Lanciano is a small, middle ages community, snuggled in from the shore of the Adriatic Sea in Italy, midway in between San Giovanni Rotondo and also Loreto. Everything concerning Lanciano smacks of the Eucharistic Miracle. Even the name of the town was altered from Anxanum (in ancient times), to Lanciano, indicating “THE LANCE.”
Tradition has it that the centurion, named Longinus, who propelled the Lance into the side of Jesus, striking Him in the Suggestion of His Heart where He dropped blood and also water, (in the Scripture account of the Crucifixion (Mk 15:29)) was from this community. After seeing the occasions which complied with the piercing of Jesus’ heart, the dimming of the sunlight, as well as the earthquake, he believed that Christ was the Rescuer.
A more physical indication, nonetheless, was that Longinus had actually had bad eyesight, and after having touched his eyes with the water as well as blood from the side of Jesus, his vision was brought back. What an excellent parallel the actions of the Centurion were to the Eucharistic Miracle. He touched the Heart of Jesus, was healed, and transformed. He gave up the Military, mosted likely to Cappadocia, as well as was martyred for the belief. He is known now as Saint Longinus. His feast day is celebrated on March 15.
The church of the Eucharistic Wonder is located in the center of the town. Yet what is the center of the town today was the borders of the community back in the Eighth Century, when the Eucharistic Miracle took place. At the time, it was called the Church of St. Legontian and also St. Domitian, and also was under the safekeeping of the Basilian Monks, of the Greek Orthodox Ceremony. This was prior to the Wonderful Schism of 1054.
THE MIRACLE
A Basilian monk, wise in the means of the a course in miracles globe, yet not in the ways of faith, was having a trying time with his belief in the real presence of Our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist. He prayed constantly for remedy for his uncertainties, as well as the fear that he was shedding his occupation. He suffered with the routine of his priesthood every day, with these doubts gnawing at him.
The circumstance worldwide did not assist reinforce his faith. There were numerous heresies emerging constantly, which maintained chipping away at his belief. They were not all from outside the church either. Sibling priests as well as diocesans were sufferers of these heresies, and also they were being spread out throughout the church. This clergyman, being an extremely intelligent individual, could not help but be increasingly more persuaded by the logic of these heresies, especially the one worrying his certain trouble, the physical presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Human reasoning has actually always been a fantastic enemy of the spirit, when we try to recognize the Divine.
One early morning, while he was having a solid strike of question, he started the Blessing of the Mass for individuals of the town. He used the exact same dimension host which is utilized in the Latin Ceremony masses today. What he looked at as he consecrated the bread and red wine triggered his hands to drink, undoubtedly his whole body. He represented a very long time with his back to individuals, and then gradually reversed to them.
He claimed: “O privileged witnesses to whom the Blessed God, to confound my shock, has desired to disclose Himself in this Most Fortunate Rite and to provide Himself noticeable to our eyes. Come, brethren, and admire our God so near us. Witness the Flesh and Blood of our most precious Christ.”
The host had actually turned into Flesh. The wine had actually turned into Blood.
The people, having seen the wonder on their own, started to howl, requesting forgiveness, sobbing for mercy. Others started beating their breasts, confessing their sins, declaring themselves not worthy to witness such a miracle. Still others decreased on their knees in respect, as well as thanksgiving for the gift the Lord had actually presented on them. All spread the tale throughout the town, and also bordering towns.
Jesus even allowed Himself to be tortured once again. After the wonder, the Host was selected to a wooden board, to ensure that when it dried out, it would certainly not curl up, as scabbed flesh does. So here He was again, with nails in His Body, nailed to an item of wood.
The miracle that happened in 700 was just the beginning. That was 1250 years earlier. Had that miracle taken place, and after that the flesh and also blood disintegrated, as would have been regular, the miracle would certainly have been none the less a miracle. The priest’s faith had actually been renewed. The entire community, the entire nation for that issue, became aware of the miracle. Pilgrims gathered to Lanciano to respect the Host transformed flesh. Idea in the Eucharist had been born-again. The gift from the Lord was total.
Yet that’s not all. The Wonder is ongoing. The Host-turned- Flesh, and also the wine-turned-Blood, without the use of any type of kind of chemical, is still present in the reliquary. In 1574, testing was done on the Flesh as well as Blood. A mysterious phenomenon was discovered with the Blood. The five pellets of coagulated Blood are different shapes and sizes. Yet any combination evaluates the like the overall. In other words, 1 considers the like 2, 2 weigh the like 3, as well as 3 evaluate the same as 5.
From the very beginning, the local church approved this miracle as a real indication from paradise, as well as revered the Eucharistic Flesh as well as Blood in processions on its feast day, the last Sunday of October. The popularity of the temple spread throughout the region swiftly, and soon all of Italy pertained to the Church in Pilgrimage.