Bright light at Mass could be ‘sign of God’

Sydney
8 June 2003

Bright light at Mass could be ‘sign of God’

The light hits the tabernacle just before the Mass began.

By Marilyn Rodrigues

It could be “a sign of God”, says Albert Klein of the stunning image in his photograph of the tabernacle at St Patrick’s Church, Smithtown.

“Never have I taken such a striking photograph in my life.”

Albert took the photo with his digital camera on the second Sunday of Easter, which is also Divine Mercy Sunday, just after a visiting speaker had finished a talk on the presence of Christ in the consecrated host.

As the congregation of 80 people prayed in silence, Albert waited until the afternoon light streaming through a skylight fell upon the tabernacle before taking the shot.

But as he looked at the image in his viewer, he was surprised by the brilliance of the light that seemed to emanate from it - in the shape of a circle - making it look like a large communion host.

But it did not look that way to the naked eye, he says.

“The circle of light was standing out in the viewer like a blinding light,” he says.

“I was absolutely amazed.

“I have seen a number of so-called miraculous photographs but am very sceptical of them.

“However, I cannot find an explanation for this bright circle of light without an external source.

“I believe that it could be a sign of God given on this feast day of his mercy.

“I used to work in photography for many years … but this photo is really special.

“I personally think it is miraculous.”

Fr Bernard Kenny, the parish priest at Smithtown, near Kempsey, on the Mid-North Coast, had arranged a weekend parish retreat on the topic of Divine Mercy that ended on the Sunday with prayers, Eucharistic adoration, Reconciliation and finally Mass at 3pm.

Albert took the photo moments before Mass began.

His friends, parishioners John and Joy Lovegrove, have been sending out many copies of the “beautiful and touching picture”.

They also believe it is a “sign of God’s mercy in the Real Presence to a small group in country Australia”.

The devotion to Jesus Christ known as the Divine Mercy is based on the writings of St Faustina Kowalska, an almost illiterate Polish nun and mystic who recorded revelations she received from God.

She died in 1838.

Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1993. She was canonised in 2000.