Communion wafers and wine 'miraculously' turn into flesh and blood

"One of the earliest recorded cases dates back to around 700 AD in Lanciano, Italy, where a monk claimed to have witnessed bread turn into flesh and wine into blood during the consecration. According to the account, the substance coagulated into visible clumps, marking what many consider one of the first documented Eucharistic miracles."

"Five scientific investigations published between 1971 and 2014 subjected samples from such events to forensic testing, including microscopic and biochemical analysis. In each case, researchers said the material was consistent with human heart muscle, and where blood was detected, two investigations identified it as the rare AB type."

"Scientists and skeptics have cautioned that such extraordinary claims require rigorous, reproducible evidence, noting that many Eucharistic phenomena lack controlled conditions and have not been widely published in leading peer-reviewed journals. Critics have also pointed to more conventional explanations, such as contamination or misidentification of biological material."

Catholics believe bread and wine spiritually become Christ's body and blood during Communion while maintaining their physical appearance. However, rare documented cases from Poland, Mexico, Argentina, and Italy report consecrated elements appearing to physically transform into flesh and blood. The earliest recorded case dates to around 700 AD in Lanciano, Italy, where a monk witnessed bread turn to flesh and wine to blood. Recent incidents include a 2013 Polish case where a consecrated host developed red substance after falling in water. Five scientific investigations between 1971 and 2014 analyzed samples through forensic testing, with researchers identifying material consistent with human heart muscle and AB-type blood. Scientists and skeptics emphasize these claims lack rigorous, reproducible evidence and controlled conditions, with many findings unpublished in peer-reviewed journals. Critics suggest conventional explanations like contamination or misidentification, noting absent chain-of-custody protocols.

Read at Mail Online