Jesus Picture
October, 1982
While on pilgrimage in the Holy Land mid-October 1982, I was
taking mostly candid shots with my Instamatic 110 camera.
When I returned and had the pictures developed, this picture of Jesus was in
the group of pictures, and at first I felt that they got someone else's
picture mixed up with mine, for I told my husband I didn't take the picture or
even remember seeing a picture like this. We checked the negative, and there
it was on the strip of negative.
I was very confused, especially not remembering where I could possibly have
taken this picture, so I took it to the priest I had been with, and he stated
he had been in the Holy Land many times and had never seen this picture
there.
It was then shown to a priest in our area who travels and studies in the Holy
Land. He also said he had never come across this picture there.
The agency I traveled with then took the picture to N.Y. to people that study
paintings and Fresco, and they stated that this picture was not in the Holy Land.
I returned three times after I received the picture, and each year searched and
asked every one I could talk to as to where this picture might be and no one knew.
The story of the picture started to spread when some of my friends knew I was
searching with no questions being answered.
My husband and I felt the beauty of the picture and wanted to share it with
people as our ministry being we were Secular Franciscians. We started to get
prints made, gave them out, and many beautiful things happened even though we
did not tell the story behind the picture.
I hesitated to tell the story because I wanted this picture to be
investigated more thoroughly. To me, this is all mind boggling, especially
not to remember taking this picture. I felt I had a lapse of memory or time.
But how could one forget taking a picture so beautiful?
The picture is now all over the world and USA. I just wish that people would
not be interested in where the picture came from, but look at the beauty and
majesty of Christ. He is a portrait of love. It shows in this picture.
Our desire was to bring Christ to people through this picture, and as you can
see, there is not much of a story behind the picture.
The picture is now all over the world and USA. I just wish that people would
not be interested in where the picture came from, but look at the beauty and
majesty of Christ. He is a portrait of love. It shows in this picture.
I make no claims as to this being a miracle as some people are calling it.
I only know that it has brought many people peace even when they knew nothing
about the picture, and I thank God for that. It is not important as to who
took the picture, or how it came about. What is important is the Face of Christ.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Jackie Haas
