Eucharistic Miracle in Poland Tested & Confirmed by Bishop
Apr 22, 2016 by Gretchen Filz
So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?
Jesus answered them . . . I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh . . .
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. (John 6)
A Eucharistic Miracle is when God allows us to see with our own eyes the consecrated host as it truly is—the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. But it is not unique. We experience a Eucharistic miracle at every Mass. Every Holy Communion that we receive into our bodies is the same miracle. We just can't detect it with our senses, but by faith and effect we know it to be true. And it is a holy and fearful thing.
As reported by CNA/EWTN News this week:
A bleeding Host that “has the hallmarks of a Eucharistic miracle” was approved for veneration in Poland over the weekend.
The announcement was made by Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski of Legnica on April 17.
On Christmas Day 2013, a consecrated Host fell to the floor, the bishop said. It was picked up and placed in a container with water. Soon after, red stains appeared on the host.
Then-Bishop of Legnica, Stefan Cichy, created a commission to monitor the host. In February 2014, a small fragment was placed on a corporal and underwent testing by various research institutes.
The final medical statement by the Department of Forensic Medicine found:
“In the histopathological image, the fragments were found containing the fragmented parts of the cross striated muscle. It is most similar to the heart muscle.”
Tests also determined the tissue to be of human origin, and found that it bore signs of distress.
Saying that the Host “has the hallmarks of a Eucharistic miracle,” Bishop Kiernikowski explained that in January 2016 he presented the matter to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
In April, in accordance with the Holy See’s recommendations, he asked parish priest Andrzej Ziombrze “to prepare a suitable place for the Relics so that the faithful could venerate it.”
Below is the Announcement of the Bishop of Legnica, Msgr. Zbigniew Kiernikowski, on the Eucharistic Miracle in St. Jack Parish, translated from Polish.
Sisters and Brothers in Our Lord Jesus Christ!
As The Bishop of Legnica I hereby announce to the public and inform about an event that took place in the parish of St. Jack in Legnica which has the signs of the Eucharistic miracle. On 25th December, 2013 during the distribution of the Holy Communion, a consecrated Host fell to the floor and then was picked up and placed in a water-filled container (vasculum). Soon after, stains of the red colour appeared. The former Bishop of Legnica, Stefan Cichy, set up a commission to observe the phenomenon. In February 2014, a tiny red fragment of the Host was seperated and put on a corporal. The Commission ordered to take samples in order to conduct the thourough tests by the relevant research institutes.
In the final announcement of the Department of Forensic Medicine we read as follows: In the histopathological image, the fragments of tissue have been found containing the fragmented parts of the cross striated muscle. (...) The whole (...) is most similar to the heart muscle with alterations that often appear during the agony. The genetic researches indicate the human origin of the tissue.
In January this year I presented the whole matter to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican. Today, according to the recommendations of the Holy See, I ordered the parish vicar Andrzej Ziombro to prepare a suitable place for a display of the Relic so that the faithful could give it the proper adoration. Hereby, I also ask for providing the visitors with information and conducting the regular teaching that could help the faithful to have the proper attitude to the eucharistic cult. I also command to form a book to register all received benefits and other miraculous events.I hope that this will serve to deepen the cult of the Eucharist and will have deep impact on the lives of people facing the Relic. We see the misterious Sign as an extraordinary act of love and goodness of God, who comes to humans in ultimate humiliation.
I cordially ask for your prayer and I bless you
+ Zbigniew Kiernikowski
The Bishop of Legnica