BUNDLE OF EARS

Year 513, Seleucia, Anatolia

If the transubstantiation — by which, through the powerful efficacy granted by God to the words of the priest, the substance of bread is transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist — appears marvelous and astonishing, no less admirable is the fact that the sacramental species, by virtue of the Almighty’s omnipotent hand, should sprout and produce fresh and abundant ears of wheat, as attested by the following historical account:

In Seleucia lived a wealthy merchant, a fanatical Severian heretic, though not hostile to the true Roman Church.

Among the various servants in his service was one very fervent Catholic, who received Holy Communion on Holy Thursday and, as was customary at that time, took with him other Sacred Hosts wrapped in fine white linen. He placed them in a cabinet, intending to use them later for Communion or to carry them in case he had to travel.

After Easter, he was ordered to go to Constantinople on urgent business. When he set out, completely forgetting the holy Mysteries, he handed the key to the cabinet over to his master.

Shortly afterward, the heretic opened the precious piece of furniture which, like a Tabernacle, held the richest Jewel of Heaven and Earth. There he found the immaculate linen wrapping the Most Holy Hosts. At the sight, he experienced great inner turmoil, not knowing what to do.

“To receive Communion,” he said to himself, “is forbidden by the Severian doctrine I profess; but to disrespect them, my heart does not allow, for everything related to the Catholic Religion deserves my reverence… What shall I do?... I will leave them untouched until my servant returns… he will undoubtedly receive them in Communion.”

The solemn day of the Lord’s Supper arrived, and since the servant had not yet returned from his long journey, it seemed appropriate to the master to burn those old Hosts so they would no longer remain locked away. But — oh wonder! — upon opening the cabinet, he was astonished to see that they had sprouted and produced a bundle of beautiful and golden ears of wheat.

Stunned and frightened by so great a marvel, he immediately summoned all his household and, crying “Lord, have mercy on us,” they went in a most devout procession to the church to present the miraculous ears of wheat to the holy Bishop Dionysius. They declared the miracle that had occurred, witnessed by countless people of all ages and conditions. While some repeated, “Lord, have mercy on us,” others gave unceasing thanks to God for such a rare prodigy, which led to the conversion of many to the orthodox faith.

(Baronius, Annales Ecclesiastici, vol. 6, p. 626, lett. b.c.)