Betania, Venezuela Eucharistic Miracle
Written by Linda Connelly, Parishioner
Betania, Venezuela Eucharistic Miracle
Written by Linda Connelly, Parishioner
On December 8, 1991 (the feast of The Immaculate Conception) Fr. Otty Ossa Aristizabal celebrated midnight Mass at the Marian Shrine of Finca, Batania in Cua, Venezuela.
After Consecration, he divided the large Host into four pieces, consumed one and placed the remaining Pieces on the paten. When he looked down a short time later, he noticed one of these Pieces showed a red spot with a red substance oozing from It, "as if blood from a wound." Numerous pilgrims in attendance at Mass that night confirmed that Fr. Otty had no wounds that this could have come from.
After Mass, Fr. Otty took the Host and placed it in the Sacristy to preserve It. At 6:00 am, he went to check on It and verified It continued to ooze, which shortly later became dry.
Under the direction of the Bishop of Los Teques, the Host was subjected to some special studies. These investigations were not nearly as in depth as the studies done on the Lanciano, Italy Eucharist in 1971 or the Buenos Aires, Argentina Eucharist in 2004. However, it was confirmed that the Betania Host had bled human AB+ blood. This is the same rare blood type found in the other two miracles. AB+ blood being most commonly found in the Middle Eastern region.
The Betania bloody Host was made readily available for pilgrims to visit and adore/venerate shorty after these studies were completed.
A second miracle occurred with this Host in 1998. On November 12 of that year, a young man from New Jersey, Daniel J. Sandford, went on pilgrimage with his prayer group to Betania, Venezela to see this miraculous Host. After his spiritual director, Fr. Mazarella, celebrated Mass, the door of the Tabernacle containing the bleeding Host was opened for adoration. With other group members present, Mr. Sandford observed an incredible phenomenon. In his own words, this is what he described. "With great astonishment, I saw that the Host was as if in flames, and there was a pulsating Heart that was bleeding in Its center. I saw this for about 30 seconds or so: then the Host returned to normal. I was able to film a part of this miracle with my video camera..." This short footage can be seen today on Youtube. I encourage you to take a moment to watch it! Simply type Eucharistic Miracle of Betania, Venezuela in the search bar.
In both the Lanciano, Italy (750) and the Buenos Aires, Argentina (1996) miraculous Hosts, it was proven by scientists that These were "living" human Heart tissues. Here we see a visual of This living Heart. In 2004 speaking of the Buenos Aires Host, Dr. Zugibe stated, "At the moment you brought me This sample, It was pulsating."
Today the blood of the Betania, Venezuela Host still appears fresh and It can be visited in the chapel of Perpetual Adoration at the convent of the Augustinians Recollects of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Los Tequ
Link to more information and images is available in the link below.