2 days ago
Church confirms 'miraculous' moment face of Jesus appears on bread
The Catholic Church has declared the appearance of an image of Jesus Christ on a ceremonial bread during a Holy Communion in India as a genuine miracle.
This extraordinary event took place over a decade ago in the southern Indian hills, when a mysterious face appeared on a Consecrated Host being raised by Father Thomas Pathicka.
What initially seemed like a peculiar stain gradually became more luminous, slowly morphing into what looked like the figure of Christ.
News spread and numerous visitors began to flock to the church in Vilakkannur to kneel and worship beside what they believed to be a Eucharistic miracle.
The village was soon completely inundated with pilgrims - roads were congested and strewn with vehicles, prompting authorities to step in to ensure crowd safety.
Shortly after, the Catholic Church discreetly took possession of the host and initiated an investigation, both theological and scientific, in accordance with Vatican protocols, reports the Mirror US.
Between 2018 and 2020, the host was returned for public veneration, with the decision to acknowledge the event as 'miraculous' only being made now, some 12 years after the incident.
The Vatican has officially recognised it as a true miracle following a visit to Vilakkannur by Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry to verify the 'miraculous' moment.
The announcement was relayed through Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, and was proclaimed during a special mass.
This event joins a select list of rare and sacred happenings in church history that are said to defy natural explanation, yet strengthen spiritual belief.
Most recorded Eucharistic miracles usually involve the Host 'bleeding', with scientific tests confirming the presence of human heart tissue and AB blood group.
However, in the Vilakkannur incident, there was no blood or tissue, just a face appearing on the bread itself.
