Posted on 03/24/2006 6:06:40 AM PST by marshmallow
DALLAS. A “host” kept in a jar of water for four weeks grew fungus and bacterial colonies in a natural process, a laboratory report concluded about an incident in a local parish church that created public speculation.
A March 23 letter from Dallas Bishop Charles Grahmann to the pastor of St. James Parish relayed that what some were calling a ‘miracle’ of a host “contains nothing of a supernatural nature.”
The letter to Msgr. Mario Magbanua states: “At my request the object you submitted to me, around which there was heightened publicity, was presented to Dr. Marcy Brown Marsden, chairman and associate professor of biology, University of Dallas, and Dr. Frank Doe of the same department, for tentative identification and characterization of the object.”
The bishop said that after analysis was done he was provided with their conclusion.
They told the bishop: “We conclude that the object is a combination of fungal mycelia and bacterial colonies that have been incubated within the aquatic environment of the glass during the four-week period in which it was stored in the open air.”
The bishop further wrote: ““From this conclusion the phenomenon was of the natural order and contains nothing of a supernatural nature. Thus, you need to remove yourself from any further activity surrounding this matter and its exaggerated claims.”
The incident began about a month ago when a young boy received the Eucharist at Mass and then became sick in the restroom. Ushers who checked on him found the intact host in the bin.
The ushers reportedly summoned Msgr. Magbanua, who came to retrieve the host. He put the host in water to dissolve, where it remained unseen until March 19. Its appearance had changed, viewers said.
Within hours people were coming to the church to see the host, which is located in a low-income area and has approximately 2,000 registered parishioners.
Fueled by telephone and e-mail stories saying a miracle had occurred, as well as media reports, curious scores of the faithful hoping to see something extraordinary began to show up.
Among those was Shirley Vilfordi, a member of St. Rita Parish in Dallas. She was among those who suggested people should not be too quick to rush to conclusions, and thanked those who took quick action to discover the truth.
“We praise God for our beloved church who wants to investigate these things thoroughly rather than falsely mislead the faithful,” Vilfordi said as the investigation was ongoing.
There have been other cases in past years when a host received fungal and/or bacteria contamination when it was not properly consumed and/or disposed.
Church officials said the matter is now closed and called on faithful to end any further speculation.
Hrumph! Madam, with all due respect, I barely know you!
They were healed, not saved. God had mercy on them and healed them from their illness.
Greetings to you as well.
Consider all the folks Christ healed in his ministry. How did they get healed? Did they do good things so Jesus would notice them and heal them?
No. they simply brought their problems to the One who they thought could do something about them. This is faith - the faith of the sick who need a Physician.
Yep. Healing for our souls is always at hand. I have no arguments with that.
Of course this does not nullify the "Go and sin no more.", but that is always after the fact of the healing. Thoughts?
Yep, we are healed from our sickness, but if we do not take care, we can fall off the path. We aren't exhorted to follow His commandments and walk in Him, because God is capricious, but because He knows these behaviors keep us well.
You make good points though. Too many think Catholics think we have to earn our forgiveness. This is not so. We can always turn to the Healer for absolution.
SD
"They were healed, not saved. God had mercy on them and healed them from their illness."
But do we not find in them an illustration of salvation?
Ooops -reading the posts too quickly I guess. Well, I do happen to be married to a Mr. Murphy, and you are quite right, it is not you. =D
Yes. I believe that Christ paid the penalty for ALL my sins, not just the ones I did before I believed.
I just recieved a personal mail from a Catholic who told me I had to repent of my erroneous belief. I will never repent from my faith in Christ alone as my salvation.
Everyone is allowed to make use of Scripture for reflection and enlightenment. You'll note I engaged Petronius in his thoughts rather than browbeating him.
You are only forbidden to make a private interpretation which conflicts with the Church's dogma. Like saying salvation is by faith alone.
Wondering about the similarities and suggestions brought to mind by thinking about how Christ healed the physically sick and how they relate to how sinners are healed of their spiritual sin is totally kosher. Even encouraged.
SD
***You are only forbidden to make a private interpretation which conflicts with the Church's dogma. ***
Suppose the church is wrong?
Why would the Holy Spirit lead the Church into error on a dogmatic level?
That's impossible. Scripture describes the Church as the pillar and foundation of truth. Jesus promises Hell will not prevail against Her.
SD
Concerning Galatians 2, the heart of the matter is that if anyone could be "good enough" to be saved, then Christ died for nothing. So obviously, works - whether under the law or without knowledge of the law - is not enough.
The issue of whether faith - or free will v predestination - is a factor is an ongoing discussion around here between the Calvinists and Arminians. And to that debate, I assert that Scripture authenticates both free will (commandments, exhortations) and predestination (prophesy).
The matter is not closed, the pastor of this church needs to explain why a consecrated host was not treated with proper respect, left abandoned to grow fungi, and not disposed of according to the rules. Then everyone in that parish, EM's, altar boys, etc, who comes in contact with the Eucharist needs to be re-trained in all rubrics applicable to their roles.
No one teaches that works by themselves are sufficient to merit eternal salvation.
Furthermore, as I pointed out already, "works of the law" means a particular thing. Saying that one can not be saved by "works of the law" is not to say that good works in general play no role in our salvation. I've already posted Scripture stating that faith alone is dead, it must have works to go with it. And exhortations by John to keep His commandments to make our "faith" be not just empty words.
The issue of whether faith - or free will v predestination - is a factor is an ongoing discussion around here between the Calvinists and Arminians.
Surely.
And to that debate, I assert that Scripture authenticates both free will (commandments, exhortations) and predestination (prophesy).
I agree. I think our minds are too limited to comprehend how our free choices nonetheless serve God's plan. If someone argued that it was all up to our choices, I would sound like a Calvinist in pointing out God's control.
That doesn't usually happen here, so it's usually me arguing the role of free will against the Calvinist's obsession with God's sovereignity. The answer is in neither extreme.
SD
Here is where I believe that the Catholic church is wrong:
Praying to saints
Praying to Mary
Holding Mary above all other sinners
Not allowing Priests to marry
Nuns as the bride of Christ
your version of the communion
Indulgences
I could go on, but you get the idea. You cannot justify any of these without reading things into scripture that aren't there. You have to use "Tradition" instead of scripture. REMEMBER, these are my beliefs as to where you are wrong, but none of these practices will keep you out of heaven.
I intend NO harm or injury with these statements, only clarification of my beliefs.
***Why would the Holy Spirit lead the Church into error on a dogmatic level? ***
They Holy Spirit wouldn't, but man has been known to disregard the HS to his own glory and profit.
It would only be arrogance if it was not Divinely revealed truth. It would completely uncharitable and gross dereliction of duty if the Church did not proclaim the truth to all nations regardless of whether feelings get hurt.
And many Church Men are guilty of this today. It's about saving souls not making friends, too many Church men today would rather "make nice" than save souls. Regardless of what these church men say and do, the Church has never contradicted itself on infallibly defined teaching on faith and morals. So Trent is still as true today as it was then, and no bishop or pope will ever be able to change that.
***Calvinist's obsession with God's sovereignity.***
My God is sovereign. Call me a Calvinist if you will.
The Holy Spirit wouldn't, but man has been known to disregard the HS to his own glory and profit.
So the choice is between either one divinely protected from dogmatic error Church or simply man and no way of knowing Truth for sure.
I'll pick #1. Scripture calls the Church the pillar of Truth. And it is unseemly for God to go through all this trouble of gathering followers only to have them be rudderless when it comes to matters of Truth.
SD
Do you believe you chose to accept Jesus as your Savior?
SD
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