“EUCHARISTIC
MIRACLE” ARTICLE BY LATE DR. ALVARO DA COSTA, NAVHIND TIMES DATED JULY
2, 2009:-
“On May 13, 2009, the day of the
little known feast of Our Lady of the Eucharist and the ninety-second
anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima in Portugal,
there occurred a most extraordinary event at the church of the saints,
Simon and Jude at Mount Ganzim at Batim followed by another in the sky.
It may be recalled that 15 years ago Iveta, a Goan lady living in Toronto
Canada, who was getting locutions from Our Lady, was commissioned to go to
Goa where She would appear to her. It happened to be the grounds of the
same Church on mount Ganzim. In 1994 and 1996 Iveta had experienced the
Passion of Our Lord Jesus a couple of times in the presence of large crowds
on these same grounds.
The main message of Our Lady at the time was “I am Our Lady of Fatima. I have
come because you have not fulfilled my message of Fatima.” Ever since then
pilgrims have flocked to Batim every first Saturday of the month to fulfill
the message of Fatima. This same Iveta, now living in Ontario, and has been
experiencing Eucharistic miracles for the last 9 years – witnessed
and certified by the local Bishop of Ontario as true, was inspired to
go to Batim, Goa on May 13, 2009.
What is an Eucharistic Miracle? When a Catholic Priest celebrates the Holy
Mass or The Eucharist, and takes in his hands bread and wine and pronounces
the words “This is my body . This is my blood .Do this in memory of me” as
Jesus did at the Last Supper with His apostles, the bread and wine
invisibly changes into the body and blood of Jesus. This invisible transformation
is known as “Transubstantiation” in theological parlance. Sometimes God
wills that the bread and wine transform itself into actual flesh and blood
of Jesus. This is an Eucharistic Miracle.
When
Iveta attended the Holy Mass on May 13, 2009 at Batim, the Sacred Host and
Wine received by her had transformed itself into the flesh and blood of
Jesus. An Eucharistic miracle had taken place probably for the first time
in Goa and witnessed by the two priests and about 100 of the faithful who
attended the Mass. Eucharistic miracles are known to have taken place along
the centuries.
Some of them have been preserved as, at Lanciano Italy, antarem in
Portugal, etc. Some of them have been scientifically examined and found to
be human flesh and blood belonging to the same person. Though many, the
miracles were few and far between compared to the increasing frequency for
the last 40 years. Why do they occur so often now? After Vatican Council II
(1962 – 65), some theologians have floated their heretical theories, which
have spread throughout the world, including Goa, especially regarding the
real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
These theories labelled by dissenting theologians as “Transignification”
and “Transfinalisation” are heretical and contrary to the truth and the
teachings of the Church. God has intervened to confirm this truth of Jesus’
real presence in the Eucharist in various ways. In 1916 God sent His Angel
of Peace, St Michael, the defender of the faith, to the shepherd children
of Fatima. He taught the children the Prayer of Reparation containing the
words “.I offer you the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus
Christ.” Then a few years later Jesus Himself gave the Chaplet of Mercy
through Saint Faustina. This Chaplet of Mercy contains the very same words.
After the Mass on May 13, 2009, a second miracle occurred when a procession
with the statue of Our Lady was returning to the Church. Iveta pointed out
to the Sun and all those present witnessed a Solar display – a mini version
of the miracle of the Sun which took place at Fatima on October 13, 1917.
The bright sun had turned into a moon. It turned red and after few moments
spinning and zig-zagging in the sky it threw beams of different colours of
light. This phenomena lasted a few minutes and was witnessed by all those
present. The Miracle of the Sun has become Heaven’s seal of authenticity
and also a sign of encouragement and approval. Pope Pious XII is known to
have seen the miracle of the sun twice in the Vatican gardens as an encouragement
when preparing to proclaim the dogma of The Assumption of Our Lady and
again after he proclaimed it as a sign of approval.
These miracles have occurred at Garabandal, Medjugorje, at Betania and
other places of apparitions of Our Lady as well as at Vasco in Goa when
Vassula Ryden was giving a talk, with the audience facing the sun. This
same phenomenon also happened in Batim in 1994 and 1996. Obviously these
miracles of the sun have been given by Heaven to authenticate the events
and the persons specially chosen to be instruments to proclaim God’s
message. Therefore one can conclude that the Eucharistic miracle that took
place on May 13, 2009 at Batim has been authenticated by the miracle of the
sun.”
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TRANSUBSTANTIATION
The Roman Catholic Church through history approached her
faith life with the clarification of language.
That is, she translated the essentials of revealed faith into
the vocabulary of living language.
To the revealed Word that there is
"Father, Son and Holy Spirit"
the Church labeled the belief
"Trinity."
To the revealed Word that
the
"Son of God became man"
the Church labeled the belief
"Incarnation."
To the revealed Word that
the
"blood of Christ spilled on Calvary saved
us"
the Church labeled the belief
"Redemption."
To the revealed Word that
"my flesh is true food,
my blood is true drink"
the Church labeled the belief
"Transubstantiation."
Transubstantiation reflects Roman Catholic faith in
the literalness of the words of the Bible.
Jesus (omnipotent God) said:
"This is my body;
this is my blood."
And again Jesus said:
"I am the bread of life;"
"My flesh is true food;
my blood is true drink;"
"He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
...;" etc.
Roman Catholics take Jesus at His word:
the bread is his body;
the wine is his blood.
From the Apostles at the Last Supper until today,
the bread and wine of Eucharist looks and feels and
tastes like bread and wine in the eating and drinking.
Similar to all of God's Word,
faith is essential.
Faith in what?
In the words of Jesus even though the bread does
not look, feel, taste like flesh;
even though the wine does not look, feel, taste
like blood.
Medieval philosophers and theologians sought simply
to label this simple biblical faith:
Jesus said that bread is his body and wine is his
blood even though it did not appear to change into visible flesh and blood.
Transubstantiation means the substance part of the
bread and wine elements changes;
but the accidental parts--sight, taste, smell,
touch--do not.
Catholics believe that since Jesus said it and He
is God, he can do it.
They believe!
"Transubstantiation"
merely labels it.
In everyday life, it is not at all uncommon to
believe in things man cannot perceive by the senses:
wind, electricity, love, peace, etc.
All the more when Jesus says it.
+++
In
conformity with the directives of Pope Urban VIII, we have no intention of
anticipating the judgement of the Holy Apostolic See and of the Church on
Apparitions, reported by us, but not yet recognized; indeed, we submit to,
and accept; her final decision without reservation.
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