Catholic Diocese investigate 'bleeding' communion wafer being hailed as miracle by believers in Utah

A 'bleeding' piece of communion wafer is being hailed as a miracle by believers at a church in Utah.

Faithful followers claim the sacramental bread 'bled' for three days following communion at St. Francis Xavier Church in Kearns, Salt Lake City, after it was placed in glass of water.

Now news of the 'miracle' has reached the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City which is investigating the incident.

Catholics believe the wafer, also referred to as the host or sacramental bread, becomes the body of Jesus Christ in the Catholic communion ceremony. It is consumed with wine which is transformed into his blood.

The so-called miracle began after a young parishioner returned his host to the priest at St. Francis Xavier Church during communion, who then placed it in a glass of water, Fox 13 reported.

Once consecrated a host is sacred and therefore Catholics believe a leftover or unwanted wafer must not be simply thrown away but should be dissolved in water until it no longer has the appearance of bread. It can then be poured down a special sink which drains onto the ground rather than a sewer. 

However, on this occasion, the priest claims that not only did the thin wafer stay intact, it began to turn blood red.

News quickly spread and believers from across the community began flocking to the church to see the 'miracle' on display.

The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City has now seized the host and is investigating the incident. there are no current plans to return the wafer to public display.

Monsignor M. Francis Mannion, head of the committee, said: 'Recently, reports of a bleeding host at St. Francis Xavier Church in Kearns have been circulating within the diocese.

Last year, the sight of the 'weeping' sculpture in Griffith, Indiana, led many to believe it was a sign from god.