Theological and Empirical Cognition in Discovering the Living Eucharistic Presence. The Example of Sokółka

Abstract

Eucharist is the sacrament of the real presence of Christ in His essential sign among people. His mystical presence is confirmed with Eucharistic miracles. Miracles, however, require interpretation. And before the interpretation is introduced, the miracles require empirical confirmation. The Eucharistic miracle of Sokółka was confirmed by the research conducted by two pathologists who independently examined it and by the opinion of the a theological commission. As a consequence of the engagement of the scientists, the arguments of the empirical and theological sciences converged. The analyses contained in this article, which contribute to discovering God’s presence among His people, describe the value of theological and empirical cognition.