? I don't know but I wonder...

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Nina

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. ~John 1:9

I think you bring up a very valid point, Nina. Why wouldn't God work miracles through His natural world? For example, I have debated in the past with people who sought to explain the parting of the waters during Moses' escape across the Red Sea as being the result of a natural phenomenon such as an earthquake. My response has been "So? Moses just happened to be at the very edge of the water as the earthquake began and no sooner than he safely reached the other side, the tremors ceased, the receding waters reversed direction and the poor Egyptian army stood there in the middle, chariots bogged down in the muck, looking up as the waters surged over the entire group, drowning them.

Wow! How fortuitous for the Israelites...how unlucky for the mighty Egyptian Army!

Sounds like a miracle to me!"

I think that too many times — sadly, it is certainly true of me far too often — we resist seeing miracles, seeking rather to explain extraordinary events as coincidence. I call it the "Doubting Thomas Syndrome." It shames me to admit it but of all the apostles, he is the one I most frequently emulate!

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In Christ,

Jim B

I will consider your position if stated with firm, well-thought-out, quiet reasoning. Hateful diatribe, ad hominem attacks and shouted rhetoric don't impress.

Greetings, Nina...I firmly believe that whatever God wills or permits is for our sanctification...probably we all do.

What was strongest for us was when the 'ball' turned from going seemingly straight east, to changing and heading south to precisely where we were all standing.

The person most touched by it was the owner of the cemetery; he was indeed very stunned. I have never seen anyone quite as shook as he was.

I think that if there was/is something 'supernatural' about this occurence, God will make it clear to us in some way in His good time...

...very possibly the same with what Schultzz experienced.


Mary

.

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Tonight I saw a very similar light in the same trajectory as the first, descending down over the grotto of our Lady of Grace. What are the odds that I would see it again in the same place at about the same time a little more than a year later? I wonder if it has something to do with the possible invasion of Gaza or a sign of something else to come. Could it be just the path that meteors take?
I have been to this grotto at least 60 times the past year to pray and meditate on scripture. I live about 25 miles from that grotto. Now I am starting to wonder.

_________________
Pax et Bonum


Schultzz

We did have the Leonids just in the last two or three days, and they're supposed to be fairly rare but very showy when you actually see one.

There was a while when I was working a shift from about 9pm to 5am, and as I was driving home, south along I95 in NC one morning I saw a flash of bright, bright light and clouds that shot straight into the air. I'm pretty sure that was a early-morning take off of the space shuttle, but for a few seconds, I wondered if that's what the Ascension looked like.

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Rose West
"May God help us not to spoil His work" (Bl. Mother Theresa)

Thanks Rose.

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Pax et Bonum


Schultzz

The part of my post that I didn't say or maybe didn't need to be said is that, like in my case where I spent the remainder of my car ride contemplating the Ascension, if it turns out to be something like a meteor shower but at the time it happens it makes you reflect on something worthy, then it's a wonderful thing. I'm sure the people of Gaza are grateful for the prayers you might have remembered to say for them at the time. God put the meteors there after all, surely knowing that (if that's really what you saw), it would give you a moment of reflection.

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Rose West
"May God help us not to spoil His work" (Bl. Mother Theresa)