Eucharistic Miracles
Involving Saint Anthony of Padua
During the 13th century St. Anthony of Padua was reported to have converted a hardened heretic through a rather unique contest. The heretic, by the name of Bononillo, was unmoved by the reasoning of the "hammer of heretics," as St. Anthony was called. Bononillo was as stubborn as the mule that stood beside him.
Eyeing the mule, Anthony made an offer to Bononillo. He asked him whether he would give up his heresy if the mule were to bow down and adore its Creator present in the Blessed Sacrament. The heretic answered he would, provided he could lay down certain conditions: for two days the mule was not to be fed, and on the third day it was to be led into the public square. On one side of the square would be placed a tempting pile of fresh feed, on the opposite side Anthony could stand with what Bononillo contemptuously called the "body of Christ." Anthony agreed, but in all humility made one condition. If the animal did not kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, his sins alone were to be blamed.
The day arrived for this strange contest and the square was crowded with people. When the derisive Bononillo arrived with his half-starved mule, he was fully confident that his mule had sense and appetite enough to go after the feed. But he was wrong. Anthony had implored his Lord in the intervening two days for the soul of this heretic. God did not let his faithful servant down. When turned loose, the mule without the least hesitation advanced towards Anthony and knelt in an attitude of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. With much emotion and contrition the heretic too fell on his knees and gave up his heresy. As wonderful as these miracles are the greatest of all, transubstantiation, has to be viewed with the eyes of faith.
Lanciano, Italy
An inscription in marble from the 17th century describes this Eucharistic miracle which occurred at Lanciano in 750 at the Church of St. Francis. “A monastic priest doubted whether the Body of Our Lord was truly present in the consecrated Host. He celebrated Mass and when he said the words of consecration, he saw the host turn into Flesh and the wine turn into Blood. Everything was visible to those in attendance. The Flesh is still intact and the Blood is divided into five unequal parts which together have the exact same weight as each one does separately.
In 1970, the Archbishop of Lanciano and the Provincial Superior of the Conventual Franciscans at Abruzzo, with Rome’s approval, requested Dr. Edward Linoli, director of the hospital in Arezzo and professor of anatomy, histology, chemistry, and clinical microscopy, to perform a thorough scientific examination on the relics of the miracle which had occurred twelve centuries earlier. On March 4, 1971, the professor presented a detailed report of the various studies carried out. Here are the basic results:
1. The “miraculous Flesh" is authentic flesh consisting of muscular striated tissue of the myocardium.
2. The “miraculous Blood" is truly blood. The chromatographic analysis indicated this with absolute and indisputable certainty.
3. The immunological study shows with certitude that the flesh and the blood are human, and the immuno –hematological test allows us to affirm with complete objectivity and certitude that both belong to the same blood type AB – the same blood type as that of the man of the Shroud and the type most characteristic of Middle Eastern populations.
4. The proteins contained in the blood have the normal distribution, in the identical percentage as that of the serous-proteic chart for normal fresh blood.
5. No histological dissection has revealed any trace of salt infiltrations or preservative substances used in antiquity for the purpose of embalming. Professor Linoli also discarded the hypothesis of a hoax carried out in past centuries. This report was published in The Sclavo Notebooks in Diagnostics (Collection #3, 1971) © 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire and aroused great interest in the scientific world. Also, in 1973, the chief Advisory Board of the World Health Organization appointed a scientific commission to corroborate Linoli’s findings. Their work lasted 15 months and included 500 tests. It was verified that the fragments taken from Lanciano could in no way be likened to embalmed tissue. As to the nature of the fragment of flesh, the commission declared it to be living tissue because it responded rapidly to all the clinical reactions distinctive of living beings. Their reply fully corroborated Professor Linoli’s conclusions. In the extract summarizing the scientific work of the Medical Commission of the WHO and the UN, published in Dec. 1976 in New York and Geneva, declared that science, aware of its limits, has come to a halt, face to face with the impossibility of giving an explanation.
