The Holy Face of Jesus Christ as appeared on the Holy Eucharist

Syro-Malankara Catholic Church ^ | 5-5-2001 | Fr. Johnson Karoor

[Hermann the Cherusker]

The Holy Face of Jesus Christ as appeared on the Holy Eucharist

On 5-5-2001

Testimony of the parish priest
Fr. Johnson Karoor 

For the benefit of the believers I would like to describe how a human face - believed to be the face of Jesus Christ has appeared in the Holy Eucharist placed in the Monstrance for adoration on the Altar of St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church at Chirattakonam, Archdiocese of Trivandrum.

 On the 28th April 2001, we held the novena prayer to St. Jude in the parish church at Chirattakonam as usual. At about 8:49 a.m. I exposed the Holy Eucharist in the monstrance and we started the adoration. During the adoration I saw three dots on the holy Eucharist. I stopped reciting the prayers and as if from some sort of an inner inspiration I just stood looking at the Eucharist. As the novena prayer was over I gave the faithful Eucharistic benediction. Then I invited the attention of the Faithful to the monstrance and they testified that they saw three dots on the Eucharist. I asked the faithful to remain in prayer and I kept the Holy Eucharist in the tabernacle. 

    I celebrated the Holy Mass on Monday, the 30^th April and on the next day I left for Trivandrum. After returning from Trivandrum on Saturday Morning 5^th May 2001, 1 opened the church for the liturgical service. I vested myself and opened the tabernacle. Immediately I noticed the figure of a human face in yellow color in the Eucharist. I was at a loss what to do. I just stood there for a few seconds. I asked the faithful to kneel down and pray. I thought it was something which I alone experienced. I kept the holy Eucharist in the monstrance and asked the mass server whether he saw something in the Eucharist. "I see a figure", he said. I saw the faithful looking intently at the monstrance observing the figure. We started the adoration. During the adoration we saw the figure becoming clearer. I didn't have the strength to speak anything to the faithful. I stood aside for sometime. I couldn't control my tears.

     We had the practice of reading the scripture and reflecting on it during the adoration. The passage that I got that day as I opened the Bible was John 20: 24-29 - Jesus appearing to St. Thomas and asking him to see his wounds. Though I read the passage, I could not give a homily. I just said a few words and concluded. As I had to go for Mass to the next parish at Kokkodu, I called a photographer and asked him to take a photo of the holy Eucharist with the human face on it. After sometime we took another photo, then a third one. In two hours the photo were developed and printed. In all the  three photos there was a clear difference in terms of the clarity of the figure. The figure was slowly becoming clearer and clearer. Since then many people are coming to the church and adoring the holy Eucharist, which has been kept in the  Monstrance on the Altar in, the sanctuary of the Church.

 Clarification given by
His Grace Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios,
on the Eucharistic event
in the St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Chirattakonam

 My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ, 

    As we are all witnessing this extra-ordinary sign manifested in the Holy Eucharist, placed in the Monstrance on our Altar for adoration, I feel I should give you some guidance to understand better this unique sign. 

    The Catholic Church believes and teaches that Our Lord Jesus Christ is really present in the Holy Eucharist. Ever since the Institution of the Holy Eucharist by Our Lord in his Last Supper, the Church has been holding on to this Faith in the Eucharist and practicing it in the liturgical Eucharistic celebration. The Catholic Church believes that the presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist is real but sacramental. Thus his presence is through the species of Bread and Wine whose substance is converted to his Body and Blood, this we believe on the basis of Jesus' own words and action during his Last Supper. Hence we believe that Our Lord Jesus Christ is really present in the Holy Eucharist. In fact it is not a new Faith in the Church, but it is a faith that has been held and practiced right from the beginning of the Church, and this Eucharistic Faith occupied a central place in the life of the Catholic Church.

     Since the presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist is sacramental, though real, it is not possible for our senses to experience it. But it is possible for the Lord, if he so wills; to make himself sensibly present to us through some signs that are perceptible to our senses. Many examples of this truth are quoted in the Gospels in relation to his apparitions to the disciples after his resurrection, who had yet to be confirmed in the        Risen Lord. But it is to be noted that the faith of the Church in the presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist is not based on any extraordinary signs that might be manifested in God's own providential care for His people, nor on condition that such signs would be given to us. On the contrary, our faith in the Eucharistic presence of Our Lord is based on his own  words during his Last Supper. 

    It is against this background that we have to accept and understand this great Eucharistic sign to which we, all those who are here, are witnesses. All of us see it personally and clearly. In the light of our faith that Our Lord Jesus Christ and no one else is present in the Eucharist, the figure of the human face we see here in the Eucharist, we conclude, must be the face of Our Lord Jesus Christ. On our part we hold on to our Eucharistic faith firmly and with deep conviction. In case someone would try to explain away this phenomena on any other reasonable grounds, we do not condemn the effort. But if we cannot find any human means active in the event, it would be reasonable and wise to believe that Our Lord has given us a special sacramental sign through a special intervention.

