Priest reports possible eucharistic miracle at Connecticut church

The Archdiocese of Hartford is reportedly investigating a possible eucharistic miracle that occurred during a Mass at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Thomaston, Connecticut.

Father Joseph Crowley announced at the end of the Mass on March 5 that a eucharistic minister had witnessed an unexplainable event while distributing Communion.

The minister reportedly ran out of hosts, but suddenly more hosts appeared in the ciborium. The priest described it as a “miracle of the Eucharist” and stated that the Archdiocese of Hartford is looking into the matter.

The Catholic Church has recognized only four eucharistic miracles in the 21st century, according to the Magis Center.

These include an incident in 2013 where a consecrated host fell to the floor in a church in Legnica, Poland and instead of dissolving in water, became streaked with red stains.

Forensic testing revealed it to be heart muscle. In 2006, a bleeding host was discovered at a parish in the Chilpancingo-Chilapa Diocese of Mexico.

The substance was found to be human blood. In 2001, witnesses claimed to see the face of Jesus on a consecrated host in Chirattakonam, India. And in 2008, a priest dropped a consecrated host in a church in Sokolka, Poland, and it appeared to bleed.

Tests showed that the altered host was identical to human heart tissue.

These incidents are considered eucharistic miracles and are believed to be manifestations of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The Vatican-endorsed exhibit “Eucharistic Miracles of the World” has documented 152 such miracles and has been displayed in over 3,000 churches worldwide.