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Hosts ‘Miraculously’ Preserved 16 Months
After Devastating Earthquake
The recovered consecrated hosts. (Courtesy of Avvenire)| Feb. 22, 2018
Italian priest who helped make the discovery says it is reminiscent of the Eucharistic miracle of Siena in 1730.
Edward Pentin
Forty ‘miraculously’ preserved, consecrated hosts have been discovered in a church that was destroyed by a large earthquake in central Italy in 2016.
The hosts, recovered from a tabernacle recently retrieved from the ruins of the parish church of Arquata del Tronto, have no bacteria or mold, as usually happens to hosts after a few weeks, according to the Italian bishops’ newspaper Avvenire.
The tabernacle, which since the earthquake had been kept in storage along with other artifacts and was recently returned to the diocese, contained an upturned but unopened ciborium.
Inside the ciborium were 40 hosts whose color, shape and scent were unchanged. Even though the quake took place nearly a year and a half ago, the hosts “seemed to have been made yesterday,” Avvenire reported Feb. 21.
The local bishop, Mons. Giovanni D'Ercole of Ascoli Piceno, was cautious, saying “faith requires prudence,” but added that such a discovery needs “no words.”
“It is a sign of hope for everyone,” he added. “Confronted with a fact like this, one has to surely remain silent. It simply touches and strengthens faith in Jesus who remains alive to console the earthquake-stricken population of Arquata.”
The 6.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the region on Oct. 30 caused immense damage to Arquata del Tronto and the surrounding area. The basilica in Norcia, the native town of St. Benedict and home to the famous Benedictine Monks of Norcia, was almost totally destroyed. It followed a similarly powerful quake in the region on Aug. 24 of that year which killed almost 300 people.
Don Angelo Ciancotti, a priest in nearby Ascoli who helped make the discovery, said finding the hosts was “a great joy” and gives a “message for the whole community.”
“Yes, for me it is a miracle,” he told the Italian daily Il Resto del Carlino. “Obviously, those who have no faith aren’t able to believe in anything, but never has there been any tampering. The Lord has done this all by Himself.”
Don Ciancotti, who has close family ties to Arquata, knew every missing person in the rubble and all the streets in the region. So together with some residents he sought to recover all the artifacts that could be saved.
He carried out some research to see where objects had been recovered, including those originating from the church — Santa Maria Assunta in Arquata. Later, he learned that the church’s treasures had been stored in a warehouse, so he retrieved them, cleaned them up, and put them in the sacristy of the cathedral in Ascoli.
Seeing that the tabernacle was locked, he remembered he had another key for a draw in his office. “I said, ‘let's try’, and it opened on the first attempt,” he said. But the biggest surprise was to come: ”The ciborium was horizontal, but it hadn’t opened, and inside it the hosts were perfectly intact,” he said.
He said the wafers had been prepared by nuns at the convent of Sant'Onofrio. “I immediately asked them if they used preservatives and they told me: ‘No, just flour and water.’"
Don Ciancotti was the first to be sceptical. “I’m a cousin of [doubting] St. Thomas,” he joked, “and so I had several others witness to it.”
He said he believes the discovery is reminiscent of the Eucharistic miracle of Siena in 1730 when a ciborium with consecrated hosts was stolen but the exact number of hosts miraculously re-appeared in the offering box attached to a prie dieu.
The hosts, which were not consumed, did not deteriorate but remained fresh and even retained a pleasant scent.
Hosts ‘Miraculously’ Preserved 16 Months
After Devastating Earthquake
The recovered consecrated hosts. (Courtesy of Avvenire)| Feb. 22, 2018
Italian priest who helped make the discovery says it is reminiscent of the Eucharistic miracle of Siena in 1730.
Edward Pentin
Forty ‘miraculously’ preserved, consecrated hosts have been discovered in a church that was destroyed by a large earthquake in central Italy in 2016.
The hosts, recovered from a tabernacle recently retrieved from the ruins of the parish church of Arquata del Tronto, have no bacteria or mold, as usually happens to hosts after a few weeks, according to the Italian bishops’ newspaper Avvenire.
The tabernacle, which since the earthquake had been kept in storage along with other artifacts and was recently returned to the diocese, contained an upturned but unopened ciborium.
