I’ve been cleaning out some old files to get rid of obsolete or redundant articles and such, and came across a newspaper article from 1994 when we lived in Geneva, IL. The article is about so-called “miracles” which were taking place at a local Catholic book and gift shop. I had shopped there a few times when I was seeking Catholic publications while studying Roman Catholicism, so I was familiar with the store.
The news about the miracles had been on TV sometime prior to the newspaper article, if I remember correctly, or perhaps some other venue; I don’t remember now, but I do know the story had been around before the newspaper article. I was working at the control tower at DuPage Airport in West Chicago at the time, and the street bordering the north side of the field went directly downtown St. Charles, and this store, “Angel Kisses,” was also on this street.
I was a front-line supervisor and my manager would often take lunch outside the facility so we could have some management discussions over lunch. Mike was raised a Catholic and decided he wanted to see what all the fuss about the miracles was, so he decided we’d take a lunch out and stop in at the store. There was a pretty long line to get in, but people moved along fairly quickly, so we were inside within about 10 minutes. But we didn’t continue in the line, rather we stood and watched the people and the statues for a good 30 minutes (we ended up going through a drive-through for lunch, taking it back to the tower with us).
Before I continue with the story, the following is the article from the Aurora, IL paper, The Beacon-News, “The Daily Newspaper for the Fox Valley,” on 14 November 1994.
Headline was “Hundreds reports seeing a miracle,” with a secondary line of “Madonna nods: SC store owners invite people to decide for themselves.” Article written by Denise Linke.
St. Charles — The question dogging hundreds of people who have seen the six plastic Madonna statues at the Angel Kisses gift shop here is simple: miracle, or optical illusion Whatever the case, hundreds of people have reported seeing what they call a miracle at the shop at 504 E. Main St. here. And it has changed life for John and Patricia Kulpin, who own the shop and say they first saw the statues’ heads move Oct. 24. Now they have a difficult time closing the store.
“When we try to close the store we can’t because people keep coming to see the statues,” said Patricia, calling over the heads of half a dozen people clustered around the counter where the images stand, draped with pink-and-white baby rosaries. Bud vases in front of each statue holding white roses and a large plaster image of Christ with its arms spread over the assemblage give the corner the atmosphere of a shrine.
News of the moving statues has brought more than 1,000 people to Angel Kisses over the past 2 1/2 weeks, said John.
Opinions vary
On Nov. 5, there were 91 people who signed the guest book kept to record sightings of the miracle — and John said most people don’t bother to sign the book.
While opinions vary drastically over whether the statues actually nod their heads, people seem to agree that the Kulpins are playing no tricks with their merchandise to drum up business.
“I don’t know how they could be doing it,” said one visitor who reported one Madonna tilted its head as she watched. “You can see the statues have no joints or hinges. This is God’s doing.”
“Knowing the owners, I would say there’s no manipulation or trickery involved,” said Father Joseph Linster, pastor of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in St. Charles. Still, Linster has held off putting his seal of authenticity on the reports. “I always approach something like this with a very critical eye,” he said. “If it causes some people to take God more seriously, bless them. If it has the same influence on them 10 years from now, I will be more inclined to accept its authenticity.”
Linster said several of his parishioners have told him that they or their spouses have rejoined the church after years of apathy because they saw the statues move. Other visitors reported feeling a sense of peace, awe, or reverence while watching the statues, even if they didn’t see any movement.
Not a first miracle
A few said this is not the first miracle to bless Angel Kisses.
“Nine or ten months ago, I had a huge cyst on my left hand,” said St. Charles resident Dana Jessogne. “I showed it to Pat (Kulpin), and she gave me some holy water from Medjugorge to rub on it. I put the holy water on it, drank some and we prayed together. The next day, the cyst was gone. I was scheduled to have surgery on it, but I didn’t need to because God healed it. I’m very grateful. I tell lots of people about it — and I’m not surprised that this is happening here, too.”
Nor have the miracles stopped with the moving Madonnas, Patricia said. Several rosaries and bracelets touched to the statues have turned to gold, she said, and two plaster statues of Christ displayed with the Madonnas have moved their arms up as if to bless them.
The Kulpins say they think God and the Virgin Mary are performing the miracles to protest abortion. Batavia resident Don Pitts, Jessogne’s father, said he thinks the statues have a different message for each visitor.
“It’s God’s work, that’s all,” said Pitts, who visited the store five times since hearing about the statues. “He’s trying to send a message to me — I’m just not grasping it yet.”
Bothers some
Pitts said witnessing the miracle has helped him come to terms with his mother’s death three months ago and has led him, a non-practicing Baptist, to join the Lutheran Church. “I’ve seen them actually move, like you move your head,” he said. “I’m very, very fortunate to be able to see what’s going on.”
Some people don’t think seeing the movement is a sign of good fortune.
“It bothers me greatly,” said an Elburn woman who said she saw the statues move election night and returned the next morning to watch them in daylight. “It seems very occult. These are statues. It’s more of a pagan thing to give power to statues.”
