From One Peter Five
This article is the ninth in a 10-part series that will explore miracles as proof of the truths of Catholic doctrine. In this installment, we consider the physical manifestation of the Lord’s Real Presence in the Consecrated Host commonly referred to as “Eucharistic Miracles.”
As Catholics, we believe in transubstantiation where the bread and wine actually become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ at Mass (i.e. The Holy Eucharist) and then cease being bread and wine. After this has taken place, the only thing remaining of the bread and wine is the “accidents.” This philosophical and theological term refers to the sight, taste, smell – those items which concern the senses. There, however, have been occasions where even the accidents have vanished and the Eucharistic Host has visibly changed into human flesh and blood, proving that at Mass, even though our senses deceive us, that the bread and wine actually become the Body and the Blood of Jesus Christ.
Several times through history the divinity of Christ in this supreme Sacrament has shown itself in rare, miraculous events. These Eucharistic miracles not only confirm the Real Presence but also that Jesus Christ remains with us. The Miracle of Lanciano, Italy (700s), Cascia, Italy (1300s), Turin, Italy (1453), and Sienna, Italy (1730) are just a few of these miraculous events. In this article, we discuss several, commenting on the robust scientific event that confirms that the Eucharist is the flesh and blood of God Himself!
The Eucharistic Miracle of St. Anthony and the Mule
While St. Anthony was preaching, a local heretic came to him and stated that he would not believe in Our Lord’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. After a long conversation, this heretic declared: ‘If you, Anthony, produce a miracle and demonstrate to me that the Body of Christ is truly Communion, I will completely renounce my heresy and immediately convert to the Catholic faith. Why don’t we have a wager? I’ll keep one of my beasts locked up for three days to feel the torments of hunger. Then I will bring it forth in public and show it food. You will stand in front of it with what you maintain is the Body of Christ. If the beast, leaving aside its food, hurries to adore its God, I will share the faith of your Church.’”
So Saint Anthony, illuminated and inspired from above, accepted the challenge. At the chosen day and hour, the priest and heretic entered the Grand Piazza. Saint Anthony was followed by Catholic faithful; the heretic named Bonovillo was followed by his fellow heretics.
The saint held between his hands the consecrated Host, contained in a monstrance; the heretic held his hungry mule. The saint, after having requested and obtained silence, turned to the mule with these words: “In virtue and in the name of your Creator, Who I, as unworthy as I am, hold in my hands, I tell and order you: Come forward immediately and render homage to the Lord with all due respect so that heretics and evildoers will understand that all creatures must humble themselves before their Creator whom priests hold in their hands at the altar.”
And immediately the animal, refusing the food offered by its master, docilely approached the priest. It bent its front legs before the Host and paused there reverently. Anthony’s adversary was true to his word and threw himself at the saint’s feet denouncing publicly the errors of his ways and submitted himself to the Catholic Church. From that day, he became one of the most zealous cooperators of the miracle-working saint.
The Miracle of Lanciano
The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano is considered the first—and by many, the most remarkable—Eucharistic Miracle in the history of the Catholic Church. A miracle, properly speaking, is an extraordinary event brought about directly by God, or through someone acting on His behalf, such as a saint. It happens in a religious context and clearly points to divine intervention. Most importantly, a miracle should strengthen faith in God among those who witness or experience it.
With that in mind, let’s turn to the specific event that took place in the 8th century in Lanciano, a Roman city southeast of Rome. There, monks from the Order of St. Basil had established a monastery under the protection of St. Longinus—the Roman centurion who, according to tradition, pierced Christ’s side and declared, “Truly, this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).
One day, a monk—whose name has been lost to history—was offering the Holy Mass. Ancient accounts describe him as someone educated in worldly matters but lacking understanding of divine truths. He struggled with doubts about the Real Presence.
But during this particular Mass, when he said the words of consecration, the host visibly turned into flesh, and the wine into blood. Overwhelmed, the monk wept with joy, then composed himself and called those present to witness the miracle. He said, “O fortunate witnesses, to whom the Blessed God has chosen to reveal Himself, dispelling my unbelief! Come and behold the Flesh and Blood of our Beloved Christ.” News of the miracle quickly spread through the surrounding regions.
Soon after, the Blood visibly coagulated into five distinct clots of various sizes, while the Flesh remained unchanged. The local archbishop launched an investigation, taking testimony from eyewitnesses. Experts confirmed that the substances were indeed human flesh and blood. Interestingly, when weighed, each individual clot weighed the same as each of the others, and also the same as all five together, or any combination thereof—a fact that defies natural explanation. Eventually, the relics were placed in a special ivory container, though it was not sealed airtight. Church authorities verified the authenticity of the miracle, though the original certification document was lost in the 1500s.
Over time, various religious orders have been entrusted with care of the miracle and the church. The Basilian monks remained until 1176, after which the Benedictines took over until 1252. Since then, the Franciscans have overseen the relics. In 1258, the Franciscans built a new church in honor of St. Francis of Assisi to replace the aging Church of St. Longinus. To this day, the relics are housed in that basilica under Franciscan care.