Inside the ciborium were 40 hosts whose color, shape and scent were unchanged. Even though the quake took place nearly a year and a half ago, the hosts “seemed to have been made yesterday,” Avvenire reported Feb. 21.
The local bishop, Mons. Giovanni D'Ercole of Ascoli Piceno, was cautious, saying “faith requires prudence,” but added that such a discovery needs “no words.”
“It is a sign of hope for everyone,” he added. “Confronted with a fact like this, one has to surely remain silent. It simply touches and strengthens faith in Jesus who remains alive to console the earthquake-stricken population of Arquata.”
The 6.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the region on Oct. 30 caused immense damage to Arquata del Tronto and the surrounding area. The basilica in Norcia, the native town of St. Benedict and home to the famous Benedictine Monks of Norcia, was almost totally destroyed. It followed a similarly powerful quake in the region on Aug. 24 of that year which killed almost 300 people.
Don Angelo Ciancotti, a priest in nearby Ascoli who helped make the discovery, said finding the hosts was “a great joy” and gives a “message for the whole community.”
“Yes, for me it is a miracle,” he told the Italian daily Il Resto del Carlino. “Obviously, those who have no faith aren’t able to believe in anything, but never has there been any tampering. The Lord has done this all by Himself.”
Don Ciancotti, who has close family ties to Arquata, knew every missing person in the rubble and all the streets in the region. So together with some residents he sought to recover all the artifacts that could be saved.
He carried out some research to see where objects had been recovered, including those originating from the church — Santa Maria Assunta in Arquata. Later, he learned that the church’s treasures had been stored in a warehouse, so he retrieved them, cleaned them up, and put them in the sacristy of the cathedral in Ascoli.
Seeing that the tabernacle was locked, he remembered he had another key for a draw in his office. “I said, ‘let's try’, and it opened on the first attempt,” he said. But the biggest surprise was to come: ”The ciborium was horizontal, but it hadn’t opened, and inside it the hosts were perfectly intact,” he said.
He said the wafers had been prepared by nuns at the convent of Sant'Onofrio. “I immediately asked them if they used preservatives and they told me: ‘No, just flour and water.’"
Don Ciancotti was the first to be sceptical. “I’m a cousin of [doubting] St. Thomas,” he joked, “and so I had several others witness to it.”
He said he believes the discovery is reminiscent of the Eucharistic miracle of Siena in 1730 when a ciborium with consecrated hosts was stolen but the exact number of hosts miraculously re-appeared in the offering box attached to a prie dieu.
The hosts, which were not consumed, did not deteriorate but remained fresh and even retained a pleasant scent.
EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES
Dying Young Mother Cured of Cancer...
Father Aloysius Ellacuria, C.M.F., founder of the Missionaries of Perpetual Adoration, had a young mother come to him in the early 1970’s, eyes filled with tears, an aching body saturated with cancer, and given little hope to live. He took her into the chapel asking her, "Have you ever asked Our Lord to cure you?" "No," she replied. "Well he said, "Let us kneel down right here in the front of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and ask Him to cure you. You know Our Lord is really present in the Most Blessed Sacrament; do you believe that?" "Yes," she promptly replied.
Father continued, "Our Lord is the same as He who walked on this earth 2,000 years ago; and who blessed the sick and healed the sick. Do you believe that He is the same Lord that is living here in this Most Blessed Sacrament?" "Yes, He is," was her pain filled response. "Well, He cured them and He can cure you."
Together they knelt down and prayed a series of Our Father’s, Hail Mary’s, and Glory Be’s. After three of each the woman, startled, said: "Father, I don’t think it is necessary to continue to go on – I feel healed."
The next day X-rays were taken of the young mother and the astonished doctor said: "All the cells that were attacked by cancer are now like the cells of a new-born baby."
This was but one of the many cures Father Aloysius witnessed while imploring assistance from Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
The "Little Miracle"...
Father Leloir was interned at Buchenwald, where at 6 p.m. each day the prisoners and deportees were lined up for inspection by the S.S. troops. On the evening of August 23, 1944, Father Leloir had carefully concealed on his person a small white envelope containing six consecrated Hosts, which he intended to distribute secretly among his comrades. The presence of the Blessed Sacrament on the person of the priest was known to several fellow-prisoners.