A Eucharistic Miracle
About the year 1599, in the city of Posen, a very remarkable incident took place in connection with the Blessed Sacrament. A servant girl, who was bribed by some unbelievers, stole from the chapel of the Dominicans three small Hosts, wrapped them in a linen cloth, and carried them to the house of the wretches who had hired her for the deed. The unbelievers treated the Sacred Hosts in a most sacrilegious and shameful manner. They threw them on a table and cut the Sacred Particles. Blood spurted out on the first one of the sacrilegious creatures and left a stain that could not be removed. The report of this strange occurrence soon spread abroad and crowds ran to see for themselves. A blind woman insisted on being led to the scene of this marvelous incident. Divinely inspired, she cried out. “If Thou art the true God, He whom our ancestors nailed to the Cross, restore to me my sight!” She was immediately cured, and went away proclaiming the miracle. The guilty profaners, fearing the just punishment of their heinous crime, wished to dispose of the desecrated Hosts, and after several fruitless efforts buried them to a great depth in a swamp.
One day on the octave of the Blessed Virgin, two herdsmen, father and son, brought their cattle to pasture near this place. The father went to a church not far off to hear Mass, while the son guarded the herd. To his surprise the boy saw the cattle approach the swamp and kneel down with their heads bent low. The shepherd raised his eyes and saw in the air over the swamp three shining objects. In amazement he perceived that they were three Hosts, and he instantly prostrated himself and profoundly adored the God who revealed Himself by so great a prodigy.
In the meantime, the father returned from Mass. As soon as the boy saw him he ran to meet him. “Father,” he shouted, “our oxen are adoring the Blessed Sacrament!” Nonsense!” replied the parent, shrugging his shoulders, “what folly is this!” “Come and see for yourself,” protested the boy, “that I am telling the truth.” While proceeding on his way the old man suddenly paused, with feet fastened to the ground and with eyes entranced as he beheld the astonishing scene. There at the farthest end of the marsh three little lights hung in the air, while the dumb beasts knelt with heads bowed to the earth. The old herdsman, all doubts gone, knelt in adoration before the three consecrated Hosts profaned by the unbelievers. After a moment’s prayer, the old man ran to the city and proclaimed the wonder to all whom he met. The people, however, looked upon him as a fool, and even cast him into prison. And now a new wonder occurred - the prison door opened and freed the prisoner. This startled the authorities and they began to investigate. The Bishop and the clergy were informed and went in procession to the place indicated by the herdsman. Then the Sacred Hosts, which had remained suspended in the air slowly descended and rested in hands of a saintly priest. They were taken back to the city amidst great pomp and splendor. Then the authorities began to debate what disposition to make of the miraculous Hosts. While they were arguing, the Hosts rose from their hands, ascended into the air and returned to the marsh. The wish of Our Lord was evident. So they erected an improved sanctuary on the spot, and this in turn was soon followed by a magnificent basilica founded by Ladislaus Jagellon, King of Poland. Needless to say, thousands of pilgrims have visited the famous shrine to adore the miraculous Hosts.
PRAYER: O sweetest Heart of Jesus, I implore that I may love Thee more and more.
Jesus meek and humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine.
Only in the Catholic Church is Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist. This is one of the great proofs that the Catholic Church is the one true Church. Copies of this article available from: Our Lady of the Rosary Library, 11721 Hidden Creek Road, Prospect, KY 40059. www.olrl.org/sacramen/
The Bleeding Host Miracle 1998
The Bleeding Host Miracle occurred in Betania, Venezuela on December 8th, 1991 (The Feast of the Immaculate Conception) during the celebration of the Holy Mass at midnight. The celebrant, Father Otty Ossa Aristiza`bal, the Betania Chaplain, had just finished the Consecration, had broken the large Host into four pieces, and took one piece of the Host for his consumption and placed the remaining portions on the plate on the altar. When he looked down at the remaining Host, to his amazement he saw a red substance coming out of it which he described as if it was spurting from a wound. He placed the Host in a Chalice and put it in the Tabernacle until 6:00am the next morning. When he looked at it again it was still bleeding, so he placed it in a Monstrance and took it to show the people at Mass. Eyewitnesses saw the Host bleeding and blood accumulating on the bottom of the Monstrance. Some filmed it on their camcorders. Bishop Ricardo of Los Teques was advised, and he had the Host tested in Caracas. He was told that the red substance was IN FACT human blood. Subsequently, the Miraculous Host was taken to the convent of the Augustinian Nuns in Los Teques for safekeeping, adoration, and visitation by pilgrims.
