The Vatican is currently investigating claims of a potential “miracle” that took place at a Catholic church in Connecticut, where parishioners reported an unusual multiplication of Communion hosts during a Mass in March.
The Archdiocese of Hartford took upon itself the task of examining the alleged miracle at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Thomaston and is now preparing to present its findings to the Holy Seer in Rome, as reported by the Hartford Courant.
According to the accounts, the incident occurred during a Mass on March 5 when a parishioner, who was assisting with the distribution of Communion, initially noticed a shortage of hosts—small wafers symbolizing the body of Jesus Christ. However, to everyone’s astonishment, an abundance of hosts suddenly appeared.
Father Joseph Crowley, the overseer of the congregation, expressed his awe at what had transpired, saying, “God has duplicated himself in the ciborium,” referring to the vessel that holds the hosts. He further remarked, “It’s really, really cool when God does these things, and it’s really, really cool when we realize what he’s done.”
Following the incident, Archbishop Leonard Blair of Hartford appointed a knowledgeable priest, well-versed in church law, to investigate the reported miracle. The archbishop stated that he would determine whether the Vatican should be involved.
David Elliott, a spokesperson for the archdiocese, explained that cases such as the alleged miracle in Thomaston are typically referred to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. This dicastery, the oldest department of the Roman Curia, was established to safeguard the Catholic Church from heresy, according to the Vatican.
Elliott confirmed that the archdiocese has duly followed the required procedure and is now awaiting a response from the Vatican in due course.
However, skepticism remains about whether the multiplying wafers can be officially recognized as a true miracle.
Michael O’Neill, also known as “The Miracle Hunter,” an author and radio host, expressed doubts about the Connecticut church’s ability to provide sufficient evidence to support a declaration of a eucharistic miracle.
O’Neill stated, “I’d be highly surprised that they were able to have enough evidence to declare it a true eucharistic miracle.”
He suggested that while there may be testimonies from numerous individuals attesting to witnessing something extraordinary, the lack of solid evidence could present a challenge. Thus, the church is seeking guidance from the Vatican to navigate this situation.
As the Vatican reviews the case, it will consider the reported testimonies and any other supporting evidence before reaching a conclusion on whether the events at St. Thomas Catholic Church can be deemed a genuine miracle.