Consternation filled all when the soldiers began to search the prisoners one by one. What would be the fate of the priest when the envelope containing the Hosts was found? Too well they knew what punishment would be given him.
And what unspeakable irreverence would be done to the Sacred Hosts!
Down the line the S.S. troops contemptuously searched each man, and finally came Father Lelior’s turn. Into his pockets one after another the Nazi soldiers pried, and found the “evidence.” Father Leloir stood erect, a trifle pale, but silently praying to the Lord whose Precious Body was within the folds of the white envelope. His companions trembled and grew faint.
With an insolent air the S.S. guard tore open the envelope. Several prisoners gasped. Father Leloir stared in open amazement-as the Nazi soldiers threw the envelope scornfully to the ground saying: “Just an empty envelope.”
Just an empty envelope! The Hosts had disappeared! To prevent the desecration of the Sacred Hosts and to save the priest and his fellow Catholics from certain punishment, perhaps death, Our Lord had worked this “little miracle!”
From the Immaculata Magazine - Eucharistic Adoration Issue
Flying Hosts...
One of the last Sundays (June 21st or 28th, 1970) at the seven o’clock Mass, in the Beauceville church (Quebec, Canada), the parish priest, Father Charles Eugene Houde (about 50 years old) was the celebrant. He had already told his parishioners that they were permitted to receive the Holy Host in their hands, according to the directives given by the Archbishop of Quebec. This day, before the Mass, he told his parishioners the following: “Henceforth, to avoid complications, every one of you will receive the Host in your hand for Communion." That was against the Bishop’s directions that allowed the people the freedom to take the Host either in their hand or in their mouth.
At the moment of the Communion of the Mass Father Houde turned to the people, holding the Ciborium in his hand. Before he had time to take a single Host and take a single step, about fifty consecrated Hosts flew out of the Ciborium by themselves. They went up into the air, circling themselves around and around the priest, and then slowly fell to the ground.
Father Houde was so struck by the prodigy that his faced turned white as snow and for a few minutes he remained motionless. Being interiorly inspired he said to the faithful who were approaching the altar, “Henceforth, all of you will receive the Holy Host on your tongue, not in your hand, because God just gave us a sign.”
The priest knelt down and picked the Holy Hosts scattered on the carpet, and distributed Holy Communion. Back in the presbytery he said, “Never again in my life will I give Holy Communion in the hand.”
AN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION DESIGNED AND CREATED BY CARLO ACUTIS THE SERVANT OF GOD
Carlo Acutis Creator of the Exhibition
The Eucharistic Miracles
of the World
If your parish or organization would like to exhibit the Church approved photographic International Exhibition of The Eucharistic Miracles of the World or, if you would like to know more information, please contact:
Associazione Amici di Carlo Acutis
Phone: 0039.339.6340122
[email protected] - www.carloacutis.com
[email protected] - www.miracolieucaristici.org
or Carol J. Seydel
The Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association
Phone: 815-609-7331 - [email protected] - http://www.therealpresence.org
Please Note: To hold the exhibition, you will need special high definition PDF to make your posters (166, size 60x80cm).
Relevant Articles about the Eucharistic Miracles Presentation - The Eucharistic Miracles: Limits and Positive Aspects
Raffaello Martinelli
Preface
Cardinal Angelo Comastri
The Eucharistic Miracles
Reverend Fr. Roberto Coggi, O.P.
Miracles by Country
INTRODUCTORY PANELS
Panel A
Panel B
ArgentinaBuenos Aires, 1992-1994-1996
AustriaFiecht, 1310
Seefeld, 1384
Weiten-Raxendorf, 1411
BelgiumBois-Seigneur-Isaac, 1405
Bruges, 1203
Brussels, 1370
Herentals, 1412
Herkenrode-Hasselt, 1317
Liège, 1374
Middleburg-Lovanio, 1374
ColombiaTumaco, 1906
CroatiaLudbreg, 1411
EgyptSt. Mary of Egypt, VI cent.
Scete, III-V cent.
