Quo Vadis Youth

The Eucharist Transformed
By Mary Clare Piecynski

Stories of Catholics, given the opportunity to witness the marvelous love of Christ in the Eucharist, and see, first hand, what a powerful desire He has for the children of men to believe in the Real Presence of Holy Communion.

God has performed many displays of His splendor and power in countless miracles across the span of history and from the eons of time. Since the coming of His Son Jesus, and the institution of the Eucharist, God has given astounding proofs of His Real Presence in the bread and wine offered at Mass. Often, when there was a lack of belief in the Real Presence, miraculous instances have been reported, in which the consecrated Bread and Wine have done extraordinary things. Thus, Catholics and non-believers alike, are given an astonishing glimpse into the legitimacy of the doctrine of transubstantiation.
Perhaps a good way in which to begin a study of Eucharistic Miracles would be to look at the reasons that the Catholic Church has never wavered in teaching that the bread and wine proffered at Mass is changed into the very Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, of Jesus Christ. A careful study of Scripture reveals that "he who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal, and I will raise him up on the last day(1)." However, Protestants rebut this Catholic teaching with the verse "It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing(2)." by which they claim Jesus' words were only meant figuratively. This quote doesn't prove anything though, because Jesus was merely trying to explain that taking a bite of His arm wasn't what He meant, but rather, that He wished to allow us to share in His life more fully by remaining with us until the consummation of the world(3). In addition, nowhere does the Bible use the word "spirit" to signify that something is to be meant figuratively. Actually Holy Scriptures states the opposite: for if we are to "worship in spirit and truth," how is one to worship figuratively? Moreover, the words flesh and spirit, when contrasted to one another, never meant literal and figurative, but simply the debased dispositions of human nature (flesh) opposed to the human nature enriched with the grace and blessings of God (spirit). Some Bible verses that explicate this point include: Matt 26:41, Romans 7:5,6, 2 Corr. 7:1, Gal 3:3. In John 6, Jesus says teaches about the Eucharist: "the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world."(4) Now Jesus says that the bread and the flesh of the cross are the same or equal, so if the bread isn't His body, meant only as a symbol as Protestants allege, then the body that hung on the cross and was given for our salvation would be figurative too. Another interesting note about the Real Presence is found in the Old Testament account of the Passover; if the Israelites were to avoid death, they must kill a lamb, sprinkle its blood on their doorposts, and finally, eat it. Today, Christ is our Passover Lamb, who for our sake was slain so that we might not die from sin. Like the Israelites, we must also eat of the Lamb, consume Him, so that He might come in and abide with us. Though never enough can be said about the Scriptural basis of the invisible, yet very real, Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the above should be sufficient to explain briefly what a powerful tool the Bible can be to prove that the bread and wine become indeed Jesus Christ's very Body and Blood.
However, there are some instances when Catholics are given visible illustrations of the true Presence. A few months ago, Anna Pugh, a teenager from Newark, Ohio, was privileged to take a two-week tour of Italy, during which she had the incredible opportunity to view two Eucharistic Miracles, one in Orvieto which occurred in 1263, and the other at Siena in 1730. Anna was gracious enough to share the background of the miracles she visited, along with some of her impressions and thoughts.
Could you give a brief background of how each of the Eucharistic miracles that you saw come about?
Orvieto: This miracle came about when a priest held up the Host during consecration doubting in the Real Presence, the Host then turned into bloodied Flesh. Blood then dripped from the Host onto both the altar and the corporal. The Flesh proceeded to change appearance yet again, and turned back into a Host. Since that day in 1263, each year on Corpus Christi, the same Host becomes Flesh anew, so that no one can rebut that Eucharistic miracles DO occur.

Siena: Siena was another town that was privileged to be the sight of an unusual Eucharistic Miracle. It happened in 1730, when some consecrated Host were stolen along with the golden ciborium from the tabernacle. The 348 Host's were discovered two days later in the offering box in the Church of Saint Francis. However, the Hosts were covered with cobwebs, dust and dirt, since the box they were found in was opened but once a year. In effect, the soiled Hosts were not consumed and merely left to disintegrate, something the Church permits because when the Host deteriorates Christ is no longer present. However, to everyone's amazement, the Hosts didn't decompose at all and remained as fresh as ever. Over the years, scientists have examined the Bread and have discovered some interesting facts. They agree that normal unleavened bread in exposed continuously to air, would deteriorate in only a few years. The scientists also found that there was no explanation for the same Hosts, kept in ordinary conditions, that were in existence over a century ago to be still fresh and incorrupt. Even today, the remaining 230 Hosts (the rest were distributed for various reasons over the years) can be seen perfect, and without any sign of aging.

