Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Friday, April 25, 2008

Exhibit to display what people of faith believe are depictions of miracles

By Käri Knutson | Lee Newspapers

WABASHA, Minn. — Pat Kolb believes in miracles.

“If you’re open to them, miracles happen every day,” said the volunteer for Faith Formation at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha.

The church’s auditorium is hosting “The Vatican International Exhibit: The Eucharistic Miracles of the World” today through Sunday. The exhibit displays photographs and historical depictions of 160 miracles that Kolb and other people of faith believe are evidence of the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

A Eucharistic miracle is said to happen when the Communion bread changes physically into real flesh or blood.

The exhibit has traveled the world and was at Resurrection Parish in Rochester, Minn., three weeks ago, when Kolb saw it.

“It was very spiritual,” she said. “Tears came to our eyes. I felt the power of the Holy Spirit.”

One of the miracles depicted is said to have occurred in A.D. 750 at the Church of St. Francis in Lanciano, Italy. A 17th century marble inscription says: “A monastic priest doubted whether the Body of Our Lord was truly present in the consecrated Host. He celebrated Mass and when he said the words of consecration, he saw the host turn into Flesh and the wine turn into Blood. Everything was visible to those in attendance. The Flesh is still intact and the Blood is divided into five unequal parts which together have the exact same weight as each one does separately.”

According to the Rev. Glenn Frerichs, incidents such as the one in Lanciano are investigated and verified by the church.

“These miracles oftentimes happen with people or in places where there is a struggle with faith,” Frerichs said.

St. Felix School principal Marsha Stenzel said teachers are planning to use the exhibit to teach students about history, geography and other subjects related to the exhibit, including science.

“It’s not just someone’s word,” Stenzel said. “These things have been proven.”

About 130 students pre-school through sixth grade attend the school. The church will celebrate its sesquicentennial June 29.

Although the exhibit’s theme is miracles, Frerichs said the true emphasis is on the presence of God in life.

“It’s a visible sign of an invisible reality,” Frerichs said. “God always calls us back to his true presence.”

The exhibit is a way for people to virtually visit the places where each miracle took place. Frerichs said you don’t have to travel far to see a miracle.

“To me, every life is a miracle,” Frerichs said.

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