The Picture .............
While on pilgrimage in the Holy Land mid October, 1982, I was taking mostly candid shots with my instamatic 110 camera.
When I returned and had the pictures developed, this picture of Jesus was in the
group of pictures, and at first I felt that they got someone else’s picture
mixed up with mine, for I told my husband I didn’t take the picture or even
remember seeing a picture like this. We checked the negatives, and there it was
on the strip of negatives.
I was very confused, especially not remembering where I could of possibly of taken this picture, so I took it to the Priest I had been with, and he stated he had been to the Holy Land many times and had never seen this picture there.
It was then shown to a priest in our area who travels and studies in the Holy Land. He also said he had never come across this picture.
The agency I traveled with then took the picture to New York to the people that study paintings and fresco’s, and they stated that this picture was not in the Holy Land.
I had returned three times after I received the picture, and each year searched and asked everyone I could talk to as to where this picture might be, and no one knew.
The story of the picture started to spread when some of my friends knew I was searching with no answers being answered.
My husband and I felt the beauty of the picture and wanted to share it with people as our ministry being we were secular Franciscans. We started to get prints made, give them out, and many beautiful things happened even though we did not tell the story behind the picture.
I hesitate to tell the story because I wanted this picture to be investigated more thoroughly. To me this is all mind boggling, especially not to remember taking this picture. I felt I had a lapse of memory or time, but how could one forget taking a picture so beautiful.
The picture is now all over the world and in the U.S.A. I just wish that people would not be interest in where the picture came from, but look at the beauty and majesty of Christ. He is a portrait of love. It shows in this picture.
I make no claims as to this being a miracle or etc. as some people are calling it. I only know that it has brought many people peace, even when they knew nothing about the picture, and I thank God for that.
It is not important as to who took the picture, or how it came about. What is important is the face of Christ.
Sincerely yours in Christ.
(Name withheld until such time as I have obtained consent to give it)
