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Quote:
The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano in the 8th century

Ancient Anxanum, the city of the Frentanese, has contained for over twelve centuries the first and greatest Eucharistic Miracle of the Catholic Church. This wondrous Event took place in the 8th century A.D. in the little Church of St. Legontian, as a divine response to a Basilian monk's doubt about Jesus' Real Presence in the Eucharist.

During Holy Mass, after the two-fold consecration, the host was changed into live Flesh and the wine was changed into live Blood, which coagulated into five globules, irregular and differing in shape and size.

The Host-Flesh, as can be very distinctly observed today, has the same dimensions as the large host used today in the Latin church; it is light brown and appears rose-colored when lighted from the back.

The Blood is coagulated and has an earthy color resembling the yellow of ochre.

Various ecclesiastical investigation ("Recognitions") were conducted since 1574.

In 1970-'71 and taken up again partly in 1981 there took place a scientific investigation by the most illustrious scientist Prof. Odoardo Linoli, eminent Professor in Anatomy and Pathological Histology and in Chemistry and Clinical Microscopy. He was assisted by Prof. Ruggero Bertelli of the University of Siena.

The analyses were conducted with absolute and unquestionable scientific precision and they were documented with a series of microscopic photographs.


These analyses sustained the following conclusions:

The Flesh is real Flesh. The Blood is real Blood.

The Flesh and the Blood belong to the human species.

The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart.

In the Flesh we see present in section: the myocardium, the endocardium, the vagus nerve and also the left ventricle of the heart for the large thickness of the myocardium.

The Flesh is a "HEART" complete in its essential structure.

The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB (Blood-type identical to that which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin).

In the Blood there were found proteins in the same normal proportions (percentage-wise) as are found in the sero-proteic make-up of the fresh normal blood.

In the Blood there were also found these minerals: chlorides, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.

The preservation of the Flesh and of the Blood, which were left in their natural state for twelve centuries and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon.


Joe:

I didn't know the story either so I googled "Lanciano" and found a website. This is taken in toto from that site.

www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/lanciano.html [therealpresence.org]

BOB

I just have a few questions. I'm not interested in controversy and I'm not rendering any judgment about this event. But for the sake of clarification and my own understanding, there are a few questions that for me are necessary.

1) When the consecrated bread and wine visibly changed into the piece of heart and human blood was this still the body and blood of Christ? Is the preserved flesh Christ?

2) If so, then does anyone else see any tension between the claim that this piece of flesh and blood are a part of Christ's body (organically separated from his body and blood) and the understanding that the whole Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity is present entirely in every part of the eucharist no matter how small or large the particle?

3) And finally, does anyone know if such miracles have occurred elsewhere, especially in the Orthodox east?

This is the last discussion that I'm going to participate in for awhile. Numerous threads have become controversial and I think that my contributions to them have not been entirely helpful. I'm not sure if I will be able to make positive contributions in the future. Fortunately, my last day of work until after New Year's is tomorrow and our Internet at home is currently disconnected. I will be spending extra time in reading and prayer and trying to sort out all of the different conundrums that have been teasing my mind of late. Anyway, any suggestions or clarifying evidence would be very much appreciated. God bless.

Joe

For a complete list and photographs (in PDF) of eucharistic miracles throughout the world approved by the Catholic Church:

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/a3.html

Toggle down to Italy and locate alphabetically the Lanciano eucharistic miracle.

Amado

I was under the impression that the Lanciano host was leavened bread initially?

The link should be:

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/engl_mir.htm

JOE:

Christ is in our midst!! He is and always will be!!

First, I have no answers to your very good questions. I leave that to the learned. I didn't know anything about the miracle mentioned so I googled it. Up to now, I'd never heard of it. My own thought about these miracles is that I don't need a miracle to confirm my faith in Christ's Real Presence. I'm rather simple in this area: the Lord said it; I believe Him; case closed. To me it's a bit like the people who flock all over the world to places where there are miracles and apparitions. I've got the greatest miracle of all happening in my parish church every day, so what more need do I have of going anywhere else. Beyond that, I've seen the Hand of Divine Providence in my own life so many times that I have no need of knowing He is close by and cares for me.

Second, your contributions are valued. You will be missed while you are away.

Third, we all need a break once in awhile to pray and reflect. Otherwise, even good, faith-building discussions can wear us down. Be assured of our prayers for you while you're in retreat.

