The Eucharistic Miracle of Rome

MIRACLES-panels 11/02/08 14:30 Page 3 This Eucharistic miracle, whose relic is still preserved in the Benedictine Monastery of Andechs, Germany, is verified by numerous written sources, The authentication took place in Rome in 595 during a Eucharistic celebration presided by Pope St. Gregory the Great, At the moment of receiving Holy Communion, a Roman noblewoman began to laugh because she had doubts about the Real Presence of Christ in the consecrated Bread and Wine, The Pope, troubled by her disbelief, decided not to give her Communion and then the Bread turned into Flesh and Blood, mong the most important works in which this Eucharistic miracle that occurred in Rome in 595 is mentioned, is Vita Beati Gregorii Papae written by Deacon Paul in 787. It was customary in those times to have the Eucharistic bread prepared by the parishioners.

Pope St. Gregory the Great was a direct eyewitness to this prodigy. while celebrating the Sacred Mass in a ancient church dedicated to St. Peter, the Pope was distributing Communion and saw among the faithful in line, one of the women who had prepared the bread for the consecration and she was laughing out loud.

Troubled, the Pope cornered her and asked her to explain her behavior. She justified herself by saying that she could not believe that the bread ITALY, SIXTH - SEVENTH CENTURIES Communion and asked God to illuminate her. Having just finished praying, he saw that part of the bread prepared by the woman became Flesh and Blood.

The woman repented, knelt on the ground and began to cry. To this day, part of the relic of the miracle is housed in Anechs, Germany, near the local Benedictine monastery. Adrien Ysenbrandt, 16th century. The apparition of Jesus with MIRACLES-panels 11/02/08 14:31 Page 4 ITALY, SIXTH - SEVENTH CENTURIES MIRACLES-panels 11/02/08 14:32 Page 35 It is still possible today to see the miraculous imprint left by the Host which fell on the steps of the altar in the Caetani Chapel of Santa Pudenziana Church in Rome, The imprint on the step was left when the Host fell from the hands of a priest who, while celebrating Mass, began to doubt the Real Presence of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist.

anta Pudenziana is one of the oldest churches in Rome. According to a great number of historians, the Roman Senator Pudente gave hospitality to the Apostle Peter in his home, which stood exactly where the church's founda- tion lies. The name of the church is said to derive from the name of the Senator's daughter: Pudenziana.

P and her sister Prassede, although never martyred, became famous because they wiped off the blood of the martyrs after they were executed. The church is adorned by numer- ous Roman mosaics from the early Christian era and was constructed in 145 A.D. on the site where there stood the house of Senator Pudente, according to the wishes of his daughters Prassede and Pudenziana.

On the altar steps of the Caetani ITALY, 1610 Blood left by a Host which fell from the hands of a priest while celebrating the Mass. The man was overtaken by doubts about the Real Presence of Jesus in consecrated Host, and immediately after the consecration, he inadver- tently let the Host fall to the ground, where the imprinted mark is still visible today. marble floor