I once visited Italy, and a place called Lanciano (spelling?) in which a miracle of the Eucharist was supposed to have occurred. I went a bit skeptically, but it was a powerful experience.
It was back in the 1200’s I think, and the priest, during mass, was distraught because he was a faithful man who prayed a lot, and yet he truely doubted the trans-substantiation. He was thinking of this one day during mass, and at the elevation of the Eucharist, the host literally turned into flesh, and the cup into blood.
Sounds pretty gorry, but the host and cup have been preserved to this present day. Scientists have done many tests, some trying prove the “hoax” of it all. But in the end, the evidence is inexplainable by current science.
For example, the flesh has been proven to be a very thin cross section of a human heart. The interesting thing about it is that is contains every major component and chamber of the heart in one almost transparent cross section. They have determined that this would not have been possible to perform in that era, and doubtful if it could be done even today. And the cup is interesting as well because human blood loses, in very short time, the electrolites. But the blood in this cup, if a little water is added, even now, the electrolites are still present in it, as though it is fresh blood.
Anyway, I’m no scientist, but there was enough convincing information for me to change the way I regard the Eucharist.
A miracle occurs each time mass is said. I think about what my repsonse would be if Jesus suddenly appeared in front of me, how I would want to prostrate myself. But that is exactly what happens at every mass. A mystery to be contemplated and revered.
