Vatican investigating possible ‘miracle’ in Connecticut church

The Vatican is reviewing claims by parishioners that a miracle occurred at a Connecticut church where the number of wafers distributed has increased.

The communion-centered event reportedly took place during a March Mass at St. Thomas Catholic Church — and the Holy See in Rome received notice last week.

The incident was first investigated by the Archdiocese of Hartford after Rev. Joseph Crowley said, “God duplicated Himself in the ciborium.”

But author Michael O’Neill, who goes by the name “The Miracle Hunter,” says that without physical evidence, it will be difficult to prove that a true miracle occurred.

“I would be very surprised if they had enough evidence to call it a true Eucharistic miracle,” O’Neill told the Hartford Courant.

The Vatican is reviewing claims by parishioners that a “miracle has occurred at a Connecticut church where the number of wafers distributed has increased”

Author Michael O’Neill, who goes by the moniker “The Miracle Hunter,” says he believes it will be difficult to prove that a real miracle happened without physical evidence

During the March 5 service, Rev. Crowley claimed that the Hosts of Communion, often referred to as wafers, had multiplied in the ciborium.

The “miracle” took place at Thomaston Church and witnessed one person assisting with Communion.

Afterward, Rev. Crowley addressed the crowd, speaking through tears.

“One of our Eucharistic ministers was running out of hosts and suddenly there were more hosts in the ciborium. God just duplicated himself in the ciborium,” he said.

“It’s really, really cool when God does these things, and it’s really, really cool when we realize what he’s done,” said the shaken pastor.

According to the Courant, Hartford Archbishop Leonard Blair later told reporters that he had appointed a priest who was well versed in canon law.

The priest was instructed to investigate the “miracle” and would decide whether or not to notify the Vatican.

A spokesman for the archdiocese told the Courant that “reports such as the alleged miracle at Thomaston require referral to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome.”

“The Archdiocese has acted accordingly and will await a response in due course,” spokesman David Elliot said.

According to the Vatican, the dicastery was established to defend the Catholic Church against heresy website.

“The archdiocese has acted accordingly and will await a response in due course,” Elliott told the Courant.

The so-called Eucharistic miracles are exceedingly rare, with only 152 ever recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Pictured: St. Thomas Church in Thomaston

“The Archdiocese has acted accordingly and will await a response in due course,” spokesman David Elliot said

During the March 5 service, the Reverend Crowley claimed that the Hosts of Communion, often referred to as wafers, had multiplied in the ciborium

Archbishop Leonard Blair issued a statement to the Couran confirming the investigation

Despite the loud testimony of Rev. Crowley and the parishioners, O’Neill said the church faces an uphill battle for the incident to be considered a true miracle.

“I suspect they have the testimony of countless people who could say they saw something and understood that this must have been miraculous,” O’Neill said.

“So I guess they’re kind of in the middle because they don’t have the hard evidence, but they have good testimony,” he added.

The “Wresearcher” added that he thinks the archdiocese is looking to the Vatican for “guidance” going forward and that it