I gravitate towards anything about Pope St. John Paul II, after having been blessed by him when I was pregnant with my son Jeremy. Only recently did I learn of this great story recorded in the book, “100 Eucharistic Miracles Proved by Science and Approved by the Church,” by Vincentian Father Anthony Netikat.
In October of 1995, Saint Pope John Paul II was visiting the United States, with an itinerary that included Newark, Brooklyn, Yonkers, and Baltimore.
It had been a very full day in Baltimore that began with a packed Mass at Oriole Park in Camden Yards, a parade through downtown streets, a visit to the Basilica of the Assumption, the first cathedral in the country, lunch at a local soup kitchen run by Catholic Charities; a prayer service at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in North Baltimore; and finally a quick stop at Saint Mary’s Seminary.
The schedule, planned months in advance, was mapped out minute by minute. That day was so packed with events that the plan at the Seminary was simply to greet the seminarians while they stood outside on the steps. The Pope made his way through their ranks and into the building. At some point, he said he would like to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament that evening, something that was not on the itinerary and which security personnel had not planned for.
Immediately they sprang into action to prepare the way to the chapel, being sure all was clean and secure. That involved the use of highly trained dogs used for searching for missing people after a building collapse were used to search for any person who might be a threat. The dogs made the rounds through hallways, offices, classrooms, and finally to the side chapel where the Blessed Sacrament was.
As they reached the tabernacle, the dogs sniffed, whined, and refused to leave. They sat looking directly at the tabernacle, obviously sure they’d discovered someone there they couldn’t see. The dogs remained there, rivetted, convinced that a Real Person was there. Only when they were commanded to by their surprised handler did the dogs move from the spot.
Catholics are gifted with the knowledge and belief of transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, making the consecration during every Mass a true miracle. Let us recognize this reality each time we receive the Eucharist, and may we each be in awe of Our Lord in Adoration at least as much as these dogs were!
3 thoughts on “The Dogs Were in Awe”
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Wouldn’t doubt it for a second. Now, since we have neutral subjects, unbiased and aware in many ways, the secret is to do it again with another pair of canines to see if the ‘Presence’ is detected. Then you can sway the unbeliever. Maybe the ‘miracle’ happened for one specific reason, one person who needed a faith experience. Maybe it was a sign for believers, the gift of awe. In any case, it’s an easy image to form and hold in one’s heart.
“The dogs remained there rivetted, convinced that a Real Person was there.” I wish that every catholic and every scientist could read that sentence.