Daniel Sanford of New Jersey journeyed to Betania, Venezuela from 11/12/98 to 11/15/98 on a pilgrimage with an organized Prayer Group from Medford Lakes, NJ. On 11/13/98, as part of the pilgrimage, they went to see the Bleeding Host of Betania at the Chapel of the Augustinian Nuns in Los Teques. Their Spiritual Director, Father Mazzarella, said Daily Mass. When he finished, he opened the Tabernacle door, which contained the Bleeding Host. The Host was in flames, bleeding, and there was a pulsating heart bleeding in the center of the Host. The Group watched this for about 30 seconds or so, then the Host returned to normal. HOWEVER, Daniel did manage to film this miracle with his camcorder!
There were 10-15 other people standing next to him also taking still pictures, but, they saw nothing, and nothing was recorded on their pictures except the normal condition of the Host, seen everyday.
Daniel rewound the film right away and played it back to all present, including the Nuns, the Tour Guide, and the Bus Driver, and the tape revealed the Host just as he saw it: burning, bleeding, and a pulsating heart in the middle!
The tape was sent to the Bishop of Los Teques, Pio Bello S.J. Bishop Emeritus of Los Teques asking his advice as to what to do with the Video Vision.
When Daniel spoke to the Bishop, he informed him that he would be in strict obedience to the Bishop’s advice and hoped what he witnessed was not just his mind playing tricks on him. The Bishop’s response was that "you can fool the mind, but the camera only films what it sees!" He advised Daniel to evangelize the True Presence, and this has been Daniel’s ministry since 11/13/98 and WILL be until his last breath.
If you would like a copy of this Miraculous Videotape, simply send your name and address to: The Bleeding Host Miracle, 329 Cypress Avenue, Woodlynne, NJ 08107
Bolsena-Orvieto, Italy
In 1263 a German priest, Peter of Prague, stopped at Bolsena while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He is described as being a pious priest, but one who found it difficult to believe that Christ was actually present in the consecrated Host. While celebrating Holy Mass above the tomb of St. Christina (located in the church named for this martyr), he had barely spoken the words of Consecration when blood started to seep from the consecrated Host and trickle over his hands onto the altar and the corporal.
The priest was immediately confused. At first he attempted to hide the blood, but then he interrupted the Mass and asked to be taken to the neighboring city of Orvieto, the city where Pope Urban IV was then residing.
The Pope listened to the priest's account and absolved him. He then sent emissaries for an immediate investigation. When all the facts were ascertained, he ordered the Bishop of the Diocese to bring to Orvieto the Host and the linen cloth bearing the stains of blood. With archbishops, cardinals and other Church dignitaries in attendance, the Pope met the procession and, amid great pomp, had the relics placed in the cathedral. The linen corporal bearing the spots of blood is still reverently enshrined and exhibited in the Cathedral of Orvieto.
It is said that Pope Urban IV was prompted by this miracle to commission St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the Proper for a Mass and an Office honoring the Holy Eucharist as the Body of Christ. One year after the miracle, in August of 1264, Pope Urban IV introduced the saint's composition, and by means of a papal bull instituted the feast of Corpus Christi.
After visiting the Cathedral of Orvieto, many pilgrims and tourists journey to St. Christina's Church in Bolsena to see for themselves the place where the miracle occurred. From the north aisle of the church one can enter the Chapel of the Miracle, where the stains on the paved floor are said to have been made by the blood from the miraculous Host. The altar of the miracle, which is surmounted by a 9th century canopy, is now situated in the grotto of St. Christina. A reclining statue of the saint is nearby.
