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'Divine lightning' strikes Christ the Redeemer: caught on camera
Photo by Raphael Nogueira on Unsplash
It’s one of the most iconic Christian statues in the world. The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, attracts almost two million pilgrims annually to pay homage to its religious symbolism as well as admire the grandeur.
However, a photographer captured a moment that has blown social media wide open with its breathtaking image. Imagine if you were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, joined by his three closest apostles, when his glory shone and his holiness was revealed. We are not given details about this particular moment, but I can imagine it might have instilled an even greater awe than this photo.
It’s not a rare occurrence for the beautiful statue to attract a bolt of lightning. It has been struck several times as it has stood 125 feet tall over the great city since 1931. The thumb of the statue was damaged by a lightning strike in 2014. This recent strike, captured on camera Friday, February 10, does not appear to have harmed the image. It did, however, attract worldwide attention.
The photographer, Fernando Braga, told Catholic News Agency that he had been attempting to capture a lightning strike on the statue for quite some time and had always came up short. He calls it “the divine lightning!”
In the photo, the lightning strike comes down from the sky and hits the head of Christ. The lightning then causes the statue to appear glowing while simultaneously appearing to form a massive energy line from Christ to the heavens.
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About the Author
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
