Beyond Belief on the Virgin Mary

[xDreamerx]

On ABC (CHCH for Canadians who don't get ABC), in case anyone cares to turn in. It's about people who profess to have seen her etc.

[lilwriter85]

I'm watching it now. I have heard of some these places and sightings before. The New Jersey place was feature on Dateline or some other program last year.

[xDreamerx]

Really? Interesting. I have to admit I was a little surprised to see Alabama on the show. It's not area where I would expect to find many Catholics. It was an interesting insight into folk Catholicism for lack of a better term.

[duplessis3]

There are a lot of southern Catholics - remember that fine historical resource "Gone With the Wind"? :)

[lilwriter85]

Really? Interesting. I have to admit I was a little surprised to see Alabama on the show. It's not area where I would expect to find many Catholics. It was an interesting insight into folk Catholicism for lack of a better term.

I lived in Alabama for a few months during college as part of a transfer program. At the time I was practicing Catholic and there is small Catholic presence in Birmingham area. Mother Angelica, a nun who had a show on EWTN lived in a convent near the Birmingham area and she had a good network of connections there. During my time in Alabama, I became friends with a Catholic classmate whose family attended a good sized parish in one of the Birmingham suburbs. Most of the parishioners were of French, Italian or Irish heritage. Shortly after when I left AL, I heard about the Marian apparitions there and my friend's brother was going to that area to pray for a friend who suffered brain damage. I haven't been in contact with this friend in awhile and she doesn't know that I'm atheist now.

Folk Catholicism is a good description for what you saw. I grew up in New Mexico and folk Catholicsm is a big thing. There are actually laypeople groups that have devotions to the Virgin Mary and they make pilgrimages to the Santuario de Chimayo often.

[nuri]

Part of my family is from Cullman, Alabama. The Shrine Of The Most Blessed Sacrament, the monastery she opened (she more or less actually created EWTN) is in a nearby town. That area used to be heavily Catholic. Cullman has the beautiful Ave Maria Grotto, a collection of beautiful shrines and miniatures done by a monk from the area.

I was shocked to realize that that part of Alabama was so Catholic. Could have fooled me with the Baptist churches on every corner.

(Last time I was down there, I went to the Shrine (for fun!). I was asked to leave because my shirt was sleeveless. And I was so careful to wear modest clothing otherwise!)