What was your reaction when you saw each miracle, what was going through your head when you gazed upon such a mind-boggling sight?
Simply that this is INCREDIBLE! WOW! I felt extremely close to God.

C. Do you have anything to say to those who claim that Catholics make up stories of Eucharistic miracles, with trick photography and such, and its all a bunch of foolishness?
Go see it for yourself. Catholics have nothing to hide, especially when it comes to AWESOME miracles like these!

D. How did seeing these miracles strengthen your faith as a Catholics in the Real Presence?
Now, when I receive communion at church, I just remember the miracles and think every time I receive the Holy Eucharist, I'm receiving the Flesh and Blood of the miracle of Orvieto or receiving one of the Host's from Siena.

E. Was there anything else you'd like to say about your visit the Eucharistic miracles?
They're just AMAZING, and I'm thankful I was privileged enough to see them.
One the most popular and scientifically documented miracles happened in the 8th century at Lanciano, Italy, where Christ became sacramentally present under the appearance of bread and wine, only to be transformed into visible Flesh and Blood. The miracle happened when a monk who was having doubts about the Real Presence was saying Mass and at the moment of consecration, the bread and wine changed appearance. The Host became light brown (it looks rose colored when lighted from the back), and the wine is now coagulated and has the color of ochre (brownish-yellow). Numerous scientific investigations have taken place since the miracle, but the most recent, conducted with perhaps the most vigor, took place from 1970-1971 under the direction of the eminent Italian scientist, Odoardo Linoli. After examining the 20-milligram sample of the Flesh and the 318 milligrams of the Blood, Professor Linoli made public his findings: the Blood and the Flesh tested was undoubtedly of human origin; as for the Blood, there were found proteins in the same standard balances that are found in regular composition of fresh blood; many minerals were also found in the Blood, such as: chlorides, magnesium, potassium, sodium in reduced quantity and calcium in a larger amount. In addition, the blood type is the same in both the Blood and Flesh; it is most likely that the samples came from one person. Incidently, this is the same blood type that is found in all the Church approved Eucharistic Miracles; AB is also the blood type that is found in the Shroud of Turin. What Mr. Linoli discovered in the Flesh is as follows; It consists of the muscular tissue from the heart (also called the myocardium). There was never any preservation process used on the Flesh (or Blood) to conserve it, thus the preservation of the minerals and proteins found in the Flesh is inexplicable since they have been exposed to "atmospheric and biological agents of disintegration." In conclusion, what a marvelous instance in which Christ, in His wisdom, has permitted mere humans to visibly witness the splendor and omnipotence of His mercy and love.
A more recent instance in which Jesus gave us fresh evidence of His inexhaustible Eucharistic love was in Yardsville, New Jersey on April 10, 1994. Fr. Robert J. Rooney was celebrating Mass on Mercy Sunday when a red substance flowed from the Host just as he was elevating It after consecration. Whereupon, the astonished Father Rooney put It upon the paten and consumed another Host. Afterwards, Fr. Rooney's spiritual director Fr. Valenta allowed four medical doctors who are experienced in blood analysis to examine the Host to see if they could explain the phenomenon. When they had completed their non-invasive study, the doctors concluded that "there was no scientific explanation, the red material came from within the Host and it has the microscopic characteristics of human blood; the Church must make the determination as to any miracle." Finally, through the existence of such miracles, we as Catholics should appreciate in a deeper way what a gift we have in the Eucharist, and to which what lengths our Lord has gone to so that we might believe in the Real Presence.
Boxtel, Holland 1380, is where the next Eucharistic miracle occurred. During the consecration, the Mass celebrant, Father Van de Aker, lost his balance and spilled the white wine he had just pronounced over which the words of consecration, onto the corporal and altar cloth. As the white wine flowed into the fabric, it suddenly changed into a deep, rich red color that had the appearance of blood. When the Mass was concluded, Fr. Van de Aker rushed to the sacristy and attempted to wash the cloths out but it was useless, the stain remained. Father then proceeded to hide the stained linens in a small valise where they remained until he was on his deathbed when he confessed to his pastor and showed him where he had hidden them. The material, which was still bright red from the Blood, was recovered and is exposed on the 25th of June every year for the veneration of the faithful.
