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.
So says you.
I will pick scripture over anything else, including the church and tradition.
Not at all. God CHOSE me. It was only though His ministrations that I found salvation. I wasn't looking for Christ, I was looking for something else at the time.
Yes, so say I.
If you can find "faith alone" in Scripture where it is never explicitly taught (and actually contradicted) you should understand how we can find doctrines in Scripture that are not of the "bumper sticker" variety.
SD
It matches nicely with your views on faith.
Faith and works both stem from grace, yet you proclaim faith alone to be sufficient.
Likewise, though Scripture stems from the Church and Tradition, you eschew them for a Scripture alone mindset.
SD
***If you can find "faith alone" in Scripture where it is never explicitly taught (and actually contradicted) you should understand how we can find doctrines in Scripture that are not of the "bumper sticker" variety.***
Look at every scripture I posted earlier. Do any of them say faith plus... No, every one of them says faith. Period. To imply anything else is adding to scripture.
We will never agree. You have your faith in your church, your traditions and in God.
I have faith in God alone.
If you believe in Christ, I am sure I will see you in heaven.
If I don't believe as you do, you aren't sure if I will see you there. You don't know if I will be there.
(I will ) :>)
Boy this thread has really degenerated from the previously lofty intellectual discussions of the miracle of the moldy vomit, huh?
SD
That kind of sneering hatred is what destroys comity on religious threads. It's not enough for you to believe what you believe, you have to misrepresent the faith of others, mock them, twist their words and actions, and then try to claim the moral high ground.
... HE WAS A MAN! Or don't you believe in the incarnation?
He was God-man, He never ceased being God although he appeared to the senses to be a man like other men, and yet He was in fact God. That was the point. Am I being too subtle or are you being intentionally obtuse?
News flash... He was a man like other men!!! If you don't believe that, if you believe that he merely appeared to be a man, then you are a Gnostic.
Am I being too subtle or are you being intentionally obtuse?
No, you are being heretical. Consult your priest.
:>) So say I.
Strike that... So say You.
You also.
Sez you!
OH, yeah? you take that back!... MMMMOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!
Either that or he is now denying the Divinity of Jesus. You never know.
SD
They come to adore.
Has the Pope come and bowed down to it? Do all the Popes come and bow down to it?
I have no idea, there have been quite a few popes since this has happened. I imagine that surely a few of them have come to adore. Catholics adore Christ's presence in the Eucharist as they would coming face to face with his humanity, for His presence in the Eucharist is Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
Will there be any consequences for bowing down to it and praying to it if it is not JESUS CHRIST?
It is so it is not an issue.
What about the excess Host that Roman Catholic's come and pray to now? If it isn't transubstantiated they are praying to bread. Isn't this idolatry?
If a person knowingly worships and adores a host that has not been consecrated, it would be idolatry. However given the bad behavior of so many Catholics who do not come to adore Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament, when they say they believe it to be true, I do not believe that your former statement ever really occurs.
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