The Eucharistic Miracle of Weiten-Raxendorf

MIRACLES-panels 11/02/08 14:33 Page 52 In fifteenth-century Austria there were a number of thefts of consecrated Hosts, so Church authorities began keeping the Hosts in the sacristy, Despite these precautions, in 1411 a thief succeeded in stealing a consecrated Host from the parish church in Weiten, The Host slipped unnoticed to the ground during his journey and was discovered several days later by a pious woman, The Host glowed brilliantly, divided in two Pieces, but was united by threads of Bleeding Flesh, n the parish church of Weiten, a thief broke into the sacristy and got hold of a consecrated Host that he slipped into one of his gloves. According to reports from the village of Weiten, the theft occurred in 1411. The thief then mounted his horse intending to make for the nearby village of Spitze Instead of taking the main road, he chose a side road that passes through the valley of Mühldorf and is known as "Am Schuß." When he arrived at the spot (that today is marked by a chapel in honor of the miracle) his horse halted and would not move, no matter how much the man beat him.

Some laborers working in the surrounding fields came to help. But there was no way to make the horse move; it stood still as a statue. Then without warning, the animal leaped to a gallop, and the Sacred AUSTRIA, 1411 a Mrs. Scheck fro Manne orf passed by the spot and saw the Host encircled in a strong light.

In great wonder, she picked up the Holy Eucharist and noticed that the consecrated Host was broken in two Parts but remained joined together by threads of Bleeding Flesh. Greatly moved and at her own expense, in thanksgiving, she built a small chapel on the spot. As news of the miracle spread, many pil- grims came to the place.

Later, it was necessary to build a bigger church to honor the precious reliquary in order to contain the great crowds that came every year on pilgrimage.