Posted on 10/16/2009 2:11:04 PM PDT by NYer
If reports from Poland are true, an alleged Eucharistic miracle that took place a year ago may have merit.
According to a Polish blog, the Metropolitan Curia of Bialystok has announced the results of the investigation of an Ecclesial Commission appointed by Archbishop Edward Ozorowski on March 30, 2009. The original post (in Polish) can be found here.
Father Andrzej Kakareko, Chancellor, writes that on October 12, 2008, a consecrated Host fell out of the hands of the priest distributing Holy Communion. The priest had it picked up and placed in the vasculum in the Tabernacle. After Mass, the vasculum and its contents were transferred to the safe in the sacristy.
Seven days later, after opening the safe, a red stain was seen on the Host. Ten days afer that, the vessel with the Host was transferred to the Tabernacle in the chapel of the rectory. The next day, the Host was removed from the water and placed on the corporal in the Tabernacle.
On January 7, 2009 a sample from the host was sent to the University in Bialystok for analysis. According to two medical professionals, professor Maria Sobaniec-Lotowska and professor Stanislaw Sulkowski, the sample, in their opinion, most resembled the myocardial (heart) tissue of a living organism.
As part of its investigation, the Commission interviewed witnesses and pathomorphology experts. The Commission determined that there was no third-party intervention. The case has been forwarded to the Apostolic Nunciature in Warsaw.
While unusual in this day and age, the Church has a long history of Eucharistic miracles. The Vatican International Exhibition’s “Eucharistic Miracles of the World” documents more than 130 worldwide miracles of the Eucharist, demonstrating that Jesus Christ in the Eucharist – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – continues to make his presence manifest at unique times and places in history.
Perhaps the most famous and well-known, is the Miracle of Lanciano, which occurred about 750 A.D. It bears repeating as it closely resembles the alleged Polish miracle. During Mass, the celebrant doubted the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. During the consecration, the Host transformed into flesh and blood. Subsequent investigations confirmed the authenticity of the human tissue. An investigation, as late as 1970, found the flesh to be cardiac tissue and the blood to be type AB.
Thank you for that additional information. It only makes good sense.
I recall that period post VCII. Many churches, in their haste to erect an altar "facing the congregation", opted for wood which could be quickly assembled. Now, 40+ years later, the Vatican has issued a reminder to replace those altars with more permanent ones.
A wooden altar will have an altar stone imbedded in it. It may not be visible, though, if it is covered by the alter cloth. From Wiki, but accurate, “To provide for other circumstances—for chaplains of everything from military to Boy Scout units, for priests traveling alone, for missionaries, or for large outdoor celebrations of Mass on pilgrimages—portable altars, popularly called “altar stones,” were used. These were usually blocks of marble, often about 6 inches by 9 inches and an inch thick, consecrated as described above. A priest with a field kit could simply place this stone on any available surface (a tailgate, or a stump or log) to celebrate Mass, or it could be inserted in a flat frame built into the surface of a wooden altar. Many Roman Catholic schools had a full-sized, decoratively carved wooden altar (which, being wood, could not be consecrated) in their gym or auditorium that could be taken out and prepared for Mass, with an altar stone placed in the ‘mensa’ space.”
Good question.
Even (can't remember his name, memory is getting bad), the priest who sneaked into England and got into trouble during that bad time when the throne went back and forth. You will know who I mean. He even had proper vessels hidden away to celebrate mass in the Tower, was eventually martyred. I looked it up, think it was St. Edmund Campion.
I may still have that book, but one other case comes to mind. And I don't necessarily blame the priest, but he put a consecrated host I think it was in his breviary to take it to a sick person, and it started bleeding. I think they were supposed to use a special container, some will know what that is called. The book didn't make my point, and I might be wrong, but I kind of put 2 and 2 together later when we used to discuss all the liturgical abuses.
But most times considering all the accidents and other liturgical abuses, it doesn't happen. I may still have that book and IIRC the wooden altar was used temporarily when they were doing something with the main one or work in the church.
Maybe we need to look where all it has happened, don't recall any cases in the Americas, a hoax one that was pretty disgusting in Keene, NH.
