Eucharistic Miracle: 2009?

NC Register ^ | October 15, 2009 | TIM DRAKE

[NYer]

If reports from Poland are true, an alleged Eucharistic miracle that took place a year ago may have merit.

According to a Polish blog, the Metropolitan Curia of Bialystok has announced the results of the investigation of an Ecclesial Commission appointed by Archbishop Edward Ozorowski on March 30, 2009. The original post (in Polish) can be found here.

Father Andrzej Kakareko, Chancellor, writes that on October 12, 2008, a consecrated Host fell out of the hands of the priest distributing Holy Communion. The priest had it picked up and placed in the vasculum in the Tabernacle. After Mass, the vasculum and its contents were transferred to the safe in the sacristy.

Seven days later, after opening the safe, a red stain was seen on the Host. Ten days afer that, the vessel with the Host was transferred to the Tabernacle in the chapel of the rectory. The next day, the Host was removed from the water and placed on the corporal in the Tabernacle.

On January 7, 2009 a sample from the host was sent to the University in Bialystok for analysis. According to two medical professionals, professor Maria Sobaniec-Lotowska and professor Stanislaw Sulkowski, the sample, in their opinion, most resembled the myocardial (heart) tissue of a living organism.

As part of its investigation, the Commission interviewed witnesses and pathomorphology experts. The Commission determined that there was no third-party intervention. The case has been forwarded to the Apostolic Nunciature in Warsaw.

While unusual in this day and age, the Church has a long history of Eucharistic miracles. The Vatican International Exhibition’s “Eucharistic Miracles of the World” documents more than 130 worldwide miracles of the Eucharist, demonstrating that Jesus Christ in the Eucharist – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – continues to make his presence manifest at unique times and places in history.

Perhaps the most famous and well-known, is the Miracle of Lanciano, which occurred about 750 A.D. It bears repeating as it closely resembles the alleged Polish miracle. During Mass, the celebrant doubted the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. During the consecration, the Host transformed into flesh and blood. Subsequent investigations confirmed the authenticity of the human tissue. An investigation, as late as 1970, found the flesh to be cardiac tissue and the blood to be type AB.

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[RobRoy]

Simple test:

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

[NYer]

Eucharistic Miracle

Lanciano, Italy 8th Century A.D.

Ancient Anxanum, the city of the Frentanese, has contained for over twelve centuries the first and greatest Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church. This wondrous Event took place in the 8th century A.D. in the little Church of St. Legontian, as a divine response to a Basilian monk's doubt about Jesus' Real Presence in the Eucharist.

During Holy Mass, after the two-fold consecration, the host was changed into live Flesh and the wine was changed into live Blood, which coagulated into five globules, irregular and differing in shape and size.

The Host-Flesh, as can be very distinctly observed today, has the same dimensions as the large host used today in the Latin church; it is light brown and appears rose-colored when lighted from the back.

The Blood is coagulated and has an earthy color resembling the yellow of ochre.

Various ecclesiastical investigation ("Recognitions") were conducted since 1574.

In 1970-'71 and taken up again partly in 1981 there took place a scientific investigation by the most illustrious scientist Prof. Odoardo Linoli, eminent Professor in Anatomy and Pathological Histology and in Chemistry and Clinical Microscopy. He was assisted by Prof. Ruggero Bertelli of the University of Siena.

The analyses were conducted with absolute and unquestionable scientific precision and they were documented with a series of microscopic photographs.
These analyses sustained the following conclusions:

• The Flesh is real Flesh. The Blood is real Blood.
  
  
• The Flesh and the Blood belong to the human species.
  
  
• The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart.
  
  
• In the Flesh we see present in section: the myocardium, the endocardium, the vagus nerve and also the left ventricle of the heart for the large thickness of the myocardium.
  
  
• The Flesh is a "HEART" complete in its essential structure.
  
  
• The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB (Blood-type identical to that which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin).
  
  
• In the Blood there were found proteins in the same normal proportions (percentage-wise) as are found in the sero-proteic make-up of the fresh normal blood.
  
  
• In the Blood there were also found these minerals: chlorides, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.
  
  
• The preservation of the Flesh and of the Blood, which were left in their natural state for twelve centuries and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon.

