Abstract

Research Article

Scientific Analysis of Eucharistic Miracles: Importance of a Standardization in Evaluation

Kelly Kearse* and Frank Ligaj

Published: 13 November, 2024 | Volume 8 - Issue 1 | Pages: 078-088

Numerous instances of consecrated communion wafers turning into human tissue and blood have been reported throughout history and the contemporary international media, referred to as Eucharistic miracles. Various suggestions have been put forth to explain such phenomena, ranging from miraculous to natural. Here, a novel demonstration is provided showing that the appearance of a bleeding host can occur by placing ordinary, non-consecrated wafers under similar conditions as described for many of these events. Using basic forensic methods, distinctions between ensuant reddish areas and genuine blood were noted. In previous studies with miracle wafers, isolated DNA was resistant to amplification with human-specific primers, which has been attributed to its divine nature. The current study shows that multiple types of non-human DNA existed in unconsecrated wafers, providing an alternative explanation for such findings. Finally, a minimal protocol of scientific examination is outlined to aid in the standardization of such investigations in the future, including a distinctive approach to authenticate the genuine shared origin of such occurrences.

Read Full Article HTML DOI: 10.29328/journal.jfsr.1001068 Cite this Article Read Full Article PDF

Keywords:

Eucharistic miracles; Communion wafers; Forensics; Non-human DNA

References

  1. Spitzer R. Contemporary Scientifically Validated Miracles Associated with Blessed Mary, Saints and the Holy Eucharist. Magis Center; 2020.
  2. Hemler S, Granger L. The science of Eucharistic miracles. Arlington Catholic Herald. 2022.
  3. Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association, Inc. The Eucharistic Miracles of the World. Eternal Life; 2016.
  4. Serafini F. A Cardiologist Examines Jesus. Sophia Institute Press; 2021.
  5. Gomez RC. Mas alla de la Razon. Grupo Internacional Para La Paz Centro Internacional De Estudios Humanos; 2009.
  6. Becker R. Eucharistic miracles and the divine blood type. National Catholic Register. 2018. Available from: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/eucharistic-miracles-and-the-divine-blood-type
  7. Senz P. Doubt the Real Presence? Try a blood miracle. Catholic Answers Magazine. 2021. Available from: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/doubt-the-real-presence-try-a-blood-miracle
  8. Manning P. A mathematical case for the Real Presence. Catholic Answers Magazine. 2023. Available from: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition
  9. Armstrong PM. Eucharistic miracle? ‘Bleeding host’ phenomenon reported in dioceses worldwide. National Catholic Register. 2015. Available from: https://www.ncregister.com
  10. Gillen AL. Serratia marcescens: The miracle bacillus. 2012. Available from: https://www.catholic.com/serratiamarcescens
  11. Bennett JW, Bentley R. Seeing red: the story of prodigiosin. Adv Appl Microbiol. 2000;47:1-32. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0065-2164(00)47000-0
  12. Celedón RS, Díaz LB. Natural pigments of bacterial origin and their possible biomedical applications. Microorganisms. 2021;9(4):739. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9040739
  13. Afroz Toma M, Rahman MH, Rahman MS, Arif M, Nazir KHMNH, Dufossé L. Fungal pigments: carotenoids, riboflavin, and polyketides with diverse applications. J Fungi (Basel). 2023;9(4):454. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9040454
  14. Linoli O. Histological, immunological and biochemical studies on the flesh and blood of the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano (8th century). Quad Sclavo Diagn. 1971;3:661-74. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4950729/
  15. Kearse KP. The relics of Jesus and Eucharistic miracles: scientific analysis of shared AB blood type. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2024. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-024-00915-3.
  16. Weiring M. Eucharistic miracle science may bolster, but should not detract from faith, say experts. Catholic Review. 2023. Available from: https://catholicreview.org/eucharistic-miracle-science-may-bolster-but-should-not-distract-from-faith-say-experts/
  17. Trasancos S, Elliot G. Behold It Is I. TAN Books; 2021.
