THE EUCHARISTIC MIRACLE OF LANCIANO:
ANSWERED FROM SCRIPTURE, SCIENCE AND COMMON SENSE!
BACKGROUND TO THIS ARTICLE
I answered a challenge in the Irish Times
newspaper to disprove that the consecrated wafer literally becomes the
body and blood of Jesus Christ. My reply was that the onus of proof was
on the Roman Church, not on those of us who disagree with their
doctrine. I pointed out that none of the five senses perceived the
consecrated wafer to be anything other than bread. I got two letters
sent to my home from people who disagreed with me. The first simply
scolded Protestant churches for their unbelief of Roman doctrine. The
second was some what different and has led to this short article.
The writer sent me a tract entitled "The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano" It may be read word for word on a website promoting the Lanciano incident.
To summarise, a RC monk back in the 8th Century expressed doubt about
the reality of the "real" i.e. physical presence of Jesus in the
Eucharist. During "Holy Mass" after the "twofold consecration" the host
or wafer was turned into live flesh and the wine was changed into live
blood. This has been preserved now for twelve centuries and when
subjected to scientific investigation in 1970-71 and partly again in
1981 the 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 section: 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 (Blood-type
identical to that which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy
Shroud of Turin).
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.
The tract concludes with the following words: In conclusion, it may be
said that Science, when called upon to testify, has given a certain and
thorough response as regards the authenticity of the Eucharistic
Miracle of Lanciano.
The man who sent me this tract in response to my letter to the
newspaper obviously feels that it answers my other observation that
none of the five senses perceive the wafer to be anything than bread
and not the physical flesh of the Son of God. Has he a case? I think
not and here, briefly is the recent why.
SCIENCE SHOWS HE DOES NOT HAVE A CASE:
Working on the assumption that this incident is not an elaborate hoax -
some of Rome's so called miracles fall into this category - all this
case does is show that the wafer became flesh. In the absence either of
divine revelation or DNA from the body of the Son of God while He was
alive on this earth …the answer is that there is no proof that
this is the body of Jesus Christ. No matter who else takes over the
case at this point…science cannot go any further.
SCRIPTURE SHOWS HE DOES NOT HAVE A CASE:
We have already covered this elsewhere. Click here to access
appropriate page. It is worth pointing out - as I did in my reply -
that the miraculous must always take second place to scripture (Luke
16:31) We test the "miracles" by the scripture and not vice versa.
COMMON SENSE SHOWS HE DOES NOT HAVE A CASE:
All things being equal…Rome can produce a piece of human flesh.
Scientific tests show it to be the muscular tissue of the heart etc.,
According to RC doctrine…it is to be eaten. Every other mass
wafer is really human flesh - just it isn't as obvious to the eyes or
scientific investigation - but it is the same substance after
consecration. People are expected to eat it. If you were a Roman
Catholic …would you eat it? Why not? Jesus said "Except ye eat
my flesh…you have no life in me." (John 6:53) To take these
words symbolically puts you into the Protestant camp. But to follow the
teaching of your Church means that if it were placed on your tongue by
your priest…you would be required to eat it…the
myocardium, the endocardium, the vagus nerve and also the left
ventricle of the heart for the large thickness of the myocardium and
all. Does a sickly feeling creep over your stomach as you read these
words? It does over mine as I type them. I cannot help think of the
words of St Augustine who wisely wrote:
"If the sentence is one of command,
either forbidding a crime or vice, or enjoining an act of prudence or
benevolence, it is not figurative. If, however, it seems to enjoin a
crime or vice, or to forbid an act of prudence or benevolence, it is
figurative. "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man," says Christ,
"and drink His blood, ye have no life in you." [John 6:53] This seems
to enjoin a crime or a vice; it is therefore a figure, enjoining that
we should have a share in the sufferings of our Lord, and that we
should retain a sweet and profitable memory of the fact that His flesh
was wounded and crucified for us." Christian Doctrine (3:16)
Better still, the word of God itself says:
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as unto wise men; judge ye what I say. (1 Corinthians 10:14-15)
THE END
Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland