Mountaineer and hiking journalist Bill Finch, a Unitarian Universalist for the past ten years, is considering conversion to the Roman Catholic faith. Finch took a potentially fatal fall in a remote corner of Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Although the injury to his arm was extremely painful, Finch quickly realized that no bones were broken and that bleeding from the scrape was not serious. However, several days later, he realized that a miracle had occurred when a large bruise in the form of the Virgin Mary developed on his arm.
"It was a sign from God that He was watching over me during my hike," claims Finch. "At first, my arm hurt a lot. But I knew I had to concentrate on moving across a dangerous rock fall so I could finish my trip. Almost immediately, the pain disappeared, and I was able to focus on crossing the unstable field of sharp boulders."
Finch forgot about the incident until he returned home. His wife and daughters noticed the huge bruise and asked about it. Finch was reminded of the fall and then was awe-struck when the bruise took the form of the Blessed Virgin. "I've heard of miraculous images of Jesus on tortillas, so I knew this special bruise had to be some kind of sign from God. I call the bruise my Black and Blue Madonna," said Finch.
Finch says the arm is amazingly free of pain and he expects a full recovery.
Miraculous bruise.
This "press release" was written, in part, tongue-in-cheek. The author did not become Roman Catholic and is currently unchurched. He remains a Deacon and an ordained Elder in unnamed major protestant denominations. The bruise was real and original. No makeup was applied and the photo was not enhanced in any way. The author thinks it really looks like a black and blue Madonna. The experience was true. Two daughters subsequently became Roman Catholic but their conversion was not related to this event, to the author's knowledge, in any way.
This "Press Release" was posted 19 December 2019 more than a dozen years after the fact. It was written for the winter-time enjoyment of High Sierra Topix Members and any other hikers waiting for the summer hiking season.