  18. Tesoriero R, Han L. Unseen new evidence: the origin of life under the microscope. Ron Tesoriero; 2013.
  19. Tilley M. PCR amplification of wheat sequences from DNA extracted during milling and baking. Cereal Chemistry. 2004;81:44-47. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1094/CCHEM.2004.81.1.44
  20. Alberti MO, Drake TA, Song L. The pH of chemistry assays plays an important role in monoclonal immunoglobulin interferences. Pract Lab Med. 2015;3:8-16. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plabm.2015.09.001
  21. Sukumaran A, Thomas T, Thomas R, Thomas RE, Paul JK, Vasudevan DM. Development and troubleshooting in lateral flow immunochromatography assays. Indian J Clin Biochem. 2020;36:1-5. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12291-020-00887-5
  22. Virgolini I, Zelger B, Zelger B, Kenner L. Reality or fiction of the “Real Presence” of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist? Ann Case Rep. 2023;8:1289. Available from: https://doi.org/10.29011/2574-7754.101289
  23. Rodak BF, Fritsma GA, Doig K. Hematology: Clinical Principles and Applications. Saunders; St. Louis, MO: 2007;816. Available from: https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Hematology.html?id=6sfacydDNsUC
  24. Hanson EK, Ballantyne J. A blue spectral shift of the hemoglobin soret band correlates with the age (time since deposition) of dried bloodstains. PLoS One. 2010;5(9):e12830. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0012830
  25. Maciel C, Fujita A, Gueroni DI, Ramos AD, Capurro ML, Sá-Nunes A. Evans blue as a simple method to discriminate mosquitoes' feeding choice on small laboratory animals. PLoS One. 2014;9(10): Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110551
  26. The Eucharistic miracle of Sokolka. Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. 2017 Sep 23.
  27. Kearse KP. Environmental influence on blood serum detection using ultraviolet 365. J Forensic Sci Res. 2021;5:030-036. Available from: https://doi.org/10.29328/journal.jfsr.1001024
  28. Klindworth A, Pruesse E, Schweer T, Peplies J, Quast C, Horn M, et al. Evaluation of general 16S ribosomal RNA gene PCR primers for classical and next-generation sequencing-based diversity studies. Nucleic Acids Res. 2013;41(1):e1. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gks808
  29. White TJ, Bruns T, Lee S, Taylor J. Amplification and direct sequencing of fungal ribosomal RNA genes for phylogenetics. In: Innis MA, Gelfand DH, Sninsky JJ, White TJ, editors. PCR Protocols. San Diego: Academic Press; 1990;315-322. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-372180-8.50042-1
  30. Bell PJ, Karuso P. Epicocconone, a novel fluorescent compound from the fungus Epicoccum nigrum. J Am Chem Soc. 2003;125(31):9304-5. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1021/ja035496+
  31. Yamamoto F. Review: ABO blood group system—ABH oligosaccharide antigens, anti-A and anti-B, A and B glycosyltransferases, and ABO genes. Immunohematology. 2004;20:3-22. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15373665/
  32. Garza-Valdes L. The DNA of God? Doubleday, Holy Shroud, USA; 1999.
  33. Dunn PPJ. Human leucocyte antigen typing: techniques and technology, a critical appraisal. Int J Immunogenet. 2011;38:463-73. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-313x.2011.01040.x
  34. Hurley CK. Naming HLA diversity: A review of HLA nomenclature. Hum Immunol. 2021 Jul;82(7):457-465. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humimm.2020.03.005
  35. Tsujikawa T, Kumar S, Borkar RN, Azimi V, Thibault G, Chang YH, et al. Qualitative multiplex immunohistochemistry reveals myeloid-inflamed tumor-immune complexity associated with poor prognosis. Cell Rep. 2017;19:203-17. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2017.03.037
  36. Radtke AJ, Chu CJ, Yaniv Z, Yao L, Marr J, Beuschel RT, et al. IBEX: an iterative immunolabeling and chemical bleaching method for high-content imaging of diverse tissues. Nat Protoc. 2022;17(2):378-401. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41596-021-00644-9

Figures:

Figure 1

Figure 1

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 1

Figure 3

Figure 1

Figure 4

Figure 1

Figure 5

Figure 1

Figure 6

Figure 1

Figure 7

Figure 1

Figure 8

Figure 1

Figure 9

Similar Articles

Recently Viewed

Read More

Most Viewed

Read More

Help ?