Our next stop in time will be in Middleburg Louvain, where in 1374 a young man went to receive communion even though he had a serious sin on his soul. The instant the Host was put on his tongue, It turned into Flesh, and the man was incapable of swallowing. Blood from the Host dripped from his mouth and fell into the cloth that covered the communion rail. The priest then removed the Host from the recipient's tongue and placed in a vessel stored in the altar. Even today, the miracle is completely preserved and is clearly distinguishable as Flesh.
In Bordeaux 1822, was an additional instance of where Jesus Christ reveled His Real Presence for our sake and attempted to put a stop to our unbelief in the Real Presence. This was accomplished by letting an officiating priest at Benediction and several other witnesses see Jesus' head, chest and arms in the Host. In recognition of this event Pope Leo XII established the Feast of the Holy Family to commemorate the miracle.
Another site of Christ illustrating the wonders of the Eucharist was in Faverney, France. It was after the services of Pentecost Sunday, 1608, that the Blessed Sacrament was left out with two oil lamps for exposition during the night. The next day, a sacristan entered the church only to find it full of smoke. After the fire was put out, and the smoke cleared, everyone saw an astonishing scene. The monstrance was hanging in midair, without any support whatsoever. The miracle lasted exactly 33 hours, when on the Tuesday of that eventful week, during consecration, the monstrance came down from its airy throne, onto the new altar that was replacing the one demolished in the fire. Afterwards, an inquiry in which where 54 sworn testimonies were taken from various priest, monks, peasants, and villagers. Then on July 30, 1608, the Archbishop declared that a miracle had indeed taken place in Faverney that 25th of May 1608. Since that day, thousands of pilgrims have visited that sacred place where Christ chose to let Himself be suspended between heaven and earth, so that more Catholics might see what a miracle we witness at each Mass.
Another Eucharistic miracle took place Santarum, Portugal, which was blessed in the 13th century to be the town in which Jesus Christ preformed even another miracle. This miraculous event occurred when a discontented woman, who was certain that her husband didn't love her, was coerced by a sorceress to bring to her a consecrated Host. The hapless woman decided that the only way for her husband to become devoted again, was to comply with the sorceress' demands. She then proceeded with great trepidation to Mass and received communion, but didn't consume the Host. She hurried out of the church, took the Host from her mouth, wrapped It in a kerchief, and headed for the sorceress' house. On the way the woman was stopped by a pedestrian who asked if she were all right, since she was bleeding. Terror gripped the heart of the woman as she realized that it was from the Host that the blood was coming. She immediately changed direction and rushed home. Inside her house, the woman buried the evidence of her terrible deed in a trunk and tried to forget about it to no avail, never ceasing to wonder if the Host had stopped bleeding. In the middle of the night, the woman and her husband were awakened by brilliant rays coming from the trunk. The miserable woman then confessed what she had done to her husband, who spent the rest of the night in prayer with his wife before the miracle. The following day, flocks of people came to the house attracted by the mysterious light. They informed the parish priest who brought the Host back to the church in a solemn procession. He proceeded to put It in a wax container which was placed inside the tabernacle to protect it against the elements. This precaution resulted in another miracle, for when the tabernacle was next opened the wax had shattered into a thousand shards, and in its place was a crystal container that still holds the Blood.
In conclusion, the above miracles are only a smattering of the innumerable illustrations in which God has made His Real Presence in the Eucharist known. In God's boundless wisdom, He has given us tangible examples of transubstantiation and the infinite wonders of His creation. Though Lanciano, Santarem, Bolsena, Middleburg, Boxtel, Yardsville, Bordeaux, Faverney, and Siena, are wonderful examples of Christ enlightening us to the mystery of the Eucharist, we must never ignore the best reason of all for belief in this dogma of faith, Christ's own words that state; "let me solemnly assure you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you(5)."

Bibliography.

Cruz, Joan Carrol, Eucharistic Miracles. TAN Books and Publishers. Rockford, Illinois 1987.
Conway, Rev. Bertrand L. The Question Box. The Paulist Press. New York, New York. 1920.

Interviews
Anna Pugh, Newark, Ohio. Interview on her visit to Rome and her chance to see first hand two Eucharistic Miracles.

Web sites visited.
http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir.html
http://www.thedivinemercy.org/devotions/euchmiracles.htm
http://www.trosch.org/inx
http://www.catholicfocus.com/eucharist.htm
http://www.christusrex.org/www1apparitions/pr00027.htm
http://www.teachlife.org.au/catholicism/TEMOl.html

1. John 6:54
2. John 6:63
3. Matt. 28:20
4. John 6:52
5. John 6:54