The Eucharistic Miracle of Santarém

MIRACOLI—panneaux 12/05/06 14 : 40 Page 38 The Eucharistic miracle of Santarém, together with that of Lanciano, is considered among the most important Eucharistic miracles, Numerous studies and canonical analyses were carried out on the relics, The Host changed into bleeding Flesh and Blood flowed out of the Blessed Sacrament, Both relics are preserved to this day in the Church of St. Stephen ome Popes granted plenary indulgences to this Eucharistic miracle: Pius I V, St. Pius V, Pius VI, and Pope Gregory XIV.

Still today, in the Church of St. Stephen of Santarém, it is possible to admire these precious relics. According to the date recorded in the document commissioned by King Alfonso IV in 1346, on February 16, 1266 in Santarém, a young woman overcome with jealousy for her husband, consul- ted a sorceress who told her to go to the church and steal a consecrated Host to use for a love potion.

lhe woman stole the Host and hid the Holy Eucharist in a linen cloth that immediately became stained with Blood. Frightened by this, she ran home and opened the kerchief to see what had happened. To her amazement, she saw that the Blood was gushing from the Host.

The longo do revertem a favor da nova do Mi/agte do Centro d. Sant•rém do SSm• d' Largo do Milagro S.ntarém A ocorréncia do 7502 Aniversårio do Santis- simo Milagre, constitui para celebrar 'estivamente o que. ao longo de séculos mutto marmu a hlMOria de Ptx:e mesrno afirmar-se que grande parte da vida da vila e cidade.

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Fazer da igreja do Milagre urn singular tica. eis urn belo prcMarna que dignlfica a cele• braqåo dos do Santissimo Milagre, Santarém. 28 de Janego de 1 16 do Såb•do 21:30'• • Out'" •o do o t«na 16 Fevereiro • sangu• da da • d" puNie•fO•• • med.lhø do 790 pr.sidid• sc de Eucaristk• ati find • • do SSm• d•ta: a em SE ange •u•no d' o Ma•ge•: a Hutia • A • Sagr•d• SSM• do miraculously found.

* t WLoeo SANTARÉM Ptmu;u. Relic of to emit brilliant rays of light which illuminated the room as if it were daytime. Elhe husband was also aware of the strange phenomenon and questioned his wife, who was obligated to tell him everything. the couple informed the pastor, who we to the home to remove the Host and return the Blessed Sacrament to the Church of St.

Stephen in solemn procession, accompanied by many religious and lay people. The Host bled for three consecutive days, and was then placed in a beautiful reliquary made of beeswax. In 1340 another miracle occurred. When the priest opened the tabernacle, he found the beeswax vase broken into many pieces: in its place was a crystal vase containing throne above the main altar.

The Church of St. Stephen is now known as the Shrine of the Holy Miracle. Elhroughout the centuries, on various occasions the Host gave new emissions of Blood, and in some cases various images of Our Lord were seen in the Holy Eucharist. Among the wit- nesses of this prodigy is St.

Francis Xavier, the apostle of the Indies, who visited the shrine before going on the missions. Every year since the miracle occurred, on the second Sunday of April, the precious relic is processed from the home of the couple to the Church of St. Stephen.

The couple's home became a chapel in the year 1684. MIRACLES-panels 11/02/08 15:34 Page 39 SANTARÉM PORTUGAL, 1247 aromzt/& s" ist up L