'Bleeding host' at Saint Francis Xavier Parish under investigation

Friday, Dec. 04, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — Recently, reports of a bleeding host at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Kearns have been circulating within the Diocese of Salt Lake City. 

The consecrated host was distributed during communion but returned to the priest, who then placed it in an ablution bowl. After a period of time, red spots were visible on the host.

Similar occurrences around the United States have been documented over the years, where consecrated hosts have been dropped on the floor, put into an ablution bowl with water to dissolve, and changed appearance. Upon microscopic analysis they were determined to have been contaminated with wheat mold or fungus – either Neurospora cressa or the bacterium Serratia marcescens, which is red.  

Oxidation turns blood black or dark brown, not red, said Susan Dennin, diocesan communications director, adding that the red color seems to indicate the presence of wheat mold or fungus on the host rather than blood.

The Diocese of Salt Lake City will be conducting scientific examination on the host from St. Francis Xavier Parish to determine the cause of the discoloration, Dennin said.

The host is in the custody of the Diocesan Administrator, Monsignor Colin F. Bircumshaw, who has appointed an ad hoc committee of individuals with various backgrounds to investigate the matter. 

The results of the committee’s investigation will be made public.

The Catholic Church does not presume supernatural causes for things that can have a natural explanation, Dennin said; while recognizing that God can work in extraordinary ways, the Church presumes that God ordinarily works through the ministry of the Church and through natural laws.  

There are no plans for public exposition of the host.

The Vatican has not been notified and will not be unless the investigation reveals that there is no natural explanation for what took place, Dennin said.

“Whatever the outcome of the investigation, we can use this time to renew our faith and devotion in the greatest miracle – the Real Presence of Jesus Christ that takes place at every Mass,” said Msgr. M. Francis Mannion, chairman of the investigatory committee.