lanciano

Would you eat it?

 THE SO CALLED LANCIANO MIRACLE OF THE CHURCH OF ROME EXAMINED


Background to this article: A few years ago, I answered a challenge in an Irish newspaper to disprove that the consecrated wafer literally becomes the body and blood of Jesus Christ. My reply was that the onus of proof was on the Roman Church, not on those of us who disagree with their doctrine. I pointed out that none of the five senses perceived the consecrated wafer to be anything other than bread. I got two letters sent to my home from people who disagreed with me. The first simply scolded Protestant churches for their unbelief of Roman doctrine. The second was some what different and has led to this short article.The writer sent me a tract entitled "The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano" It may be read word for word on a website promoting the Lanciano incident.

To summarise, a RC monk back in the 8th Century expressed doubt about the reality of the "real" i.e. physical presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. During "Holy Mass" after the "twofold consecration" the host or wafer was turned into live flesh and the wine was changed into live blood. This has been preserved now for twelve centuries and when subjected to scientific investigation in 1970-71 and partly again in 1981 the analyses sustained the following conclusions:

* The Flesh is real Flesh.

* The Blood is real Blood.

* The Flesh and the Blood belong to the human species.

* The Flesh consists of the muscolar tissue of the heart.
 
* In the Flesh we see present in section: the myocardium, the endocardium, the vagus nerve and also the left    ventricle of the heart for the large thickness of the myocardium.

* The Flesh is a "HEART" complete in its essential structure.

* The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB (Blood-type identical to that which Prof. Baima   Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin).

* In the Blood there were found proteins in the same normal proportions (percentage-wise) as are found in the sero-proteic make-up of the fresh normal blood.

* In the Blood there were also found these minerals: chlorides, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.

* The preservation of the Flesh and of the Blood, which were left in their natural state for twelve centuries and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon.

The tract concludes with the following words: In conclusion, it may be said that Science, when called upon to testify, has given a certain and thorough response as regards the authenticity of the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano.

The man who sent me this tract in response to my letter to the newspaper obviously feels that it answers my other observation that none of the five senses perceive the wafer to be anything than bread and not the physical flesh of the Son of God. Has he a case? I think not and here, briefly is the recent why.

SCIENCE SHOWS HE DOES NOT HAVE A CASE:

Working on the assumption that this incident is not an elaborate hoax - some of Rome's so called miracles fall into this category - all this case does is show that the wafer became flesh. In the absence either of divine revelation or DNA from the body of the Son of God while He was alive on this earth, the answer is that there is no proof that this is the body of Jesus Christ. No matter who else takes over the case at this point, science with all of its limitations cannot go any further.

SCRIPTURE SHOWS HE DOES NOT HAVE A CASE:

The Bible simply does not teach the Roman doctrine of the Mass. The words of Christ "This is my body" and "This is my blood" are figurative words. Just as when He said; "The field is the world etc.," (Matthew 13:38) or "I am the door..." (John 10:9) It is worth pointing out - as I did in my reply - that the miraculous must always take second place to scripture (Luke 16:31) We test the "miracles" by the scripture and not vice versa.

COMMON SENSE SHOWS HE DOES NOT HAVE A CASE:

All things being equal, all Rome can produce a piece of human flesh. Scientific tests show it to be the muscular tissue of the heart etc., According to RC doctrine, it is to be eaten. Every other mass wafer is (according to Rome) really human flesh - just it isn't as obvious to the eyes or scientific investigation - but it is the same substance after consecration. People are expected to eat it. If you were a Roman Catholic, would you eat it? Why not? Your church puts the following words of Jesus in an Euarcharistic setting. Jesus said "Except ye eat my flesh…you have no life in me." (John 6:53) To take these words symbolically puts you into the Protestant camp. But to follow the teaching of your Church means that if it were placed on your tongue by your priest, then you would be required to eat it i.e. the myocardium, the endocardium, the vagus nerve and also the left ventricle of the heart for the large thickness of the myocardium and all. Does a sickly feeling creep over your stomach as you read these words? It does over mine as I type them. I cannot help think of the words of St Augustine who wisely wrote:

"If the sentence is one of command, either forbidding a crime or vice, or enjoining an act of prudence or benevolence, it is not figurative. If, however, it seems to enjoin a crime or vice, or to forbid an act of prudence or benevolence, it is figurative. "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man," says Christ, "and drink His blood, ye have no life in you." [John 6:53] This seems to enjoin a crime or a vice; it is therefore a figure, enjoining that we should have a share in the sufferings of our Lord, and that we should retain a sweet and profitable memory of the fact that His flesh was wounded and crucified for us." Christian Doctrine (3:16)

Better still, the word of God itself says:

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as unto wise men; judge ye what I say. (1 Corinthians 10:14-15)

THE END

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protestant6

PROTESTANT HISTORY

MARTIN LUTHER'S PROTEST AGAINST INDULGENCES

I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. (Psalm 78:2-4)

INTRODUCTION: BIBLE PROTESTANTISM HAS A GLORIOUS HISTORY. It is an epic story of a deadly struggle from under the heel of the Roman system to the glorious liberty of the sons of God. In our ecumenical and apostate age, this story needs to be retold that the battle may continue. This is the SIXTH of a number of posts (hence entitled: Protestant6) and is just another shot fired in this great battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. We are deliberately aiming at brevity, leaving it to other works (listed later) to satisfy any hunger for further information. These pages may therefore be viewed as tasty appetisers. May God give us the faith of these old Protestants who loved not their lives unto death and of whom, the world in its sin, was not worthy. 

