THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412090649
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ESTHER DISKIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
It's rare to see a photograph of an event many consider to be a miracle.
This weekend, a poster-sized photograph of an image that Roman Catholics consider to be the miraculous sign of the Virgin Mary will be on display at Larkspur Middle School.
The photograph has toured the United States and foreign nations, drawing crowds who come to touch it and pray before it.
In January, it came to Hampton Roads on a tour of local churches.
The photograph on display, 4-feet-8-inches tall and 3 feet wide, is a replica of the actual image kept in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
According to church teaching, a pregnant Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian, in December 1531.
She told Diego to instruct the local bishop to build a church for her on a hill in what is now Mexico City.
The bishop demanded a miraculous sign.
It occurred a few days later when Diego, at Mary's request, filled his cloak with roses and brought them to the bishop. When he opened the cloak, the roses cascaded out and an image of Mary appeared on the garment.
The events start Friday at 7 p.m., with an opening address by Virginia state Sen. Charles Colgan.
The activity continues on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with lectures, a luncheon and a religious film. There will be a sung liturgy at 6 p.m. Sunday.
The photographic replica will be taken to Hillcrest Abortion Clinic on Monday on its return to the airport. In January, a peaceful protest with the replica was held at the abortion clinic. by CNB