An extraordinary event in the liturgy
In 2013, during the Eucharistic celebration in the town of Vilakkannur, India, Father Pathickal witnessed a phenomenon that would mark the life of the Catholic community. At the moment of the elevation of the consecrated host, he observed the appearance of a stain that gradually transformed into a recognizable human face. The priest, acting prudently, reserved that host and continued the Mass with another, thus initiating a process of discernment that would last more than a decade.
Official recognition and theological significance
On May 9, 2025, the Syro-Malabar Metropolitan Archbishop of Tellicherry, Joseph Pamplany, announced the official recognition of this event as a Eucharistic miracle by the Holy See. This recognition will be formalized in a solemn Mass presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio in India, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli. Pamplany emphasized that, while the miracle «contributes to strengthening faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist,» this truth is primarily based on the word of Christ and is independent of extraordinary phenomena.
Verification process and custody
Following the event, the host was exposed for the adoration of the faithful, attracting thousands of pilgrims to the church in Vilakkannur. Subsequently, the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Tellicherry assumed its custody to conduct the canonical examinations required in such cases. In 2020, it was handed over to the then Apostolic Nuncio in India, Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, as part of the study process. It is noteworthy that analyses indicated that the stains presented blood type AB, coinciding with findings in other Christological relics such as the Shroud of Turin and the Sudarium of Oviedo.
Impact on the believing community
The rapid spread of the event mobilized a multitude of devotees, evidencing the deep Eucharistic faith of the Catholic community in India. This recognition is part of the Church’s tradition, which investigates and validates extraordinary phenomena for the edification of the faithful, always subordinating them to the deposit of faith and ecclesiastical magisterium. The miracle of Vilakkannur thus adds to the record of Eucharistic manifestations that, throughout the centuries, have nourished devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
Original source: www.acistampa.com (published on June 3, 2025)
