June 6, 2021
Corpus Christi
(Hebrews 9:11-15; Matthew 14:12-16, 22-26)
Today, in lieu of a sermon, I thought we would explore the Eucharist a little bit, by taking a look at a handful of miracles. As some of you may remember, we had a “mini” miracle here with presence of human blood on a purificator I used for Mass a couple of years ago on which I discovered some dried blood. I have reserved it in the tabernacle with the Body of Christ.
There are over one hundred purported Eucharistic miracles that have been recorded and venerated since the earliest days of the Church to the present.
When we think about Eucharistic miracles, we may be tempted to think that most of them are unsubstantiated stories that only happened in the “old days” and couldn’t happen today in our age of science.
The last few decades, however, have seen a slight increase in Eucharistic miracles which cannot be explained by science. And in most of these recent miracles, the Eucharist turns into human flesh and blood.
Let’s begin with the oldest-known verifiable case of the Eucharist transforming into physical flesh and blood—the Miracle of Lanciano, which took place in 750 AD and underwent testing in the 1970s.
In 750 AD, a priest experienced a terrible temptation to doubt the True Presence while he was saying Mass. As he pronounced the words of consecration, the bread and the wine transformed into what appeared to be flesh and blood.
In 1970, more than 1,200 years later, scientists began a thorough examination of the miraculous substances, and in 1973, the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations began their own barrage of five hundred tests, which took fifteen months. The scientific tests revealed:
~ The coagulated substance is human blood, AB blood type, with the same protein distribution as found in normal, fresh blood.
~ The Host is human muscular striated tissue of the myocardium, left ventricle (heart); arteries, veins, the branch of the vagus nerve and adipose (body fat) tissue all can be identified.
~ Like the blood, the flesh is also fresh, living tissue, because it “responded rapidly to all the clinical reactions distinctive of living beings.”
~ Most remarkably, the blood is divided into five unequal-sized parts, and yet each part weighs exactly 15.85g, and all parts together also weigh the same 15.85g.
After their tests, the Medical Commission of WHO and the UN reported:
“Science, aware of its limits, has come to a halt, face to face with the impossibility of giving an explanation.”
It’s hard to imagine that the UN would get involved with a religious miracle nowadays, let alone admit defeat in explaining it away.
Until the 1990s, Lanciano was the only proven case of the Eucharist turning into human flesh. Other cases have not been tested with modern scientific equipment, nor have the many dozens of bloodstains on corporals and chalices that have been preserved and are venerated as having come from bleeding hosts. But in 1992, the miracles started happening again.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: In 1992, consecrated particles left on the corporal were put into water to dissolve and locked in the tabernacle. One week later, they had changed into a red substance. Then again in 1996 after a consecrated host fell to the ground and was also put in water to dissolve, it was found a few days later to have turned into a bloody substance. Both cases were sent to be tested by the archbishop of Buenos Aires, who was none other than the future Pope Francis.
2006, Tixtla, Mexico: During a retreat, a religious sister who was distributing Communion looked down and noticed that one of the Hosts had begun to bleed and transform.
2008, Sokolka, Poland: A consecrated Host fell to the ground during Communion and was put in water and locked in a tabernacle to dissolve. A week later, most of the Host was dissolved except for a red “clot” that remained.
2013, Legnica, Poland: A consecrated Host fell and was put in water and locked in a tabernacle. Two weeks later a red spot covered one-fifth of the undissolved Host.
(On a side note, in our denomination, if a Sacred Host should fall or otherwise become damaged after it has become the Body of Christ, we do not dissolve it in water, we dust it lightly and consume it. We wash our fingers in small bowl of water and drink the water.)
Each of these occurrences received intensive study with highly advanced technology. In several cases, doctors did not know the source of the material. And yet, in all the cases, the same results were found, and are consistent with the results of Lanciano, providing even more details due to more advanced science.
The blood is human, AB blood type; human DNA was found; white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and indicating fresh blood present; in the Tixtla miracle, the blood clearly emanated from within, because the blood on the surface had begun to coagulate but the interior blood was still fresh, as with a bleeding wound.
The flesh is human myocardium tissue of the left ventricle of an inflamed heart; in the miracles from Argentina and Poland, there was evidence of trauma from the presence of thrombi, indicating repeated lack of oxygen; lesions present showed rapid cardiac spasms typical in the final phases of death.
In the Sokolka miracle, the remaining host is tightly interconnected with the fibers of human tissue, penetrating each other inseparably – as if the bread were transforming into flesh. “Even NASA scientists, who have at their disposal the most modern analytical techniques, would not be able to artificially recreate such a thing,” affirmed Dr. Sobaniec-Lotowska, who was one of the examining experts.
