Word gradually spread on Friday that the image of the Virgin Mary could be seen on the copper cross atop the appropriately named Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence. I stopped by the church this morning hoping to find people gathering to view the cross, and was not disappointed. There were several gathering spots, but people were finding the best location to be in a parking lot across from the church. The people ranged from devout believer to the highly skeptical, and it seemed that the ability to spot an image on the cross was directly related to that belief versus skepticism mindset. What I did find interesting is that, of the handful of children present, none could find an image even after being shown close-up photos of the cross. Conspicuously absent were any members of the clergy, although that is not surprising since the Catholic Church rarely has any comment on reports of local Marion Apparitions. As to the reports from North Providence, I leave it to your judgement as to whether there is anything miraculous in the stains appearing on the cross.
The Roman Catholic Church only officially recognizes 11 apparitions of Mary:
Guadalupe (1531)
Laus (1664 and 1718)
The Miraculous Medal (1830)
La Salette (1846)
Lourdes (1858)
Pontmain (1871)
Knock (1879)
Fatima (1917)
Beauraing (1932)
Banneux (1933)
Akita (1973)
There have been a number of local apparitions that received the official sanction of the local diocese, however those have never received Vatican approval and are not recognized by the Church as a whole. Some Marion Apparitions, such as the 1981 Apparitions in Medjugorje, received widespread public acceptance, but were denounced by the local bishops and have been officially disputed by the Vatican.
Post processing started with a brilliant cold filter in Topaz Adjust. I adjusted adaptive exposure, regions, and contrast. A levels adjustment was added in PSE, and the composite image was also assembled in PSE.
