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The announcement was made by Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski of Legnica on April 17.

On Christmas Day 2013, a consecrated host fell to the floor, the bishop said.

It was picked up and placed in a container with water.

Soon after, red stains appeared on the host.

Then-bishop of Legnica, Bishop Stefan Cichy, created a commission to monitor the host.

In February 2014, a small fragment was placed on a corporal and underwent testing by various research institutes.

Tests were performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Wroclaw.

Another study was subsequently performed by the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, which concluded that "in the histopathological image, the fragments (of the host) were found containing the fragmented parts of the cross striated muscle".

"It is most similar to the heart muscle. Tests also determined the tissue to be of human origin, and found that it bore signs of distress."

Bishop Kiernikowski said that the host "has the hallmarks of a eucharistic miracle".

He explained that in January 2016 he presented the matter to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In April, in accordance with the Holy See's recommendations, he asked parish priest Fr Andrzej Ziombrze "to prepare a suitable place for the relics so that the faithful could venerate it".

"I hope that this will serve to deepen the cult of the Eucharist and will have deep impact on the lives of people facing the host," the bishop added.

Sources

• Catholic News Agency
• Catholic Herald
• Image: Catholic News Agency