Good, I'm glad the Vatican finally issued an order about the altars, hope they obey it. Some things we just can't know the reason for sure. Good points, all of it.
Good points. I thought I might have seen a stone embedded in wood, but didn't consider so long as a piece of marble was consecrated (another important detail), that was interesting.
If the chalice spills after the consecration, the wood would absorb the precious blood. Yes the small dish they use to hold the host is the paten, but that would not prevent a spill by accident of the chalice, which is what I was referencing.
As to the small Eucharist holder to bring communion to the sick, it is called a pyx. I only know this because my son is an EM, and he has one :)
Yes they can use the altars of wood temporarily, but not permanently. I have seen photos of chaplins using the hood of a jeep or a rock out in the field. Jesus knows whats going on in all realms, and a rock is as good a representation of Him and His Church during consecration as any in the battlefield, but in his Church, the permanent altar needs to be permanent........
Thanks for your input!
They may have taken it as a sign that God was on their side . . . .but maybe it meant something else!
Disobedience is a big, big deal in the scriptures starting in the garden . . . . .by that I mean knowingly. Sometimes things just happen.
Jesus was obedient unto death. That is also such a big deal there are no proper words to describe it.
I'll never forget the mass where the priest lost his place and said the words of consecration twice! Since I didn't blame him, I just decided maybe we'd get twice as many graces ;-).
But as a brand new convert, when the deacon, now I can't remember who said that mass, but they used "altar bread". If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't have throught anything about it, maybe I didn't know then but knew I was going to have to chew the host. I got that notion from an unapproved apparition, so think I'm past that although I never or seldom would do it, kind of hung up on that.
You people might find this interesting. I was reading this am on the local paper website about precautions the various churches were taking about the swine flu, handwipes, no holding hands during the Lord's prayer, no touching in the greeting, cough into your elbow. Without looking it up again, and I only remember their mentioning one Lutheran and one particular Catholic church, but I think there were instructions to priests when communion was being served under both (another special word), they were to use intinction!
I'll never forget the mass where the priest lost his place and said the words of consecration twice! Since I didn't blame him, I just decided maybe we'd get twice as many graces ;-).
But as a brand new convert, when the deacon, now I can't remember who said that mass, but they used "altar bread". If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't have throught anything about it, maybe I didn't know then but knew I was going to have to chew the host. I got that notion from an unapproved apparition, so think I'm past that although I never or seldom would do it, kind of hung up on that.
You people might find this interesting. I was reading this am on the local paper website about precautions the various churches were taking about the swine flu, handwipes, no holding hands during the Lord's prayer, no touching in the greeting, cough into your elbow. Without looking it up again, and I only remember their mentioning one Lutheran and one particular Catholic church, but I think there were instructions to priests when communion was being served under both (another special word), they were to use intinction!
Sorry for the double post, thought it hadn’t taken but see it did.
Your welcome, and welcome home!
I have a little more insight than many; my son is going into seminary next fall :)
Keep learning, it will only reinforce what you already know.
Thank you, and congratulations on your son. He will be a fine priest I feel certain. May God bless all and may He bless your son and all the lives he encounters in his ministry.
Thanks. Keep him in your prayers. The entrance paperwork and scrutinies are overwhelming. God bless you!
Wow.
I find this the most compelling:
The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart.
The Flesh is a “HEART” complete in its essential structure.
The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB (Blood-type which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin).
I never knew those three facts. Thank you!
It would be great to have a weekly Catholic discussion group here. Don’t know if it’s already being done or not.
I cannot until my first “marriage” is annulled, but I do ask Jesus to come into my heart spiritually.
We were instructed to receive our Lord by hand because of the threat of H1N1.
I have it drilled into my son to receive it on the tongue because it is more sacred that way, I think.
Hah, the Lord’s blood type was AB like yours...congratulations. :)
You're welcome! And now, here is a 4th interesting fact. The blood (stain symmetry, type and other indicators) on the Sudarium of Oviedo, matches the blood on the Shroud of Turin. Read more.
Sadly, my blood type is A+; so the Lord and I are not a match. Isn’t AB the rarest type?
Still, I’ve always been pleased to be A+. It sounds nice.
I have AB+ which is rare but not as rare as some of the negative types.
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