Episode 136, Eucharistic Miracles: Signs of God’s Profound Love
Kristen Van Uden from Sophia Press joins me today as we delve into an intriguing discussion on a book by Italian cardiologist Dr. Franco Serafini, exploring the Scriptural references in John Chapter Six. This topic gains timeliness within our current era of Eucharistic revival in the Church. The message of Divine Mercy centers on God's boundless love, and when we think of love, we think of the heart. Miracles offer yet another testament to God's love for His people.
Lanciano (8th century): A Timeless Eucharistic Marvel
The miracle in Lanciano, which endures through the ages, occurred during Mass one morning when a priest grappled with doubt regarding the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. As he raised the Host at the consecration, the host remarkably transformed into human flesh, while the wine evolved into blood clots. Detailed studies in 1574 revealed blood clots of various sizes, each weighing the same and collectively weighing the sum of all individual clots. Subsequent microscopic examinations in the 1970s unveiled human heart tissue characteristics with no evidence of preservatives or rigor mortis, even after centuries had passed. The blood type was determined to be AB.
Buenos Aires, Argentina: A Modern Eucharistic Wonder
From 1992 to 1996, Buenos Aires witnessed five Eucharistic miracles, with the most well-known involving a host discovered on the floor after Mass. Placed in a chalice with water, the host displayed a growing red spot over time. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, sought extensive scientific testing. The skeptical Dr. Castanon Gomez, a Bolivian scientist and atheist, performed studies but concealed the source. A respected U.S. cardiologist, Dr. Zugibe, who was studying the specimen without knowing from whence it came, called Dr. Gomez to ask about the patient’s history. Dr. Zugibe had identified the sample as human heart tissue from an individual who had suffered severe trauma. After this experience, Dr. Gomez converted to Catholicism and dedicated his life to the spread of the Gospel.
Tixtla, Mexico 2006: A Bleeding Host
Dr. Gomez also played a role in investigating the miracle in Tixtla, Mexico. A bleeding Host revealed human blood, type AB (again), cellular fibers from the heart lining, and a clot atop fresh blood. DNA analysis, like the other miracles, unveiled an incomplete set of genetic information.
Sokolka, Poland 2008: Challenging Skeptics
We also explore the Eucharistic miracle in Sokolka, Poland, where the Polish Rationalist Association claimed that the scientists examining the miracle were frauds. The microscope findings confirmed human heart tissue, but the Polish Rationalist Association tried to accuse the scientists of murdering someone or defiling a corpse in order to obtain the specimen.
Eucharistic miracles, a testament to God's enduring presence, reinforce the profound connection between Jesus in the Divine Mercy Image and Jesus in the Eucharist: they are one and the same.
