All That Glitters (And Oils)

There is the expression, “all that glitters isn’t gold.” Is all that glitters real, and if so — good?

We had the article last week on a Bible in Dalton, Georgia, from which “gallons” of oil have emanated. A very interesting case, that. We’ll have a personal report soon.

In New Mexico is a statue of the Guadalupe Virgin that also has exuded oil.

And here now let’s explore, from the domain of evangelical brethren, claims of not only similarly oiling objects, but phenomena known also to Catholics in the way of mysterious stones, glitter, and “gold” dust — which was seen to occur around Venezuelan mystic Maria Esperanza and others (at Fatima, a glitter fell, but vanished before hitting the ground).

First, in Puerto Rico. Do we believe it? It occurs around a minister named Dennis Rojas, who was born into the faith after a debauched life that included cross-dressing. For your discernment only. Rough-cut diamonds fall from a Bible — along with “copious amounts” of oil that smells like myrrh? We are of two minds about such things.

Again, the video-tape:

Are there remarkable outpourings of the miraculous as the world enters darker times? “Oil drips from the walls and gemstones appear among them when they praise and worship Jesus!” claims a Christian reporter. Are they really precious stones?

Latino Catholics call the glitter “escarchas.”

Today’s Mass reading (1 Corinthians):

“Brothers and sisters: The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among men, who knows what pertains to the man except his spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.”

What about the “gemstones” at this church in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho? We post, you determine!