     For us believers what we have seen is something, which we always believed. Our real attention should now be focused on the question why Our Lord gives us this unique and extraordinary sign. We must prayerfully reflect 'on the meaning of this sacred symbol. If Our Lord is speaking to us by giving us a sign, it certainly needs a response from us. While we all together pray and search for an answer, let us offer our thanksgiving to Our Lord and adore him devotedly for his gracious care and love for us.

 Address:
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church
Chiraftakonarn, Thalachira P.O.
Koffarakara, Kollarn Dist. - 691 546
Kerala, South India
Phone: 0474-402780

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[Salvation]

Adoration Ping!

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[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I noticed the date is from two years ago. Is it still occurring?

This is a wonderful miracle, particularly for our times when so many no longer believe in the Real Presence.

[Pahuanui]

That would be soley your opinion.

Of course. I haven't presented it as anything other than my opinion.

[Pyro7480]

The three "dots" at the bottom of the exposed Host make it look its an image of the Sacred Heart. Does anyone else see what I'm talking about?

[Pyro7480]

Ping post #24.

[Flying Circus]

There is a lot of evidence for what Christ looked like. There is a uniformity in icons from the early church depicting the face of Christ. The is the image seen from the Veronica. There is the image seen on the Shroud of Turin. The amazing thing is that all of these images are consistent in the details of the face they show.

Why does the shroud not have validity to your mind? If it is a forgery, it is one of the most amazing in history.

Why do you find it difficult to believe that the face of Jesus Christ, who we worship as God, would have been preserved and carried down through the centuries so that we may know it today?

[Hermann the Cherusker]

So why do you need to come on here and harass us on this thread?

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Very interesting observation. You might consider writing it to the diocese.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

The lower central dot is definitely shaped like the Sacred Heart. I don't know how the left and right dots figure into it.

There may be some other significance, such as the Trinity.

[Pahuanui]

So why do you need to come on here and harass us on this thread?

Why do you feel you've been 'harassed' when I've only asked some questions?

[Hermann the Cherusker]

"Why do you feel you've been 'harassed' when I've only asked some questions?"

Baloney. You started off by harassing us.

Look at your first abusive post.

Posted by Pahuanui to Hermann the Cherusker
On Religion 09/24/2003 9:44 AM PDT #12 of 30

How would they know?

No one knows what Christ looked like, so it might just as well be the face of, say, Agamemnon or some plummer in Reno named Floyd.

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Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies

If you want to ask questions, try starting off with a level of respect.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

The left and right dots look like the hands in the Icon that Pyro posted.

[dansangel]

In the original post, the photo to the right of the one you posted shows the middle object as being almost heart-shaped. Interesting observation!

[Pyro7480]

Yeah, that's where I noticed it orignally. In the upper-right part of the "heart," you can see a slightly-lighter shaded area that looks like a flame.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Now I see it.

[Pahuanui]

There is a lot of evidence for what Christ looked like. There is a uniformity in icons from the early church depicting the face of Christ. The is the image seen from the Veronica.

That is only evidence of the uniformity of some of the images, and does not address their accuracy.

There is the image seen on the Shroud of Turin. The amazing thing is that all of these images are consistent in the details of the face they show.

Given the techniques at the time and the extremely limited number of artists, I find it not quite as amazing as perhaps you do.

Why does the shroud not have validity to your mind? If it is a forgery, it is one of the most amazing in history.

It is inconclusive as to who, if anyone, is represented by that image.

Why do you find it difficult to believe that the face of Jesus Christ, who we worship as God, would have been preserved and carried down through the centuries so that we may know it today?

See above.

[ElkGroveDan]

No one knows what Christ looked like

The shroud of Turin has a verya ccurate depiction of the face of Our Lord.

[Pahuanui]

Baloney. You started off by harassing us.

Look at your first abusive post.

Posted by Pahuanui to Hermann the Cherusker On Religion 09/24/2003 9:44 AM PDT #12 of 30

How would they know?

No one knows what Christ looked like, so it might just as well be the face of, say, Agamemnon or some plummer in Reno named Floyd.

Abusive? You seem not to understand the meaning of the word, or are purposefully being over-sensitive to justify using it incorrectly.

If you want to ask questions, try starting off with a level of respect.

I am quite respectful, and have said nothing to denigrate your religion or you, for that matter.

I specifically used Agamemnon because he predated Christ and there are images of him that are equally as dubious as to whether they accurately represent his likeness. I chose a fictional character to further emphasize the lack of any concrete evidence for either of the other two individuals.

[Salvation]

The Divine Praises

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.

May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

I have no interest in discussion things with a dissimulator such as yourself. Go away and learn some manners.

Don't respond to me again.