From Matters India:
The Vatican has approved the appearance of Christ’s face on a Sacred Host during Mass in a Kerala church 12 years ago as a Eucharistic miracle.
Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry on May 9 said the apostolic nuncio to India had relayed the Vatican recognition to the archdiocese. The archbishop made the official confirmation at a ceremony in Christ the King Church in Vilakkannur, a village in Kerala’s Kannur district and a parish under the archdiocese, where the miracle occurred on November 15, 2013.
[SD Note: Two Eucharistic miracles have been officially approved and recognized by the Catholic Church in India within the 21st century. Both involved the appearance of a face resembling Jesus on consecrated hosts, one in Chirattakonam, Kollam district in 2001, and another at Vilakkannur in Naduvil. A third miracle, reportedly involving seven supernatural eucharistic experiences, has been mentioned, but its official approval is not clear, according to an Instagram post from Shalom World News.]
Background:
In the southern Indian state of Kerala—known as the cradle of Christianity in India and home to a devout Catholic population—an extraordinary event unfolded in 2013 that has left believers awestruck and reinforced the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. This event, widely regarded by many as a Eucharistic miracle, occurred at St. Mary’s Parish Church in Chirattakonam, a village parish located in the diocese of Trivandrum, and has since been the source of veneration, inspiration, and renewed faith.
The Sacred Setting
St. Mary’s Church, like many Catholic churches in Kerala, holds daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. On April 28, 2013, the faithful had gathered for a typical day of Adoration. During the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist was placed in a monstrance and set on the altar for public veneration. The monstrance displayed the consecrated Host—believed by Catholics to be the real Body of Christ.
The Phenomenon Begins
As the congregation prayed silently in reverence before the exposed Host, several worshippers noticed something unusual. The typically white circular Host appeared to change. First, a faint discoloration was seen at the center. Then, more clearly, a face began to form—not just any face, but what many in the church would soon identify as the Face of Jesus Christ, complete with eyes, nose, beard, and long hair.
The phenomenon did not fade quickly. Witnesses reported that the image remained visible for several minutes—clear, radiant, and luminous. Some parishioners wept. Others knelt and clasped their hands tightly in prayer, overwhelmed by a sense of holy awe. An elderly man in the congregation was heard to say, “He has come to be with us! He is showing Himself to His people!”
Children and adults alike were transfixed. Some took photographs with their mobile phones, while others simply stared in disbelief. The priest present quickly concluded the adoration period and reverently reposed the Blessed Sacrament, recognizing that something out of the ordinary—perhaps miraculous—had occurred.
The Image That Remained
Later, when the photographs were reviewed, the face of Jesus was clearly visible in several of them. It matched traditional Catholic depictions—bearing resemblance to the Holy Face of Manoppello and the Shroud of Turin. The diocese began to receive inquiries as word spread rapidly across the region. Social media and Christian networks circulated the images, prompting discussions not only in Kerala but internationally.
Reactions from the Faithful
For the Catholic faithful of Kerala, who revere the Eucharist deeply and celebrate centuries of apostolic Christian tradition (tracing back to St. Thomas the Apostle), this was not simply an apparition—it was a confirmation of the Real Presence. Many saw it as a direct answer to the modern world’s growing skepticism toward miracles, the Real Presence, and the supernatural dimension of faith.
A local catechist, speaking in Malayalam, told a reporter: “We have always believed that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. But now, He showed His face. He reminded us to believe with our hearts, not just our eyes.”
Others noted that the event occurred during a period of growing challenges to Christian identity in India and around the world. One woman remarked, “It is a time of testing, and the Lord is revealing Himself to strengthen us.”
Theological Interpretation
From a theological standpoint, Eucharistic miracles serve to reaffirm the teaching of transubstantiation—that during the consecration in Mass, the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ, though the appearances remain unchanged. Yet here, in Kerala, that veil of mystery seemed momentarily lifted.
Believers compare such events with other Church-recognized miracles, like those in Lanciano (Italy), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Sokółka (Poland). Though the 2013 Kerala miracle has not yet been formally investigated or declared as miraculous by the Vatican, local clergy acknowledged the event as worthy of belief, leaving final discernment to the faithful while encouraging increased Eucharistic devotion.
Lasting Impact
Since the incident, St. Mary’s Parish has seen a growth in Eucharistic Adoration attendance, vocations, and personal conversions. Testimonies of healing, renewed faith, and deeper prayer life have poured in. In 2014, the church began hosting an annual Eucharistic retreat commemorating the event, drawing pilgrims from across India.
For the Catholic believer, what happened in Kerala in 2013 was not merely a moment of spectacle—it was a divine visitation. A loving gesture from Christ, reminding His people: “This is My Body, given for you.”