The Bread of Life

Lanciano, Italy

The Miracle of Lanciano

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

In about 750 a priest-monk who doubted the Real Presence saw the Host turn into flesh and the wine into blood as he spoke the words of consecration. The relics, the Flesh and the Blood coagulated into five unequal clots, are still kept in the church of St Francis; a scientific study in 1970–71 identified the Flesh as heart muscle tissue.

Kept at

Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle (Church of San Francesco)

Address

Corso Roma, 66034 Lanciano, Italy

Photo: AFC photo · CC BY-SA 3.0

Ferrara, Italy

The Miracle of Ferrara

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

During Easter Mass blood spurted from the Host as it was broken and stained the vault above the altar. The marks can still be seen in a side chapel of the basilica.

Kept at

Basilica of Santa Maria in Vado

Address

Via Borgovado, 44121 Ferrara, Italy

Photo: graph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). · CC BY-SA 4.0

Augsburg, Germany

The Miraculous Good of Augsburg

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

In 1194 a woman took a consecrated Host home and kept it sealed in wax. When she confessed five years later and the wax was opened, the Host had become bleeding Flesh. The bishop had it carried to the cathedral and then back to the Holy Cross convent, with a yearly commemoration; it is known as the Wunderbarliches Gut, the Miraculous Good.

Kept at

Church of the Holy Cross (Heilig Kreuz)

Address

Heilig-Kreuz-Straße, 86152 Augsburg, Germany

Photo: Alois Wüst · CC BY-SA 3.0

Daroca, Spain

The Holy Corporals of Daroca

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

In 1239, before a battle against the Moors at the castle of Chio (Luchente, Valencia), a priest hid six consecrated Hosts in a corporal during a surprise attack. After the victory he found the Hosts drenched in blood. A mule carrying the corporal stopped at Daroca, where it is still venerated in the collegiate basilica.

Kept at

Collegiate Basilica of Santa María de los Sagrados Corporales

Address

Plaza de España, 50360 Daroca, Spain

Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

Santarém, Portugal

The Holy Miracle of Santarém

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

A jealous woman stole a consecrated Host for a sorceress who promised her a love potion; wrapped in a cloth, the Host began to bleed. The Host, preserved in a crystal reliquary, is still displayed in the Church of St Stephen, now the Shrine of the Holy Miracle.

Kept at

Church of the Holy Miracle

Address

Largo do Milagre, 2000-095 Santarém, Portugal

Photo: Arquidiocese de Braga · CC BY 3.0

Bolsena and Orvieto, Italy

The Miracle of Bolsena

Approved Recognised by the Church

A German priest troubled by doubt saw blood flow from the Host onto the corporal while celebrating Mass in Bolsena. Pope Urban IV, then in nearby Orvieto, instituted the feast of Corpus Christi the following year. The corporal is kept in Orvieto Cathedral.

Kept at

Orvieto Cathedral (and Basilica of Santa Cristina, Bolsena)

Address

Piazza del Duomo, 05018 Orvieto, Italy

Photo: Justinawind · CC BY-SA 4.0

Offida, Italy

The Miracle of Offida

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

In 1273 a woman of Lanciano named Ricciarella, advised by a witch, put a consecrated Host on the fire to make a love potion, and it turned into bleeding flesh. Seven years later she confessed to the Augustinian prior Giacomo Diotallevi, a native of Offida, who took the relics to his home town. They are kept in a gilded silver cross in the Sanctuary of Sant’Agostino.

Kept at

Sanctuary of Sant’Agostino

Address

Offida, Province of Ascoli Piceno, Italy

Photo: Cristiano Marchegiani · CC BY-SA 2.5

O Cebreiro, Spain

The Miracle of O Cebreiro

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

One snowy winter day around 1300 a farmer, Juan Santín, struggled through the storm to Mass while the priest scorned his effort, until the Host became flesh and the wine blood. Queen Isabella later had a crystal reliquary made, and the chalice, paten and relics are still kept in the church of Santa María la Real.

Kept at

Church of Santa María la Real

Address

O Cebreiro, 27671 Pedrafita do Cebreiro, Lugo, Spain

Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0

Walldürn, Germany

The Holy Blood of Walldürn

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

A priest knocked over the chalice after consecration; the spilt wine formed on the corporal an image of the crucified Christ surrounded by eleven heads crowned with thorns. Walldürn has been a pilgrimage town ever since.

Kept at

Basilica of St George

Address

74731 Walldürn, Germany

Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm supported by Rüdiger Wandke · CC BY-SA 3.0

Cascia, Italy

The Miracle of Cascia

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

Near Siena in 1330, a priest carrying the Eucharist to a sick peasant carelessly placed the Host between the pages of his breviary. When he opened it, the Host had bled onto both pages. The relic was entrusted to the Augustinians of Cascia and is kept in the Basilica of St Rita.

Kept at

Basilica of St Rita of Cascia

Address

Piazza San Francesco, 06043 Cascia, Italy

Photo: LigaDue · CC BY-SA 4.0

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Miracle of Amsterdam

Approved Recognised by the Church

A dying man vomited the Viaticum he had received, and the Host was thrown into the fire — but was found the next morning unharmed in the flames. Every March thousands of pilgrims walk the Stille Omgang, a silent night procession through the city.

Kept at

Begijnhof Chapel (Stille Omgang)

Address

Begijnhof 30, 1012 WT Amsterdam, Netherlands

Seefeld in Tirol, Austria

The Miracle of Seefeld

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

At the Holy Thursday Mass of 1384 the knight Oswald Milser demanded to receive a large Host like the priest’s. As he received it the floor gave way beneath him, and when the priest took the Host back blood began to flow from it. The Host is still kept in the parish church of St Oswald.

Kept at

Parish Church of St Oswald

Address

Kirchplatz, 6100 Seefeld in Tirol, Austria

Photo: Jeff Croisé · CC BY-SA 3.0

Bois-Seigneur-Isaac, Belgium

The Holy Blood of Bois-Seigneur-Isaac

Approved Recognised by the Church

A priest found a fragment of a Host on the corporal and saw it begin to bleed; the blood spread over the cloth. The corporal was examined and approved by the bishop of Cambrai in 1413 and is venerated in the abbey.

Kept at

Abbey of Bois-Seigneur-Isaac

Address

1421 Ophain-Bois-Seigneur-Isaac, Belgium

Photo: Grentidez · Public domain

Ludbreg, Croatia

The Holy Blood of Ludbreg

Approved Recognised by the Church

A priest doubting the Real Presence saw the wine in the chalice turn into blood. Pope Leo X authorised veneration of the relic in 1513, and the Croatian parliament vowed in 1739 to build a chapel — a promise fulfilled only in 1994.

Kept at

Shrine of the Holy Blood of Jesus

Address

Trg sv. Trojstva, 42230 Ludbreg, Croatia

Photo: Fraxinus · CC BY-SA 3.0

Turin, Italy

The Miracle of Turin

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

Thieves carried a monstrance with the Host stolen from a church in Exilles. When their mule fell in Turin the Host rose into the air, shining, until the bishop came and it descended into his chalice. The church of Corpus Domini stands on the spot.

Kept at

Basilica of Corpus Domini

Address

Piazza Corpus Domini, 10122 Turin, Italy

Photo: Franco56 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Faverney, France

The Miracle of Faverney

Approved Recognised by the Church

On the night of the vigil of Pentecost 1608 a fire destroyed the altar of the abbey church where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, but the monstrance with two Hosts was found suspended in the air, unharmed. On 10 July 1608 the Archbishop of Besançon declared the miracle authentic; one of the two Hosts is still preserved.

Kept at

Basilica of Notre-Dame la Blanche

Address

70160 Faverney, France

Photo: Veit Feger · Public domain

Siena, Italy

The Miracle of Siena

Venerated Venerated for centuries as a relic

About 350 consecrated Hosts were stolen from the Basilica of San Francesco on 14 August 1730 and found three days later in a collection box. The 223 that were never consumed have remained incorrupt for nearly three hundred years and have been examined many times.

Kept at

Basilica of San Francesco

Address

Piazza San Francesco, 53100 Siena, Italy

Photo: Gryffindor stitched by Marku1988  This image was created with Hugin. · CC BY-SA 3.0

Cúa, Venezuela

The Miracle of Betania

Approved Recognised by the Church

During Mass at the Marian shrine of Betania a Host began to bleed after the consecration. The bishop of Los Teques approved the event, and the Host is kept in the convent of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters in Los Teques.

Kept at

Convent of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters

Address

Los Teques, Miranda, Venezuela

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The Miracle of Buenos Aires

Under study Investigated; no formal decree

In 1992, 1994 and 1996 consecrated Host fragments in the parish of Santa María showed a blood-like substance. On 15 August 1996 a Host that had fallen during Communion was placed in water and days later appeared transformed into flesh and blood. Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio, later Pope Francis, had samples scientifically analysed from 1999.

Kept at

Parish of Santa María

Address

Av. La Plata 286, C1235 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Chirattakonam, India

The Miracle of Chirattakonam

Under study Investigated; no formal decree

During adoration in the parish church of St Mary on 28 April 2001, three dots appeared on the exposed Host; on 5 May the likeness of a man’s face, like that of Christ crowned with thorns, could be seen in it and was photographed. Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios of Trivandrum wrote of it as a sign that calls for a response; the monstrance with the Host is kept in the church.

Kept at

Church of St Mary, Chirattakonam

Address

Chirattakonam, Kottarakkara, Kollam, Kerala, India

Tixtla, Mexico

The Miracle of Tixtla

Approved Recognised by the Church

On 21 October 2006 a reddish substance appeared on a consecrated Host during a Mass in Tixtla. After scientific studies between 2009 and 2012, Bishop Alejo Zavala Castro of Chilpancingo-Chilapa announced in October 2013 that the event has no natural explanation.

Kept at

Parish of San Martín de Tours

Address

Tixtla de Guerrero, Guerrero, Mexico

Sokółka, Poland

The Miracle of Sokółka

Approved Recognised by the Church

A dropped Host was placed in water to dissolve; days later a red clot appeared on it. Two university pathologists independently found tissue resembling heart muscle. The archbishop of Białystok recognised the event as a sign in 2009.

Kept at

Church of St Anthony of Padua

Address

16-100 Sokółka, Poland

Photo: Piotr Widerski · CC BY-SA 3.0 pl

Legnica, Poland

The Miracle of Legnica

Approved Recognised by the Church

On Christmas Day 2013 a dropped Host developed red stains after being placed in water. Forensic study described fragments of heart muscle tissue, and the bishop of Legnica recognised the miracle in 2016.

Kept at

Sanctuary of St Hyacinth

Address

Legnica, Poland

Photo: Marek Śliwecki · CC BY-SA 4.0