Eucharistic miracles.

Within the history of our Catholic Church during the past twenty centuries, there have occurred incidents in which the Flesh and Blood of Jesus hidden under the outward appearances of bread and wine become openly visible and perceptible to the human senses of sight, taste, touch and smell. After careful, reverent and prayerful investigation by legitimate Church authority several of these happenings have been duly authenticated and approved.

The foregoing reflections are essential to keep in mind when examining what now follows. At this point likewise in the interest of clarity the undersigned begs leave of the kind reader to proceed in the first person pronoun, "I."

The Korean Miracle

A Eucharistic episode of the type described above I was involved in on Friday, September 22, 1995 at an outdoor Mass celebrated at approximately five o'clock in the evening at a mountain site near Naju, South Korea. May I set the scene.

The setting

Encircled on all sides at quite a distance by a range of low-ridged mountains was a small clearing of an acre or two. Here a group of seventeen younger Catholic Koreans first spread on the bare ground carpets on which to sit and kneel in the Korean manner. Then they set up a temporary altar table for the Eucharist to follow. Quietly the celebrants, Bishop Roman Danylak, Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Toronto, Father Aloysius Chang, a pastor from Kwangju City and myself, a retired priest of the diocese of London, Ontario vested for Holy Mass. Because only the Korean texts of the Mass were available, Father Chang became chief celebrant with Bishop Danylak and myself as concelebrants. Among the lay persons present was a devout lady, Mrs. Julia Kim, a convert (as are most Korean Catholics), a mother of two daughters and two sons and a grandmother of two grandchildren. Her husband, Julio Kim, a devout convert also, was not present. Julia Kim claims that for the past decade she has received many messages chiefly from Our Blessed Mother, but also some from Jesus, her Son. Apparently, she experiences the stigmata from time to time.

The Mass begins

Holy Mass began in Korean led by Father Chang. After he read the Gospel in the Korean tongue, a short homily preached by His Excellency was capably translated by a young man, Raphael, who hopes soon to study for the priesthood. At Communion time after the three celebrants had received the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus, the fifteen lay persons began also to receive with the Bishop distributing the Sacred Hosts from the ciborium and Father Chang offering the Precious Blood from the chalice. Meanwhile, taking my seat behind the little altar, I was adoring Jesus within myself.

The Miracle

Julia Kim happened to be the first person after the celebrants to receive Holy Communion under both species. She was about three metres away from me when I happened to look towards her. Immediately, I perceived that something out of the ordinary was happening with Julia. With hands together, eyes closed and leaning far back as she knelt, her mouth came open. When I reached her side, I could still see the white outer edge of the Sacred Host dissolving into bright red blood. Intuitively I knew this to be the Precious Blood of Jesus, Our Lord!

Fearing that some of the Precious Blood might drip from her mouth, I reached behind me quickly to pick up from the altar the corporal, which I then folded and held under her chin with my left hand as I leaned over her. My right hand supported the back of her head as I was concerned that leaning so far back as she knelt, she might fall completely backwards to the carpet surface behind her.

Standing beside Julia to her left, I had a sideways view of her face and mouth--not a view from the front. This point is significant. From my position on her left I saw clearly the bright red Precious Blood on her tongue in the forward portion of her mouth. Thus, I did not see the darker red flesh forming towards the back of her mouth that others saw and the camera photos later plainly revealed. During these awesome moments I was aware that photos were being taken. What I was entirely unaware of was the presence of Bishop Danylak and of Raphael, the youthful interpreter, standing in silence to my left in front of Julia Kim. Having realized that Julia was having this experience, the Bishop had momentarily interrupted the further distribution of Holy Communion, and still holding the ciborium, stood before her for several minutes before he resumed giving Holy Communion to the six or seven persons who had yet to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, the Lord.

Only after the Bishop had finished the distribution of Holy Communion and resumed his position in front of Julia, still with her eyes closed, her hands joined in prayer and her mouth open, did I become aware that the Bishop was close by. He gently requested her to consume. Julia complied. Soon this eventful Eucharistic celebration came to a close. Spontaneously after Mass, each person in this small group felt deep spiritual joy which was shared together for a good half hour and more. Alleluia!

Julia's experience

Later through the interpreter Raphael, Julia disclosed to Bishop Danylak that the taste of blood was in her mouth for several minutes after swallowing the Precious Blood. Moreover, she described that she experienced genuine difficulty in consuming the large morsel of the Sacred Flesh lodged in her mouth.

Sworn testimony has already been given by myself as to the truth of this Eucharistic miracle. Once more I testify that in this foregoing article composed by myself I have truthfully and as accurately as possible set forth the details of this Eucharistic event as perceived by myself, so help me God.

Further reflections

Before closing, may I assert that an extraordinary phenomenon of this importance merits further reflection.

For instance, we ask ourselves: How can such a startling event take place? Is it staged through trickery, a sleight-of-hand act, or some theatrical gimmick? Or does it occur through Divine Power? As we examine the former alternative it is clear that Julia Kim is a devout, honest and balanced Catholic mother for whom any deceit in such a sacred matter would be unthinkable; and how could she hold concealed a mouthful of ordinary blood to be released onto her tongue just after receiving Holy communion? Preposterous!

The Lord Jesus Himself performed this miracle as far as I am concerned.