Q: I recently learned that the feast of Corpus Christi was
inspired by a Eucharistic miracle. Can you please give more
details about this? - A reader in Springfield
A: In the year 1263, a German priest, Peter of Prague,
stopped at the town of Bolsena, north of Rome, while he was
on a pilgrimage to Rome. Records indicate that Peter was a
good, pious priest who strived for holiness. He was troubled
by the apathy of many of the faithful; clerical immorality
and laxity; and a lack of reverence at Mass. Worse, he was
afflicted with doubt about the holy Eucharist. Like those in
the Gospel, he asked himself, "How could this be? How can
Jesus share with us His Body and Blood?" He agonized over
whether at the words of consecration the bread and wine
became the Body and Blood of Our Savior and whether Christ
actually was present in the consecrated host. He knew well
that the church believed and taught that the bread and wine
were transformed into the Body and Blood of Our Lord at the
consecration during the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Moreover,
the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 had solemnly used the word
"transubstantiation." Yet, he had trouble believing and
prayed that the Lord would increase his faith.
The next day, he celebrated Mass at the tomb of St.
Christina, an early martyr of the church. As soon as he said
the words of consecration, the host began to bleed. Blood
fell onto his hands and onto the corporal on the altar. He
was awestruck and began to cry. At first, he was not sure
what to do and tried to hide the blood, but then interrupted
the Mass and announced what had happened. The congregation,
too, was awestruck. He asked to be taken to see Pope Urban IV
who was residing at the neighboring town of Orvieto about 10
miles away.
Father Peter placed the host in the corporal and then wrapped
both in another linen. Arriving at Orvieto, Peter told the
Holy Father what had happened. Urban IV then ordered an
investigation. After all of the facts had been ascertained,
the Holy Father declared a miracle had occurred. He ordered
the relics to be brought to the Cathedral of Orvieto, which
they were with a procession of great pomp and ceremony. The
pope met the procession, and the relics were placed in the
cathedral, where they are still be venerated today.
One year later, in1264, Pope Urban IV instituted the feast of
Corpus Christi, a special feast day to recognize and to
promote the great gift of the Blessed Sacrament. He
commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to compose a Mass and an
office for the Liturgy of the Hours honoring the holy
Eucharist. St. Thomas Aquinas also composed the beautiful
Eucharistic hymns "Panis Angelicus," "Pange Lingua," "O
Salutaris Hostia" and "Tantum Ergo."
Today, at the Church of St. Christina in Bolsena, one finds
the altar where the miracle took place, and the blood-stained
stones of the miracle are preserved. The Cathedral of Orvieto
possesses the blood-stained corporal as well as fragments of
the miraculous host.
In 1964, to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the
institution of the feast of Corpus Christi, Pope Paul VI
celebrated the holy sacrifice of the Mass at the altar where
the holy corporal is kept in the Cathedral of Orvieto. Then
in 1976, Pope Paul VI visited Bolsena and spoke from there
via television to the 41st International Eucharistic Congress
meeting in Philadelphia, whose theme was "Jesus the Bread of
Life." In his address, the Holy Father said the holy
Eucharist is "a mystery, great and inexhaustible." How true,
indeed.
Questions may be sent to Father Saunders, pastor of Our Lady
of Hope Church in Potomac Falls, at
straightanswers@ourladyofhope.net or Our Lady of Hope Church,
46639 Algonkian Pkwy., Potomac Falls, VA 20165.