This past weekend, Fr. John Lado and I traveled across Italy to visit Lanciano, home of a Eucharistic Miracle. Below are the facts. I have copied and pasted from the church handout thing, so credit to them.
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 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. Since 1713 the Flesh has been reserved in an artistic silver Ostensorium, delicately embossed by an artisan of the Neapolitan school.
The Blood is enclosed in a rich and very old cup made of Rock-crystal.
The Minor Conventual Friars have been the custodians of the Sanctuary since 1252; their appointment was the wish of Bishop Landulf of Chieti; their appointment was confirmed by a Pontifical Bull dated April, 20. 1252.
Various ecclesiastical investigation (“Recognitions”) were conducted since 1574.
In 1970-1971 and taken up again partly in 1981 there took place a scientific investigation by the most illustrius 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 muscolar tissue of the heart.
•In the Flesh we see present in sections: 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.
•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.In conclusion, it may be said that Science, when called upon lo testify, has given a certain and thorough response as regards tin- authenticity of the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano.
Truly incredible.
The drive was sweet! Hairpin turns through the mountains and some church hopping. Here is a picture from the drive (doesn’t do it justice) and a fresco from one of the churches.
JPD