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.
"I don't have the time to give a whole catechism class..."
Consider this...
"...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Rom 10
Seems like a fairly simple set of requirements for salvation.
That's another completely incharitable description. No one came to worship a moldy piece of vomit. Didn't happen. They came because they thought they might witness a miracle.
Are you honestly telling me that my belief in Christ the Saviour is not enough? No class needed, just say yes or no.
Unless you are willing to admit that the wafer is both wheat and flesh at the same time, then your analogy is false. But you claim that the substance is changed entirely, so it is not both wheat and flesh. It is only flesh, is it not?
In Lanciano, Italy.
The "Miracle" was first reserved in a chapel situated at the side of the main altar. Then, from 1636 it was reserved in a side-altar of the nave wich still contains the old iron chest and the commemorative inscription. In 1902 it was transferred into the present monumental marble altar which the people of Lanciano had erected.
I understand it.
Then you will join me in instructing Mr. Murphy that his post 13 was erroneous. That this incident does not prove that "transubstantiation didn't take place."
Won't you?
If you understand intellectually the idea, you must assert that no lab test or human sense can prove or disprove transubstantiation. Do you see this? Will you affirm it is so?
(Note: affirming what an idea's conclusions must logically be, is not the same thing as saying you accept the idea as true.)
SD
I was told on this thread that Catholics actually worship the wafer. So when they come to see a wafer that has been vomited up, what are they coming to do? Merely look at it, or worship it?
I have no idea what you mean by "your belief in Christ the Savior". A lot of people use those very same words and mean very different things, and yes it matters.You can't just pick the parts of Divine revelation that appeal to you and reject others, it's an all or nothing deal.
You have already referred in this thread to the correct answer as "voodoo." Given your prediliction to mock my faith in this way, I can't help you. I did provide a link upthread where you could learn all you wanted about transubstantiation, but I don't think you're hear to learn.
I think you're here to sneer and mock.
Seems like a fairly simple set of requirements for salvation.
Consider:
1 John 2: 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
A mere profession of faith is not enough. We must keep His commandments and walk in Him.
SD
Spare me your false dichotomies. They came to see if they might witness a miracle.
Your contempt is so intense, you cannot spare the thinnest reed of common decency by capitalizing a proper noun: Roman Catholic Church.
Let's just say... the Apostles Creed says what I believe. Is this enough?
You ought to be ashamed of yourself. But you're not.
Ya see, if you would just look up what transubstantiation means...[sigh] I guess I have to do it. I found a readable explanation HERE
"Transubstantiation means the substance part of the bread and wine elements changes; but the accidental parts--sight, taste, smell, touch--do not. Catholics believe that since Jesus said it and He is God, he can do it. They believe! "Transubstantiation" merely labels it"
All this time the correct spelling is "predilection" and I had no clue. That's as bad as when I assigned a nearly-opposite sense to the word "simpering." Oh well.
Oh I wish. Many people say the Apostles' Creed and hold very different beliefs as to what the words they are saying mean. I am a Roman Catholic, and the Apostles' Creed says what I believe too, and yet we do not hold the same beliefs. Go figure.
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