In August of 1964, on the 700th anniversary of the institution of the feast of Corpus Christi, Pope Paul VI celebrated Holy Mass at the altar where the holy corporal is kept in its golden shrine in the Cathedral of Orvieto. (His Holiness had journeyed to Orvieto by helicopter; he was the first pope in history to use such a means of transportation).
Twelve years later, the same pontiff visited Bolsena and spoke from there via television to the 41st International Eucharistic Congress, then concluding its activities in Philadelphia. During his address Pope Paul Vl spoke of the Eucharist as being ". . . a mystery great and inexhaustible."
Used by permission from Eucharistic Miracles by Joan Carroll Cruz © copyright 1987 TAN Books and Publishers, Inc. (www.therealpresence.org)
Eucharistic Miracle of Avignon
On November 30, 1433 a small church run by the Gray Penitents of the Franciscan Order was exposing a consecrated Host for Perpetual Adoration. After days of rain the rivers swelled, and surprisingly, Avignon was submerged. By boat, two friars of the Order succeeded in reaching the church where the Holy Sacrament had been left for adoration. When they entered the church, they saw that the waters were divided to the right and to the left, leaving the altar and the Sacrament perfectly dry.
The Eucharistic miracle of Avignon occurred in the Church of the Holy Cross, home of the Gray Penitents of the Franciscan Order, whose founding goes back to the times of pious King Louis VIII. At the time of this miracle, Avignon was considered the corner of Christendom, and the city’s “Palais des Papes” was home to a series of seven Popes.
After several days of heavy rain, the Sorgue, and Rhone Rivers rose steadily and reached a dangerous height. Finally, on November 30, 1433, Avignon was flooded. The friars were certain that their little church, which stood along the Sorgue, had been destroyed by the raging waters. Fearing that the Blessed Sacrament, which was exposed for Perpetual Adoration, had been swept away, the head of the Order and another friar rowed to the church. Getting there was difficult, but when they finally arrived they found a miracle. Although water around the church was four feet high, a pathway from the entrance of the church to the altar was perfectly dry.
The Sacred Host was unscathed. The pathway from the entrance to the altar called to mind the parting of the Red Sea in the time of Moses, for all along the sides of the church, water steadily rose, but the pathway remained completely dry. Amazed by what they were seeing, the friars had others from their Order come to the church to verify the miracle. The news spread rapidly and many people, including those in authority, came to the Church, singing songs of praise and thanks to the Lord. Several hundred people witnessed this miracle. Later on the Gray Penitents determined that the anniversary of the miracle would be celebrated in the church every year on the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle. Even today, every November 30th the brothers reunited at the Chapelle des Penitents Gris to celebrate the memory of the miracle. Before the blessing of the Holy Sacrament, the brothers perform a sacred chant taken from the Canticle of Moses, which was composed after the parting of the Red Seas. “I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant. At a breath of your anger the waters piled up, the flowing waters stood like a mound, the flood waters congealed in the midst of the seas. In your mercy you led the people you redeemed; in your strength you guided them to your holy dwelling.” (Exodus 15, 1-18). Source: www.therealpresence.org
Siena, Italy 1730
Among the most important documents that describe the miracle, is a memoir written by a certain Macchi in 1730, in which is written that on August 14, 1730 thieves were able to enter San Francesco's Church in Siena and steal the chalice containing 351 consecrated Hosts. After three days, on August 17th, the 351 consecrated Hosts were found intact in the dust of the alms box of the sanctuary of Santa Maria in Provengano. The entire population celebrated the finding of the consecrated Hosts, which were immediately taken back to the church of San Francesco in a solemn procession. With the passing of time, the Hosts did not change in appearance. Many times, distinguished men examined them with every means available and the conclusions were always the same: “The Sacred Hosts are still fresh, intact, uncorrupted, chemically pure, and do not present any sign of alteration.” In 1914, Pope St. Pius X authorized a test which was attended by many professors of health, chemistry and pharmaceutics, among whom was also the well-known Professor Siro Grimaldi.
