Our Lady of the Underpass

For the most part, the Fullerton Ave. underpass of the Kennedy Expressway is much like the rest of those in Chicago: Unremarkable. Actually, that's putting it kindly. The thing is fucking nasty. Walking under it feels like walking through a huge gas station bathroom.

But the Fullerton Ave. one different. That’s because people think the image of the Virgin Mary has shown itself on its northern wall.

Most Catholics are familiar with the phenomena: People will think they see what looks like the outline of the Virgin Mary somewhere — be it an apparition, a peculiar formation of wood in a tree, a water stain in an underpass — and in thinking it’s some sort of divine sign, they’ll places flowers, light candles and hold vigils at the spot.

This particular imprint was first noticed in April 2005, and its popularity seems to have only grown in the last two years. I drove by it with my mother and stepfather this weekend and there were a dozen or so bouquets and candles lit in its honor. In the past I’ve seen folks go so far as to pull over in their cars and get out and take a look.

As for the image itself, well, thinking it’s actually The Virgin Mary is a stretch. It’s basically a calcium stain that from the perfect distance — about 20 feet directly in front of it — looks like the silhouette of Jesus’ mom.

The concept of such a thing having so much attention draw to it, and for that attention to continue over two years, is a bit intriguing. Who are these people that truly believe that this is some sort of heavenly mark? Do they really believe it’s such a thing, or are they just being dutiful Catholics?

What’s more intriguing, though, or at least what I wonder every time I walk past it is what happens when it starts to erode? Does the place lose all its supposed biblical significance? (Technically it shouldn’t). Or is such a spot timelessly important? Will people still bring it gifts five years from now?

What if the city whitewashes the walls of the underpass (like it does most of the graffiti-lined ones on the South Side)? Will there be a riot? That would likely never happen since Mayor Daley’s a devout Catholic, but I bet there’d be some uproar if it somehow did.

Will the phenomena itself just fade away? Will the people that honored her feel stilted by the fact that The Virgin Mary made a stop in their town yet not a fucking thing about their lives changed because of it? It’s been two years now, and I don’t think anybody’s really noticed any tangible acts of goodness derived from it. At some point will even the hardliners re-assess what this thing actually is?

What I’m getting at is whether or not the Fullerton underpass eventually go back to being as lifeless and disgusting as all the rest?

If so, then what does that say about divinity?