By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

The Catholic Church in Poland is investigating claims that a piece of a consecrated Host transformed into human heart tissue during Mass.

The National Catholic Register is reporting that Father Andrzei Kakareko, Chancellor of the Metropolitan Curia of Bialystok, says that the episode occurred on Oct. 12, 2008, when a consecrated host fell out of the hands of a priest when he was distributing Communion. The priest put the host in the vasculum in the tabernacle and, after Mass, transferred the vessel and its contents to the safe in the sacristy. Seven days later, after opening the safe, he found a red stain on the host.

On Jan. 7, 2009, a sample from the host was sent to the University of Bialystok for analysis where two medical professionals determined that the material resembled human heart tissue.

However, London’s Telegraph is reporting that the University’s findings are being dismissed by other scientists because one of the medical professionals who examined the material, Professor Maria Sobaniec-Lotowaska, is religious and therefore saw what she wanted to see.

“She is very religious,” said Prof Lech Chyczewski, a blood specialist. “In order to rule out any doubts, it would have been necessary to carry out molecular and genetic testing.”

Pawel Grzesiowskia, a leading biologist from the National Medical Institute, has attributed the miracle to nothing more than bacteria growing on the small piece of Host.

However, the Church has already ruled out the possibility of a hoax, and local police have said that there is no evidence of fraud.

The case has been referred to the Apostolic Nunciature in Warsaw.

© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace®  http://www.womenofgrace.com