The final conclusion of the edited report of the test stated: “The Sacred Hosts of Siena are the classic example of the perfect conservation of particles from unleavened bread, consecrated in the year 1730, and constitute a unique and most interesting phenomenon, which reverses the natural laws of conservation of organic matter . . . It is strange, surprising, abnormal . . . the laws of nature have been reversed. In the glass there was mold, the unleavened bread has been more refractory of the crystal . . . it is a unique fact contained in the annals of science.”
Additional tests were done in 1922, on the occasion of the transfer of the Hosts in a cylinder of pure crystal, in 1950 and 1951. Pope John Paul II, during a visit in the city of Siena on September 14, 1980, said regarding the Hosts: “It is the Real Presence!” The permanent miracle of the Sacred Hosts is kept in the Chapel Piccolimini in the summer months, and in the Chapel Martinozzi in the winter months. Numerous are the initiatives that induce the citizens of Siena in honor of the Sacred Hosts: the tribute of the political districts, the respect of children having recently made their First Holy Communion, the solemn procession in the celebration of Corpus Christi, the Eucharistic ceremony at the end of September, the day of Eucharistic adoration on the 17th of each month in memory of the recovery of the Sacred Hosts on August 17, 1730. (Source: www.therealpresence.org)
A Eucharistic Miracle
The Eucharistic miracle of Krakow relates to consecrated Hosts that emitted an unusual bright light when they were hidden by thieves in a muddy marsh. The thieves had stolen a monstrance containing consecrated Hosts from a church in the village of Wawel (outside of modern-day Krakow). They ultimately abandoned the monstrance and Hosts in a marsh outside of the village, where the miracle took place. The Church of Corpus Christi in Krakow, Poland contains paintings depicting the miracle as well as documents and depositions relating to the matter.
In the year 1345, King Casimar III the Great of Poland gave orders to build a church named Corpus Christi in honor of the Eucharistic miracle that was verified that same year. It had taken place in the village of Wawel, near Krakow. Some thieves broke into a little church (The Collegiate Church of All Saints), which was a short distance from Krakow. They forced their way into the tabernacle and stole the monstrance, which contained consecrated Hosts.
They got away, but when they figured out that the monstrance was not made of real gold, they threw it (including the Hosts) into the muddy marshland that was prevalent in the area. Priests from the church began a search, but they did not hold out much hope. When darkness fell, however, a mysterious light emanated from the spot where the treasure had been abandoned. Bright flashes of light were visible for several kilometers. Frightened villagers approached the area and reported back to the Bishop of Krakow. The bishop called for three days of fasting and prayer. On the third day, he led a procession out to the marsh.
There, they found the monstrance, and within it they found the Hosts, which were unbroken and were the source of the unusual lights. The people began to pray and to celebrate the miracle. Annually, on the occasion of the feast of Corpus Christi, the miracle is celebrated in the church of Corpus Christi in Krakow. (Source: www.therealpresence.org) © 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire / Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association
A Eucharistic Miracle
ITALY, 11th Century Eucharistic Miracle of St. Peter Damian
St. Peter Damian, Doctor of the Church, describes an important Eucharistic Miracle of which he was a direct witness in his work “Opusculum XXXIV, Patrologia Latina, vol. CXLV,col.573.” We record here in translation the episode as the Saint himself recounts it: “This is a Eucharistic event of great importance. It took place in 1050. A woman, giving into some abominable temptations, was about to take the Eucharistic Bread to her house to commit a sacrilege.
However, a priest noticed what was happening, chased after her, and recovered the Host which the sacrilegious woman had stolen. At that point, when he unfolded the white linen in which the Sacred Host had been wrapped, he noticed that it was transformed in such a way that half of the Host had become the Body of the Lord in a visible way, while the other half maintained the ordinary appearance of Bread.
By such clear testimony, God wished to triumph over unbelief and heresy on the part of those who refused to accept the Real Presence in the Eucharistic Mystery: in half of the consecrated bread, the Body of the Lord was made visible, while the other half was left in its natural form, to better demonstrate the reality of sacramental transubstantiation on which takes place at the Consecration.” (Source: www.therealpresence.org Eucharistic Miracles)
A Eucharistic Miracle
Blanot, 1331
The little agricultural village of Blanot has never been featured on the maps of France. The French leaving Paris and the North seeking the sun of the South Coast could pass by year after year and never know that Blanot existed.