Finally, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year--may your family's and yours be blessed. Please offer one or two for us, too.

BOB

Thanks Bob, and I generally feel the same as you about these things. I certainly believe that miracles happen. But I don't seek them out and I don't place my faith in them.

I was thinking about what St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 about the nature of the resurrected body and how the resurrected body of Christ is changed, transfigured, and glorified. Christ's flesh would not appear as ordinary human flesh because our ordinary human flesh is fallen. Christ was raised in an incorruptible state. So I have to be honest that I am leery of this particular miracle.

I shall pray for everyone in the forum over the break and I thank you Bob and everyone for your prayers.

Joe

Here is a recent eucharistic miracle which occurred in a Romanian monastery at Sihastria.

This is from a book published by SVS Press
http://www.svspress.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=2598

While serving as head sacristan Brother Constantine(Elder Cleopa before his tonsure) was an eyewitness to several miracles, which occured during the Divine Liturgy at Sihastria. He recalled these in later years and would recount them to those who came to him for their spiritual edification.

Look at at what happened to a very good priest, Fr.Calistrat Bobu. He was a known spiritual father and confessor, but he went to see a nun who was living as a hermit in the forest. At that time there were about fifty known monks and nuns living alone like that in the woods. This particular nun continued to adhere to the old calendar, in opposition to the decision of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. When Fr.Calistrat visited her, she said,"The Holy Spirit does not descend when you serve the Divine Liturgy because you have gone over to the new calendar!" From that time on, Fr.Calistrat had doubts about the decision of the Holy Synod.

Once while I was serving my turn as sacristan, I noticed that the antidoron for the abbot was white and very sweet, while the one for Fr.Calistrat was green and almost spoiled. I asked Abbot Ioanichie about this.

'Fr.Abbot why is it that when Fr.Calistrat serves his antidoron is green and rancid?'

'Oh! My son he serves with doubt in his mind! He went to an ascetic nun in the forest who told him that the Holy Spirit does not descend upon the Holy Gifts at the at the Liturgy because of the calendar issue. I told him he is going to endure trials because of this doubt in his mind!

Then when Fr.Calistrat was serving the Divine Liturgy and invoked the grace of the Holy Spirit, he saw that the Lamb had become flesh, and blood was flowing on the holy disc and onto the holy antimins. Then when he looked into the chalice he saw blood. He called me over to the altar table: 'Brother Constantine, come over here! What do you see?'

'Oh! Fr.Calistrat! The holy communion has become real flesh and blood!'

Then he sent me to call the abbot. When Fr.Ioanichie came into the altar he immediately told those at the cliros to read from the Psalter. Then he turned to Fr.Calistrat and said, 'So! Fr.Calistrat, now do you believe that the Holy Spirit descends upon the Gifts?'

'Forgive me, Father!' Fr.Calistrat answered and fell on his knees.

Fr.Abbot Ioanichie continued to speak to Fr.Calistrat 'Look! Has the Holy Spirit come? Has he transformed this into flesh? Is this blood? Do you still have doubts, Father?'

'I do believe Fr.Abbot. I beg you to forgive me!'

'Gather up the Holy Mysteries!' "

Then with the spear they made a small hole in the leg of the, altar table, because the altar table is the tomb of Christ, and they buried they buried the Holy Mysteries there according to the teachings of the holy fathers. They then washed the chalice in the basin in the altar, together with the holy antimins. I stayed there for several hours until the entire Psalter had been read. Then they began the Divine Liturgy again from the point of the of the Proskomedia 'And one of the soldiers pierced His side with a lance . . .' They continued through the Divine Liturgy, and the miracle did not repeat itself.

'Now do you believe?' the Abbot asked Fr.Calistrat.

'I believe Father.'

Is the miracle of Lanciano promoted as a part of the worship of the Sacred Heart? The two are so perfectly complementary. The Sacred Heart calls for world-wide veneration and the Sacred Heart is actually able to be worshipped in the flesh at Lanciano.

Right, we mere mortals cannot be in 2 or more places at the same time. He can be.

Father Ambrose:

Father bless!!

Permit me to go out on a limb and say "no." I have heard of the Sacred Heart devotion many times in my life, but had never heard of this Eucharistic miracle until a few days ago on this forum.

