One day in the eighth century, in the church dedicated to Saints Legontian and Domitian in Lanciano, a Basilian monk was celebrating Holy Mass in the Latin rite, with a host of unleavened bread. The monk started doubting the real and substantial presence of the Flesh and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the consecrated Holy Species. After having pronounced the words of Consecration (“This is My Body... This is My Blood”), as Jesus had taught it to His Apostles, the monk saw the host change into a living piece of Flesh, and the wine change into real blood, which thereupon coagulated and split into five globules, irregular and differing in shape and size.The Host-Flesh, as can be very distinctly observed today, has the same dimensions as the large host used today in the Latin church; it is light brown and appears rose-colored when lighted from the back. The Blood is coagulated and has an earthy color resembling the yellow of ochre.
During Sunday mass, the same thing takes place. The Church teaches that although the accidents(the visual aspects) remain the same the core of the substance changes in a process called transubstantiation. Transubstantiation is the process in which the bread and wine changes to flesh and blood. This process is usually internal, yet in this case the process was visual for the doubting monk to see.
It is impressive to me how God gives us answers to everything. If one doubts the real presence, he proves it. God loves all of us and wants us to prosper! We should not take for granted the miracles that take place in our everyday lives: a bird singing; the sun rising; etc.... God gives us what we need when we need it, let us ask for nothing more!
No comments:
Post a Comment