Diocese in Guatemala investigates alleged Eucharistic miracle involving host with reddish stains

A multidisciplinary team is investigating an alleged Eucharistic miracle in the Diocese of St. Rose of Lima, Guatemala. Even if the findings are positive, only the Holy See can declare it a miracle.

A multidisciplinary team is investigating an alleged Eucharistic miracle that took place in Cuilapa, Guatemala, after a consecrated host remained undissolved in a glass of water and developed reddish stains.

Father José Alejandro García, parish priest at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in the Diocese of St. Rose of Lima, within whose jurisdiction the events took place, explained in an interview with EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that his bishop, José Cayetano Parra, has assembled a team of specialists to investigate the case.

The group consists of a biologist, a physician with experience in similar cases, a psychologist, a nurse, a layperson chosen from among the faithful who participate in the community, and a priest who is not part of the local parish clergy.

As the priest explained, one of the team’s objectives is to determine “whether the reddish stain is blood” and to understand how it is that “a piece of bread may be found to have certain human properties or characteristics.”

What happened to the consecrated host?

During a Mass celebrated on July 30 at a school in the city of Cuilapa, the celebrant noticed that one of the young people had removed the Eucharist from his mouth; the priest approached him to prevent him from tossing it on the floor. After retrieving the host, the priest took it and later placed it in a glass vessel containing water, located in the chapel in the cathedral’s rectory.

The intention was for the host to dissolve naturally. However, on Aug. 6, it was observed that this had not occurred; instead, red stains had appeared on it.

Since then, the case has sparked interest among the faithful.

Prudence, prayer, and reflection

García emphasized that this is a matter that “will require time for study and reflection,” clarifying that neither the multidisciplinary team nor the bishop can confirm whether this is a Eucharistic miracle. Any eventual authorization for public veneration rests with the Holy See.

For now, he asked the faithful to use this time for “exercising prudence, for prayer, and reflection,” and to avoid drawing hasty conclusions that could “hinder the investigation.”

On behalf of Parra, the priest invited the community to maintain “great faith, much prayer, and patience.”

Increased participation by the faithful

García said that since the news became known, there has been “greater participation by thousands of people” who have come to the church to attend Mass, go to confession, and take part in Eucharistic adoration.

The priest noted that the chapel set aside for adoration has begun to fill with more people than usual, so it is now open from 5 a.m. until midnight.

He also noted that there is “an increase in people looking to go to confession.”

“We offer confession, especially on Sundays, and we have ministered to a large number of people, including some who had not been to confession for years,” he added.

“For my community, it has been a rebirth,” the priest stated, pointing out that this awakening has been reflected in a strengthening of “faith in Jesus in the Eucharist, which is evident in the increased attendance of the faithful at Mass and at Eucharistic adoration.”

For the priest, what occurred is a call for Catholics to “strengthen our faith,” and for those who are not yet Catholic, “it is a cry from Jesus telling us: I am alive; I am the bread that has come down from heaven.”

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.