Asking for your blessing and continued holy prayers,

BOB

Yes, that's what I have thought, that no connection has been made between the devotion to the Sacred Heart and the actual physical presence of the Sacred Heart at Lanciano. It is surprising since the one complements and strengthens the other so nicely.

Is the Vatican dubious about Lanciano? One would think that such a major "relic" of Christ and confirmation of the Eucharist would have been taken to the Vatican and given prominent display at Saint Peter's basilica.

Fr. Bless!

I think the Vatican respects the holy relics and the places that safely contain them enough to keep them where they are.

Relics that were in danger of being profaned were moved, like the Sudarium.

The Sudarium is now in the cathedral of Oviedo.

"According to this history, the sudarium was in Palestine until shortly before the year 614, when Jerusalem was attacked and conquered by Chosroes II, who was king of Persia from 590 to 628. It was taken away to avoid destruction in the invasion, first to Alexandria by the presbyter Philip, then across the north of Africa when Chosroes conquered Alexandria in 616. The sudarium entered Spain at Cartagena, along with people who were fleeing from the Persians. The bishop of Ecija, Fulgentius, welcomed the refugees and the relics, and surrendered the chest, or ark, to Leandro, bishop of Seville. He took it to Seville, where it spent some years.

"Saint Isidore was later bishop of Seville, and teacher of Saint Ildefonso, who was in turn appointed bishop of Toledo. When he left Seville to take up his post there, he took the chest with him. It stayed in Toledo until the year 718. It was then taken further north to avoid destruction at the hands of the Muslims, who conquered the majority of the Iberian peninsula at the beginning of the eighth century. It was first kept in a cave that is now called Monsacro, ten kilometres from Oviedo. King Alfonso II had a special chapel built for the chest, called the "Cámara Santa", later incorporated into the cathedral."

http://www.shroud.com/guscin.htm

Father,

Thank you for filling in the history of the Sudarium and showing us how it had to be moved to keep it out of the hands of the Muslim hoarde.

Dear Joe,

My cousin visited Lanciano and personally witnessed this ongoing Eucharistic Miracle. As it occurred prior to the East-West break, it is also an Orthodox Eucharistic miracle.

Saint Peter Mohyla, Metropolitan of Kyiv, in his "Sluzhebnik" that he published for priests actually discussed Eucharistic miracles and also gave rubrics for Orthodox priests as to what they are to do when they are confronted with one during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

Mohyla said that, following the Consecration, should the priest or bishop celebrating the Liturgy see that the Bread and Wine have visibly transformed themselves into "real Flesh and real Blood" OR that a Child has appeared in the Chalice, then the celebrant should "know that this is an expression of God's anger at the lack of faith/respect being demonstrated by someone/some people in Church at the time."

As the signs are no longer Bread or Wine, then St Peter simply affirms that this miracle is NOT Holy Communion and cannot be distributed to the people as such (!). The priest is to cover the Chalice and continue with the Divine Liturgy "looking back, every so often, to see if the Miracle has changed back into Bread and Wine."

However, if, nearing the time of Communion, the Miracle persists, then the Priest/Bishop must then take new bread and wine and recite the Eucharistic Canon over them before distributing Holy Communion to the faithful.

There are Orthodox icons of Chalices in which there is a Child and I don't know if this represents a Eucharistic Miracle or not. But it would appear from St Peter's teaching and pastoral guidance that such Eucharistic Miracles were well-known (especially since he dedicated space to instruction on what to do if one occurred during the Divine Liturgy). I believe St John Chrysostom mentions the Eucharistic Miracle of Communion Particles turning into "hard stones" when people dared to approach the Chalice without Confession and amendment of life beforehand. Also, that people were known to actually physically die as punishment for approaching the Chalice in their sinful state without prior Confession.

There are currently 30 Eucharistic Miracles in the Latin Church that continue to persist to this day throughout the world (including the Miraculous Hosts from the 18th century that continue to be fresh and resist deterioration).

From what St Peter writes, it seems that such miracles are always expressions of God's displeasure at the people's lack of faith and also a reminder about the great miracle that is Holy Communion!

The Eastern Orthodox Church does not revel in such Miracles (probably because they are expressions of God's anger) but this does not mean that they do not occur (the East has her stigmatists, such as St Gregory Palamas, but does not make them separate objects of veneration).

The Church has limited herself to affirming that the Eucharistic Miracle, insofar as it is not Bread or Wine, is therefore not "Holy Communion" without going further.

Alex