Eucharistic of SANTARÉM PORTUGAL, 1247

The Eucharistic miracle of Santarém, together with that of Lanciano, is considered among the most important Eucharistic . Numerous studies and Church of the Most Holy Miracle, Santarém canonical analyses were Interior of the of the Most Holy Miracle, Santarém carried out on the relics. The Host changed into bleeding Flesh and Blood flowed out of the . Both relics are

House where the miracle where the relic preserved to this day in the occurred of the miracle is preserved Church of St. Stephen in Santarém.

Interior of the church

Pedro Crasbeeck, Print of 1612 that shows exactly the glass ampulla in which the Host was containing the miraculously found. Blood from the Host Relic of the miraculous Host

ome Popes granted plenary indulgences to confused woman stored the Particle in a drawer pieces: in its place was a crystal vase containing this Eucharistic miracle: Pius IV, St. Pius V, in her bedroom. That night the drawer began to the Blood mixed with the wax. The Sacred Host Pius VI, and Pope Gregory XIV. Still today, emit brilliant rays of light which illuminated is now preserved in an 18th century Eucharistic in the Church of St. Stephen of Santarém, it is the room as if it were daytime. The husband throne above the main altar. The Church of St. possible to admire these precious relics. was also aware of the strange phenomenon and Stephen is now known as the Shrine of the Holy questioned his wife, who was obligated to tell Miracle. Throughout the centuries, on various SAccording to the date recorded in the document him everything. occasions the Host gave new emissions of Blood, commissioned by King Alfonso IV in 1346, on and in some cases various images of Our Lord February 16, 1266 in Santarém, a young woman the couple informed the were seen in the Holy . Among the overcome with jealousy for her husband, consulted pastor,The nextwho went day, to the home to remove the witnesses of this prodigy is St. Francis Xavier, the a sorceress who told her to go to the church and Host and return the Blessed Sacrament to the apostle of the Indies, who visited the shrine steal a consecrated Host to use for a love potion. Church of St. Stephen in solemn procession, before going on the missions. Every year since the The woman the Host and hid the Holy accompanied by many religious and lay people. miracle occurred, on the second Sunday of April, Eucharist in a linen cloth that immediately The Host bled for three consecutive days, and the precious relic is processed from the home of became stained with Blood. Frightened by this, was then placed in a beautiful reliquary made of the couple to the Church of St. Stephen. The she ran home and opened the kerchief to see beeswax. In 1340 another miracle occurred. couple’s home became a chapel in the year 1684. what had happened. To her amazement, she saw When the priest opened the tabernacle, he that the Blood was gushing from the Host. The found the beeswax vase broken into many

© 2006, Istituto San Clemente I Papa e Martire / Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association