Today we read about the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, Italy. The above picture is the Monstrance containing the body and blood of Christ, transformed from the bread and wine at the consecration in the 700's.
Scripture for meditation: John 6:54-55
“Whoever eats my
flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last
day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.”
Scripture for reflection: John 20: 28-29
Thomas answered and
said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe
because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have
believed.”
Physician Tells of Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano
Edoardo Linoli Verified Authenticity of the Phenomenon
ROME, MAY 5, 2005 (Zenit.org)
Dr. Edoardo Linoli says he held real cardiac tissue in his hands, when some
years ago he analyzed the relics of the Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, Italy.
The phenomenon dates back to the eighth century. A Basilian monk, who had
doubts about the real presence of Christ in the sacred species, was offering
Mass, in a church dedicated to St. Legontian (the Roman soldier who pierced the
side of Jesus) in the town of Lanciano(the word means lance), Italy.
When he pronounced the words of the consecration, the host was miraculously
changed into physical flesh and the wine into physical blood. Later the blood
coagulated and the flesh remained the same. These relics were kept in the
cathedral.
Linoli, a
professor of anatomy and pathological histology, and of chemistry and clinical
microscopy, and former head of the Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy at the
Hospital of Arezzo, is the only doctor who has analyzed the relics of the
miracle of Lanciano. His findings have stirred interest in the scientific
world. At the initiative of Archbishop Pacifico Perantoni of Lanciano, and of
the provincial minister of the Franciscan Conventuals of Abruzzo, and with
authorization from Rome, in November 1970 the Franciscans of Lanciano decided
to have the relics examined scientifically.
Linoli was entrusted with the study. He was assisted by Dr. Ruggero Bertelli,
retired professor of human anatomy at the University of Siena. Linoli extracted
parts of the relics with great care and then analyzed the remains of
"miraculous flesh and blood." He presented his findings on March 4,
1971.
His study confirmed that the flesh and blood were of human origin. The flesh was
unequivocally cardiac tissue, and the blood was of type AB. Consulted by ZENIT,
Linoli explained that "as regards the flesh, I had in my hand the
endocardium. Therefore, there is no doubt at all that it is cardiac
tissue."
In regard to the blood, the scientist emphasized that "the blood group is
the same as that of the man of the holy Shroud of Turin, and it is particular
because it has the characteristics of a man who was born and lived in the
Middle East regions."
"The AB blood group of the inhabitants of the area in fact has a
percentage that extends from 0.5% to 1%, while in Palestine and the regions of
the Middle East it is 14-15%," Linoli said. Linoli's analysis revealed no
traces of preservatives in the elements, meaning that the blood could not have
been extracted from a corpse, because it would have been rapidly altered. Linoli's
report was published in "Quaderni Sclavo di Diagnostica Clinica e di
Laboratori" in 1971. In 1973, the Higher Council of the World Health
Organization (WHO) appointed a scientific commission to verify the Italian
doctor's conclusions. The work was carried out over 15 months with a total of
500 examinations. The conclusions of all the researches confirmed what had been
stated and published in Italy. The extract of the scientific research of WHO's
medical commission was published in New York and Geneva in 1976, confirming
science's inability to explain the phenomenon. Today, Linoli participated in a
congress on Eucharistic miracles organized by the Science and Faith master's program
of Rome's Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University, in cooperation with the St.
Clement I Pope and Martyr Institute, on the occasion of the Year of the
Eucharist under way.
"Eucharistic miracles are extraordinary phenomena of
a different type," Legionary Father Rafael Pascual, director of the
congress, told Vatican Radio. "For example, there is the transformation of
the species of bread and wine into flesh and blood, the miraculous preservation
of consecrated Hosts, and some Hosts that shed blood." "In Italy,
these miracles have occurred in several places," he said, "but we
also find them in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain " and some in
North America.
Prayer: Jesus
Christ, my Lord and my God, whom I believe to be really present in the Blessed
Sacrament of the Altar, receive this most profound act of adoration to supply
for the desire I have to adore Thee unceasingly, and in thanksgiving for the
sentiments of love which Thy sacred Heart has for me in this sacrament. I
cannot better acknowledge them than by offering Thee all the acts of adoration,
resignation, patience, and love which this same Heart has made during its
mortal life, and which it makes still and which it shall make eternally in
heaven, in order that through it I may love Thee, praise Thee, and adore Thee
worthily as much as it is possible for me. I unite myself to this divine
offering which Thou dost make to Thy divine Father, and I consecrate to Thee my
whole being praying Thee to destroy in me all sin and not to permit that I should
be separated from Thee eternally. Amen. Saint
Margaret Mary Alacoque
My thoughts:
Seeing is believing, many people say. Not seeing and believing, Jesus tells us,
is a gift. There have been many miracles like the one sighted above, in order
to assist people in their unbelief of the real presence of Jesus in the
Eucharist. For those who truly believe that Jesus wishes to be present in the
consecrated bread and wine, however, His words are enough. I have heard from people who have traveled to
Lanciano, Italy to see this miraculous flesh and blood that it was
life-changing for them, and I would love to visit there someday. For now,
however, let every gaze we cast upon the sacred Host be filled with belief and
trust, for we are truly in the presence of God.
Our prayer to God:
Let us pray in the words of St. Augustine: O Lord, I believe. Help my
unbelief!
