Myths or Miracles?

                 

                  

ROME, May 5, 2005 -- 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. His findings have stirred interest in the scientific world...

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     A Basilian monk, in the eighth century, had doubts about the real presence of Christ in the sacred species. While was offering Mass in a church dedicated to St. Legontian in the town of Lanciano, he pronounced the words of the consecration. As he did so the host was miraculously changed into physical flesh and the wine into physical blood. Later the blood coagulated and the flesh remained the same.

     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
• the blood was of type AB.

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.” 

     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.*

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     The definition of miracle is: a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency. The Greek words rendered as miracle in the English bibles were semeion "sign," teras "wonder," and dynamis "power." 

Are miracles possible? Do they even happen? If so, how often?

Every. Single. Day. Miracles happens every day. Where? Any place that the priest celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Why? God allows us to witness and be a part of these miracles because of His undefinable love.

     When we attend Mass, we cannot see the transformation take place nor can we taste the difference between bread and wine vs Body and Blood. We cannot feel the difference either. The only sense that we can rely on is our hearing. We hear the priest pray the words and hear the bells ring, we know that transubstantiation is taking place. 

   Yes; miracles do take place. No one can change this fact, no matter how hard they try. It is your choice whether to believe in miracles or not. But God will not stop making them happen if you choose to think they are impossible. He will keep on preforming small and large ones until one day you are stopped in your tracks and realize that through His pursuing love you were enlightened. 

*this information is taken from ZENIT

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