Nevertheless this tiny village was chosen to be honored by God with a miracle - The Miracle of The Eucharist. In the year 1331 the villagers arrived on foot or by horse to celebrate the Mass of Easter. The tiny church filled with the faithful and the Mass began. The sadness of Lent was past and all over the world Christians celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus. It is easy to imagine the beautiful wild flowers of the region that had been gathered and brought into the church to celebrate this wonderful morning.
"Jesus Christ is Risen Today - Halleluia!"
As the priest prepared the Host the altar boys stretched out the long white napkin to ensure that the precious Host would not fall to the floor. The congregation approached the altar, some with crossed hand extended and others who just offered their tongue to accept the Host. One woman, greatly moved by the moment and afraid that she would lose the Host, closed her lips too quickly and a tiny morsel of the Host dropped onto the napkin. To the amazement of the altar boys the tiny crumb of Bread turned into a red droplet!
As soon as the last of the faithful had received Our Lord, the altar boys hastened to tell the priest what had occurred. The priest took the napkin aside and washed it in pure water several times, and, although the water turned red, the trace kept reappearing and became wider. It did not wash out. The priest realized that the Blood was not going to wash off the cloth and he cut off the blood-stained part and placed it in a monstrance.
Word of the miracle spread rapidly and on the Sunday after the fifteenth day of Easter, the Bishop of Autun, the nearest Diocese, came to Blanot with a retinue of other clergy to investigate. At the end of the inquiry the committee agreed unanimously that a miracle had occurred and the following year Pope John bestowed special indulgences on those who celebrated Mass at this church. Pilgrims came to Blanot from far afield. The napkin was kept in the church as a living sign of God’s love. Later the napkin was cut and the tiny precious relic was encased in a vial of crystal. Even through two world wars, the relic never left the village. In times of unrest it passed from house to house - being used from time to time for healing the sick. In times of peace it returned to its proper home within the walls of the church and there it remains today for pilgrims from all over the world to see and adore. Written by Ann V. Brett of Blanot, France. Adapted and used with permission.
A Eucharistic Miracle
Brussels
In the Cathedral of Brussels there are many artistic testimonies to a Eucharistic miracle verified in 1370. Desecrators stole Hosts and struck at them with knives as a way of showing their rebellion. From these particles came a flow of living blood. This miracle was celebrated up until some decades ago. There are many reliquaries of different eras that were used to contain the miraculous Hosts of the miracle of the Blessed Sacrament. They have been kept to this day in the museum close to the cathedral in an ancient chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. There are tapestries of the 18th century which represent the miraculous event.
The five stained glass windows that grace the side nave of the cathedral take us through stages of the Eucharistic miracle. They were installed at various times from 1436 to 1870. The Kings of Belgium, Leopold I and Leopold II, presented the first windows on the lower level. The others were gifts from various noble families of the country. The first ten windows represent the story as it came to Brussels in the middle of the 15th century. The ancient document reads : “In 1369 a rich merchant from Enghien who hated the Catholic religion, had some consecrated Hosts stolen. He worked with a young man from Louvain (on windows 1-3).
The merchant was assassinated mysteriously a few days later. His widow, surmising it was a punishment from Heaven, got rid of the Hosts by giving them to friends of her husband. These friends were filled with hatred of things Catholic. “On Good Friday 1370, the friends met and began to slash the Hosts with knives, and the Hosts began to bleed! The desecrators were badly frightened and entrusted the Hosts to an important Catholic merchant.
“This merchant revealed the whole story to the curate of the Church of Notre Dame. The curate took possession of the Hosts and the desecrators were condemned to death by the Duke of Brabant. The Hosts were taken in procession to the cathedral of St. Gudula”. The Eucharistic miracle remains an important part of the traditions of Brussels and is something of a national symbol.
(Source: www.therealpresence.org/eucharisticmiracles - Brussels) © 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire / Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration