BOLSENAITALY, 1264

Eucharistic Miracle of

In 1263 a German priest,Peter of Prague, stopped atBolsena while on a pilgrimageto Rome. He was celebratingMass in the Basilica ofBolsena, and when themoment of consecration arrived, the Host was transformed into Flesh. Thismiracle strengthened the wavering belief of the priest inthe Real Presence of Christ inthe Eucharist. The SacredBody was inspected by UrbanPope IV and by St. ThomasAquinas. This miracle helpedconvince the Pope to extendthe feast of Corpus Christi tothe universal Church so thateveryone could recognize thelove God has for those wholove and worship him.

he Eucharistic miracle of Bolsena, depictedby Raphael in a well-known fresco in theVatican Palace, took place in 1263. A

German priest, Peter of Prague, stopped atBolsena while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He waspious, but he found it difficult to accept thatChrist was actually present in the consecratedHost. While celebrating Holy Mass above thetomb of St. Christina (located in the churchnamed for this martyr), he spoke the words ofconsecration and immediately Blood started toseep from the consecrated Host and trickle overhis hands and onto the altar. At first the priesttried to hide the Blood, but eventually he interrupted the Mass and asked to be taken to theneighboring city of Orvieto, where Pope UrbanIV resided.

The Pope sent emissaries to investigate. Whenthe facts were ascertained, he ordered thebishop of the diocese to bring the Host and the linen cloth bearing the stains of Blood tohim. He had the relics placed in the cathedral.The linen bearing the spots of Blood is still reverently enshrined and exhibited in theCathedral of Orvieto.

Pope Urban IV was prompted bythis miracle to commission St. Thomas Aquinasto compose the Office for the Mass and Liturgyof the Hours to celebrate the Most Holy Bodyof the Lord (Corpus Christi). One year after themiracle, in August of 1264, Pope Urban IVintroduced the Aquinus’s composition, and bymeans of a papal bull instituted the feast ofCorpus Christi.

© 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire / The Real Presence Association, Inc.

Church of Saint Christina ofBolsena, the altar where theMiracle took place

Cathedral of Saint Christinaof Bolsena

The Procession over the Riochiaro Bridge,(artist : Ugolino d’Ilario). Orvieto Cathedral

T Colorful displays in honor of the Miracle

BOLSENAITALY, 1264

When the factswere ascertained,he ordered thebishop of thediocese to bringthe Host andthe linen clothbearing the stainsof Blood to him.

Francesco Trevisani.The Miracle of Bolsena,detail

Parchment from the periodof the Miracle, notorized byCesare Severo Durantino

Detail of the Reliquarium

Reliquiarium of the Body, artist : Ugolino d’Ilario’s studio(1338), Orvieto

Tabernacle containting the Blood-stained relics of the Miracle,Bolsena

Detail of the blood-stained stone, Bolsena

Orvieto Cathedral, Chapple of the Sacred Body

Inside the Orvieto Cathedral

Fragments of the Host of the Miracle

Detail of the Mass of Bolsena.Raffaello (1513), Vatican Museums

Public adoration in honor of the Feast of Corpus Christi, Orvieto

Painting by Francesco Trevisani

Painting of Saint Messa ofBolsena by Francesco Robbio.From the Collection of theMuseum of the Diocese of Milan

John Paul II duringthe pastoral visit to Orvieto(June 17, 1990

Eucharistic Miracle of

© 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire / The Real Presence Association, Inc.