The Eucharistic Miracle of Offida

MIRACOLI—panneaux 12/05/06 14 : 33 Page 14 In Offda, near the Church of St. Augustine, are kept the relics of the Eucharistic miracle which took place in 1273, in which the Host became living Flesh, There are many documents which describe this miracle, among which is an authentic copy on a parchment of the 13th century, written by the notary Giovanni Battista Doria in 1788. There are also many offcial decrees of the popes beginning with that of Boniface VIII (1295), to that of Sixtus V (1585), discour- ses of Roman congregations, Epi- scopal decrees, communal statutes, votive gifts, memorial stones, fre- scoes and testimonies of notable historic figures, among whom we and asked her how she could recover the af- fection of her husband, Giacomo Stasio.

Fol- lowing the witch's advice, she went to Commu- nion to obtain a consecrated Host. She returned home and put the Host on the fire in an earthenwa- re jar with the intention of turning the Blessed Sa- crament into powder to put into her husband's food. Particles, however, were transformed into living Flesh.

Richiarella, horrified by these events, wrapped the jar and the Bloodied Host in a linen handkerchief that she then buried under the manure in her husband's stable. Strange events began to take place inside the stable: every time Gia- como's donkey entered, it would genuflect toward the place where the miraculous Host was buried, and Giacomo began to think that his wife had put a spell on the beast. Seven years later, Ricchiarella re- como Diotallevi, a native of Offda.

According to the oldest stories, the woman, in tears, began scre- aming, "I killed God! I killed God!" The priest went to the place, found the bundle with the relics, and gave them to his fellow-citizens. reliquary was made to cross -s contain the Host An ancient story recounts that two monks, Brother Michele and a confrere, were invited to Venice.

When they arrived, they made the craftsman promise with an oath of loyalty "that he would not reveal to anyone what he was ning the miraculous Host, but, struck with a sudden fever, exclaimed, 'What have you brought me, Oh my Brother?' Elhe religious then asked him if he was in mortal sin. The craftsman answered, 'Yes', made his confession to the same priest and, the fever having left him, he took the pyx without any danger. Without extracting the Host, he fixed both Host and pyx, together with the sacred wood, inside the same cross, with a crystal above it, as you can clearly see." The reliquaries of the jar and the Blood-stained linen with the cross containing the miraculous Host are exposed in the Church of St.

Augustine in Offlda. Richiaretta's house was tran- sformed into a small chapel. In 1973, the seventh centenary of the miracle was celebrated, and every year on May 3rd, the citizens of Offda celebrate the anniversary of the miracle.