The Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena
The miracle of Bolsena
In the Basilica of Santa Cristina in Bolsena, for seven centuries, the minor relics of the miracle of Bolsena, one of the sacred stones, on which lumps of the precious Blood of the Redeemer are still clearly visible, which have fed the piety of generations and generations of faithful.
The miraculous Eucharistic event took place in 1263, in a region that witnessed the vicissitudes of the papacy, and is linked to the names of two of the most powerful exponents of theological thought: Thomas Aquinas and John Fidenza, better known by the name of St. Bonaventure.
A priest from Prague, tormented by doubts about the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, while dividing the Holy Host in the celebration of the Mass, saw the body full of blood that flowed from the sacred species. Amazed and stunned by such a great miracle, he wondered if he was going to finish or continue the Mass.
In the hope of concealing what had happened from those present and with the desire to ask for help and explanation from the competent authority, he decided to suspend the celebration of the Holy Mass, and, gathering the sacred species in sacred cloths, he ran to the sacristy, without noticing. that, on the way, some drops of the Most Precious Blood had fallen on the marble pavement. This happened in the Basilica of Santa Cristina, on the altar placed under the Lombard marble baldachin.
When this miracle took place, Juan Fidenza, known as Buenaventura de Bagnorea, the Saint’s birthplace, a few kilometers from Bolsena, was Minister General of the Franciscans. A profound connoisseur of men and places, the Seraphic Doctor was commissioned by Pope Urban IV to preside over the commission of theologians established to control the truth of the facts.
His mission accomplished by the commission, he confirmed the truth of the miracle, and the Pope ordered Jaime Maltraga, Bishop of Bolsena, to take him to Orvieto, where he had his residence, the sacred corporal, the purificator and the blood-stained linens. Accompanied by the Pope of his court, he went out to meet the sacred relics, and, on the bridge of Rivochiero, took the sacred deposit in his hands and carried it in procession to Orvieto.
Pope Urban IV established the feast of Corpus Christi in 1264.
News that appeared in the newspaper L’Obsservatore Romano, May 21, 1961, pg. 6. P. Deodato Carbajo. 0. FM).
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