Man finds Jesus in coffee stain

RAVENA, N.Y., June 18 (UPI) -- A New York state man says he discovered a coffee stain in the shape of Jesus Christ's face on the inside of a mason jar drinking mug.

Jerry Stolfi, 49, of Ravena, said he noticed the image, which is smaller than a square inch, of Jesus' face wearing the crown of thorns after finishing a cup of coffee April 29 and has since kept the mug carefully stored in a cupboard that has been re-dubbed a "shrine," the Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union reported Thursday.

"It doesn't smell, though, and I will never be washing it," he said.

Stolfi said not everyone sees the same image when they look at the glass.

"It's 50-50," he said. "I don't blame those that don't see the image. I saw it straight off the bat."

The former alter boy and aspiring playwright said he has no plans to attempt to profit from the stain, but his girlfriend convinced him to share it with the world as a message of hope.

"You don't hear about an image like this coming to everybody every day," he said. "It's so rare. He selected me for some reason."