FranceAvignon, 1433
Blanot, 1331
Bordeaux, 1822
Dijon, 1430
Douai, 1254
Faverney, 1608
La Rochelle, 1461
Neuvy Saint Sepulcre, 1257
Les Ulmes, 1668
Marseille-En-Beauvais, 1533
Paris, 1290
Pressac, 1643
GermanyAugsburg, 1194
Benningen, 1216
Bettbrunn, 1125
Erding, 1417
Kranenburg, 1280
Regensburg, 1255
Walldürn, 1330
Weingarten
Wilsnack, 1383
IndiaChirattakonam, 2001
MartiniqueMorne-Rouge, 1902
Reunion IslandsSaint-André de la Réunion, 1902
ItalyAlatri, 1228
Saint Clare of Assisi, 1240
Asti, 1535
Bagno di Romagna, 1412
Bolsena, 1264
Canosio, 1630
Cascia, 1330
Cava dei Tirreni, 1656
Dronero, 1631
San Mauro la Bruca, 1969
Ferrara, 1171
Florence, 1230-1595
Gruaro (Valvasone), 1294
Lanciano, 750 D.C.
Macerata, 1356
Mogoro, 1604
Morrovalle, 1560
Offida, 1273-1280
Patierno (Naples), 1772
Rimini, 1227
Rome, VI-VII cent.
Rome, 1610
Rosano, 1948
S. Peter Damian, XI cent.
Salzano, 1517
Scala, 1732
Siena, 1730
Trani, XI sec.
Turin, 1453
Turin, 1640
Veroli, 1570
Volterra, 1472
MexicoTixtla, 2006
HollandAlkmaar, 1429
Amsterdam, 1345
Bergen, 1421
Boxmeer, 1400
Boxtel-Hoogstraten, 1380
Breda-Niervaart, 1300
Meerssen, 1222-1465
Stiphout, 1342
PeruEten, 1649
PolandKrakow, 1345
Glotowo, 1290
Legnica, 2013
Poznan, 1399
Sokółka 2008
PortugalSantarém, 1247
SpainAlboraya-Almacéra, 1348
Alcalà, 1597
Alcoy, 1568
Caravaca de la Cruz, 1231
Cimballa, 1370
Daroca, 1239
Gerona, 1297
Gorkum-El Escorial, 1572
Guadalupe, 1420
Ivorra, 1010
Moncada, 1392
Montserrat, 1657
O'Cebreiro, 1300
Onil, 1824
Ponferrada, 1533
S. John of the Abbesses, 1251
Silla, 1907
Valencia
Zaragoza, 1427
SwitzerlandEttiswil, 1447
VenezuelaBetania, 1991
SAINTS, MYSTICS AND THE EUCHARISTSaint Margaret Mary Alacoque – Sacred Heart of Jesus, 17th Century
Saint Thomas Aquinas, 1224-1274
Saint Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Saint Bernard of Chiaravalle, 12th Century
San Giovanni Bosco, 1848
Saint Germaine Cousin (Pibrac), 1589
Saint Egidio
Saint Stanislaus Kostka, 1550-1568
Saint Faustina Kowalska, 20th Century
Saint Satyrus, 4th Century
Saint Catherine of Siena, 1347-1380
Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa, 1904-1955
Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, 1774-1824
Blessed Mary of the Passion, 1866-1912
Blessed Nicholas Steno (in Danish)
St. Nicholas of Flue, 1417
Servant of God Anne-Louise Lateau, 1850
Servant of God Marthe Robin, 1902-1981
André Frossard, 20th Century
Teresa Neumann, 1898-1962
OUR LADY AND THE EUCHARISTCalanda, Spain, Miguel-Juan Pellicer, 1640
Fatima, Portugal, The Angel of Peace, 1916
Guadalupe, Mexico, Juan Diego, 1531
Lourdes, France, Saint Bernadette, 1888
Paris, France, Saint Catherine Labouré, 1830
MIRACULOUS COMMUNIONSMiraculous Communions (part 1)
• Blessed Emilia Bicchieri
• Blessed Imelda Lambertini
• Blessed James of Montieri
• Blessed Thomas of Cori
• Saint Bernard
• Saint Bonaventure
• Saint Gerard Magella
• Saint Jerome
• Saint Juliana Falconieri
• Saint Lucia Filippini
• Saint Maria Francesca of the Five Wounds
• Saint Secondo
Miraculous Communions (part 2)
• Blessed Angela of Foligno
• Saint Agnes Segni
• Saint Clare Montefalco
• Saint Frances of Rome
• Saint Gregory the Great
• Saint Teresa of Avila
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