Dr. Frederick Zugibe, a forensic doctor at Columbia University who examined the Argentinian miracle, did not know the source of the sample and told the doctor who brought it to him:
“If white blood cells were present (in the heart tissue), it is because at the moment you brought me the sample, it was pulsating.”
When he learned the source of the sample, he was shocked and deeply moved.
Why has the Lord suddenly multiplied Eucharistic miracles in the last few decades? Are we, like Doubting Thomas, refusing to believe unless we see, touch, and feel for ourselves? Jesus in His love for Thomas condescended to let him see, touch, and feel His wounds in order to believe. Maybe He is now doing the same for us.
So many young people have rejected religion as “unscientific.” But, here’s the science to prove our faith. Others say they don’t believe in religion because it’s just opinion or contrary to “reason.” Here’s quantifiable, measurable, physical evidence.
But more is going on here. The Church teaches has nearly always taught that in the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.
Scripturally, we see this in John 6:48-58 and 1 Corinthians 10:16 and 11:27. Yet the Eucharist is transforming into human heart only.
It’s as if Jesus, by transforming into a human heart, is crying out to us, “I’m here! I love you! My heart yearns for you! Was not my crucifixion enough to prove my love for you? See, then, and believe. I have remained hidden in the Eucharist for these two thousand years that I may remain close to you. Please, approach me. Receive me. Quench my thirst for your love.”
If our Lord has condescended to make himself so evident to us in order to be heard above the noise of our modern world, gratitude alone should impel us to respond.
We should understand that we believe this is a miracle that is without a doubt hard to understand and must be taken in faith. One could go so far to say that the Eucharistic miracle that takes place each time Mass is said, that it is metaphysical!
Archbishop Bekken often said that he felt the energy went he entered our humble parish, where in other churches there was an empty feeling. I have felt it. Some of you have felt it. It is because Jesus is really and truly present in the tabernacle here on the main alter. The Blessed Sacrament mike look like merely an unleavened wafer, but by the miracle of God, through the words of and actions of the priest, with the help of the Angel of the Mass, those “mere wafers” become the actual Body of Christ. It isn’t hocus pocus. It is a miracle that only faith can accept.
So, we receive Him in Communion. Spend time in Adoration. Learn more about the Mass and the Eucharist so that you may appreciate Him more. On the Cross, Jesus cried out, “I thirst.” As many saints have told us, it was not water He was thirsting for. It was humanity. Those of you reading this online, I say come! Come to our humble chapel and feel energy emanating from Christ during Mass and also from the tabernacle before and after and always!
Let us pray.
Today, the Feast of Corpus Christi, we celebrate the great gift which Jesus has bestowed on us, the spiritual nourishment that is His Body and Blood. We pray that in uniting His Body and Blood with ours in the Eucharist we are strengthened in our faith and love of God and neighbor. We pray to the Lord.
The Church, which includes all men, women and children, is the Body of Christ. We pray for a Spirit of unity among all Christians. We pray that God will destroy all the divisions that separate the Christian family and help us to recognize God’s love as the common source of life. We pray to the Lord.
On this Feast of Corpus Christi, we recognize that Jesus offered His life for all mankind. We pray for enlightenment in Church practice on the reception of the Eucharist, and that all of good faith may be welcomed to the table of the Lord without discrimination. We pray to the Lord.
We pray for peace in the Holy Land where Jesus blessed its very soil with His presence and message of love of neighbor. We pray for a peace that will dispel all fear and hatred, a peace that will bring justice to both sides. We pray to the Lord.
For those who do not have access to the Eucharist, that Christ’s presence and love may still enter their lives and their communities. We pray to the Lord.
For those on our parish prayer list, that they may receive swift answers to their needs and that they may find consolation through Christ’s healing presence. We pray to the Lord.
We bow our heads and remember in silence our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers (pause). We pray to the Lord.
Divine Father, we come before You as children, seeking Your Divine Spirit and life in the Holy Eucharist. Help all present to open their minds, senses and soul to the miracle that we are about to receive.
Holy and redeeming Savior, Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth, we your people are preparing to join with you again at that Last Supper you had with your disciples. Help us hear again the full power of your words. Help us feel again the full power of your grace, given in these elements. Lord Jesus, call us once more to the foot of your cross so we might again understand the length and breadth you’re willing to go so we can share in this meal. Bring us together, as the church united by your loving sacrifice. Call us together again so we can praise you with our full voice. And may the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
God Love You +++
The Most Rev. Robert Winzens
Pastor – St. Francis Chapel
San Diego, CA
Please help if you can, we are open for services and bringing the message of the Gospel to our troubled world! God Bless You +++
