Brothers and sisters in Christ, peace, and may God grant us every grace and blessing…what a joy to be with you again!

This month I wanted to share the story of the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena, Italy where God stretched out His loving hand to comfort and confirm a priest who was having doubts on the Real Presence of The Lord in the Eucharist; we too can learn from this miracle, that God’s arms are always open to receive us, despite doubt, and even sin.

In 1263, Peter of Prague was celebrating Mass at the Church of St. Cristina in Bolsena, Italy, which is about 75 miles northwest of Rome. He had stopped in Bolsena while on pilgrimage to Rome. He had been having doubts on the Real Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and had hoped that time spent near the tomb of St. Peter in Rome would help him with his doubts (Faith Prevails:… 08:00-09:00). During this Mass in Bolsena, his priest Host was transformed into flesh and began to bleed onto his hands and the corporal altar cloth below. Eventually, he stopped mass without completing it, and decided to go visit then-Pope Urban IV, who was residing in Orvieto, Italy, about 15 miles away. (Acutis)

Pope Urban IV sent a delegation to investigate, including Sts. Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure, and they affirmed the Eucharistic Miracle (Basilica of St. Cristina). The group of investigators, accompanied by the local bishop, brought back the Host and blood-stained corporal to Orvieto. Famously, when the investigators approached Orvieto, a procession formed to escort the Eucharistic Lord and the corporal. To this day, the blood-stained corporal is held in the Cathedral of Orvieto, which was built to house these relics (Thoman). Dr. Edward Sri, American theologian, author, and Catholic speaker, has posted a wonderful series of pictures related to the corporal and the Cathedral here. (Acutis)

After this event one year later, Pope Urban IV decided to institute the Feast of Corpus Christi for the Universal Church, celebrating the presence of the Lord with us in the Eucharist (Acutis). As the Lord so solemnly and generously proclaims, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Gospel of Matthew chapter 28).

Reading of this Eucharistic Miracle most definitely moves me to think of God’s goodness and mercy; his priest, Father Peter of Prague, teacher, leader, and father of the Holy People of God, is extremely conflicted at unbelief before the Lord in the Eucharist, and the Lord moves to confirm him and remove all doubt. God manifests His goodness in this astounding way, and at least for me, reminds me of God’s boundless compassion and mercy; like in the Parable of Prodigal son (Gospel of Luke Chapter 15), where the Father ceaselessly searches the horizon in hopes his son will one day return from a life away from his Father’s house, a symbol of a life away from God, God “take[s] no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live” (Ezekiel chapter 33).

Abundant blessings to you and yours,

Juan B



Citations:

Acutis, Bl. Carlo, “The Euchastic Miracle of Bolsena”, The Eucharistic Miracles of the World, http://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/Liste/scheda_b.html?nat=italia&wh=bolsena&ct=Bolsena,%201264. Accessed 2 Nov 2024

Faith Prevails: The Miracle of Bolsena. Directed by Solenne Santiago, 2020.

Basilica of St. Cristina, “The Miracle of Bolsena”, Basilica of St. Cristina…, https://www.basilicasantacristina.it/index.php/en/the-eucharistic-miracle. Accessed 7 Nov 2024

Thoman, OFS, Bret, “Pilgrimage to Orvieto: The Eucharistic miracle of Bolsena”, Aleteia, https://aleteia.org/2021/01/27/pilgrimage-to-orvieto-the-eucharistic-miracle-of-bolsena. Accessed 2 Nov 2024

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