---

 

	Fig. 1 - Eosine x 200. Overall histological aspect of a Flesh sample with fibers collected in bundles with longitudinal orientation as it occurs in the outer surface layers of the heart.
	Fig. 2 - Miracle Heart in Lanciano. Mallory x 250. An artery and, very close, a branch of the vagal nerve.
	Fig. 3 - Miracle Heart in Lanciano. Mallory x 400. Evidence of the "Rough" aspect of the endocardium; the syncytoid structure of the myocardial tissue
	Fig. 4 - Elution-absorption test x 80. Above: Hemagglutination test on blood sample in Lanciano: on the left, anti A serum used; on the right, anti-B serum. Below: hemoagglutination test on a Flesh sample in Lanciano: left, with anti-A serum, right,with anti-B serum. It appears thus that the Flesh and the Blood in Lanciano belong to AB blood group.
	Fig. 5 - Electro-phoretic pattern of Blood proteins (Cromoscan photometer). The profile of serum fractions is normal and superimposable to that of a fresh serum sample.

In conclusion, it may be said that Science, when called upon to testify, has given a certain and thorough response as regards the authenticity of the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano.

[Infidel Heather]

We need Jesus now more than ever.

This world is going to Hell in a handbasket.

[Bryanw92]

News you won’t see in the mainstream media. I pray for Christians to hear about this and use it to strengthen their faith.

[annalex]

the Host was removed from the water

Translation issue?

[Aliska]

It seems to me that some hosts bleed because there has been a desecration. There are rules for disposing of a dropped host, plus I found this, don't have a book to look it up in.

"This is from the Diocese of Pittsburg: "• Mishaps: If a particle of the Eucharistic bread should fall, it is picked up reverently and consumed or allowed to dissolve completely in water and then poured into the sacrarium. If any of the Precious Blood spills, the area of the spill should be covered if necessary. As soon as possible, the spot should be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium."

It sounds like maybe they didn't handle it right. One I remember happened when the priest had doubts; another happened when the altar was wood, can't remember about some of the others I've read about.

[NYer]

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

See post #4.

[Infidel Heather]

I hope this doesn’t sound ignorant, but is there anything wrong with a wooden altar?

[NYer]

I pray for Christians to hear about this and use it to strengthen their faith.>

As humans, we are often deceived by our 5 senses. In the Apostles Creed, we affirm our faith "in all that is seen and unseen". By faith, we believe the words of our Lord "This is my Body" while, on a human level, our senses cry out for proof. We trust in Christ who promised that He is the way, the truth and the life.

[Aliska]

I hope this doesn’t sound ignorant, but is there anything wrong with a wooden altar?

To be honest, I'm not sure. This one I read about in that "Eucharistic Miracles" book and happened a couple hundred years ago.

I thought the altar was supposed to be stone or marble.

Obviously there are other sacrileges where nothing happens (that I know about).

[diamond6]

Goosebumps.

How blessed we Catholics are to be able to partake of this beautiful and extraordinary sacrament!! God is so good to us!

[Bryanw92]

>>By faith, we believe the words of our Lord “This is my Body” while, on a human level, our senses cry out for proof.

Very true. What I meant was that I pray that Christians hear of this and immediately say, “This must be real”, rather than taking the cynical view of “Show me the proof”.

I don’t care about the proof in this case. When I read it, I felt the Holy Spirit very strongly.

[NYer]

It sounds like maybe they didn't handle it right.

The next paragraph reads:

On January 7, 2009 a sample from the host was sent to the University in Bialystok for analysis. According to two medical professionals, professor Maria Sobaniec-Lotowska and professor Stanislaw Sulkowski, the sample, in their opinion, most resembled the myocardial (heart) tissue of a living organism.

Improper handling? Even after 10 days in water, the host did not dissolve.

[NYer]

I hope this doesn’t sound ignorant, but is there anything wrong with a wooden altar?

Yes! Wood is temporary. The Vatican is asking all Catholic Churches to replace their wooden altars with a more permanent material such as marble. Why? Because the altar represents Christ.

[NYer]

How blessed we Catholics are to be able to partake of this beautiful and extraordinary sacrament!! God is so good to us!

As I commented on an earlier post, we humans are too often prey to our 5 senses. We are challenged to believe what we cannot "see, smell, hear, taste".

[annalex]

allowed to dissolve completely in water

I didn't know that. That explains "wyjęto z wody", "taken from the water". Thanks.

[wombtotomb]

There is a second, more urgent reason. Wood is porous. If the blood is spilled on it, recovery becomes an issue. I know in highly polished or sealed wood that becomes less of an issue, and I also know that marble and the like are also somewhat porous, but, imagine an unsealed piece of wood soaking up the precious blood like a sponge. No way to recover it and it could be open to descecration....

[RobRoy]

That post inspires more questions than answers. “Extraordinary” would be an “end to end” proof. If that exact same post was the evidence offered for a UFO encounter from the same period, it would not be nearly enough for me to be convinced. I’m not saying the event did or didn’t happen. I’m just saying it is not enough evidence to convince.

[NYer]

There is a second, more urgent reason. Wood is porous. If the blood is spilled on it, recovery becomes an issue. I know in highly polished or sealed wood that becomes less of an issue, and I also know that marble and the like are also somewhat porous, but, imagine an unsealed piece of wood soaking up the precious blood like a sponge. No way to recover it and it could be open to descecration....

Thank you for that additional information. It only makes good sense.

I recall that period post VCII. Many churches, in their haste to erect an altar "facing the congregation", opted for wood which could be quickly assembled. Now, 40+ years later, the Vatican has issued a reminder to replace those altars with more permanent ones.

[Excellence]

A wooden altar will have an altar stone imbedded in it. It may not be visible, though, if it is covered by the alter cloth. From Wiki, but accurate, “To provide for other circumstances—for chaplains of everything from military to Boy Scout units, for priests traveling alone, for missionaries, or for large outdoor celebrations of Mass on pilgrimages—portable altars, popularly called “altar stones,” were used. These were usually blocks of marble, often about 6 inches by 9 inches and an inch thick, consecrated as described above. A priest with a field kit could simply place this stone on any available surface (a tailgate, or a stump or log) to celebrate Mass, or it could be inserted in a flat frame built into the surface of a wooden altar. Many Roman Catholic schools had a full-sized, decoratively carved wooden altar (which, being wood, could not be consecrated) in their gym or auditorium that could be taken out and prepared for Mass, with an altar stone placed in the ‘mensa’ space.”
Good question.

[Aliska]

That is true about wood being porous. But they're supposed to use a paten (sp? made out of precious or quality metal. No glass for the chalice either, been to some masses with that and also pottery, never knew anything was wrong with it until I happened across something. I've been to many masses where they just used a table, improvised, plus ones that are authorized to be held in homes or w/o permission. Nothing seems to happen.

Even (can't remember his name, memory is getting bad), the priest who sneaked into England and got into trouble during that bad time when the throne went back and forth. You will know who I mean. He even had proper vessels hidden away to celebrate mass in the Tower, was eventually martyred. I looked it up, think it was St. Edmund Campion.

I may still have that book, but one other case comes to mind. And I don't necessarily blame the priest, but he put a consecrated host I think it was in his breviary to take it to a sick person, and it started bleeding. I think they were supposed to use a special container, some will know what that is called. The book didn't make my point, and I might be wrong, but I kind of put 2 and 2 together later when we used to discuss all the liturgical abuses.

But most times considering all the accidents and other liturgical abuses, it doesn't happen. I may still have that book and IIRC the wooden altar was used temporarily when they were doing something with the main one or work in the church.

Maybe we need to look where all it has happened, don't recall any cases in the Americas, a hoax one that was pretty disgusting in Keene, NH.

Good, I'm glad the Vatican finally issued an order about the altars, hope they obey it. Some things we just can't know the reason for sure. Good points, all of it.

[Aliska]

A wooden altar will have an altar stone imbedded in it. It may not be visible, and the rest of what you explained

Good points. I thought I might have seen a stone embedded in wood, but didn't consider so long as a piece of marble was consecrated (another important detail), that was interesting.

[wombtotomb]

If the chalice spills after the consecration, the wood would absorb the precious blood. Yes the small dish they use to hold the host is the paten, but that would not prevent a spill by accident of the chalice, which is what I was referencing.

As to the small Eucharist holder to bring communion to the sick, it is called a pyx. I only know this because my son is an EM, and he has one :)

Yes they can use the altars of wood temporarily, but not permanently. I have seen photos of chaplins using the hood of a jeep or a rock out in the field. Jesus knows whats going on in all realms, and a rock is as good a representation of Him and His Church during consecration as any in the battlefield, but in his Church, the permanent altar needs to be permanent........
Thanks for your input!

