Scientific Evidence for the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano
What is established and what is not? The results of the 1970–71 study at a glance, together with the objections worth knowing.
Odoardo Linoli's five findings
In 1971 Linoli summarised his study in five points:
- The flesh is real flesh: striated muscle tissue of the heart (myocardium).
- The blood is real blood.
- Flesh and blood are of human origin.
- Both have the same blood group: AB.
- The proteins in the blood are distributed in proportions found in fresh blood serum.
Further observations
In the blood Linoli detected chlorides, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium. He found no sign of substances used for preservation or mummification. In the tissue section he described structures he interpreted as heart muscle with portions of the endocardium.
What the findings do not prove
The study establishes what the relics are made of. It says nothing about how old they are or how they came into being. No radiocarbon dating or DNA analysis has been published, and the study has not yet been repeated by an independent laboratory.
Whether one sees a miracle in Lanciano therefore remains a matter of faith. The Catholic Church does not oblige anyone to believe in individual Eucharistic miracles.
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