Following the initial inquiry, further studies have been permitted by the Church. In 1574, Archbishop Rodrigues again weighed the blood clots and confirmed the original findings—remarkably, eight centuries had passed and the relics still showed no sign of decay.
In 1713, the original ivory reliquary was replaced with one made of silver and crystal. The preserved Flesh is displayed in a monstrance similar to those used for Eucharistic adoration, and the blood clots are housed in a crystal chalice, believed by some to be the same one used during the original Mass.
The most extensive scientific analysis was conducted between 1970 and 1971, with the approval of Pope Paul VI. Dr. Edoardo Linoli, a professor of anatomy and pathology and head physician at Arezzo Hospital, led the research, assisted by Dr. Ruggero Bertelli, professor emeritus of human anatomy at the University of Siena. Their work was thorough, scientifically rigorous, and well-documented. In 1981, with more advanced technology, Dr. Linoli repeated the analysis and found even more supporting evidence.
Key findings include that the Flesh, yellowish-brown in color, is human tissue from the myocardium and endocardium—the muscle and inner lining of the heart. The structure is consistent with human cardiac tissue, and no preservatives were found.
The blood was confirmed to be of human origin and of type AB positive. Its protein composition matched the typical distribution of fresh human blood. Analysis also revealed common human minerals such as chlorides, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.
Dr. Linoli emphasized that blood taken from a dead body would naturally decay quickly, especially without preservatives and outside of a sealed container. Yet these samples, despite being over 1,200 years old and not hermetically preserved, still retain the characteristics of fresh blood and flesh.
Additionally, both scientists agreed that the cut of the heart tissue was so precise that it could only have been done by a skilled pathologist, with a rounded incision thicker at the edges and thinning evenly toward the center.
This miracle profoundly illustrates the truth of Christ’s words:
I am the Bread of Life… Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My Flesh is real food, and My Blood is real drink. Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood remains in Me and I in him (John 6:35, 54–56).
The Miracle of Orvieto
In 1263, a German priest named Peter of Prague was on a pilgrimage to Rome and stopped in the town of Bolsena. Though he was known to be devout, he struggled with doubts about whether Christ was truly present in the consecrated Host.
While saying Mass at the Church of St. Christina—built over the tomb of the martyr—his doubts were powerfully answered. Just after he pronounced the words of consecration, the Host began to bleed. Blood dripped from the Host onto his hands, the altar, and the corporal (the linen cloth used during Mass).
Shocked and unsure of what to do, the priest initially tried to conceal what had happened. But soon he halted the Mass and traveled to nearby Orvieto, where Pope Urban IV was staying at the time.
The pope listened carefully to the priest’s account and granted him absolution. He immediately ordered an official investigation. Once the details were confirmed, the pope instructed the local bishop to bring the bleeding Host and the stained corporal to Orvieto. A solemn procession carried the sacred relics to the city, where they were received by the pope himself, along with bishops, cardinals, and other Church officials. The linen cloth, marked by the blood of the miracle, is still preserved and displayed in Orvieto Cathedral to this day.
Inspired by this miracle, Pope Urban IV commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the prayers and hymns for a special Mass and Divine Office in honor of the Holy Eucharist as the true Body of Christ. The following year, in August 1264, the pope formally introduced the feast of Corpus Christi, instituting it throughout the Church by a papal bull, and enshrining the Eucharist in a liturgical celebration that continues to this day.
The Miracle of Cascia
Let’s now turn to the Eucharistic Miracle that occurred in Cascia, Italy, in the year 1330.
The relic of this miracle is preserved in the Basilica of St. Rita in Cascia, though the event itself took place near Siena. At that time, a priest was called to bring Holy Communion to a seriously ill peasant. Instead of treating the Blessed Sacrament with proper reverence, the priest slipped the consecrated Host between the pages of his breviary and set off to the man’s home.
Upon arrival, after hearing the sick man’s confession, the priest opened his book to retrieve the Host—and was stunned by what he saw. The Host was now stained with living blood, which had seeped into and marked both pages where it had been placed.
Deeply shaken and repentant, the priest immediately went to Siena to seek guidance from Father Simone Fidati of Cascia, a respected Augustinian known for his holiness. After hearing the priest’s confession, Fr. Fidati absolved him and asked to keep the blood-stained pages.
Over the centuries, devotion to this miracle grew. Several popes encouraged veneration of the relic and granted indulgences to the faithful. When the relic was officially recognized in 1687, a description from an ancient manuscript belonging to the Augustinian priory was included in the record. This manuscript contained many details about the event. The miracle is also mentioned in Cascia’s civic statutes from 1387, which ordered that every year on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the town’s leaders and citizens should gather at the Church of St. Augustine to accompany the priest in a solemn procession through the city, carrying the sacred relic of the Holy Eucharist.
