In the city of Lanciano, Italy, around the

year 700 of Our Lord there was a priest of the

order of St. Basil who, though learned in the
sciences of the world, was ignorant in ways
of God, and was not strong in his faith. He
was plagued by a doubt as to whether the
consecrated Host was truly the Body of
Christ, and the consecrated wine truly His
Blood. He had difficulty believing in the
mystery of transubstantiation (the
miraculous changing of the bread and wine
into the Body and Blood of Christ).

One morning, as he was celebrating Mass, he

had already said the most holy words of
consecration ("This is My Body..., This is my
Blood..."), as Jesus had taught it to his
Apostles, his doubts and errors weighed
upon him more heavily than ever. By a most
singular and marvelous grace, he saw the
Bread changed into Flesh and the wine into
Blood.
Frightened and confused by such a great
and stupendous Miracle, he stood quite a
while as if in a divine ecstasy; but eventually,
his fear gave way to the spiritual happiness

that filled his soul, and he turned his joyful

yet tearful face to those around him,
exclaiming "...Behold the Flesh and the blood
of our Most Beloved Christ."
At those words, the bystanders ran to the
altar and began, with tears, to cry for mercy.
The faithful, who, having become witnesses
themselves, spread the news throughout the
entire city.

Today twelve centuries after the miraculous occurrence it

remains intact, a sustained miracle! Upon a superficial
examination, the Host of Flesh, which is still in one piece and
has retained the dimensions of the original "Large Host",
has a fibrous appearance and a brown color, which becomes
light-reddish if one places a light in the back of the
Ostensorium.
The blood, contained in the chalice, has an earthly color,
inclined toward the yellow of ocher, and consists of five
coagulated globules. Each of the parts is uneven in shape
and size, and when weighed together, the total weight is
equal to that of each piece.
The actual spot of the miracle is located beneath the
present day tabernacle of the Church of St. Francis. The
Miracle Itself is preserved in the second tabernacle, which is
found in the high altar. The Host, now changed to Flesh, is
contained in a silver Monstrance. The wine, now changed to
Blood, is contained in a crystal chalice.

Official Position of the Catholic Church

Local Church and Vatican official have authenticated the
Eucharistic miracle on many occasions since the middle
ages. In 1672, Pope Clement X declared the altar of the
Eucharistic Miracle a privileged altar on all Mondays of the
year. In 1887, the Archbishop of Lanciano obtained from
Pope Leo XIII a plenary indulgence in perpetuity to those
who visit the Church of the Miracle during the eight days
preceding the annual feast day, which falls on the last
Sunday in October.

Scientific Studies
A rigorous scientific analysis was performed in 1970-71 by
Professor Dr. Odorardo, University Professor in anatomy
and pathological histology and in chemistry and clinical
microscopy, Head Physician of the United Hospitals of
Arezzo. Prof. Linoli was assisted by Prof. Dr. Ruggero
Bertelli, a Professor Emeritus of anatomy at the University
of Siena.
The research done on the fragments of the Blood and the
Flesh yielded the following results:

The Blood of the Eucharistic Miracle is real blood and

the Flesh is real flesh.
The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the
myocardium (heart wall).
The Blood and the Flesh belong to the human species.

The blood type is identical in the Blood and in the Flesh,

type AB.
The proteins in the blood are in the same proportions as
those found in normal fresh blood.
There is no trace whatsoever of any materials or agents
used for preservation of flesh or blood.

Science, when called to testify, has confirmed what we

have believed in Faith and what the Catholic Church has
taught for the last 2,000 years; echoing the words of Christ,
"My Flesh is real food; my Blood real drink. Whoever eats
My Flesh and drinks My Blood dwells continually in Me and I
dwell in him."-John 6:56-57