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.
That's pretty scary.
No, you Protestants, in order to protest Divinely revealed doctrine, call a "symbol" what you choose to, all the while claiming to go "by the bible" and you don't even agree about what are allegories and what should be taken literally amongst yourselves.
The bible is a Catholic book, yet you want to read apart from the Church and think you have the proper understanding. Big mistake.
More or less says it all.
Oh you must be right, it's not like Our Lord can accomplish what seems impossible to our human understanding. /sarcasm
Perhaps the mold, and natural decay?
The psamlist stated that "the holy one would not suffer decay." Yet consistently this wafer that is the actual body and blood, decays. why is that?
I have to wonder, if the bread was transubstantiated into Christ's literal body and then it was broken it into pieces at the last supper, then what did the Romans nail to the cross?
If Christ were truly incarnate before the crucifixion, then he could not have broken his body and passed it out among the disciples. That would have killed him as it would have killed you or me. Christ was killed on the cross. His body was intact at the time it was nailed to the cross. Nobody ate any of Jesus before his crucifixion. Hence, the statement was allegorical then and it is allegorical now.
Ahem, that's Mrs. Murphy, Mr. Murphy is my husband.
This statement indicates you really don't know what transubstantiation means. I suggest you read about it before you reject it. Unless you think you can get by with, "but nobody told me" when you face Our Lord at your judgment. You may not believe this, but I say this in all charity.
Can you show any biblical referance of where the 'host' was worshipped? Was there even any worship of the litteral boby of Christ while it was dead?
Consistently the RCC will walk on its head to maintain its false idea that it is the only game in town. Then will not even have the guts to say what the council of Trent declared. That all protestents are beyond salvation in any way. What does anathama mean if not that.
What does it taste like?
Did He instruct us to consecrate doors into Him?
Nor, apparently does he know what "faith" means.
You believe that there is something Christ is not capable of doing? Oh my, you're in more trouble than I thought. Catholics don't put limits on what God can do just to appease our own limited intellects.
P.S. This sounds like the people who say the world could not possibly have been created in 6 days. [sigh]
It tastes like bread. What does God look like?
Bzzt! Wrong answer. Transubstantiation can not be proven or disproven by any test on the elements themselves. This includes senses or scientific insturments (which are but extensions of our senses).
You obviously do not understand the teaching. If you care to learn about it, there are ample resources available. If you desire to remain ignorant, that is your own choice. At least we know what we are dealing with now.
SD
That's because it is bread.
"Before." LOL
God is eternal. You are saying God could not have access to the Eucharist because the Crucifixion hadn't happened yet. God is outside of time.
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.
SD
Interesting.
That's not what Trent declared, you're never beyond salvation until the moment you die and face judgment. If you die adhering to heretical beliefs then you will be beyond salvation, but where there is breath there is hope. If there was no hope for you why would I bother discussing this with you, silly? And I have no qualms about saying it.
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