MARTIN LUTHER - HIS PROTEST AGAINST INDULGENCES:

Silver and gold have I none... #Irony

IT WAS A GOOD DAY when Luther raised his voice in angry protest against the sale of indulgences. The Pope badly needed money to build Saint Peter's in Rome and so authorised the sale of these indulgences. The Pope's agent in Saxony was Tetzel who confidently proclaimed that once the money tinkled in his box, the soul thus paid for would spring out of purgatory. The immoral effect of these "sin dockets" (as the Reformers later called them) can only be imagined. Luther was enraged with a holy rage and characteristically said that he would burst a hole in Tetzel's drum.

END OF THIS POST, BUT SEE (WHERE APPLICABLE) THE PREVIOUS OR NEXT POST IN THE SERIES

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augustine

WHY SAINT AUGUSTINE FLATLY REJECTED THE  ROMAN CATHOLIC INTERPRETATION ON JOHN 6:53 

(ROME'S SO CALLED PROOF TEXT FOR THE MASS)

 "If the sentence is one of command, either forbidding a crime or vice, or enjoining an act of prudence or benevolence, it is not figurative. If, however, it seems to enjoin a crime or vice, or to forbid an act of prudence or benevolence, it is figurative. "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man," says Christ, "and drink His blood, ye have no life in you." [John 6:53] This seems to enjoin a crime or a vice; it is therefore a figure, enjoining that we should have a share in the sufferings of our Lord, and that we should retain a sweet and profitable memory of the fact that His flesh was wounded and crucified for us." Christian Doctrine (3:16)

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dividedwestand

DIVIDED WE STAND...

It is a common portrayal by Roman Catholic apologists who usually provide statistics from America in general or California in particular to show that Protestantism cannot succeed or be the true religion of Jesus Christ because she is "hopelessly divided."  The implication is that each sect or group is at the throats of all the rest - plenty of paint being dashed on to make the overall picture so engaging. However it is easily answered:

 

We might argue that not all who are called Protestant are actually Protestant nor even identify themselves are such. In one list produced in a book designed to subvert Protestants to the Roman faith, the Church of the Latter Day Saints were not only listed as Protestants but were listed again under their more common identity as Mormons. This is disingenuous. 

But to come to the fact that there are many real, genuine Protestant groupings, I use the illustration of one camp but different tents. Although Protestantism finds itself dispersed into different tents yet there is no breaking of fellowship where those in another tent hold to the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith.

This is clearly witnessed in various situations: Protestant hymnbooks where the writers come from a fairly wide spectrum of denominations. Not all hymnbooks are denominational - "Grace Hymns" - "Redemption Songs" etc., were not compiled by any one denomination and are to be found right across the board.

It is seen in the books in the library of Protestant ministers where again many denominations are represented. The contents of these books will invariably find their way into quotations from the pulpits.

We quote with general approval each others confessions of faith. Although Presbyterian, I am happy to quote the 39 Articles of the Anglican Church when appropriate etc., I find the "Westminster Confession of Faith" being quoted by others. Indeed the Baptist Confession and the Congregational Savoy Confession practically quotes the WCF verbatim on many subjects - the differences being relatively minor i.e. baptism and church government.

We have many interdenominational missionary societies, Bible societies etc., where again many denominations are represented. Various publishing houses exist who publish books from a wide spectrum of denominational writers e.g. Banner of Truth/Evangelical Press etc., Many Bible Colleges are non denominational. Spurgeon's Baptist College, although strictly believing in baptism by immersion for believers only, engaged the services of a paedo Baptist as the Principle. Spurgeon's biography quotes this as "another instance of the catholicity of spirit that Spurgeon manifested" (The Full Harvest p168)

It is not uncommon even in denominational conferences to bring speakers from other denominations.

We do not deny that within the broad spectrum of Protestantism, there can be squabbles over minor doctrines. This is human nature. Don't let the Romanist pretend that there is unity within his church. Rome too is split into many varied movements i.e. liberals and conservatives etc., Protestantism enjoys a unity that is spiritual. We do not look for organisational unity as Rome insists on. There is unity of fellowship among Protestants of differing denominations. We see ourselves as "All one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28) This is the unity for which Christ prayed (John 17) and which is already in existence in answer to His prayer (See present tense in Ephesians 4:3)

The writer once engaged a Legion of Mary devotee in debate. He pointed to the many divisions within Protestantism and said that we could not agree among ourselves except on the point that the Pope was wrong. Talk about blanket statements! When I pointed out that the liberals and conservatives in his church were busy "gutting each other" as witnessed in the Catholic press, he simply replied that this was "healthy debate!" Can there not be such healthy debate within Protestantism too - or must Rome denigrate every other system of theology which dares to rid itself of allegiance to her Pope?

THE END

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