[Aliska]

One more thing. The St. Pius X Society, maybe it was Lefebvre himself, had an incident, so they claimed, in maybe it was Switzerland if I remember that right. I do hope they get the schism straightened out and bear no emnity to those people personally.

They may have taken it as a sign that God was on their side . . . .but maybe it meant something else!

Disobedience is a big, big deal in the scriptures starting in the garden . . . . .by that I mean knowingly. Sometimes things just happen.

Jesus was obedient unto death. That is also such a big deal there are no proper words to describe it.

[Aliska]

Thank YOU for sharing that. It's interesting, and I would have no way of knowing some of that.

I'll never forget the mass where the priest lost his place and said the words of consecration twice! Since I didn't blame him, I just decided maybe we'd get twice as many graces ;-).

But as a brand new convert, when the deacon, now I can't remember who said that mass, but they used "altar bread". If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't have throught anything about it, maybe I didn't know then but knew I was going to have to chew the host. I got that notion from an unapproved apparition, so think I'm past that although I never or seldom would do it, kind of hung up on that.

You people might find this interesting. I was reading this am on the local paper website about precautions the various churches were taking about the swine flu, handwipes, no holding hands during the Lord's prayer, no touching in the greeting, cough into your elbow. Without looking it up again, and I only remember their mentioning one Lutheran and one particular Catholic church, but I think there were instructions to priests when communion was being served under both (another special word), they were to use intinction!

[Aliska]

Thank YOU for sharing that. It's interesting, and I would have no way of knowing some of that.

I'll never forget the mass where the priest lost his place and said the words of consecration twice! Since I didn't blame him, I just decided maybe we'd get twice as many graces ;-).

But as a brand new convert, when the deacon, now I can't remember who said that mass, but they used "altar bread". If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't have throught anything about it, maybe I didn't know then but knew I was going to have to chew the host. I got that notion from an unapproved apparition, so think I'm past that although I never or seldom would do it, kind of hung up on that.

You people might find this interesting. I was reading this am on the local paper website about precautions the various churches were taking about the swine flu, handwipes, no holding hands during the Lord's prayer, no touching in the greeting, cough into your elbow. Without looking it up again, and I only remember their mentioning one Lutheran and one particular Catholic church, but I think there were instructions to priests when communion was being served under both (another special word), they were to use intinction!

[Aliska]

Sorry for the double post, thought it hadn’t taken but see it did.

[wombtotomb]

Your welcome, and welcome home!

I have a little more insight than many; my son is going into seminary next fall :)

Keep learning, it will only reinforce what you already know.

[Aliska]

Thank you, and congratulations on your son. He will be a fine priest I feel certain. May God bless all and may He bless your son and all the lives he encounters in his ministry.

[wombtotomb]

Thanks. Keep him in your prayers. The entrance paperwork and scrutinies are overwhelming. God bless you!

[Melian]

Wow.
I find this the most compelling:
The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart.
The Flesh is a “HEART” complete in its essential structure.
The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB (Blood-type which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin).

I never knew those three facts. Thank you!

[Infidel Heather]

It would be great to have a weekly Catholic discussion group here. Don’t know if it’s already being done or not.

[Infidel Heather]

I cannot until my first “marriage” is annulled, but I do ask Jesus to come into my heart spiritually.

[Infidel Heather]

We were instructed to receive our Lord by hand because of the threat of H1N1.

I have it drilled into my son to receive it on the tongue because it is more sacred that way, I think.

[Infidel Heather]

Hah, the Lord’s blood type was AB like yours...congratulations. :)

[NYer]

I never knew those three facts. Thank you!

You're welcome! And now, here is a 4th interesting fact. The blood (stain symmetry, type and other indicators) on the Sudarium of Oviedo, matches the blood on the Shroud of Turin. Read more.

[Melian]

Sadly, my blood type is A+; so the Lord and I are not a match. Isn’t AB the rarest type?

Still, I’ve always been pleased to be A+. It sounds nice.

[bronx2]

I have AB+ which is rare but not as rare as some of the negative types.

[Infidel Heather]

I’m A+ too. :)

[Melian]

I believe AB is the rarest type, with AB- being the rarest of the ABs.

So, you’re in good company!