In 1930, to mark the 600th anniversary of the miracle, a Eucharistic Congress was held in Cascia for the entire Diocese of Norcia. A beautifully crafted monstrance was consecrated to house the relic, and all available historical records concerning the miracle were published for the faithful.
Miracle of Valencia
Our next Eucharistic miracle took place just a few years later, in 1384, in Valencia, Spain. A parish priest had been called to bring Holy Communion to a dying man. Although a storm was approaching, he knew he couldn’t delay—this soul was about to meet God and needed to receive the Sacraments in time.
After administering the Eucharist, the priest began his journey back home. But the storm had worsened. Clutching the ciborium tightly to his chest, which held three consecrated Hosts, he pressed on through the wind and rain. Night had fallen, and the darkness made it impossible to turn back. His only option was to keep going until he reached the church.
When he came to the Carraixet ravine, he saw that the waters had risen dangerously. Trying to cross on a makeshift wooden plank, he lost his balance—and to his horror, the ciborium slipped from his hands and was swept away by the raging current.
Frantic and heartbroken, the priest threw himself into the water to recover the Blessed Sacrament, but it was no use. The river had taken everything.
Devastated, he returned to the parish and told the community what had happened. The townspeople joined him in searching the river the next morning. Eventually, they found the ciborium—but it was empty. The Hosts were gone. In sorrow, the priest began organizing acts of reparation for the loss of the Eucharist.
But God, seeing the deep love and devotion of the priest and his people, responded with a powerful miracle. While the community still mourned, witnesses suddenly saw three fish rise upright out of the water, each holding a consecrated Host in its mouth. The onlookers dropped to their knees in awe and sent someone to call the priest.
The fish remained in place until the priest arrived, dressed in his sacred vestments. As he approached the riverbank, the fish came closer as well. Reverently, they placed the Sacred Hosts into the priest’s hands. The faithful broke out into hymns of praise, overwhelmed by this divine sign.
The three Hosts were consumed that very day during a solemn Mass. The rescued ciborium, however, is still preserved to this day. On it is inscribed a moving reminder of the miracle: “Who will deny the Mystery of this Bread, when a dumb fish preaches to us Faith?”
The Miracle of Siena
Let us now travel to Siena, Italy, to learn about a remarkable and enduring Eucharistic miracle that took place in 1730.
According to one of the key historical records—a written account by a man named Macchi from that same year—something extraordinary happened on the night of August 14, 1730. Thieves broke into the Church of San Francesco and stole a chalice containing 351 consecrated Hosts.
Three days later, on August 17, the missing Hosts were discovered in a surprising place: lying undisturbed in the dust of the alms box at the nearby sanctuary of Santa Maria in Provenzano. The people of Siena rejoiced at the recovery, and the Hosts were returned to San Francesco’s Church in a solemn, public procession.
From that day forward, something even more astonishing began to unfold: the Hosts, made of ordinary unleavened bread and consecrated over 290 years ago, have never decayed. Time and again, they have been examined by experts using the best scientific tools of their day, and all have come to the same conclusion—the Hosts remain unchanged. They are still fresh, intact, uncorrupted, and chemically pure, with no sign of deterioration.
In 1914, Pope St. Pius X gave approval for a formal scientific study to be conducted. Among the team of chemists, pharmacists, and doctors was the prominent Professor Siro Grimaldi. After extensive testing, the report concluded:
The Sacred Hosts of Siena are a perfect example of the miraculous preservation of consecrated unleavened bread from 1730. This is a unique and extraordinary phenomenon that defies natural laws governing organic decay. The laws of nature have been reversed. While mold formed in the glass container, the Hosts themselves resisted decay more than the crystal they were kept in.
Additional examinations took place in 1922, 1950, and 1951—each time confirming the same miraculous findings.
Today, the miraculous Hosts are preserved with great reverence in Siena. During the summer, they are kept in the Piccolomini Chapel, and during the winter months in the Martinozzi Chapel. The people of Siena continue to show deep devotion to the miracle. On the 17th of each month, they hold Eucharistic adoration in remembrance of the day the Hosts were found. Children who have recently received their First Holy Communion come to venerate the Hosts, and the city holds solemn processions during the Corpus Christi feast and other special occasions.
Conclusion
During any Mass that is validly offered, the host is consecrated and therefore Our Lord is present under the species of wine and bread, no matter how the reverence of the priest and of the assistants treat Him. This occurs even when the priest himself has doubts as to the Real Presence. On a related note, many traditionalist similarly ask how a Eucharistic Miracle occur in a Novus Ordo? In fact, Church history shows us that Eucharistic miracles often occur because of doubt or irreverence. At Lanciano, the priest doubted the Real Presence. At Cascia, the priest was irreverent by putting the host in his breviary for a sick call.
Remember, that whenever the Mass is valid, Our Lord is present. God freely manifests His power by a miracle to rectify the attitude towards the reality of the Eucharist. May these miracles lead to greater reverence for Our Lord in the Eucharist and the conversion of all outside of Holy Mother Church.
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