At number five we have 'The Shroud of Turin' The Shroud of Turin is among the
most well-known relics believed to be connected with Christ's Passion.
The burial shroud is a little more than 14 feet long and three and a half feet wide.
It bears the image of the front and back of a man who had been brutally tortured and crucified.
The relic has been venerated for centuries by Christians as the burial shroud of Jesus.
It has been subject to intense scientific study to consider its authenticity and origins. Even
to this day many new scientific findings have emerged which surely proved the authenticity of
the shroud. Among the many scientific discoveries were that the blood found on the shroud were "AB
blood" the exact same blood type found in every Eucharistic miracle that has
been scientifically examined. That itself should tell you a lot about the shroud's authenticity.
At number four is 'The Blood of Saint Januarius' Saint Januarius, Bishop,
Martyr, and patron of Naples is famous for the miracle of the annual liquefaction of his blood
which according to legend was saved by a woman called Eusebia just after the saint was beheaded.
Traditionally, on this day and on two other occasions a year his blood which is kept in
two glass ampoules in the shape of a rounded cruet liquefies. According to documentation the miracle
has taken place since at least 1389 the first instance on record. The liquefaction process
sometimes takes hours or even days but sometimes it doesn't happen at all. Normally, after a period
that can range from two minutes to an hour the solid mass turns red and begins to bubble.
Several investigations have already been conducted in the past to find a scientific explanation
that answers the question of how something solid can suddenly liquify but none has been
satisfactory so far. It was thought that this could just be clotted blood but clotted blood
is only known to liquefy and not become solid again unlike the blood of Saint Januarius.
At number three is 'Marian Apparitions'
Besides the 12 approved apparitions at Fatima, Portugal. Guadalupe, Mexico. Lourdes, France.
Banneux, Belgium
Bearaing, Belgium
Kibeho, Rwanda
Zeitoun, Egypt
Akita, Japan. Knock, Ireland
Pontmain, France
La Sallete, France
and Paris, France. Besides these 12 approved apparitions, there have been 11 out of the 386
apparitions which have not been approved with a "supernatural character" but which have received
a "yes" to indicate the local Bishop's approval of faith expression, prayer and devotion at the site.
Let's look at a few Marian Apparitions. The most famous apparition being that at Fatima
with the miracle of the sun that dance around the sky and it wasn't just witnessed by the three
visionaries themselves but by 70 000 people. In Lourdes, there have been more than seven
thousand miraculous recoveries attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes at the
French shrine and 70 cases have been officially recognized by the Catholic Church. The last
official miracle attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes was declared in 2013
in Zeitoun, Egypt. From April 2nd 1968 to May the 29th 1971, the Virgin Mary appeared
weekly on average especially around feast days on top of Saint Mary's Coptic church
in Zeitoun for all to see. This was not something just witnessed in a mystical vision by a few,
it was a supernatural experience perceived by massive crowds for years. In addition, this
occurred in a predominantly Muslim country and at a Coptic church which might be why Catholics
are less familiar with it. The Blessed Virgin Mary was witnessed by hundreds of thousands of people
including Copts, Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and even secular Marxists like
the former Egyptian President Abdel Nassar. The sick were cured and the non-believers believed.
Let's jump all the way to Mexico. Our Lady of Guadalupe is a beloved devotion that fascinates
both believers and non-believers. Millions of pilgrims travel across the world to visit the
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico city. The original Tilma of Saint Juan Diego
which is on display in the basilica had been subjected to scientific testing
to prove its miraculous authenticity. What makes it truly captivating is the fact that
the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appears to defy scientific explanation. For instance there is no
under sketch and an examination has revealed that there are no brush strokes. In addition,
the origination of the coloring has not yet been discovered by scientists. Amazed yet? these are
just barely a quarter of the many miraculous phenomenon's associated with Marian Apparitions.
At number two 'The Incorrupt Saints' The church recognizes approximately a hundred saints as
"incorrupt" the most notable being Saint Bernadette Soubirous as it was the miracle
of incorruptibility which were one of the two miracles that paved the way for her canonization.
The church does not view incorruptibility as a miracle anymore that could advance a cause for
sainthood but let's be honest here, do you think it's normal that an arm were to bleed
fresh blood almost two years after death as with the case of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino?
During the first examination of Saint Bernadette, it was found that most of her internal organs
were preserved. A mystery that made even the examining doctor conclude that this
all did not seem to be a natural phenomenon. Saint Agnes of Montepulciano died in 1317.
Not only did her body remain incorrupt but a perfumed liquid flowed from her hands and feet.
Another Italian, Saint Catherine of Bologna died at the age of 49 in the year 1463. She was buried
unembalmed and without a casket. 18 days later after various reports of gravesite miracles
and the strong and sweet smell of perfume aroma, her body was exhumed and found to be
flexible and uncorrupted. Science itself could never ever come anywhere near a conclusion.
And at number one 'Eucharistic Miracles' Throughout Christian history, Our Lord has
shown us that he is really and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. Interestingly,
many Eucharistic miracles have occurred during times of weakened faith. For instance
many Eucharistic miracles have taken place as a result of someone doubting the real presence.
Most eucharistic miracles involve incidences in which the host had turned into human flesh and
blood. Of course we as Catholics believe that the consecrated host is the body,
blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord under the appearances of bread and wine. Therefore,
Jesus through these miracles merely manifests his presence in a more tangible way. Around the world
there have been reports of Eucharistic miracles that have been subjected to scientific examination
with some startling results. While the Eucharist itself celebrated on altars around the world
is rightfully considered by the faithful to be the greatest miracle of Catholicism.
The most convincing cases however are those in which the consecrated hosts had transformed into
human flesh or been seen to bleed human blood as verified by scientific testing.
A correspondence between samples across countries and centuries had been found.
In all cases testing is shown The blood is from a human from the group AB which
is also the blood type found on the purported burial cloth of Christ, The Shroud of Turin,
Two the samples had been taken from the heart and there were signs of distress having occurred
in the patient. Over the centuries, with an explosion of reports documented in the 13th,
14th and 15th centuries, there have been more than 100 cases of Eucharistic miracles around
the world that have received some form of church recognition occurring in 20 countries worldwide.
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." - Mathew 16:18