Title taken from a play my girlfriend told me about (my source for all things theatrical in Chicago). It sounds quite good, and I hope to catch it when it is remounted, as a little bird informs me it will be.
In any case, this is the site where sometime in 2005 it was noticed that a stain had appeared under the Fullerton Ave 90/94 underpass. And this stain bore to some a striking resemblance to The Virgin Mary. In the years since it has been grafitti'd, painted over, restored, and now finally apparently accepted to just mark the former spot. These fixtures have been bolted into the concrete, with a canopy to protect the shrine below from the pigeons above.
I'm going to be honest and say that my passing reaction to this has been somewhat mocking. But it's striking in person, so meticulously kept up. No one else walked by in the half hour or so I spent there, but every candle was lit.
4 comments:
Oddly placed but touching.
V
Despite being a Catholic, my reaction to things like this is similar to yours. But in the end, if it gives people hope and helps them lead good lives, why not?
I've seen this sort of thing in heavily Catholic areas, particularly Hispanic countries. You have a big Hispanic population in Chicago. I've also seen it in Ireland. It's not just Catholic, though. There are lots of similar little Hindu shrines in India and Nepal, and Buddhist ones in Japan.
I have always liked this kind of little shrines. And yes, they are everywhere. They are colorful, simple and hopeful. It is amazing to think that someone actually takes the time to care for them.
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