The Eucharistic Miracle of Poznań

MIRACLES-panels 11/02/08 14:33 Page 57 In 1399 in the City of Poznan, some desecrators stole three consecrated Hosts and out of contempt, pierced the Sacred Species with pointed instruments, At once, Blood began dripping from the Hosts, and every attempt to destroy the Hosts was to no avail, So as not to be found out, the scoundrels decided to throw the Holy Eucharist into a swamp, But the Hosts rose in the air, giving off powerful rays of light, Only after ardent prayers was the bishop able to recover the Hosts, which people can venerate to this very day in the Church of Corpus Domini in Poznan, n the city of Poznan, prof aners with an intense hatred for the Christian faith per- suaded a domestic helper to take three consecrated Hosts from the Dominican (now Jesuit) church. The woman, enticed by a large reward, succeeded in stealing three Hosts. Immediately after they received the Hosts, the malefactors went to the basement of their mansion, put the Hosts on a table and desecrated the Eucharist, piercing the Hosts with pointed instruments.

Suddenly, a copious amount of Blood began to drip from the Hosts, which splashed the face of a girl afflicted with blindness, and she immediately regained her sight. The desecrators, seized with panic and anxiety, tried to destroy the Hosts, which nevertheless remained whole. Unable to rid themselves of the Holy Eucharist, they decided to take the Hosts outside the city and cast the POLAND, 1399 f The sacristy of the Eucharistic shrine constructed around Sacred Species into a marsh in the vicinity of the Warta River.

A young shepherd who happened to be passing near the marsh saw the three lumi- nous Hosts suspended in the air. Holding back his emotions, he returned home and recounted everything to his father and the local authorities. The burgomaster was indifferent to the young man's account and ordered him to be jailed.

The young shepherd managed to mysteriously escape and again presented himself to the bur- gomaster, who finally convinced of the facts, made his way to the place of the miracle. In the meantime, the entire population had gathered around the three luminous Hosts suspended in the air. Only Bishop Wojciech Jastrzebiec, after beseeching Heaven with fervent prayers, succeeded in recovering the Hosts, which des- cended into the pyx he held in his hands.

The Hosts to St. Mary Magdalene Church. At the site of the miracle, a wooden chapel was constructed which became the goal for many pilgrimages. King Wladyslaw Jagiello came to know of the miracle and made a trip to Poznan to venerate the miraculous Hosts.

As a sign of devotion, the king ordered that a church dedicated to the Body of Christ (Corpus Domini) be built at the exact spot where the miracle occurred. In the 19th century, in place of the old mansion where the prof anation of the Hosts took place, a shrine was constructed where even today the table with the imprints from the Blood that dripped from the Hosts has been preserved. Every Thursday a procession with the Blessed Sacrament takes place at Corpus Domini Church to recall the miracle.