Unusual red marks found on a communion wafer at a church in Indiana sparked curiosity among locals, leading them to speculate if the church held any special significance. Despite the intrigue, any notion of the miraculous was unrelated to the wafer itself.
Earlier in the month, churchgoer Shari Strassell shared her thoughts with WKRC-TV regarding the incident that captivated her ‘little town.’ Images circulated online showing communion wafers from St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Morris, Indiana, appearing to have a red tint.
The communion wafers symbolize the body of Christ, typically accompanied by wine symbolizing Christ’s blood during the sacrament.
Father Jacob DuMont speculated to WKRC-TV that the red markings on the wafer might be indicative of a ‘eucharistic miracle.’
He explained: “When a eucharistic miracle happens, you will actually see that miracle in the sense of that change that defies nature, so that this piece of bread or this wine actually turns into flesh or blood.”
Expressing her enthusiasm, Strassell commented: “It means the world, it does, and I think there is something special about our church up here.”
Father DuMont mentioned that an investigation would be conducted to understand the cause of the red color on the wafer, stating: “We don’t know for sure yet but if eventually that does come to be, that’s something very special, a great sign that Christ’s living presence is here among us. When we have things like miracles they give evidence to this belief.”
The wafer was sent for professional analysis, and the results have been revealed.
Regrettably, no miracle was discovered; instead, bacteria was found.
On Monday (March 24), the Archdiocese of Indianapolis announced that a biochemical analysis of the wafer identified ‘fungus and three different species of bacteria, all of which are commonly found on human hands’ as the source of the red substance.
There was no blood present on the wafer, which reportedly fell from a Mass kit at St. Anthony Church.
“Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, there have been well-documented miracles and apparitions, and each has been thoroughly and carefully reviewed,” stated the archdiocese.
The results surfaced amid skepticism from some internet users who doubted the wafer could truly show ‘blood.’ One individual, in response to Father DuMont’s interview, noted: “I’m into eucharistic miracles. However, as with every claim, have an open mind and be skeptical. I think they should first test it for red mold or bacteria, then test to see if it is blood and tissue.”