Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

Rebecca in Springfield

The Catholic Church follows a structured process for approving Eucharistic miracles, which are seen as signs from God to reinforce belief in the Real Presence. St. Pope John Paul II emphasized this belief during his visit to Lanciano, Italy, the site of a famous Eucharistic miracle. He prayed, “Make us believe in You more, have hope and love You.”

Eucharistic miracles often occur when there is doubt or neglect concerning the Blessed Sacrament. They typically involve the transformation of Eucharistic elements into human heart tissue with consistent physical characteristics and blood type AB, as observed in scientific studies.

In 2019, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith introduced new procedures for recognizing such events. The process involves a bishop's preliminary decision on seriousness and appointing a commission with experts. The bishop's report is then sent to the Dicastery for final assessment.

Father Pawel A. Augustyniak notes that pure faith remains essential despite scientific findings supporting these transformations since they do not provide absolute proof of God's presence.