On Tuesday 22nd August 2023 news started travelling on social media, especially WhatsApp, of an alleged Eucharistic miracle having taken place at Our Lady of Cedars Catholic Parish in Woodmead. What had happed was that about 9 days prior to the discovery of the red substance on the Eucharist there had been an unfortunate incident of the Eucharist falling down while someone was trying to receive it on the tongue. The parish priest Fr. Jean Yammine rightfully picked the host reverently, wiping the the place where it fell with a purificator and got the host put in a glass of water to dissolve before they can dispose of it according to the norms. It seems to have taken long to dissolve as nine days later the discovered the red substance on the on the host. Suspecting that it might be a host that has turned into blood like it happed in other places Fr. Yammine prudently decided to get it immediately scientifically tested at the lab. He notified the bishop’s office about it.
The sample for the lab test was taken on Tuesday morning, 22nd August 2023, the lab results were received a day after, on Wednesday. The tests were done at Drs Gristzman & Thatcher Inc by Dr. Jeffrey F Kourie. The results were as follows:
CLINICAL HISTORY
The specimen represents material retrieved from a glass containing a dissolved Eucharist. This was red tinged. Small fragments were retrieved and processed for histology.
MACROSCOPY
The specimen comprises small particulate red pigmented portions of material 1 to 4mm which were processed in three blocks.
MICROSCOPY
Examination of the specimen shows that it comprises a extensive profile septate branching fungi with intervening spores. This would be consistent with a Aspergillus species, although morphologically other fungi may give a similar appearance. No obvious blood or human-type tissue is identified. The photomicrograph shows the septate sporing hyphae.
DIAGNOSIS
MATERIAL RETRIEVED FROM GLASS:
- RED PIGMENTED ASPERGILLUS-LIKE FUNGAL GROWTH.
- NO HUMAN TISSUE IDENTIFIED.
END
N.B:
We strongly advice that in the future if a similar phenomenon happens people should refrain from making any unfounded conclusions until the proper scientific tests have been made. It would be prudent to refrain from disseminating the information also until the facts of the substance on the host have been ascertained.