People will be able to see the statues and decide the question for themselves for a long time to come, said John Kulpin. “It’s not a burden at all; it’s a pleasure,” he said about trying to run the store with dozens of worshipers and sightseers crowding in.
First, here are some thoughts which should have come into the minds of any discerning people:
1. Since no one knows what Jesus looked like, why do they claim these statues are of Him, and why would God accept such false representations to use for miracles?
2. Same question as above except the subject would be Mary.
3. Why would God have statues move their body parts as a way to affirm people in their faith? Is there any biblical example or warrant for this?
4. Why would God have items turn to gold just because they touched a statue?
5. What makes water “holy”? Again, what is the biblical warrant or example for such a thing?
Okay, now let’s examine some of the statements in the article:
“Knowing the owners, I would say there’s no manipulation or trickery involved,” said Father Joseph Linster, pastor of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in St. Charles.
There was indeed manipulation. Everyone was coming to see the emperor's new clothes and no one wants to be the one who says he's naked. It is certain that God wasn't doing anything with these idolatrous statues.
Still, Linster has held off putting his seal of authenticity on the reports. “I always approach something like this with a very critical eye,” he said. “If it causes some people to take God more seriously, bless them. If it has the same influence on them 10 years from now, I will be more inclined to accept its authenticity.”
Linster said several of his parishioners have told him that they or their spouses have rejoined the church after years of apathy because they saw the statues move. Other visitors reported feeling a sense of peace, awe, or reverence while watching the statues, even if they didn’t see any movement.
So people rejoined a heretical church organization after seeing statues move? Wouldn't that be something Satan would want? Is this really nothing more than deception from Satan?
“Nine or ten months ago, I had a huge cyst on my left hand,” said St. Charles resident Dana Jessogne. “I showed it to Pat (Kulpin), and she gave me some holy water from Medjugorge to rub on it. I put the holy water on it, drank some and we prayed together. The next day, the cyst was gone. I was scheduled to have surgery on it, but I didn’t need to because God healed it. I’m very grateful. I tell lots of people about it — and I’m not surprised that this is happening here, too.”
Here is an anecdote with no evidence for the claims. First, water proclaimed to be holy came from an idol and that is supposed to be healing from God? And where is the evidence to prove she had a cyst which needed surgery? This is the sort of claim you get when the media is interviewing people who want to be part of the story.
Nor have the miracles stopped with the moving Madonnas, Patricia said. Several rosaries and bracelets touched to the statues have turned to gold, she said, and two plaster statues of Christ displayed with the Madonnas have moved their arms up as if to bless them.
Again, why would God turn these items into gold just because they touched idols? Especially since these idols don't really depict Christ or Mary. Would God really move the arms of such idols to indicate blessing of amulets?
The Kulpins say they think God and the Virgin Mary are performing the miracles to protest abortion. Batavia resident Don Pitts, Jessogne’s father, said he thinks the statues have a different message for each visitor.
So, God has no other way to protest abortion but to do silly tricks with statues which are idols? And why abortion? Where do we find Mary being able to perform miracles in the Bible? Is abortion the Kulpin's cause of the year and this was a way of getting some news coverage?
“It’s God’s work, that’s all,” said Pitts, who visited the store five times since hearing about the statues. “He’s trying to send a message to me — I’m just not grasping it yet.”
No, it isn't God's work because there is nothing of God in such foolishness. The only message God would send is through His Word, and that would be to learn some discernment!
Pitts said witnessing the miracle has helped him come to terms with his mother’s death three months ago and has led him, a non-practicing Baptist, to join the Lutheran Church. “I’ve seen them actually move, like you move your head,” he said. “I’m very, very fortunate to be able to see what’s going on.”
How does watching idolatrous statues moving help someone "come to terms" with anyone's death? And why the Lutheran Church when it's a Catholic "miracle" -- shouldn't that make him want to join the Catholic church?
Some people don’t think seeing the movement is a sign of good fortune.
“It bothers me greatly,” said an Elburn woman who said she saw the statues move election night and returned the next morning to watch them in daylight. “It seems very occult. These are statues. It’s more of a pagan thing to give power to statues.”
This is the first person with common sense and discernment. IF these statues did actually move, it was certainly done from the demonic realm. God doesn't play games, nor does he condone idolatry.
Watching the statues and the people, and listening to all the talking, it was apparent that everyone was imagining sightings or being deceived by Satan. No statue moved, and we were watching at the same time people were claiming to see movement. It was more like mass hysteria or mass hypnosis - people saw what they wanted to see, whether or not anything actually took place. The whole thing smelled of publicity to get business to the store--why else would the media be there?
This is what happens when people are taught by the Catholic Church to look for visions and bow to idols (statues claiming to represent Christ or Mary or other "saints"). This is what happens when people want to be part of something whether or not it is true (just look at the huge size of Benny Hinn's "crusades"). This is what happens when no one is brave enough to say, "THE EMPEROR IS NAKED!!"
The Roman Catholic Church has deceived millions of people for almost 1500 years. The power of this organization has led to horrible crimes in the name of Christ, blaspheming Jesus' name all the while. And this silliness is just another result of such deception.
